Arconic to idle Arizona aluminum extrusion plant

Wrought aluminum producer Arconic will idle its lone Arizona plant which serves the aerospace extrusion market.

After assessing the business case for continuing operations in Chandler, Arizona, the company decided to idle the facility. Production volumes in Chandler will transition to other plants in the network, the Pittsburgh-based company told Argus.While publicly traded US mills were broadly optimistic about 2021 aluminum demand during first quarter earnings season, most expected a slower return for aerospace business.

"Growth in those three end markets and strong operating performance fully offset continued weakness in aerospace sales," Arconic said in its first quarter earnings, about the strength of packaging, transportation and industrial aluminum markets. Covid-19 and its effect on air travel have rattled global aerospace supply chains for the past year, creating doubts about the strength of nearby orderbooks.

By John Betz