Released on February 26, 2008

Fansteel/Wellman Dynamics, Creston, Iowa, has finished framing out a 5,200-sq.-ft. expansion that company officials said it will complete by this summer.

The expansion, which will add capacity to the company’s heat treat, x-ray and welding facilities, is being performed in response to new jobs the company has taken on for Bell Helicopter’s V-22 Osprey, a military aircraft that can take off and land like a helicopter but cruises at altitude like an airplane.

“We needed additional solution heat treat because of the [part’s] extensive heat treat cycles, as well as additional NDT and welding capacity,” said company President Dave Leitten. “We make some very complex aluminum castings.”

For the Osprey, Fansteel/Wellman will make about 40 each of 12 different aluminum parts on its nobake molding lines. The majority of the company’s product mix is composed of magnesium sand castings dedicated to the aerospace, defense and high performance racing markets.

According to Leitten, the project will be completed by June, and the walls and roof of the structure already have been built.

“The lead times on the expansion are getting in the large heat treat furnace and then the x-ray rooms, which are extensive,” he said.