Calderys commited significant capital investments in America

2023-12-20

Dec. 19, 2023 - In 2023, following its combination with Calderys and its rebranding as HWI, a member of Calderys, HWI, benefited from numerous significant investments demonstrating the Group’s commitment to global competitiveness and development in the Americas region. These capital investments, as well as the successful integration of Calderys and HWI, now the brand for the Americas region of the Group, benefit customers, company growth, and industry advancements.

In less than a year - under new ownership and combining with Calderys - HWI, a Member of Calderys, is fulfilling its commitment to invest in its operations with consequential upgrades at numerous North American manufacturing facilities. Additional investment projects are planned for 2024.  Investments across the Americas reinforce Calderys Group’s global competitiveness and demonstrate the company’s plans for continued advancements. The past year marked a new era in global refractories, with Calderys and HarbisonWalker International (now HWI, a Member of Calderys) joining forces as a high-growth, customer-centric refractories provider with global scale.

Michel Cornelissen, President and CEO of Calderys, said, “Our investments in the Americas underscore the value we place in our deep, longtime relationships with customers in the region, particularly with our many steel industry partnerships. These investments demonstrate our plans for continued growth and our leadership as a combined organization.”

Ross Wilkin, Calderys Senior Vice President of Americas, added, “In less than a year under new ownership and since combining with Calderys, we’ve successfully integrated our Americas operations with the former Calderys operations in the US and in Brazil, enhanced our products and services portfolio for customers, and completed massive investments in our manufacturing facilities. We are well-positioned for the future.”

HWI’s North American investments help to support customers’ growth and energy transition needs by elevating capacity, product quality, and innovation. 

Upgrades in 2023 include:

  * Completion of Overall Equipment Effectiveness Initiative (OEE) production software upgrades across HWI’s highest volume plants: Alabama1; South Point, Ohio; Vandalia and Fulton, Missouri; White Cloud, Michigan; and Windham, Ohio.

  * Monolithics expansion investments at HWI’s White Cloud, Michigan plant to increase capacity by 12,500 MT and robotics upgrades for hydraulic presses.

  * Expansion of HWI’s Lowellville, Ohio facility to increase capacity from 300 MT to 2,000 MT. 

  * New press installations in Windham, Ohio, and Vandalia, Missouri, facilities to increase capacity. 

  * New grinding equipment installation at the Mexico, Missouri Machine Shop. 

  * Expansion of the Thomasville, Georgia plant to increase capacity to 7,500 MT. 

In addition to these HWI facilities’ upgrades, HWI’s Value Added Services (VAS) team has invested directly in elevating its customers’ competitiveness by installing robotics for greater automation efficiencies and new laser equipment to extend ladle life at multiple customer sites.

“In 2023, we more than doubled HWI’s typical annual capital investments, and the future is bright as we plan for even further investment and growth in 2024. HWI, as a Member of Calderys, is continuing our 150+ years of industry leadership and dedication to our people, customers, and communities, ” said Kevin Ballard, Vice President, Operations and Engineering at HWI.

In January 2023, Calderys changed ownership and became a standalone company, launching a new visual identity and revised logo. In February, Calderys’ new ownership also acquired HWI and announced the integration of HWI into Calderys as HWI, a Member of Calderys and the brand for the Group’s Americas region.

By June 2023,  the company launched its new HWI brand and successfully integrated Calderys’ Americas operations with HWI. In the fall, Calderys Group reflected the combined company’s common culture by announcing a new global brand platform that places sustainability and innovation at the heart of the Group's business. The newly combined organization creates a leading world-class refractories solutions provider.

About HWI, a member of Calderys

HWI is the largest supplier of refractory products and services in the United States, with a history that spans more than 150 years. It is part of Calderys and is the brand for the Americas region of the Group. HWI counts 25 manufacturing sites and 20 distribution centers in the Americas, as well as the largest refractory industry research facility in North America. Serving virtually every major industry that requires refractory solutions to enhance production and protect assets, HWI is consistently recognized for its talented experts, industry firsts, and intensely driven excellence. For more information, visit http://thinkhwi.comand https://calderys.com.