Alcoa has announced plans to split into two independent companies, separating its bauxite, aluminum, and casting operations from its engineering, transportation, and global rolled products businesses.
The company has been dealing with a downturn in its smelting business because of lower aluminum prices.
The split will create one company focusing on so-called "upstream products," including aluminum. The other company will focus on engineered products, which includes the automotive and aerospace segments.
Davenport Works spokesman, John Riches, says the Quad Cities plant is currently part of the Global Rolled Products business unit, and after the split will be part of the company focused on engineered products, including the automotive and aerospace segments.
He says the split is now expected to take effect in the second half of next year (2016).
Alcoa says the aluminum company will retain the Alcoa name, while no name has yet been determined for the engineered products company.
