Alcoa opens aluminum-lithium aerospace plant in Indiana

New York, N.Y. & Lafayette, Indiana – Alcoa has opened the world’s largest aluminum-lithium plant in Lafayette, Indiana, where it produces advanced, third-generation aluminum-lithium alloys for the aerospace industry, including for the Airbus A380 and A350. Aircraft manufacturers are increasingly turning to lighter and stronger aluminum-lithium alloys, which are less expensive than titanium and composites and enable better fuel efficiency and lower maintenance costs. 

 

“The future of aviation is being built with aluminum-lithium, and Alcoa is making big moves to capture that demand,” said Klaus Kleinfeld, Alcoa chairman and chief executive officer. “This state-of-the-art facility positions Alcoa as the world’s premier aluminum-lithium supplier, offering the broadest portfolio of aluminum-lithium components for next generation aircraft.” 

 

To keep pace with demand, the Company has expanded its aluminum-lithium capabilities at the Alcoa Technical Center outside Pittsburgh, at its Kitts Green facility in the United Kingdom, and in Lafayette. Already, Alcoa has contracted $100 million in aluminum-lithium revenues for 2017.

 

Alcoa’s Lafayette cast house, located next to its extrusion plant, can produce more than 20,000 metric tons (44 million pounds) of aluminum-lithium annually – making it the largest facility of its kind in the world. Alcoa’s materials scientists invented a majority of the alloys produced at the facility as well as the casting equipment and processing technology. The company offers the most complete portfolio of aluminum-lithium products, including extruded, forged, and rolled parts. It has the number one market position in aluminum-lithium extrusions and a significant position on the Airbus A380, Airbus A350, Boeing 787, and Gulfstream G650. Alcoa produces single-piece wing skins, including for wide-body airplanes, fuselage skins, wing stringers, floor beams, seat tracks, and other components. The company also is developing the first ever aluminum-lithium forging for a front fan blade for Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower engines.

 

The Lafayette facility is uniquely capable of making the world’s largest aluminum-lithium ingots—approximately 50% larger than the nearest competitor, and big enough to make any single-piece component on today’s aircraft. Complementing that capability, Alcoa operates the world’s widest, 220" rolling mill at its facility in Davenport, Iowa, making it the only company capable of producing single-piece aluminum-lithium wing skins for the largest commercial airplanes. Single-piece parts make structures stronger, lighter and less expensive because they minimize the number of complex joints. 

 

Indiana Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann, Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski, and other state and local dignitaries joined Alcoa executives, employees, and community members to celebrate the plant opening that will create 75 new jobs.

 

“Indiana is home to some of Alcoa’s most advanced facilities, including two that serve the growing, global aerospace industry,” said Indiana Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann. “Indiana is a ‘state that works’ for innovation in the aviation industry. Alcoa is building upon our state’s strong manufacturing tradition, creating even more good-paying jobs that will engage a skilled Indiana workforce.”

 

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), the city of Lafayette, and Tippecanoe County provided various tax incentives. Together, the local and state incentives are worth more than $6.2 million. 

 

“We are proud to be a partner with Alcoa on this state-of-the-art aerospace facility,” said Mayor Tony Roswarski. “Greater Lafayette has a long history of innovation, invention and manufacturing and we are building on that today with this new plant, which also will raise our global profile.” 

 

Alcoa employs approximately 3,200 people at three locations in Indiana, more than in any other U.S. state. 

 

This is Alcoa’s second aerospace announcement in Indiana in five months. In May, the company announced a $100 million expansion at its LaPorte facility where it will produce nickel-based superalloy jet engine parts. The expansion will create 329 jobs by 2019. 

 

Reinforcing Alcoa’s commitment to Indiana and in celebration of the new cast house, the Alcoa Foundation is granting $75,000 to Ivy Tech Community College – Indiana’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system serving nearly 200,000 students annually. The funds will create a scholarship program to educate individuals who are interested in a manufacturing career, but lack the necessary skills and credentials. By June of 2015, the scholarship program from the Alcoa Foundation will certify 130 individuals.