Aluminum

Images source: WPB

Aluminum is used to make airplane bodies. Since airplane production was expanded greatly in World War II, aluminum peroduction was also expanded. In 1938 there was only one United States aluminum producer, Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa). This company was also the largest aluminum fabricator (forgings, extrusions, plates, etc.). It had 4 reduction plants with an annual capacity total of 300 million pounds. Secondary recovery of aluminum from scrap was less than 100 million pounds. The Government built more plants and induced Reynolds Metals Company to enter aluminum production. It also rationed aluminum for civilian use and imported aluminum from Canada. As a result, by the end of the war aluminum production was 2.3 billion pounds per year. Secondary production increase 6 times and fabricating capacity increased to 2.6 billion pounds per year. ^{WPB 57-61}