US-based Arconic has installed its new Very Thick Plate Stretcher (Stretcher) manufacturing technology at its facility in Davenport, Iowa, to manufacture highly differentiated aluminium plate for the aerospace and industrial sector.

Stretcher was installed with a $150m investment, approximately $40m under its original $190m budget.

French aircraft manufacturer Airbus is among Arconic’s first aerospace customer to use materials to be produced by Stretcher, reported Quad City Times.

Airbus has already signed a $1bn deal with Arconic in this regard.

“In both cases, Arconic will help create demand that we are uniquely positioned to meet.”

The newly installed Stretcher is capable of improving the performance of thick aluminium and aluminium-lithium plate used in aerospace and industrial applications.

The technology employs a stretching process that reduces stress introduced into the plate during the manufacturing course, resulting in a component that is more easily machined and processed by customers.

Using the Stretcher, Arconic will be able to provide large wing ribs, fuselage frames and bulkheads in new sizes and thickness to the airframe builders.

Arconic chairman and CEO Klaus Kleinfeld said: “This investment was made to expand Arconic’s leadership in the aerospace market and create profitable growth in attractive industrial markets

“The Stretcher allows Arconic to offer a variety of new products: in aerospace, we can now help aircraft engineers push the boundaries of design and performance. In other industrial applications, such as semiconductors and consumer electronics, Stretcher material helps increase productivity and reduce cost.

“In both cases, Arconic will help create demand that we are uniquely positioned to meet.”

Arconic’s Davenport plant is currently commissioning the Stretcher and has started qualifying material for its customers.


Image: Arconic’s new Stretcher technology to produce highly differentiated aluminium plate used in aerospace applications. Photo: courtesy of Arconic.