The year 2014 marks a major milestone for Centorr Vacuum Industries (CVI) as it marks its 60th year in the vacuum furnace industry. The company today exists as a combination of two companies: Vacuum Industries, founded in 1954 in Somerville, Mass., and the Centorr Furnace Co., founded in 1962 in Suncook, N.H. Vacuum Industries was started by the principles of the original National Research Corp. in Boston.

Centorr Vacuum Industries had a long history in the design and building of production-sized furnaces, primarily for the metals and hardmetals industry. Centorr Furnaces was a laboratory and R&D furnace manufacturer, and was known for building some of the first high-temperature (3,000°C) furnaces for the growing ceramics market. In later years, Centorr was known as a world leader in fiber optics and high-temperature hydrogen sintering furnaces for the lighting industry.

The two companies were merged in 1989 in new facilities in Nashua, where they are located today. In 1997, they became 100% management owned and are now run as a private company under President and CEO William Nareski.

“We have enjoyed long-term success over the past 60 years because our highest priority is keeping each and every customer happy with our equipment and service,” Nareski said. Today, the company has 65 employees in the U.S. and operates in 20,000 sq ft of office space and 30,000 sq ft of manufacturing space, including an in-house lab and high-bay for constructing tall vertical furnace designs.

Centorr Vacuum Industries has an installed base of over 6,500 high-temperature vacuum and controlled atmosphere furnaces worldwide. The company operates a fully staffed Aftermarket Field Service group, and an Applied Technology Center offering R&D support and toll production service.

 For more information, visit www.centorr.com.