Firth Rixson to Build New Closed-Die Plant

Firth Rixson Ltd. will build a 200,000-ft ² closed-die forging plant in Liberty County, GA, near Savannah. Details of the project and its cost are spare. One local news report indicated the company will begin hiring a total of about 200 workers "immediately." It will be Firth Rixson’s fourth closed-die operation, and the first in the U.S. "Firth Rixson Forgings LLC represents the continuation of Firth Rixson's strategic initiatives and growth plans,” CEO David C. Mortimer stated. “Our management and technical development approach consistently results in products that provide satisfaction to our customers, and operational results that satisfy our owners. We will leverage the synergy with our current closed-die operations in the United Kingdom to offer our products and service to a broadened market. We are extremely pleased to expand our business in the United States." The start-up date for Firth Rixson Forgings LLC has not been announced. Firth Rixson was acquired by Oak Hill Capital Partners from the Carlyle Group just over two years ago, for a reported $2 billion. Among its various operations, the group operates several forged ring plants in the U.S. Its forged products are supplied to mostly to aerospace markets, but also to, automotive, chemical manufacturing, defense, general engineering, off-highway vehicles, oil drilling and refining, power generation, and rail transportation industries.