New Alcoa Operation to Manufacture 3DP Alloys

Alcoa (IW500/50) opened a new plant at its research center near Pittsburgh where it will manufacture metal powders in proprietary grades of titanium, nickel, and aluminum, to be used for its 3D-printing operations in California, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The project was part of a $60-million program announced last fall to expand and develop capabilities for 3D-printing aerospace parts. 

The capacity of the new plant was not announced, though Alcoa noted that the existing production capacity for metal powders needed for 3D printing is limited, and that the new plant would develop and supply materials with the specific properties needed for its 3D-printing projects.

“Alcoa is forging a leadership path in additive manufacturing with a sharp focus on the critical input material—metal powders,” stated chairman and CEO Klaus Kleinfeld. “We are combining our expertise in metallurgy, manufacturing, design, and product qualification to push beyond the possibilities of today’s 3D-printing technologies for aerospace and other growth markets.”