SPIE Hotwork’s History

In 1962, Trevor Ward founded the original SPIE Hotwork company in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, UK. Mr. Ward had invented a special gas burner, and he formed the company to capitalize on his invention. Initially the burner design was patented and the company grew rapidly due to the utility of his invention for furnace heatups and refractory dryout.

In order to support the growth of his company, Mr. Ward granted regional licenses under his patents and a network of independent companies began to operate around the world utilizing the original intellectual property.

In 1965, SPIE Hotwork-USA was formed as a licensee of Mr. Ward’s company for North and South America. The US company has prospered and continued to develop and expand the original technology transferred from Mr. Ward.

Over time, Mr. Ward’s company grew rapidly, expanded product lines, and then fell on hard times. In the 1990’s it became insolvent, divested product lines, and a remnant English entity (SPIE Hotwork Europe LTD) was eventually purchased and shut down by SPIE Hotwork-USA.