Australia-based Bradken announced an $18.1 million project to expand its Amite, La., foundry. Major investments planned for the expansion include heat-treatment capacity, mixers, blast tool upgrades, a 50-ton crane used for moving large pieces of raw steel into the melting hoppers, and an expanded foundry bay and metal refining capabilities. The company hopes to complete the project within the next 18 months. The expansion will allow Bradken-Amite to increase its capabilities and capacity to produce customized steel castings.

This expansion, which includes extending the foundry building and installing new molding equipment and furnaces, will result in the addition of approximately 170 new workers. Bradken-Amite casts and machines large, complex steel shapes weighing up to 55,000 pounds for customers supplying the mining, construction, dredging, oil-and-gas and marine industries.