EXHIBIT 32.1

                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
            SECTION 1350, CHAPTER 63 OF TITLE 18, UNITED STATES CODE,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

Pursuant to Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code, as adopted
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the undersigned, as
President and Chief Executive Officer of BTU International, Inc. (the
"Company"), does hereby certify that to his knowledge:

      1)    the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period
            ended October 3, 2004 (the "Report") fully complies with the
            requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
            Act of 1934; and

      2)    the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
            material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
            of the Company for the periods covered by the Report.

                                         /s/ Paul van der Wansem
                                         -----------------------
                                         Paul van der Wansem
                                         President, Chief Executive Officer and
                                         Chairman of the Board

Dated: November 17, 2004