Hafnium Wire Gets Special Treatment in New Hampshire Plasma-Cutter Deal
Published Date: 11/5/2026
Notice
Summary
Hypertherm Inc. got the green light to make plasma cutting equipment and parts at their New Hampshire sites under Foreign-Trade Zone 81, but only for one year and with some limits. They can use most foreign materials freely, except for a special precision cut hafnium wire, which needs extra approval. This means faster, smoother production for Hypertherm, but they’ll need to apply again if they want to use that tricky wire.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
One-year FTZ production authorization
Hypertherm Inc. was authorized to produce plasma cutting equipment and components at its Subzone 81H facilities in Hanover and Lebanon, New Hampshire. The authorization is limited, subject to the Foreign-Trade Zones Act and FTZ Board regulations (including section 400.14), and carries a one-year time limit starting from the Board's notification on November 2, 2026.
Precision hafnium wire excluded pending review
The authorization expressly excludes the use of precision cut hafnium wire as a foreign-status component; that component requires further review. If Hypertherm wants to use precision cut hafnium wire, it must submit an application for production authority under FTZ Board section 400.23.
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