Alcoa's Hungarian operation ships first order of turbine airfoils

According to László Veres, Director, Manufacturing Europe/Asia for Alcoa Howmet, the first shipment follows an expansive modernization project at the Alcoa-Köfém facility. The project included a new airfoil manufacturing operation to support Alcoa Howmet's growing jet aircraft and industrial gas turbine business in Europe.
"Everything came together in a timely manner for our airfoil manufacturing operation," said Veres. "Our casting specialists, nondestructive-testing operators and welders received training and earned qualifications on schedule. Additionally, the unit's first cell for performing post-cast processing operations on turbine vanes was put into service, and the operators of this cell completed training and earned approval to conduct visual checks, dimensional inspections, and finishing operations." The turbine airfoil unit is currently installing additional production and inspection cells to accommodate the ramp-up of work that is scheduled to begin arriving in the next few months. "These accomplishments have strengthened Alcoa's ability to serve customers in Europe from its Hungarian operation," Veres said.