6/9/2014 11:22:00 AM
HEADLINES
Titanium Fastener Producer Relocates to U.S.
Fastener manufacturer Allied Titanium, Inc. moved its western headquarters to Sequim, WA.
Founded in 2007, Allied Titanium is based in Delaware with manufacturing facilities in China. The company offers over 93,000 different products.
“One of the big benefits of locating in Sequim is that the city is on the forefront of sustainability, i.e., the reuse water system,” stated CEO Christopher Greimes. “Titanium is the ultimate green material and we felt we would fit right in, building a state of the art factory in harmony with the Earth, that other companies can model.”
Greimes said the company spent three years researching locations for their first factory in America.
In 2012, Allied Titanium leased a 20 acre farm in Sequim to use as a staging area for the future establishment of the operation. They moved accounting, upper management and shipping and receiving to the property.
In December 2013, Allied Titanium purchased 5.5 acres at 1400 E. Washington Street in Sequim. Since then the company has moved its sales team and is in the process of moving shipping and receiving, as well as setting up the fabrication shop, which will support the construction and maintenance of a new factory at that location.
Greimes said his company settled on Sequim for many reasons, including: affordable electrical capacity; high internet speed; employable workforce; great education system; clean water and the reuse water available for industrial use; low crime; affordable land and cost of living; and close proximity to a port.
Allied Titanium plans to manufacture products in Sequim that meet or beat the current costs of manufacturing in China. The factory will use cutting-edge technology and robotics and employ between 50 to 150 workers, including sales staff, accounting, information technology, welders, fabricators, computer numerical control (CNC) operators, and shipping and receiving personnel.
The company’s marine products will be fabricated using high speed robotic waterjet machines and wirefeed tig welders; welded products such as tanks; and Grade 5 titanium fasteners that can be produced at a high speed on automatic screw machines.
Titanium is strong, lighter than steel and immune from rust and corrosion – which is why China and Russia currently use it in their aerospace industries and military.
But until recently the use of titanium was limited due to the expense of materials and the high cost of refining. As steel prices rise and smelting technology advances, titanium becomes a more affordable option for the military and marine and aerospace industries.
“Operating our facility in China opened our eyes to the positive impact that affordable titanium is having on China,” Greimes said.
“America needs affordable titanium now. Fuel costs continue to rise, and without affordable titanium, our military cannot be competitive.” ©2014 GlobalFastenerNews.com
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