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Swiss processing equipment maker builds U.S. assembly plant

Bystronic Inc. has expanded its U.S. footprint with a 165,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The company opened the plant in late October, which support product demonstrations and sales activities, service, training, spare parts, new equipment assembly and refurbishing of used equipment.

“Locating our manufacturing center here allows us to assemble machines in the U.S. and reduce the need to import them from Europe,” Robert St. Aubin, Bystronic’s president for the Americas, said at the opening ceremony. “This will significantly cut delivery and shipping costs, which is an important advantage, given the current global supply chain constraints. This new headquarters and manufacturing facility is expected to accommodate the company’s projected year-over-year employee growth target of 20 percent for vital operations, manufacturing, administration and support, and project management.” Bystronic employs more than 200 employees in the U.S.

With the assembly of laser cutting machines in the U.S., Bystronic is continuing to develop its market presence and operations network. The next-generation BySmart Fiber 3015 and 4020 laser cutting machines, now with 8kW and 10kW fiber laser power, are the first machines to be locally produced in North America, Europe, and Asia, which strengthens Bystronic’s global product availability and supply chain diversification.

Bystronic’s customer Experience Center and smart factory will demonstrate the company’s entire range of sheet metal processing solutions. Customers will be able to see the latest technologies for laser cutting, integrated automation, storage solutions, flexible bending systems, tube and profile processing solutions. In addition, Bystronic’s software packages covers the entire sheet metal processing chain, smart services. Customized live demonstrations for the software applications are also available.

“The vast majority of Bystronic’s product and service innovations are co-created with customers, suppliers, startups and other partners,” Christoph Rüttimann, chief technology officer of Bystronic, said at the factory opening. “Our goal for the future is to produce more of our sustainable technologies here and continue to help our customers to be at the forefront of world-based competition.”

Rocky Mountain Steel opens solar energy plant

Lightsource bp, together with Xcel Energy and Evraz North America, recently dedicated the 300-megawatt Bighorn Solar project. Lightsource bp, a 50/50 joint venture with British Petroleum, unveiled the solar array that will help reduce emissions and support more than 1,000 jobs at Evraz’s Pueblo, Colorado, steel mill. Evraz claims this is the world’s first steel mill to be powered largely by solar energy. The project is primarily located on 1,800 acres Evraz’s Rocky Mountain Steel property. It is the largest on-site solar facility in the U.S. dedicated to a single customer, with more than 750,000 solar panels providing nearly all the plant’s annual electricity demand. This will enable the mill to produce some of the world’s greenest steel products.

Russel Metals to acquire Boyd Metals

Russel Metals Inc., Toronto, plans to acquire a group of companies that operate as Boyd Metals, for $110 million, subject to closing adjustments. Boyd operates five service centers in Fort Smith and Little Rock, Arkansas; Joplin, Missouri; Oklahoma City, and Tyler, Texas. Boyd distributes carbon and stainless steels, aluminum and related industrial products. Boyd performs metal processing services and has expanded its capabilities over the past several years.

Worthington inks deal to buy Tempel Steel

The steel processing division of Worthington Industries Inc., Columbus, Ohio, signed an agreement to acquire Tempel Steel Co., Chicago, which makes precision motor and transformer laminations for the electrical steel market. Founded in 1945, Tempel has production facilities in Chicago, Burlington, Ontario, Changzhou, China, Chennai, India, and Monterrey, Mexico. The company employs 1,500 people.

Camfil breaks ground

Camfil Air Pollution Control, a manufacturer of industrial dust, fume and mist collection systems for industrial processes, broke ground for its new manufacturing and office facility in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Camfil will invest $37 million in the facility, and add 67 new jobs within five years. Scheduled to open in fall 2022, the 290,000-square-foot facility will include space to manufacture industrial dust collectors and filter cartridges, sales offices, warehousing and shipping.

Aluminum Association names new leader

Charles “Chuck” Johnson will begin work as president and CEO of the Aluminum Association, Arlington, Virginia, on Jan. 3. Johnson previously spent more than four years as president and CEO of the International Safety Equipment Association. Prior to that, he served for 19 years at the Aluminum Association, including as vice president for policy.

Combilift wins family business award

Material handling equipment builder Combilift, Monagan, Ireland, was named Family Business of the Year by Energia, the largest supplier of 100 percent green energy in Ireland. Energia’s biannual awards celebrate generations of families who work together and this year’s ceremony focused on honoring businesses who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and resilience throughout the Covid-19 pandemic while continuing to thrive and grow.

MC Machinery adds sales rep

Gene Deych has joined MC Machinery, Elk Grove Village, Illinois, as a regional sales representative for lasers, automation equipment and press brakes. Deych will assist customers across Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Southeast Idaho.

GM invests in metal stamping plant

General Motors plans to invest more than $46 million at its Parma, Ohio, metal stamping operation. This investment will be used for equipment upgrades and to prepare the facility to support future product programs. Parma produces sheet metal stampings and assemblies for multiple GM vehicle platforms. The renovation work has already begun.

Heidtman changes subsidiary name

Heidtman Steel Products Inc. has renamed its wholly owned entity, TNT Pipe and Tube LLC to Heidtman Tubular Products LLC. The change is intended to better reflect Heidtman Steel’s full ownership of the entity and its commitment to the tubular steel business.

COE ships processing line

COE Press Equipment, Sterling Heights, Michigan, recently shipped a 12-inch-wide coil processing line to Elkay Manufacturing Co.’s Savanna, Illinois, plant. Elkay makes stainless steel sinks, faucets, drinking fountains and bottle fillers. The new line is designed to process stainless steel coils up to 12 inches wide with yields up to 43,000 psi. It can handle material from 0.02 inch to 0.160 inch thick.

Equipment seller names CEO

Jim Gesner was named CEO of Saw Service of America, Pico Rivera, California, following the retirement of founder and CEO Lynn Gesner. The company sells and services all major brands of band saws, circular saws, iron workers, cutting systems, bending, rolling and fabrication machines.