ATI Allvac earlier this week commissioned its recently expanded Richburg, S.C., high performance metals long products rolling facility. The expansion significantly enlarges the facility's operating capacity and increases value-added process capabilities including coil processing.

Facility improvements include a dedicated rotary forge system for onsite production of re-roll billet. A larger induction furnace system, new instrumentation and new mill control systems were added to the state-of-the-art continuous rolling mill. An eight-stand module on the rolling mill is designed to dramatically improve size control and improve overall yields. A new cut-and-bundle system, a new coil banding system, and a new coil finishing facility were also added.

The expansion increases the number of services ATI Allvac offers on products such as nickel-base superalloys, titanium and titanium-base alloys, and premium specialty steels. The enhanced rolling mill is engineered to improve product quality and reduce product cycle times in order to meet the changing requirements of ATI Allvac's customers and global markets.

In comments during the commissioning ceremony, Pat Hassey, ATI's Chairman, President and CEO said, "The Richburg facility has been a focal point in ATI Allvac's strategy to both maintain and grow its position in the global marketplace for high performance metals. Significant growth potential exists in many markets including aerospace, oil and gas, power generation, transportation, corrosion and biomedical."

ATI Allvac, an Allegheny Technologies company, is based in Monroe, N.C. Through its seven manufacturing facilities in the United States and Europe, ATI Allvac is a leading producer of high performance metals for the aerospace, marine, oil and gas, chemical processing, biomedical, transportation, and nuclear industries. ATI Allvac produces products in the form of ingot, forging billet, extrusion billet, forging bar, machining bar, forged rectangles, rolled rectangles, custom rolled shapes, cold drawn bar, rod, and wire rod.

Allegheny Technologies Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified specialty materials producers in the world with revenues of approximately $2.2 billion during the 12-month period ending June 30, 2004. High-value products include nickel-based and cobalt-based alloys and superalloys, titanium and titanium alloys, specialty steels, super stainless steel, exotic alloys, tungsten materials, and highly engineered strip and Precision Rolled Strip(R) products. Commodity specialty materials include stainless steel sheet and plate, silicon and tool steels, and forgings and castings.