RTI expansion provides good area economic news

WEATHERSFIELD —  The parent company of RMI Titanium Co. will expand unspecified plants after signing a deal to provide up to $2 billion worth of titanium for a new military jet program.

Design and planning for the $100 million expansion effort should be complete within a few months, RTI International Metals said today. A final decision on the plants involved will be made in 60 to 90 days.

The company has titanium mills in Weathersfield and Canton that are being upgraded now. RTI announced last year that it would spend $8 million on new equipment in Weathersfield and $27 million in Canton. The company also has fabricating and distribution plants elsewhere in the United States and Canada.

The expansion comes as RTI extends its contract with Lockheed Martin Corp. to supply titanium for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter through 2020. RTI had been supplying titanium for test versions and early production models of the new plane.

For the complete story, see Friday's Vindicator and Vindy.com.