Designed Alloy Products, Inc. to Embark on Major Expansions to Better Serve Customers

Designed Alloy Products, Inc., a major provider of specialty alloys, is undertaking several new capital projects which will provide the company and its customers with new capacity, new capabilities and new levels of service in the certified ingot industry.

"We see Designed Alloy Products as a company that stands behind its products while supporting customers and their strategic needs", says Cristi Hoffman, President of Designed Alloy Products. "In an age of constrained supply and indifferent supplier relationships, we are proud of our heritage of high product availability and quality," she added.

Specifically, Designed Alloy Products is developing two new melt facilities in the United States to better serve customers. This expansion will allow Designed Alloy Products complete control over production, scheduling, pricing and delivery of certified ingot products.

This is the largest capital investment to date for Designed Alloy Products. It will take approximately 9-12 months to complete and will cost nearly $6 million.

Since the inception of Designed Alloy Products in 1993, North American Hoganas (formerly Firstmiss Steel) was its key melt source for certified ingot products. Now, with the introduction of new management at North American Hoganas the time has come for Designed Alloy Products to put its plans to expand in motion.

"This expansion will allow us to be in command of our product line while improving our ability to serve our customers better," says Chuck Barrett, Sr. Vice President of Designed Alloy Products. He adds, "This had always been one of John's goals - to make Designed Alloys more self sufficient." John Hoffman started Designed Alloy Products in 1993 with Chuck Barrett joining him in 1995. John passed away January 2005, at the age of 46.

"We will continue to focus on providing our customers with the best products and service at the best possible prices during this transformation," states Chuck Barrett, adding, "We will communicate our progress and stay in close touch with them throughout our expansion."

Cristi Hoffman summarized the future by stating, "We have enjoyed extraordinary growth throughout the life of this company. Our employees have done an outstanding job of servicing our customers and our customers have rewarded us with their loyalty and patronage. We will keep these aspects at the forefront and never lose sight of John's mission as we progress on to becoming the industry's preferred source for certified ingot."