Howmet secures F-22 titanium casting contracts from Boeing. (North America).

Howmet Castings (Alcoa, Inc.), Darien, Connecticut, has secured new contracts from Boeing Aircraft and Missiles for large titanium castings for the F-22. The $8-million contracts cover LOT 2 procurements for existing side of body and aileron castings as well as a new component, the F22 arresting gear.

Howmet is scheduled to deliver first-article castings to Boeing in October. The firm's newly formed Prime Operation will manage post-cast manufacturing processes and will deliver ready-to-install components for the F22.

According to William Lahavich, Howmet's director of airframe sales and marketing, a growing number of airframe components are being converted to castings to save time and money. "Howmet supplies an increasing number of components for airframe applications," he said. "We find that air-framers will not proceed with a conversion unless cost savings of 30% or more are realized. It also is typical to realize cycle-time advantages of 50%."

In addition, according to Lahavich, other factors such as casting process control, inspection techniques and end-product predictability also are playing a role in converting components to castings. "We are making inroads with customers on 'design allowables,' which permits the use of castings in fracture-critical applications. These shifts, coupled with our ability to offer design services and finished-to-print capabilities, extend to the customer a complete supply-chain solution," said Lahavich.

In other news at Howmet, the firm laid off 120 workers at two adjacent facilities in Hampton, Virginia, 50 workers from its LaPorte, Indiana plant and 60 workers from its Witchita Falls, Texas facility.