Kaiser Expands Capacity at Heat Treat Plate Facility

Kaiser Aluminum Corp., Foothill Ranch, Calif., will further expand heat treat plate capacity at its Trentwood rolling mill in Spokane, Wash. The investment of $21 million to debottleneck various processing centers is expected to increase the rolling mill's heat treat plate capacity by 5 percent as it comes on stream in 2013.

"This additional plate capacity demonstrates our commitment as a strategic supplier to our major commercial aircraft manufacturing and service center customers," says Jack A. Hockema, president, CEO and chairman. "The three-phase plate expansion completed in late 2008 broadened our capabilities and more than doubled our heat treat plate production capacity. These debottlenecking plans leverage our strong manufacturing platform at Trentwood to further increase plate capacity in anticipation of exceptionally strong aerospace build rates in the coming years."