Aleris to add capability for production of lightweight aluminum-lithium alloys

Aleris today announced that it will build a specialized casting facility for aluminum-lithium plate and sheet products. The facility will be built at its Koblenz, Germany plant and will expand the company's ability to meet the needs of the aerospace market.

Aluminum-lithium alloys enable aircraft manufacturers to increase fuel efficiency through the weight reduction provided by aluminum while maintaining strength, and corrosion and fatigue resistance. Additionally, aluminum's infinite recyclability provides a compelling sustainability benefit.

The new facility will be able to cast full-scale ingots for trials as well as for serial production of aluminum-lithium products. The unique design of the facility also will facilitate the development of new "conventional" alloys to provide customers with the most advanced and sustainable solutions. The company expects to begin production in the new casting facility in the first quarter of 2013.

"Aleris is a recognized leader in alloy development and production. The caster is an important enhancement of our capabilities, particularly for producing aluminum-lithium alloys to reduce weight and fuel consumption in aircraft," said Roeland Baan, Aleris executive vice president and chief executive officer, Europe and Asia. "Adding this new caster also strengthens our research and development capabilities by enabling more sophisticated alloy development and the production of full-size trial products for any new alloy."