Arconic Inc (www.arconic.com) has announced plans to install a new horizontal heat-treatment furnace at its Davenport Works in Iowa, USA.

This will enable Arconic to heat-treat longer and thicker plate than ever before, including material for its recently installed ‘Thick Plate Stretcher’, which began commercial production this year and is the largest of its type in the world.

The need for thick aluminium plate is growing, as demand for composite wings made with monolithic thick-plate wing ribs increases.

Arconic’s Tim Myers (president, global rolled products), said: “With this new capability, we will meet the increasing demand for plate used for aircraft wing ribs, skins and other structural components, particularly for single-aisle aircraft.

"It also opens the door to growth in other markets, such as semiconductors for consumer electronics and injection moulding for automotive applications.”

The $137 million investment is supported by financial assistance from the Iowa Department of Economic Development and the City of Riverdale.

Once the contract is finalised, the assistance will include tax, financing and R&D credits, as well as training grants for the Davenport workforce and new employees.

Construction is expected to begin late this year, with commercial production starting in 2019.