Weldbend Corp., a manufacturer of carbon steel fittings and flanges, started installation on what it says is the largest cold-form Tee-Press in the Americas and Western Europe at its manufacturing facility in Argo, Ill. The new press, which weighs 1.2 million pounds and contains 5 miles of wire, will significantly expand Weldbend’s forging capabilities. It will be able to forge up to a 20-inch XS Tee with material grades including Y70. The company can currently cold forge a 6-inch Tee. Weldbend’s products are used in mechanical systems and oil-and-gas pipelines.

“This cold-formed Tee-Press has a new, innovative design that deploys the latest technologies and far surpasses the capabilities of traditional Tee-Presses,” said Weldbend President James Coulas. “We believe this is the largest investment by an American fittings manufacturer in this type of production equipment in recent years.”

The concrete foundation for the Tee-Press includes 80,000 pounds of rebar.