Released on February 18, 2011

Bradken, Newcastle, Australia, announced it has begun a $23 million project to expand the casting and inspection areas of its Tacoma, Wash., metalcasting facility.

The plant, referred to as Bradken Energy, will see the addition of a 30,000 sq. ft. casting bay the company expects to triple its large casting pouring capability while freeing up capacity for small to medium sized casting. Bradken will also add a 15,000 sq. ft. finishing bay dedicated to the upgrade and inspection of large castings.

“The expansion is in the permitting process, and we are currently demolishing some old storage facilities to clear the site for one of the new bays,” said Bradken Energy President Stephen Gear. “We anticipate the addition of about 70 new positions once the expansion is completed.”

The expansion of inspection capabilities will include a dial energy linear accelerator that will double the facility’s radiographic capacity and be dedicated to the upgrade and inspection of large castings. The company said the new casting bay was added to meet increased demand for castings both with and without radiographic requirements.

The announcement of the expansion came shortly after Bradken announced an $18.1 million capacity expansion of its Amite, La., facility in early February.