Lexington, KY 40503

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Refractory Dryout and Heatup Experts

20,000+ Successful Projects Worldwide

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industrial technician training for refractory dryout
ISO certified industrial heatup team
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20,000+ Successful Projects Worldwide

Industrial equipment and cranes

400 Sets of Portable Equipment

Engineered solutions for complex furnace projects

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What Refractory Dryout and Heatup Experts Do — And Why It Protects Your Operation

Refractory drying and heating is not simply part of commissioning. It determines the long-term life of your furnace, boiler, kiln, or processing unit.

Moisture trapped inside refractory linings expands under rapid heating. Without engineered ramp rates and combustion control, that moisture can cause:

Structural cracking

Structural cracking

Spalling

Spalling

Refractory failure

Refractory failure

Production delays

Production delays

Unplanned shutdowns

Costly shutdowns

industrial furnace heatup using proprietary combustion equipment
MSHA trained refractory dryout technicians

SPIE Hotwork develops engineered heat curves tailored to each specific unit design. Using proprietary combustion equipment first developed in the mid-1960s, we apply controlled heat distribution that removes moisture safely and uniformly.

We do not just provide burners.
We engineer successful startups.
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Trusted by Global Industrial Leaders

SPIE Hotwork has completed more than 20,000 refractory dryout and heatup projects worldwide.

We have supported major operators across:

Steel manufacturing

Steel

SPIE Hotwork has been providing refractory related dryout and heat up services to the steel industry for decades.
Glass

Glass

SPIE Hotwork has a range of specialized services developed to serve the needs of glass furnace operators.
Petrochemical

Petrochemical

SPIE Hotwork has performed hundreds of dryouts on thermal oxidizers, rotary incinerators, boilers, ground flares, and flare stacks.
Hydrocarbon processing

Hydrocarbon processing

SPIE Hotwork has been providing refractory related dryout and heat up services to the steel industry for decades.
Cement manufacturing

Cement manufacturing

SPIE Hotwork has experience commissioning cement plants around the world, including the world’s largest cement line
Power generation

Power generation

SPIE Hotwork has a range of specialized services developed to serve the needs of glass furnace operators.
Nonferrous metals

Nonferrous metals

SPIE Hotwork has extensive experience with processes that calcine metal ores and also with metal refining and holding furnaces.
Chemical processing

Chemical processing

Wherever hot processes require refractories, SPIE Hotwork has provided dryout and heatup services.

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Trusted by Industry Leaders

These organizations trust SPIE Hotwork because performance matters.

Alcoa
U.S. Steel
Cleveland Cliffs
Nucor
ExxonMobil
Shell
Marathon Petroleum
Honda
Novelis
Valero
International Paper
Owens-Illinois
Ardagh Glass
Guardian Glass
Heidelberg Materials
ArcelorMittal
BASF
Chevron
Toyota
SpaceX
Rio Tinto
Phillips 66
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Industry Solutions Delivered by Refractory Dryout and Heatup Experts

Our experience spans nearly every industrial furnace type in operation today.

Nonferrous Metals & Specialty Industries

Steel Industry Applications

  • Blast Furnaces
  • Reheat Furnaces
  • Direct Reduced Iron
  • Heat Recovery Coke Plants
  • Byproduct Coke Plants
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Glass Furnace Services

SPIE Hotwork began in the glass industry and remains the most experienced refractory dryout and heatup expert in this sector. Services include:

  • Furnace Heatup
  • Glass Draining
  • Cullet Filling
  • Sulfate Burnouts
  • Expansion Supervision
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Hydrocarbon & Petrochemical Units

  • FCCU & Flexicokers
  • Fired Heaters
  • Reformers
  • Sulphur Recovery Units
  • Coke Calcining
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Boilers & Cement Plants

  • CFB Boilers
  • HRSG Systems
  • Kilns
  • Coolers
  • Tower Systems
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Nonferrous Metals & Specialty Industries

  • Alumina & Aluminum
  • Copper & Nickel
  • Biofuel Units
  • Chemical Processing
  • Waste Recycle / Incineration
  • Gas Handling
  • Post Weld Heat Treating

Every application is approached with engineered planning and disciplined execution.
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industrial furnace heatup inside boiler system
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Safety & Certifications — The Standard Behind Our Work

Industrial heatup operations demand strict compliance and procedural discipline.

SPIE Hotwork operates under structured safety and quality systems including:

Safety is not a department. It is embedded in our operations.

Our reputation has been built not only on performance — but on protection of people, plants, and project timelines.

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Industrial Training That Builds True Refractory Dryout and Heatup Experts

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Careers at SPIE Hotwork — Travel, Opportunity, and Industrial Experience

This is not a traditional job. It is a specialized industrial career.

Our technicians

Our technicians:

  • Travel 160–200 days per year
  • Work at major industrial facilities across the country
  • Support critical outage schedules
  • Operate advanced combustion equipment

We are looking for individuals who are

We are looking for individuals who are

  • Safety-first in mindset
  • Willing to travel
  • Mechanically capable
  • Able to pass background and drug screening
  • Motivated to work in demanding industrial environments
steel blast furnace refractory heatup services
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Structured Application Process

Our multi-step application process ensures a professional and streamlined experience:

Step 1:
Screening questions
Step 2:
Personal introduction
Step 3:
Resume and contact submission

If you are ready for travel-based industrial work with structured training and long-term growth, we invite you to apply.

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Application Process — Professional and Structured

Our hiring process is straightforward and respectful of your time.

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Engineered Combustion Equipment & Global Mobilization

SPIE Hotwork maintains an inventory of more than 400 portable combustion equipment systems staged strategically throughout the world.

This allows us to:

Our proprietary combustion systems are engineered specifically for industrial refractory drying and heatup applications.

Precision control. Predictable performance.

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glass furnace refractory dryout process specialists
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A Legacy of Experience — Hotwork USA Joins SPIE

SPIE Hotwork first pioneered proprietary combustion equipment for glass furnace heatup in the mid-1960s.

Over decades, the company expanded into steel, hydrocarbon processing, cement, nonferrous metals, and specialty industrial sectors — becoming the most experienced refractory drying and heating company worldwide.

Today, as part of SPIE, we combine global infrastructure with specialized industrial expertise — strengthening our ability to serve clients safely and efficiently.

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See Our Work in Action

Our projects take place in some of the most complex industrial environments in operation today.

The new Gallery section integrates live Instagram updates to showcase real-world project environments, equipment setups, and team operations.

Follow SPIE Hotwork for ongoing project highlights and field operations.

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The Cost of Getting Refractory Heatup Wrong

Improper refractory dryout can result in:

Early refractory failure

Early refractory failure

Unplanned shutdowns

Unplanned shutdowns

Production loss

Production loss

Equipment damage

Equipment damage

Increased safety risk

Increased safety risk

Partnering with experienced refractory dryout and heatup experts significantly reduces those risks.

When millions of dollars in production are on the line, expertise matters.

refractory dryout and heatup experts performing furnace startup
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Industry-Leading Training That Sets Us Apart

At SPIE Hotwork, our technicians are trained to perform safely and precisely during critical startup operations.

Our program includes 2 weeks of in-house training, 60–90 days of field training, and 40–50 hours of ongoing annual training, along with OSHA and MSHA certifications. This ensures every technician is fully prepared for refractory dryout and furnace heatup projects in demanding industrial environments.

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Work With Refractory Dryout and Heatup Experts Who Deliver

Whether you are planning:

Furnace commissioning

Furnace commissioning

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Planned outage

Planned outage

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Refractory installation startup

Refractory installation startup

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Glass furnace drain

Glass furnace drain

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Coke oven heatup

Coke oven heatup

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Boiler startup

Boiler startup

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Petrochemical unit commissioning

Petrochemical unit commissioning

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SPIE Hotwork is ready.

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Contact SPIE Hotwork Today

Do not leave commissioning to chance.

Contact Our Team

Let’s execute your next heatup safely, efficiently, and correctly — the first time.

Refractory Dryout and Heatup Experts
MSHA Trained Teams