Perryman increases titanium melting capacity

Michael Bradwell
Observer Reporter

Perryman Co. will more than double its current titanium melting capacity through the addition of two new furnaces, as it prepares to tap a larger segment of the aerospace industry.

The Houston-based company said in a press release the new furnaces will include one electron beam model and a vacuum arc remelt model. They will be located with Perryman’s existing melting facilities in California Technology Park in Coal Center.

The company said the furnace additions are a response to growing demand for its titanium products, buoyed by a record commercial aircraft backlog, along with consistent year- over-year growth in the medical sector.

“Our aerospace forecast model indicates there will be a need for additional melting capacity,” said Perryman President and Chief Executive Officer Frank Perryman. “With the increased capacity we will be in position to pursue segments of the aerospace market where we have not yet been a participant. We believe there’s more opportunity for us to leverage our fully integrated capabilities.”

He said the added capacity will also support planned growth in medical, additive/3D and other emerging markets.

Perryman announced two weeks ago that it is purchasing the former Caterpillar mining machinery manufacturing site in Houston, which is directly across from Perryman’s headquarters on Vandale Drive. The company said it plans to convert the 35-acre campus into an advanced manufacturing site.

Installation of the new furnaces will begin in late 2018 and are expected to be fully operational by mid-2019. Once complete, the company’s total melt capacity will exceed 26 million pounds, placing Perryman among the world’s largest melters of aerospace quality titanium.

Founded in 1988, Perryman Co. is headquartered in Houston, with office locations in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, London, Zurich, Tokyo and Xi’an. Perryman is an integrated titanium producer from melting of ingot to finished products. The company’s product portfolio includes ingot, bar, coil, fine wire, net shapes, and hot rolled products. The forge and fabrication group offers medical device contract manufacturing in a range of materials including plastics and titanium. A titanium global leader, Perryman supplies and services customers in the aerospace, medical, consumer, industrial, recreation and infrastructure markets.