Nasmyth Group, a UK-based aerospace company, opened a new North American headquarters in Valencia, Santa Clarita, featuring a $5.5 million production line and NADCAP-certified processing capabilities.

UB Community Development announced $8.5 million in New Market Tax Credit funding for Sterling Packaging to reuse a vacant spec building and buy new equipment in Monroeville, Alabama, for a 60,000 sq ft facility, targeting 55 new full-time jobs.

A joint venture investment group entered an agreement to acquire the M&G plastics production plant in Corpus Christi, Texas for $1.125 billion. The partially built facility has a planned capacity of 1.1 million metric tons per year.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Walla Walla District awarded a $321.3 million contract to Alstom Renewable US LLC to design, manufacture and install 14 turbines at McNary Lock and Dam near Umatilla, Oregon. The contract was awarded on March 21, 2018.

Etymotic Research, a hearing device innovator, merged with Lucid Hearing/Lucid Audio, a hearing aid and PSAP manufacturer. Lucid will have the controlling interest in Etymotic Research.

Old Bridge Chemicals announced a major expansion of its zinc sulfate manufacturing operations at its campus in Old Bridge, New Jersey, with an investment of over $3 million that more than doubles capacity and created over a dozen new jobs.

Greenland Enterprises and SAW Contracting formed a joint venture and were awarded a $15.5 million contract by the Army Corps of Engineers to decommission old steam plants and install modern boilers in over 50 buildings at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Washington.

Digi-Key Electronics will begin construction of a four-story product distribution center in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, adding 2.2 million square feet of usable space. The initial investment is over $300 million, and the project will create 250-300 construction jobs over three years.

Phoenix Contact USA is investing $21 million to add 66,331 square feet to its logistics center in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, including a mezzanine for office and lab space. Construction is expected to be completed by March 2019.

Adler Pelzer Group celebrated the opening of an additional 89,000 sq. ft. production facility in Port Huron, Michigan, nearly doubling the existing space. The new hall features digital production control and Compound Injection Molding technology.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has awarded a $35.1 million contract to TRC Cos. Inc. for environmental waste management services over three years, with potential extensions.

Boston Scientific has entered a definitive agreement to acquire NxThera, a privately-held company that developed the Rezūm system for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia. The deal includes an upfront cash payment of $306 million and up to $100 million in milestone payments.

Ukrainian airline SkyUp has signed a contract with Boeing for the manufacture of five Boeing 737 Max aircraft, totaling USD 624 million.

Midstate Holding Corp., parent company to Midstate Energy, completed the acquisition of Urban Energy Solutions on March 1, 2018, to strengthen electrical contracting, solar, and battery storage capabilities.

Corpus Christi Polymers LLC, a joint venture of Alpek, Indorama, and Far Eastern, has entered into an asset purchase agreement to acquire M&G's integrated PTA-PET plant under construction in Corpus Christi, Texas, for $1.125 billion.

Tessy Plastics will invest $9.2 million to expand its manufacturing operation in Lynchburg, Virginia, to accommodate a new product line, creating 34 new jobs.

Corpus Christi Polymers LLC, a joint venture of Alpek, Indorama Ventures and Far Eastern Investment, agreed to acquire M&G USA Corp.'s integrated PTA-PET plant under construction in Corpus Christi, Texas, for $1.125 billion. The plant will have nominal capacity of 1.1 million metric tons of PET and 1.3 million metric tons of PTA per year.

Reynolds Consumer Products is investing $3.2 million to purchase equipment for a new plastic film production line at its Temple, Texas facility, creating 10 new jobs.

GlobalFoundries is buying four extreme ultraviolet lithography machines from ASML for its Fab 8 factory in Malta, New York, at a price of $200 million each. The machines are used for next-generation 7-nanometer chip manufacturing.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded a $321.3 million contract to Alstom Renewable US LLC to design, manufacture and install 14 turbines at McNary Lock and Dam near Umatilla, Oregon.

ExxonMobil announced it is considering a Gulf Coast project to expand prime polypropylene production capacity by 450,000 tons per year, with an investment of several hundred million dollars. A decision is expected later in 2018.

RPM International Inc. announced that its Rust-Oleum Group has acquired Miracle Sealants Co., a manufacturer of sealers, cleaners, and polishes for tile and natural stone, based in Arcadia, California. Miracle Sealants has annual net sales of approximately $25 million.

Chemence Inc. purchased the electronics adhesive business and technology of Georgia-based Supreme Resources Inc. The acquisition includes adhesive technology for consumer and industrial electronics.

Hyundai Electric & Energy Systems Co. will invest US$30 million to expand its power transformer plant in Alabama, USA, increasing annual production capacity from 80 to 130 units. The expansion is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.

Valmet will supply a new kraftliner paper machine to WestRock Company at its mill in Florence, South Carolina, USA. The machine will produce 644,000 metric tons of kraftliner annually, replacing three older machines. Start-up is scheduled for the first half of 2020.

Apax Funds signed a definitive agreement to acquire Becton Dickinson's 49.9% minority stake in Vyaire Medical for $435 million. The transaction is expected to close in April 2018.

ExxonMobil announced it has started detailed engineering for a potential project to expand polypropylene manufacturing capacity by up to 450,000 metric tons per year on the U.S. Gulf Coast. A final decision is expected later in 2018, with startup as early as 2021. The investment is anticipated to be several hundred million dollars.

Eckhart, a portfolio company of LFM Capital, acquired Logic Plus, a premier electrical controls and automation company based in Northern Michigan.

Eckhart & Associates, Inc. has acquired Logic Plus, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of control systems, programmable logic controllers, process control automation, and automated material handling solutions.

French group Autajon acquired Thoro, a Corona, California maker of folding cartons and displays in solid board with 175 employees and 2017 sales of $37 million. Thoro joins Autajon's Packaging Division and its president stays on.

The U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program exercised contract options worth more than $151 million with BWXT subsidiary Nuclear Fuel Services for fuel manufacture, development and decommissioning for submarines and aircraft carriers. The options were awarded in Q4 2017, and most work will finish during 2018.

Hydromax USA acquired Miller Pipetech, an environmental services company specializing in pipeline condition assessment for wastewater and natural gas utilities. The acquisition strengthens Hydromax USA's footprint in the Eastern and Midwestern United States.

Gulf Island Fabrication, through its subsidiary Gulf Island Shipyards, signed a contract with the U.S. Navy to build one Towing, Salvage and Rescue Ship (T-ATS) vessel, with an option for seven more.

Paccar renewed its long-term supplier agreement with SEG Automotive North America for starter motors and alternators.

Hecla Mining Company will acquire all outstanding shares of Klondex Mines Ltd., including its Fire Creek, Midas and Hollister gold mines in Nevada, for US$462 million in cash and stock.

Harvey Building Products has acquired Thermo-Tech Windows and Doors LLC of Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. Thermo-Tech produces vinyl windows and sliding patio doors and will become part of the Harvey family of businesses.

TransDigm Group entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Extant Components Group Holdings (Extant) from Warburg Pincus for approximately $525 million. Extant provides aftermarket products and repair services for aerospace and defense.

KLA-Tencor Corporation has agreed to acquire Orbotech Ltd. for approximately $3.4 billion in equity value, with a total consideration of about $69.02 per share, in a cash and stock deal.

German automotive supplier MöllerTech has opened a new $46.3 million plant in Bibb County, Alabama, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The plant will hire 222 employees by the end of 2019 and currently has 50 employees.

MAUSER USA acquired the manufacturing assets of MaschioPack North America in Atlanta, Georgia, expanding its North American intermediate bulk container footprint. MAUSER will keep supplying former MaschioPack customers and invest in the facility.

KapStone announced a $25 to $30 million expansion of its Twin Falls, Idaho packaging plant, including new machinery and at least seven new jobs. The upgrades are expected to be completed by the end of June 2018.

Custom Molded Products (CMP) acquired Saline Generating Systems (SGS), a maker of saltwater chlorination systems for pools and spas, expanding its water treatment product portfolio.

Lockheed Martin received a $481.9 million delivery order from the Naval Air Systems Command for F-35 initial air vehicle spares, to be delivered through June 2022.

ElringKlinger plans to open a new plant in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to produce aluminum shielding systems, with production expected to begin in September 2018.

Johnson & Johnson announced a binding offer from Platinum Equity to acquire its LifeScan business for approximately $2.1 billion. LifeScan is a leader in blood glucose monitoring products. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2018.

Newark, New York flexible packaging maker Maco PKG became the third North American licensee of Dow's PacXpert stand-up pouch technology, to manufacture, sell and co-pack it in North America.

Pratt Industries opened a $60 million corrugated box factory in Beloit, Wisconsin, capable of producing about 600 tonnes of recycled boxes a day. The project was announced in December 2014, built from April 2015 and opened in March 2017, employing 140 full-time staff.

Geoforce, a provider of field asset tracking solutions, has acquired substantially all assets of Cartasite, a provider of driver safety and vehicle tracking solutions. The deal adds over 100 new customers and strengthens Geoforce's product offerings.

IFA Group opened a new $60 million manufacturing campus at the Charleston Trade Center near Summerville, South Carolina. The plant will add 120 jobs and produce 10,000 propshafts and 4,000 constant velocity joints per day when fully operational in early 2019.

M and B Group, parent company of M and B Redi-Mix, acquired DuBrook Inc., a family-owned ready mix concrete business in DuBois, Pennsylvania, to expand its coverage area.