Wallingford’s Ulbrich celebrates expansion plans, $9M equipment investment

Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals is investing $9 million in a new 14,500-square-foot building expansion and additional equipment at its Wallingford facility.

The expansion will allow it to add a high-precision stretch-bend-leveling (SBL) line used in processing stainless steel and specialty alloys for use in medical devices and space exploration, among other applications.

The expansion is expected to be complete by May 2027.

“We haven’t expanded ​our ​footprint ​in ​Wallingford ​since ​2008, ​so ​we ​need ​some ​space,” Chairman of the Board Chris Ulbrich told the Hartford Business Journal.

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The company employs 750 people globally, with 300 workers in Connecticut. Ulbrich says the expansion will also allow it to continue hiring.

The new precision equipment, being imported from Germany, is designed to help correct shape deviations that can occur during cold rolling of metal. It also incorporates automated process-control capabilities.

“This ​expands ​our ​product ​line. We ​will ​be ​able ​to ​do ​more ​products ​​in ​more ​alloys, so this will only help us compete worldwide,” Ulbrich said.

Currently a fourth-generation family-owned business, Ulbrich is one of the largest privately held companies in Connecticut.