Hypertherm celebrates 40th anniversary

Hypertherm Inc., Hanover, N.H., a manufacturer of plasma arc metal cutting technology, celebrated its 40th anniversary in June.

The events began with Hypertherm founder Dick Couch and Vice President of Human Resources Barbara Couch celebrating with the company's associates and customers in Mexico City; Sao Paulo, Brazil; and a few other South American cities. They returned to the U.S. for a celebration at the company's headquarters in Hanover before trips to Europe and Asia.

Hypertherm dates back to 1968, when Couch—then a young engineering graduate—and associate Bob Dean worked out of a small, two-car garage. They discovered that by radially injecting water into a plasma cutting nozzle, they could create a narrower arc, making it possible to cut metal faster and more accurately than ever before, the company states. The discovery also nearly eliminated dross and double-arcing, according to the company.