Bodycote expands US HIP and heat treatment capacity
Bodycote, Macclesfield, England, UK, has announced a series of strategic investments totalling several million dollars in advanced processing technologies and facility upgrades across its East Coast USA network.
The programme includes new vacuum heat treatment equipment, expanded Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) capacity, and additional specialist Powder Metallurgy and Additive Manufacturing support capabilities. The investments increase capacity and improve operational efficiency across several Nadcap-accredited facilities, enabling aerospace and defence customers to scale production, reduce supply chain complexity and meet programme schedules. They also form part of Bodycote’s wider capacity and capability expansion programme across North America, which includes the opening of its Fairfield, Ohio, facility and the acquisition of Spectrum Thermal Processing.
“These investments reflect our ongoing commitment to the high-growth, high-value aerospace and defence sectors,” stated Heidi McNary, President, Global Aerospace, Defense and Energy at Bodycote. “Heat treatment and thermal processing play a vital role in improving the properties of metals and alloys and extending the service life of mission-critical components. By investing in capacity and capability today, we are ensuring we can support customer growth for years to come.”
As part of the investment programme, Bodycote has installed a new two-bar, front-loading vacuum furnace at its Roselle, New Jersey, facility. Vacuum heat treatment is carried out in a controlled vacuum environment, preventing oxidation and contamination while improving the strength, durability and performance of critical metal components.
The furnace has completed installation and commissioning and is now available for production, increasing capacity for aerospace, defence and industrial gas turbine programmes.
Bodycote has also modernised its Andover, Massachusetts, facility, strengthening its Powdermet product fabrication and HIP-based metal densification capabilities. The site designs and fabricates near-net-shape canisters used to contain metal powder prior to HIP processing, enabling the production of complex, high-integrity components while reducing reliance on conventional casting and forging supply chains.
The Andover facility has undergone a lean transformation to remove underutilised assets, improve workflow and create additional space for future expansion. According to the company, these changes are expected to reduce turnaround times while positioning the facility as a strategic centre for advanced Powder Metallurgy and densification services.
Further investment has also been made at Bodycote’s Greenville, South Carolina, facility, with additional HIP and heat treatment capacity installed. Located in a growing USA aerospace and defence manufacturing region, the site provides specialist processing for high-performance metal components, including additively manufactured metal parts.
For Additive Manufacturing customers, the Greenville facility offers an integrated post-processing route. Bodycote can densify Additive Manufactured metal components using HIP, perform precision wire EDM operations and return components ready for the next stage of production or end-use qualification. According to the company, this approach simplifies supply chains, reduces supplier hand-offs and shortens the route from manufacture to application.
McNary explained, “Bodycote provides consistent, reliable and sustainable heat treatment and specialist thermal processing services from a network of accredited plants across North America. These investments strengthen our ability to support customer growth, providing the capacity, capability and technical expertise needed to meet the evolving demands of aerospace and defence programmes.”
