Alcoa wins fourth Boeing contract

Lightweight metals leader Alcoa (AA) today announced a long-term supply agreement with Boeing for multi-material aerospace parts. Under this agreement, Alcoa will supply components for the 777X—Boeing’s newest commercial airplane—the 737 MAX—scheduled for first delivery in 2017—and the 787 Dreamliner. The deal draws on capabilities gained through the Firth Rixson acquisition and the Company’s new aluminum-lithium facility in Lafayette, Indiana. Under the new agreement, Alcoa Forgings and Extrusions will supply differentiated components for Boeing’s airplanes, including the wing, fuselage, and landing gear. These include: advanced titanium landing gear parts and complex titanium nacelle fittings for the 737 MAX, made using specialized presses gained through the Firth Rixson acquisition; Boeing’s first-ever aluminum-lithium extrusion produced at Alcoa’s Lafayette facility for the 777X cargo floor, helping save weight and improve corrosion resistance; and large, near net shaped parts that improve the efficiency and help reduce the costs of Boeing’s in-house machining.