Worthington tailor welded blanking joint venture opens Kentucky facility

Global metals manufacturer Worthington Industries' (Columbus, OH) tailor welded blanking joint venture, TWB Company, is opening a new facility in Glasgow, KY. The company plans to sublease 12,000 sq. ft. of space from Fortis Manufacturing, and the facility is expected to begin production by the end of the first quarter of 2016.

"This expansion is evidence of the increased demand for our tailor welded products," said Geoff Gilmore, president of Worthington Industries' Steel Processing business. "This location will increase efficiencies in the supply chain and will help put stronger, lighter trucks on the road."

The Kentucky TWB facility will laser-weld different types of high-strength-grade steel to create material used for heavy-duty truck rail assemblies that is stronger and lighter with improved crash performance. The material will be stamped and assembled at a Tier 1 supplier before being used in Ford F-250 and F-350 pickup trucks.

"Our innovative laser-welded blank offering continues to expand into new vehicle parts like these heavy-gauge truck rail assemblies," said Ivan Meltzer, president of TWB Company.

The use of tailor welded blanks in vehicles has grown in recent years, as automakers use light weighting to improve the fuel economy of vehicles to meet new targets set by the government.