Bodycote set to commission new 'mega' hot isostatic pressing unit

Heat treatment and specialist thermal processing services provider Bodycote announced on Wednesday that its hot isostatic pressing (HIP) location in Sint Niklaas, Belgium will take delivery of a new ‘Mega-HIP’ unit, which will be operational by the end of 2018.

The FTSE 250 company said the new high pressure, high temperature Mega-HIP is Nadcap-capable to meet the growing demand of the European aerospace market over the next five years and beyond.

It said the investment would “significantly increase” Bodycote's Nadcap HIP capacity globally, in addition to the substantial increase in Nadcap capacity which Bodycote completed in 2017.

“These recent investments highlight Bodycote's commitment to expand its global HIP capacity to meet market requirements,” the company’s board said in its statement.

“In addition to aerospace, Bodycote HIP serves clients around the world in markets as diverse as medical, power generation, marine, nuclear, automotive and electronics with both HIP services and its ‘Powdermet’ technologies.”

The board said the recently-launched Powdermet technologies incorporated new, patent-pending techniques that combined 3D printing with well-established net shape and near net shape (NNS) techniques.

“This new hybrid technology dramatically reduces the manufacturing time and production cost of a part compared to producing the same part using 3D printing alone.”

The board added that Bodycote operates the “world's largest” HIP equipment network and was continuing to invest in recognition of growing demand for HIP technology.

“Having established HIP expertise over several decades, Bodycote has over 50 HIP vessels of varying sizes in multiple locations.

“Processing capability can accommodate components which are nominally up to 2m diameter by 3.5 m high; and weighing 0.1kg to over 30,000kg.

“In addition to standard quality and environmental accreditations, Bodycote's HIP facilities also hold ASTM and NORSOK accreditations.”