Gefertec LLC will open its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Danville, Va. The $1.9 million project is expected to create eight new jobs. Germany’s Gefertec says it is the only company worldwide that provides 3DMP technology, which uses wire-arc-welding-based metal additive manufacturing to create near-net-shape components. The company also claims that the technology can simplify the process of conventional manufacturing to three steps: warehousing, manufacturing and then finishing with the integration of an optional milling system. The Danville facility will produce Gefertec’s 3DMP machines.

Novelis Inc. announced a collaboration with the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) to establish the Novelis Innovation Hub at Georgia Tech. The company will invest $2.5 million to initiate research, faculty, student and educational program support. The collaboration will promote aluminum research, innovative business models and related educational endeavors at Georgia Tech and will serve as a cross-functional hub connecting Novelis’ technical and business innovators with Georgia Tech’s students and faculty.

Primetals Technologies will supply BaoWu Aluminium Technology Ltd. (BaoWu) an aluminum hot-rolling mill for the production of heavy plate and strip. The mill will have an annual production capacity of 300,000 metric tons and will be capable of processing all aluminum alloys in groups 1xxx to 8xxx, including aluminum alloys for aerospace and automotive applications. Commissioning id scheduled for the second half of 2020.

Platte River Equity announced the sale of its portfolio company PRV Metals LLC to Tinicum L.P., a New York-based private investment firm. Through its two operating subsidiaries, Sierra Alloys (Irwindale, Calif.) and TSI Titanium (Derry, Pa.), PRV Metals manufactures and supplies forged and rolled titanium, stainless steel products and other specialty alloys to the commercial aerospace, defense, medical, energy and industrial sectors. The company specializes in flat and round bar and plate products, and it performs in-house heat treating, hot rolling, forging, conditioning and machining.

Wisconsin Oven Corp. shipped a four-zone conveyor oven to a manufacturer in the oil-and-gas industry. The electrically heated oven has the capability to heat 25 parts per hour with a heating time of 48 minutes and a cooling time of 12 minutes. Each chamber in this four-zone oven has a maximum temperature rating of 752°F (400°C) and dimensions of 1 foot, 8 inches wide x 2 feet long x 6 inches high. According to Wisconsin Oven, the oven will be used to melt a high-temperature polymer into a U-shape ring that houses electronic components.

Aalberts N.V. reached an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of Applied Process, which has three locations in the United States: Livonia, Mich.; Oshkosh, Wis.; and Fort Smith, Ark. Applied Process specializes in the austempering process, a heat-treatment technology to solve complex engineering problems. Most of the business is derived from engineering conversions, providing conceptual design and engineering assistance.

GE Additive announced the opening of its Arcam EBM (electron beam melting) Center of Excellence in Gothenburg, Sweden. The 15,000-square-meter facility, which has the capacity for up to 500 employees, triples the floor space of Arcam EBM’s previous site. Having production, R&D, training facilities and support functions all housed under one roof will allow GE Additive to utilize lean manufacturing to increase production capacity.

BlueScope, an Australian steel producer, has approved the expansion of its North Star facility in Delta, Ohio. The company will add an additional 850,000 metric tons per year of steelmaking capacity. The $700 million project is expected to begin in mid-2022 with full ramp-up scheduled for approximately 18 months later. In addition, the expansion has potential future growth of a further 500,000 metric tons per year. According to BlueScope, the expansion offers long-term sustainable earnings growth from a high-quality asset.

Premier/BeaverMatic recently manufactured and shipped spray/dunk washers from Premier’s new 40,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Farmington Hills, Mich. The equipment was delivered to an international aerospace firm in the southeastern U.S. The spray/dunk washers are designed to clean 1,250 pounds of heat-treated material using a full immersion oscillating dunk cycle, propeller agitation and a separate high-pressure, with solution, spray cycle. The washers are fabricated entirely of 304 stainless steel and include safety light curtains, powered access doors, electric heating, automatic water makeup, liquid level switches, extensive heat shielding and guarding to protect plant personnel from incidental contact with hot surfaces. 

Can-Eng Furnaces International Ltd. was awarded a contract from a research organization for the supply of a rapid-heating furnace. It will be used for lightweight hot stamping and formed aluminum automotive component product development. This organization will integrate the furnace with existing equipment to support both automotive manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers throughout North America for the development of safety-critical lightweight structural components.