Worthington Industries, Inc. sold its Structural Composites Industries (SCI) facility in Pomona, Calfornia, to Luxfer Holdings PLC. Following the divestiture of the unprofitable operation, Worthington will continue to focus its investments and attention on the growing sustainable mobility markets in Europe and Asia where strict, mandated emissions reductions are accelerating growth in hydrogen and compressed natural gas (CNG). The company will also continue to supply Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) cylinders for firefighters and first responders from its European locations to customers in Europe and Asia.
“We are pleased to find a buyer that can better utilize this facility to efficiently serve the U.S. market,” said Eric Smolenski, President of Worthington’s Pressure Cylinders business. “We are grateful for the passion and dedication of our Pomona employees and wish them success moving forward.” Smolenski continued, “We have made significant investments in our hydrogen and CNG design and manufacturing capabilities in Europe and will utilize these capabilities to drive innovative solutions into rapidly growing markets in Europe and Asia.”
Worthington has recently made substantial investments in its engineering and manufacturing capabilities in Europe that provide comprehensive systems for the storage, transport and use of alternative fuels like hydrogen and CNG. In addition to expanding the Company’s existing composite cylinder facility in Poland, the Company has also constructed type III and type IV hydrogen cylinder production lines at its facility in Austria and recently acquired PTEC Pressure Technology GmbH in Germany, a leading designer and manufacturer of advanced valves and components for high-pressure hydrogen and CNG systems.