EXPANSION OF HIP CAPACITY

RNS Number : 8613X

Bodycote PLC

22 February 2012

 



22^nd February 2012

BODYCOTE INVESTS IN MAJOR EXPANSION OF CAPACITY IN HOT ISOSTATIC PRESSING (HIP)

MACCLESFIELD (U.K.) Bodycote (LSE:BOY), the world's largest thermal processing services provider, today announces plans to accelerate growth of its Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) division with major strategic investments in North America.  

Bodycote is adding capacity to its facilities in Camas, Washington and Andover, Massachusetts, including the addition of a new 'Giga-HIP' vessel. The investment in North American capacity will ensure that Bodycote continues to capture growth in the aerospace, defence and energy markets and will enable it to capitalise on the rapidly growing demand for HIP product fabrication business.

Bodycote has entered into contracts totalling over $20m in investment over the next 18 months. With the new 'Giga HIP' class of very large equipment, Bodycote strengthens its position as the world's leading network of HIP equipment with a 'fleet' of more than 50 units.

HIP is an industrial process, which combines very high temperature and pressure with inert gas to eliminate porosity in metal castings and consolidates powder metal into fully dense materials. Bodycote's HIP division incorporates two major HIP offerings: HIP Services and HIP Product Fabrication. HIP Services comprises processes such as densification of materials including metal castings and ceramics. HIP Product Fabrication brings together Bodycote's powder metallurgy near-net-shape (NNS) and HIP bonding capability.

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About Bodycote

With more than 170 accredited facilities in 27 countries, Bodycote is the world's largest provider of thermal processing services. Through heat treatment, metal joining, surface technology and Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP), Bodycote improves the properties of metals and alloys, extending the life of vital components for a wide range of industries, including aerospace, defence, automotive, power generation, oil & gas, construction, medical and transportation. Customers in all of these industries have entrusted their products to Bodycote's care for more than 30 years. For more information, visit www.bodycote.com.

For further information, please contact:

Bodycote plc
Stephen Harris, Chief Executive               [phone]
David Landless, Group Finance Director   [phone]

FTI Consulting

Richard Mountain

Susanne Yule                                        [phone]

 

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