Arconic plans $131M casting complex at Davenport Works

Arconic plans to construct a new aluminum casting complex at its Davenport Works facility in Riverdale and Bettendorf, Iowa, as part of a $131 million qualifying investment backed by state incentives.

According to materials presented to the Iowa Economic Development and Finance Authority, the project includes construction of a 90,912-square-foot casting complex known as Pit 10.

The facility will expand on-site aluminum ingot casting capacity and increase the plant’s ability to process and recycle aluminum into alloyed ingots used to produce sheet and plate products.

The Iowa board awarded $6.55 million in tax benefits through the High Quality Jobs program, including a $5.515 million investment tax credit and a $1.035 million sales and use tax refund. The total qualifying investment is listed as $131 million, comprising $4.9 million in site preparation, $29.6 million in building construction and $96.5 million in manufacturing machinery and equipment.

Project award approval occurred Feb. 20, with an investment completion date of March 31, 2029. The contract end date is Feb. 28, 2036.

Capacity expansion and equipment scope

The Pit 10 complex will include a melting furnace, holding furnace, casting pit, troughing, metal filtration, casting equipment, environmental controls, cranes, handling equipment and related utilities. State materials describe the project as significantly expanding on-site aluminum ingot casting capacity, increasing scrap aluminum recycling and reducing reliance on foreign supplies.

The project also includes installation of a new ACME saw intended to address an operational bottleneck. According to the project description, the saw will reduce load and unload times by 88%, support automated scrap handling through digital controls and improve throughput and quality.

Once operational, the facility will process and recycle aluminum to produce alloyed ingots that feed downstream sheet and plate production at Davenport Works. Company materials state the increased casting capacity will enable the plant to supply more coil and blanks for automotive original equipment manufacturers and processors.

End markets and product flow

Davenport Works produces aluminum sheet and plate used in commercial aircraft, space vehicles and defense systems. Arconic sells directly to OEMs and subcontractors in aerospace, defense, automotive, industrial, commercial transportation, semiconductor and building and construction markets.

Project materials indicate the expanded casting capacity will support production of high-performance alloys for aerospace, defense, automotive, semiconductor and industrial applications.

Timeline

In comments published by the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce, construction on Pit 10 is under way following a ceremonial groundbreaking. Company representatives stated first ingots are expected to be cast in the third quarter of 2027, with full production targeted by the first quarter of 2028.

The Pit 10 casting complex follows Arconic’s recent $57.5 million expansion at Davenport Works that doubled US production of high-purity aluminum under a Defense Production Act Title III award.

Nicholas Bell

Nicholas brings over half a decade of experience covering metals markets, pricing trends, and supply chain dynamics. Prior to joining AMU, he reported on aluminum, high-temperature scrap, and ferro-alloy markets at Argus Media, with additional coverage of minor metals and rare earths. His work has built deep expertise in North American metals pricing and trade flows. A native of Houston, Nicholas holds a bachelor’s degree in Media Production and an MBA with a concentration in Finance, both from the University of Houston.