Bodycote is planning major strategic investments in North America to accelerate growth of its hot isostatic pressing (HIP) division. The U.K.-based company is adding capacity to its facilities in Camas, Wash., and Andover, Mass. The investment in capacity, valued at approximately $20 million to be spent over the next 18 months, will include the addition of a new Giga-HIP vessel and will enable Bodycote to capitalize on the rapidly growing demand for HIP product-fabrication business.           

In other Bodycote news, the company signed a five-year deal with Precision Castparts Corp. (PCC) to provide HIP and heat-treatment services for investment castings from PCC’s facilities in Oregon. Bodycote also announced the signing of a five-year contract with ZF Lenksysteme to provide heat-treatment services in China for heavy-truck steering components.