Arconic Corporation marked the commissioning of a $57.5 million expansion project at its Davenport Works plant in Iowa on September 25. The project has effectively doubled domestic production of High Purity Aluminum, a critical material to aerospace and defense applications.

The project was supported by an award of $45.5 million from the U.S. Department of War in 2023, utilizing Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III authorities. The Defense Production Act Title III program supports domestic industrial capabilities essential to national security.

Diana Perreiah, Executive Vice President of Rolled Products North America, said, “Arconic is honored to support American leadership in advanced manufacturing by expanding domestic production of High Purity Aluminum for next-generation aerospace and defense applications. This project strengthens critical supply chains and supports national defense priorities, while reinforcing our role as a trusted partner in delivering materials essential to U.S. security and competitiveness.”

HPA is a type of unwrought, unalloyed aluminum that is characterized as having a minimum purity of 99.9 percent aluminum by mass. HPA is used to produce unique alloys that have strong damage tolerance and resistance to high temperatures, and it is a key input for manufacturing aluminum sheet, plate and extrusions that are used for various aviation, space, and defense applications. Among the defense applications that require HPA are the bulkheads for the F-35 and advanced armor plate for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.

The William M. Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 directed the Secretary of Defense to examine how DPA authorities could incentivize domestic aluminum manufacturing and processing. The War Department determined that High Purity Aluminum is critical to national defense due to its role in advanced alloys used in aerospace and ground systems. The HPA expansion project at Arconic Davenport Works directly addresses the identified gaps in domestic HPA capacity by deploying a proprietary production process that offers a more efficient and dependable alternative to smelter-based methods. This approach ensures scalable supply for defense-critical applications.

With the design and installation of two new furnaces and advanced control and automation systems, the project provides the United States surge capacity for HPA production and mitigates potential risks to national security in the event of an industrial mobilization. Key supplier partners to the project include Fluor Corporation and Gillespie & Powers, Inc.

“Delivering this project on schedule and on budget reflects the skill and commitment of our Davenport Works team and the strength of our collaboration with the U.S. government,” said Jeff Weida, Vice President of Manufacturing Davenport Works & Satellite Operations. “This investment expands our advanced aluminum manufacturing capabilities and reinforces Iowa’s role as a hub for high-tech production and industrial innovation.”

At a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 25, Weida was joined by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst, U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, State Representative Gary Mohr, Riverdale Mayor Anthony Heddlesten, Iowa Association of Business and Industry President Nicole Crain, and Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Peter Tokar III to mark the milestone of commissioning the facility. Federal officials who represent Davenport Works and its employees — Iowa Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), as well as Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and Eric Sorensen (D-IL) — have been long-time supporters of this project.