Matalco to build aluminum casting plant in Kentucky: company

Pittsburgh — Canada's Matalco is moving forward with constructing its sixth aluminum casting facility in Franklin, Kentucky, which it expects to begin operations in the second quarter of 2022, the company said March 23.

The new facility, to be built on a brownfield site, will have the capacity to produce 275 million lb/year and will produce rolling slabs initially, but can be fitted to produce extrusion log and billet in the coming years as those markets mature in the region, Matalco said.

Once the Franklin plant reaches full production capacity, it will employ as many as 60 people and will further increase Matalco's nameplate capacity to almost 1.5 billion lb, the company said, adding it expects commissioning and start up for the plant to be conducted in the second quarter of 2022.

The expansion, approved by parent company, the Giampaolo Group of Companies, further strengthens Matalco's commitment to the North American cast products industries, it said.

Matalco has purchased land and a 460,000 square foot existing building, which will be renovated to suit its slab production as well as house satellite facilities for other GGI companies, the company said.

Matalco most recently started production at a new aluminum billet manufacturing plant in Wisconsin in late 2020 with an annual capacity of 240 million lb.

Matalco produces aluminum logs, cut billet, and rolling ingot for extrusion, rolling, and forging manufacturing industries across the US, Canada, and Mexico.

The company also operates aluminum remelt and casting facilities in Brampton, Ontario; Bluffton, Indiana; Canton, Ohio; and Lordstown, Ohio.