Another Outstanding Year for Essentials of Heat Treating & Plating

The Mid-West Fastener Association was proud to once again host its annual Essentials of Heat Treating and Plating seminar on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Held at two great facilities in Addison, Illinois, the day was a tremendous success and a reminder of why this class is such a valued part of the MWFA's education calendar.

The morning began at SWD Inc., where expert presentations from Matt Delawder of SWD and Joan Sosinski and Ed Garcia of Morgan Ohare set the tone for the day. This intermediate-level class breaks down the heat treating and plating side of the fastener world in a way that is both thorough and accessible, covering everything from metallurgy fundamentals and electroplating to hydrogen embrittlement, conversion coatings, and popular automotive finishes — all taught by true industry experts.

Following the presentations, students were treated to a guided tour of the SWD plant, putting eyes on the very processes they had just been learning about. There is simply no substitute for seeing this work done in person, and the SWD facility provided an ideal environment for that kind of hands-on learning. After the tour, attendees broke for lunch provided by the MWFA before reconvening for the afternoon session back at SWD to complete the day's coursework.

To cap off an already full and fantastic day, students made their way down the street to Morgan Ohare, where a final plant tour gave everyone one last look at plating operations up close. It was the perfect ending to a day that managed to be both educational and genuinely exciting.

Anyone selling or purchasing fasteners benefits enormously from understanding the details of heat treating and plating — and this class delivers exactly that. We look forward to this event every year, and 2026 was no exception. A heartfelt thank-you to SWD Inc., Morgan Ohare, our expert presenters, and everyone who came out and made the day what it was. See you next year!