TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – US aluminium and specialty metals producer Alcoa this week announced a $22-million investment in Michigan in the latest hot isostatic pressing (HIP) technology, which strengthened the metallic structure of titanium, nickel and three-dimensional- (3D-) printed jet engine parts.
The company had in recent years embraced the high-tech aerospace parts industry, investing in new plants and expanded capabilities as it sought to move away from primary metals production, which was suffering under drawn-out price slumps, and to capture demand for best-selling jet engine parts.
Alcoa’s newest and largest HIP production system in Whitehall, would give it in-house capabilities to treat larger parts for the world’s top-selling jet engines.
Growing aerospace demand, combined with increased output from Alcoa’s expansions in LaPorte, Indiana, and Hampton, Virginia, and advanced 3D printing capabilities were driving the need for more HIP capacity, the company pointed out.
Alcoa owned and operated one of world’s largest HIP technology complexes in aerospace, having pioneered its use for aerospace in 1973.
The company expected robust global aerospace sales growth of between 9% to 10% this year, driven by strong deliveries across the large commercial aircraft, regional jet and business jet segments, and saw a current nine-year production order book at 2014 delivery rates.
Alcoa’s power and propulsion segment was expected to generate $2.2-billion in revenues by 2016, as a result of its organic growth expansions.