NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. (AP) — Alcoa has opened a facility in the Pittsburgh suburbs that will produce metal powders used in three-dimensional printing to make aerospace industry materials.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports the company says its new Upper Burrell Township facility will help it expand the additive manufacturing technology by increasing the availability of titanium, nickel and aluminum powders.
The facility is part of a $60 million expansion at its Alcoa Technical Center.
Additive manufacturing is the process in which products are designed on a computer and printed out of layered materials into one product. Complicated shapes and designs in aerospace and transportation products can be produced in one step and marketed quickly.
The expansion at the technical center is expected to create about 100 jobs.
