Haimer, Boeing Portland partner with OMIC R&D

Boeing’s main production plant for metal machining in Portland, Oregon, is sponsoring a joint membership with German tooling company Haimer at the Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center Research and Development (OMIC R&D) in Scappoose.

William Gerry, global technology program manager for Boeing Research and Technology says, “We know [Haimer] as a high-quality tool holding, shrinking, balancing, and presetting technologies company that Boeing has relied on heavily and exclusively for this service. Haimer can support OMIC R&D and its members with state-of-the-art technology and Industry 4.0 connectivity solutions.”

Haimer Group President Andreas Haimer says, “The investment and membership at OMIC R&D is a clear commitment to the community, our customers, and the entire manufacturing industry in Oregon, the Pacific Northwest, and American manufacturing.”

OMIC R&D has 17 manufacturing industry partners and three Oregon public universities to develop advanced metals manufacturing technologies through its collaborative activities. http://www.boeing.com; https://www.haimer-usa.com

Novelis to acquire Aleris

Aluminum rolling and recycling firm Novelis Inc. plans to buy rolled aluminum products supplier Aleris Corp. for approximately $2.6 billion.

Novelis hopes to acquire Aleris’ 13 manufacturing facilities across North America, Asia, and Europe, giving the combined company 37 facilities across 11 countries, with approximately 16,500 employees.

In May 2018, Aleris obtained a multi-year contract to supply aluminum plate and sheet for Boeing’s commercial airplanes. In October 2017, Aleris officials announced a multi-year agreement to supply aluminum flat-rolled products for various Bombardier aircraft programs. China’s Zhongwang USA LLC’s offer to purchase Aleris was withdrawn in 2017 after the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) raised concerns about the transaction.

Novelis officials expect it to take 9 to 15 months to win needed regulatory and shareholder approvals. The companies will continue to operate separately until the close, when they will integrate Cleveland, Ohio-based Aleris into Novelis, which will remain headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Since 2010, Aleris has been owned and controlled by investors from Oaktree Capital Management L.P. and Apollo Management L.P.

Novelis is a subsidiary of Hindalco Industries Ltd., flagship metals company of Aditya Birla Group, based in Mumbai, India.https://www.aleris.com; http://novelis.com

Hypertherm celebrates 50 yrs, 150,000 hrs community service

Employees at industrial cutting systems and software manufacturer Hypertherm prepared dinner for homeless adults at Hixon House, a shelter run by the local nonprofit Upper Valley Haven, to mark 150,000 hours of community service since 2003 and celebrate the Hanover, New Hampshire company’s 50th anniversary.

“We are thrilled and proud to celebrate this momentous occasion at the Upper Valley Haven, one of our strongest and longest strategic partners,” says Stacey Chiocchio, Hypertherm’s community citizenship manager. “This achievement is a testament to the work of all Hypertherm associates worldwide who have volunteered throughout the years.”

Hypertherm associates usually cook dinner for Hixon House residents once a month. They celebrated the milestone in July. https://www.hypertherm.com