Bodycote invests more than $30 million to support Ohio's growing aerospace sector

Bodycote, the world's leading provider of advanced heat treatment and specialist thermal processing services, has invested more than $30 million across two facilities in Ohio, expanding its capacity and capabilities in response to growing demand from aerospace and defence manufacturers in the region.

The investments at Fairfield and London strengthen Bodycote's position within a rapidly developing aerospace manufacturing cluster. Alongside its established aerospace and defence industry, Ohio is attracting growing investment in areas including advanced air mobility, aircraft electrification and autonomous flight.

Bodycote has invested $12 million in relocating and expanding its former Cincinnati operation into a new facility in Fairfield, increasing vacuum heat treatment and brazing capacity and creating room for further growth. At London, approximately $20 million has been invested in a new large-scale Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) vessel that will substantially increase processing capacity for high-volume aerospace applications.

"These investments demonstrate our confidence in the long-term growth of aerospace and defence and in Ohio's increasingly important role within the industry," says Heidi McNary, President, Global Aerospace, Defense and Energy at Bodycote. "Ohio has a long-established aerospace heritage, but we are also seeing a new generation of aerospace manufacturing taking shape across the region. These developments are creating new requirements throughout the aerospace supply chain. By investing in capacity and capability today, we are positioning Bodycote close to our customers and ensuring we can continue to support their growth as aerospace technologies and production requirements evolve."

Bodycote's relocation to Fairfield places them closer to aerospace manufacturers and suppliers located in cities like Dayton and Columbus. As part of the relocation, Bodycote increased its number of vacuum furnaces, expanding available capacity to process higher volumes and larger components while providing greater production flexibility to support critical customer production schedules.

Two-storey Bodycote commercial building in New Fairfield, Ohio with large glass windows and empty car park under partly cloudy sky. Much of the existing equipment was also comprehensively modernised during the move. Furnaces were upgraded, while new centralised monitoring and control provides enhanced visibility of furnace data. The additional space also creates opportunities to add liquid penetrant inspection, tensile testing and other capabilities over time, enabling multiple processes to be completed under one roof.

Bodycote has also invested in its London, Ohio facility. The site specialises in Hot Isostatic Pressing, a process that uses high temperature and isostatic gas pressure to improve the density, integrity and mechanical properties of critical metal components.

The approximately $20 million investment centres on a new "mega HIP" vessel, together with rapid and jet cooling functionality and high-pressure capability. The equipment will be operational from the beginning of October 2026.

The new vessel will significantly increase throughput at London, enabling Bodycote to process several thousand aerospace components during a single cycle compared with hundreds using its existing smaller vessels. The additional scale will support high-volume jet-engine applications while creating capacity for a broader range of aerospace work.

"The Fairfield and London investments strengthen our ability to support our customers," adds Antony Funston, Vice President, Operations, HIP & PHT, Midwest at Bodycote. "Aerospace manufacturers need capacity, reliability and increasingly close technical collaboration throughout their supply chains. By expanding our capabilities in Ohio, we can provide that support closer to our customers while creating the capacity to grow alongside them for many years to come."