Released on October 12, 2011

Alcoa, Pittsburgh, announced its defense division has shipped its 1,000th set of titanium investment castings to weapons manufacturer BAE Systems for the 155-mm M777 Howitzer program.

Alcoa Defense produces the castings at its Ti-Cast center in Whitehall, Mich., part of Alcoa Howmet. Cast parts are used throughout the Howitzer for yokes, mounts and housings.

"Through investment casting design, we are able to consolidate multiple parts into one casting, avoiding expensive labor for fabrication and welding," said Mark Straszheim, Alcoa Howmet account manager. "Our customers are consistently impressed with the complexity of design we can support and thin wall capability to reduce weight and costs."

Alcoa Defense offers multiple solutions, including castings, for a variety of military platforms.

"There has never been a more pressing need for solutions such as Alcoa's investment casting technology than now,” said David Dobson, Alcoa Defense president.

In addition to its focus on providing primary and fabricated aluminum, Alcoa serves the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation, consumer electronics and industrial markets with flat-rolled products, hard alloy extrusions and forgings, wheels, fastening systems, building systems and metal castings. The company employs approximately 59,000 in 31 countries worldwide.

"Many do not realize Alcoa provides titanium, as well as aluminum solutions," says Dobson. "We are focused on being the lighter, faster, stronger answer for our customers."