RTI builds new plant in Va., increases investment in Weathersfield facility

January 9, 2008 at 2:24p.m.

WEATHERSFIELD — A local titanium plant has been left with a $15 million consolation prize.

RTI International Metals stresses that it plans to invest that much in its Weathersfield mill this year even though the mill wasn’t chosen for a much larger prize.

The top prize is a $100 million plant that RTI has said it will build in Martinsville, Va.

“I’m very disappointed,” said Todd Weddell, president of United Steelworkers of America Local 2155 in Weathersfield.

RTI officials announced last May that it would invest $100 million in additional production capacity to support a jet fighter contract it just received. It didn’t say where the investment would be made, however.

Richard Leone, an RTI spokesman, said today the company isn’t turning its back on the local plant. It spent $8 million on equipment upgrades at the mill last year and intends to spend $15 million this year.

Despite his disappointment on losing the new plant, Weddell said the upgrades are good for the Weathersfield plant.

He said he hopes 10 or 15 new jobs could be created by the upgrades that are coming.

Weddell said the mill has added 60 hourly workers since 2004.

For the complete story, see Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.