The City of Sequim announced Wednesday, May 28, that Allied Titanium, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of titanium products, has moved its Western Headquarters to Sequim.

Allied Titanium was founded in 2007 with the express purpose to bring affordable titanium products to the market.

The company is based in Delaware with manufacturing facilities in China and currently offers over 93,000 different products.

“One of the big benefits of locating in Sequim is that the city is on the forefront of sustainability, i.e., the reuse water system. Titanium is the ultimate green material and we felt we would fit right in, building a state-of-the-art factory in harmony with the Earth, that other companies can model,” Allied Titanium Chief Executive Officer Christopher Greimes said.

“Another big benefit of our decision was actually working with the City of Sequim. Everyone has been more than gracious and exceeded our expectations.”

Greimes said the company spent three years researching locations for its first factory in America. They settled on Sequim for many reasons, including electrical capacity at affordable rates; high Internet speed and service; available and employable workforce; great primary and secondary education system; the financial stability of the city; clean water and the reuse water available for industrial use; access to Fed Ex and UPS delivery systems; great weather; low crime; affordable land and cost of living; close proximity to a port; beautiful city and surrounding area; and close proximity to a major metropolitan area.

“On behalf of the Sequim City Council, we welcome Allied Titanium to Sequim. Their decision to move their western headquarters to the City of Sequim reflects on our council goal of establishing economic development values and guiding principles that support economic growth in the city,” said Sequim Mayor Candace Pratt.

“We are committed to continuing to provide excellent quality services to support that goal for our residents and businesses.”

“The city staff has been working with Allied Titanium for more than a year to assist them in their relocation from China,” said Sequim City Manager Steve Burkett. “I think Chris Greimes’ comments above say it all about why they were attracted to Sequim. We are very pleased to welcome a new corporate citizen and the new jobs and economic activity that will come.”

In 2012, Allied Titanium leased a 20-acre farm in Sequim to use as a staging area for the future establishment of the operation. It moved accounting, upper management and shipping and receiving to the property. In December 2013, the titanium manufacturing company purchased 5.5 acres at 1400 E. Washington St. and has since moved its sales team and is in the process of moving shipping and receiving, and setting up the fabrication shop which will support the construction and maintenance of a new factory at that location.

Allied Titanium sells globally and is planning to manufacture products in Sequim that they know can meet or beat the current costs of manufacturing in China. This involves building a factory of the future that can compete globally by using cutting edge technology and robotics. That will open up job opportunities for technology oriented employees to run the factory.

In the long run the company estimates that it will employ 50-150 workers including sales staff, accounting, information technology, welders, fabricators, computer numerical control (CNC) operators and shipping and receiving personnel.

It will begin by manufacturing marine products that are fabricated using high speed robotic waterjet machines and wirefeed tig welders; welded products such as tanks; and Grade 5 titanium fasteners that can be produced at a high speed on automatic screw machines.Titanium is strong, lighter than steel and is immune from rust and corrosion, meaning it will virtually last forever. Titanium is non-toxic to humans and animals. It is being used in China and Russia in their aerospace industries and military. Until recently the use of titanium was limited due to the expense of materials and the high cost of refining. As steel prices rise and smelting technology advances, titanium becomes a more affordable option for the military and marine and aerospace industries.

“Operating our facility in China opened our eyes to the positive impact that affordable titanium is having on China. America needs affordable titanium now. Fuel costs continue to rise and without affordable titanium, our military cannot be competitive,” Greimes said.

For more on the City of Sequim, visit www.sequimwa.gov.