Bodycote Expands U.S. Aerospace and Defense Footprint with Acquisition of Spectrum Thermal Processing

Bodycote, Macclesfield, UK, announced the acquisition of Spectrum Thermal Processing, a heat treatment provider based in Cranston, Rhode Island. The transaction closed on January 14, 2026.

Spectrum brings established Nadcap-accredited and ITAR-compliant capabilities to Bodycote’s North American operations, including vacuum heat treatment, low-pressure carburizing, and gas nitriding services. The acquisition strengthens Bodycote’s regional capacity in the northeastern United States and reinforces its ability to support aerospace, defense, space, and industrial customers.

The deal expands Bodycote’s presence in critical process categories that serve sectors with demanding quality and compliance requirements. With the addition of Spectrum’s facility and expertise, Bodycote continues to build on its position as the world’s largest provider of heat treatment and specialist thermal processing services.

Bodycote operates more than 160 facilities in 22 countries worldwide. The company noted that the acquisition aligns with its strategy of targeted growth in markets with high barriers to entry and strong long-term demand, particularly in the aerospace and defense sectors.

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One Minute Mentor: Phase Transformations using finite-element-method (FEM) model.

Heat treatment of tool steels means several phase transformations. Every phase transformation must be described by start amount, end amount, and kinetics (change of phases depending on temperature and time). Start and end amount can be calculated with different thermodynamic software. For example, Thermocalc is well validated for tool steels. All of the aforementioned data are used as input data for a finite-element-method (FEM) model. In any case the first step of simulation models is validation, which means the comparison of experiments and mathematical simulation. The better the input data and the better the model formulation, the better are the results and the fewer loops have to be made for an appropriate model (reference model). This reference model is then used for process optimization. All these steps of model development are illustrated in the figure. 

For more information, click on the link below (subscription required). Then scroll to Figure 15. R Schneider; R. Mesquita; W Schützenhöfer, Distortion in Tool Steels, ASM International, 2014  https://doi.org/10.31399/asm.hb.v04d.a0005980

 

One Minute Mentor: Distortion of Ledeburitic Cold-Work Tool Steels

The different effects of steel composition on the dimensional change of plates made of ledeburitic cold-work tool steels and a working hardness of 61 HRC can be taken from the figure. Typical representatives of the new generation of improved toughness 8-9%Cr-steels show slightly higher growth in dimension than the classical 12%Cr-D2 steel. 

The growth in thickness (in the rolling direction) is always significantly higher than in width, confirming again the generally known behavior. Salt-bath heat treatment results in higher distortion than various vacuum heat treatments with high-pressure gas quenching, but the results indicate that there is also a significant scatter for gas quenching depending on the detailed quenching conditions. 

For more information, click on the link below (subscription required). Then scroll to Figure 12. R Schneider; R. Mesquita; W Schützenhöfer, Distortion in Tool Steels, ASM International, 2014  https://doi.org/10.31399/asm.hb.v04d.a0005980

Nextracker and JM Steel expand Pennsylvania facility to boost U.S. solar energy supply chain

Nextracker, Philadelphia, PA, has announced a major expansion at their Leetsdale, Pennsylvania steel facility, in collaboration with JENNMAR subsidiary JM Steel. This expansion has successfully tripled the factory’s capacity to support the growing demand for solar energy in Pennsylvania and the broader mid-Atlantic region.

The Leetsdale facility, originally built during World War II to produce materials for tank landing ships, has been transformed into a state-of-the-art manufacturing hub for critical steel components needed for solar projects. With the completion of the latest enhancements, the facility now boasts a production capacity of 4 GW, significantly bolstering the U.S. supply chain for renewable energy.

The expansion not only increases the facility’s output but also underscores JENNMAR’s commitment to the solar energy sector, with investments surpassing $100 million over the past four years. Tony Calandra, CEO of JENNMAR, highlighted the historic nature of the site and its significance to the community, “We are proud to announce the expansion of this historic steel factory in Pittsburgh—which we have been honored to call our home for more than 100 years. This partnership with Nextracker allows for significant investment in advanced manufacturing and brings high-quality jobs back to our communities.”

The project has created 60 new manufacturing jobs and is a key component of Nextracker’s strategy to enhance its U.S. manufacturing footprint, which has seen the company add 20 new or expanded U.S. manufacturing facilities since 2021. The expanded capacity allows Nextracker to supply over 25 GW of U.S. solar tracker capacity annually.

The expansion represents a strategic step towards securing a robust U.S. supply chain in solar energy, critical to meeting the energy demands of the future and enhancing the economic and environmental health of the region.

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Quintus Technologies supplies high pressure Flexform press to airframe manufacturer

Quintus Technologies, Vasteras, Sweden, announced that they will supply a high pressure fluid cell press to France’s LAUAK Group, a Tier 1 supplier to the aerospace industry. The press will be installed at the LAUAK Aerostructures factory in Grandola, Portugal, in September 2023. 

Reaffirming its continued commitment to productivity enhancement, LAUAK selected the Quintus model QFC 0.7×1.8-800 press with high pressure technology to bolster its manufacturing efficiency. “The forming press is undoubtedly at the heart of sheet metal production,” says Mikel Charritton, LAUAK Group Managing Director. “Especially in the context of the current aerospace ramp-up, in particular the A320, A350, and B737 programs, LAUAK’s capital equipment investments are strongly influenced by the imperatives of competitiveness. This press significantly increases and secures our production capacity.” Quintus’s proprietary hydroforming process requires only one rigid tool half, an innovation that not only generates significant tool cost savings but also eliminates several forming operations, intermediate heat treatments, and operator dependencies. 

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Constellium joins EPA’s Energy Star program as an industrial partner

Constellium, Paris,  announced that they are participating in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Energy Star program as an Industrial Partner.

The Energy Star program is a voluntary initiative that helps businesses protect the environment by promoting energy-efficient products, homes, buildings and manufacturing plants, as well as save on energy costs. As an Industrial Partner, Constellium will work closely with the EPA to identify and implement energy-saving strategies and technologies across its manufacturing operations in the United States.

Constellium has already taken significant steps to reduce its energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The company has set a target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 vs 2021, and reports its results annually in its sustainability report. 

https://www.constellium.com/news/constellium-joins-epas-energy-star-r-program-as-an-industrial-partner