Alcoa, a producer of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina, announced that it has received two aluminum excellence awards at the American Metal Market’s second annual summit, which took place in New York.
The company was the winner of an innovation award for its new aluminum-lithium alloys developed for the aerospace applications. Mark Vrablec, Alcoa Aerospace, Transportation and Industrial Products’ President, and Eric Roegner, Alcoa Forgings and Extrusions’ President, accepted the award.
Roegner stated that aluminum-lithium alloys are used as an alternative to legacy alloys, titanium and composites in the aerospace industry. Demand for these materials has enabled Alcoa to establish a new world-class facility in Lafayette, Indiana. The facility will produce the ultra-high purity, largest aluminum-lithium ingots and will add 20,000 t to the company’s production capacity. Alcoa has also planned to expand its Kitts Green facility in the UK and another facility located at Alcoa Technical Center in Pittsburgh. Together, the facilities will increase aluminum-lithium production capacity by 30%.
Vrablec remarked that the innovative alloys have entirely changed the aerospace wing and fuselage components market and they help Alcoa’s customers to save in the production stage and prevent production risk. In addition, the alloys help their customers’ clients to save fuel, noted Vrablec.
Kevin Anton, VP and Chief Sustainability Officer of Alcoa, was recognized with the Charles Martin Hall Award at the summit. He received the recognition for his sustainability initiatives focused on the U.S. Aluminum Association trade organization and Alcoa.