Between May and December 2023, Nutec Bickley will manufacture and install five completely new furnaces for a U.S. manufacturer of high-quality alloy-steel and carbon-steel closed-die forgings. On-site work will be completed by Nutec Bickley one furnace at a time so that no more than one furnace will be out of operation in any given month to help the forging company keep its production schedules on track. The contract involves five lift-up furnaces: two for tempering and three for austenitizing. Each furnace will be fitted with a comprehensively modernized combustion system, control systems, complete fiber flues, and an exhaust and pressure control system. Operational temperature ranges will be 900-1950°F (480-1065°C) for the austenitizing furnaces and 840-1600°F (450-1065°C) for the tempering furnaces.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced that that Samkee Corp., a South Korean automotive supplier, plans to invest $128 million to open its first U.S. factory in Alabama through a project that will create 170 jobs in Tuskegee. Samkee is poised to begin construction on the new manufacturing facility in the Tuskegee Commerce Park. The company will serve as a Tier 1 supplier to Hyundai Motor Co. Founded in 1978, Samkee specializes in high-pressure die-cast aluminum components, including parts for engines, transmissions and electric vehicles. Parts production at the advanced casting facility in Macon County is expected to begin during 2024.

Nucor Corp. announced that the company’s Towers & Structures business unit will build a new transmission tower production plant in Decatur, Ala. The facility will be located adjacent to the Nucor Steel Decatur sheet steel mill and will be the first of two new tower production plants the company plans to build. The project is expected to create 200 full-time jobs.

United States Steel Corp. will supply General Motors (GM) with its advanced and sustainable steel solution called verdeX steel. According to U.S. Steel, verdeX steel is manufactured with up to 75% fewer emissions compared to traditional blast furnace production, is made with up to 90% recycled content and is endlessly recyclable without degradation. U.S. Steel’s verdeX steel will be manufactured at Big River Steel, a LEED Certified facility that also meets the ResponsibleSteel Standard site certification, along with a new advanced technology mill under construction in Osceola, Ark. The steel produced at the Big River Steel facility will begin shipping to GM manufacturing facilities starting this year.

Rio Tinto plans to provide responsibly sourced aluminum to the BMW Group’s vehicle production plant in Spartanburg, S.C., for use in body components starting in 2024. Low-carbon primary aluminum from Rio Tinto’s hydro-powered operations in Canada, combined with recycled content, could generate a reduction of up to 70% in CO₂ emissions compared to BMW Group’s benchmark for aluminum. The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will see technical experts working together on how to embed low-carbon solutions into BMW Group’s supply chain while ensuring the highest standards of vehicle quality are maintained.

Danieli received an order from Lucchini RS Group for a new open-die forging press for its site in Lovere, Bergamo, Italy. The press will broaden Lucchini RS Group’s product portfolio while supporting its efforts in energy and raw-material optimization and cost reduction. With a 7,000-ton force, the press will give shape to ingots for automotive and industrial applications. It will be the most powerful and energy-efficient open-die forging press among those in operation for Lucchini RS Group. The press will start operation by early 2024.

In a move to boost manufacturing in India, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) and Bharat Forge Ltd., announced a partnership to manufacture main landing-gear components, subassemblies and assemblies of remotely piloted aircraft. With over five decades of experience in manufacturing a wide range of high-performance, critical-safety components, Bharat Forge offers full-service supply capability from concept to product design, engineering, manufacturing, testing and validation. It the company, which is part of the Kalyani Group, manufactures structural and engine parts and subsystems for aircraft and engines for both civil and military applications. Its portfolio includes aircraft turbine and compressor manufacturing; high-end engine components like blades, discs and shafts; and airframe components, including aircraft landing gear. 

India’s Bharat Forge Ltd. commenced supply of forgings utilizing green steel manufactured and supplied by Saarloha Advanced Materials Private Ltd. (Saarloha), which is part of the Kalyani Group.

Strojmetal, a European manufacturer of aluminum chassis parts, installed a 2,500-ton scotch yoke press from Schuler subsidiary Farina. It is the centerpiece of a line that is currently in operation at Strojmetal's new site in Bruntál, Czech Republic. Thanks to the kinetic energy recovery system, the power consumption of the GLK-type press is reduced by up to 40%, while the output increased. The machine is part of a fully automated line that also includes several industrial ovens and robots as well as another 250-ton press provided by Schuler subsidiary Beutler Nova for deburring the forgings.

SMS group received an order from China’s Jiangsu Pacific Precision Forging Company for a fully automatic closed-die forging press. The 31.5 MN eccentric press will enable Pacific Precision to forge aluminum chassis components on a larger scale. SMS group will deliver the press and the tools, which are specially designed for aluminum forging. Pacific Precision Forging, a worldwide supplier of precision gears and gear shafts, has been mainly focusing on steel forging. This investment in aluminum forging provides Pacific Precision with access to the automotive market segment for more lightweight designs. Commissioning of the press is scheduled for the second quarter of 2024.