Kobelco Aluminum Products & Extrusions holds opening ceremony in Kentucky

Tokyo-based Kobe Steel Ltd. has announced that its U.S. subsidiary, KobelcoAluminum Products & Extrusions Inc. (KPEX), held an opening ceremony on Sept. 18.

Established in April 2016 in Bowling Green, Ky., KPEX manufactures andsells aluminum extrusions and fabricated products. Integrated production, from melting and casting to final processing, began in November 2018. The company decided to increase the production capacity of all processes. It will add a melting furnace and extrusion press to have two of each when the expansion is complete. Production capacity is expected to increase to 1,000 tons per month, from the current 500 tons per month. Plans call for mass production using the new equipment to begin in 2021.