RTI International Metals
Corporate brand
UnclaimedRTI International Metals was a United States-based producer of titanium and specialty-metal products serving aerospace, defense, industrial, energy, chemical, and consumer markets.
Last updated August 31, 2026
Overview
RTI International Metals was a Pittsburgh-based metals manufacturer whose roots extended to 1950, when the business was established as Reactive Metals Inc., also identified in company materials as RMI Titanium Company Inc. The company became commonly known as RTI and developed a portfolio centered on titanium mill products, fabricated components, specialty-metal products, extruded shapes, formed parts, and engineered systems. RTI’s business model combined primary and downstream metal-processing capabilities. Its products were intended for applications where low weight, corrosion resistance, high strength, heat resistance, or specialized forming and machining performance were important. The company supplied customers in aerospace, industrial equipment, defense, energy, chemical processing, and consumer-related markets. Rather than operating only as a commodity producer, RTI positioned itself around processing expertise and the conversion of difficult-to-manufacture metals into application-specific forms and components. The company operated an extensive North American manufacturing network. Major United States locations included its Pittsburgh headquarters and facilities in Martinsville, Virginia; Niles and Canton, Ohio; Salt Lake City, Utah; Road Spring and Houston, Texas; Washington and Sullivan, Missouri; Windsor, Connecticut; Garden Grove, California; and Indianapolis, Indiana. RTI also had a plant in Laval, Quebec, known as RTI Claro. Its international operations extended to the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, and China, supporting its role as a supplier to customers with global manufacturing programs. Titanium was central to RTI’s strategy. In 2007, the company announced plans to build a premium-grade titanium sponge plant next to the Tronox facility in Hamilton, Mississippi. Titanium sponge is an intermediate material used in the production of titanium products. In 2010, RTI said it would indefinitely idle those construction plans and instead rely on two long-term supply contracts with Toho Titanium Co., Ltd. and Osaka Titanium Technologies. The change reflected a decision to secure feedstock through supplier relationships rather than proceed with the planned facility. RTI received public attention for its growth during the 2000s. In 2007, CNNMoney ranked it seventh among the United States’ 100 fastest-growing companies. The company also disclosed a financial-reporting correction in 2005, restating portions of its 2004 annual filing and its March and June 2005 quarterly filings after identifying an error in the classification of cash flows associated with the tax effects of employee stock-option exercises. Dawne Hickton served as RTI’s vice chairman, president, and chief executive officer until 2015. In March 2015, Alcoa acquired RTI International Metals in a stock-for-stock transaction valued at approximately $1.5 billion. The acquisition ended RTI’s independent corporate existence and brought its titanium and specialty-metals capabilities into Alcoa’s portfolio. As a result, RTI International Metals is best treated as a historical corporate brand rather than an independently active company.
History
RTI International Metals originated in 1950 as Reactive Metals Inc., also associated with the name RMI Titanium Company Inc. The enterprise developed in the United States as a specialist producer and processor of titanium and other specialty metals. Over time, it expanded beyond basic material production into mill products, extrusion, forming, fabrication, and engineered systems. The company’s product portfolio served sectors with demanding material requirements. Aerospace and defense customers used high-performance metals where strength-to-weight characteristics and resistance to heat or corrosion were important. Industrial, energy, chemical, and consumer applications broadened the company’s market base. RTI’s capabilities included titanium mill products, specialty-metal mill products, extruded shapes, formed parts, fabricated components, and engineered systems. By the 2000s, RTI had built a substantial manufacturing footprint in the United States and Canada, with its headquarters in Pittsburgh and facilities across multiple states as well as Laval, Quebec. It also maintained operations in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, and China. This network allowed the company to support customers operating across international supply chains. A notable strategic initiative was announced in 2007, when RTI planned a premium-grade titanium sponge plant in Hamilton, Mississippi, adjacent to a Tronox facility. Titanium sponge is an important intermediate input for titanium production. In 2010, RTI announced that it would indefinitely idle the plant plans and obtain supply through long-term agreements with Toho Titanium Co., Ltd. and Osaka Titanium Technologies. This represented a shift from planned internal capacity expansion toward contracted external supply. RTI was recognized for rapid growth in 2007, when CNNMoney ranked it seventh among the United States’ 100 fastest-growing companies. The company also corrected earlier financial-reporting classifications in 2005. It restated its 2004 consolidated statement of cash flows and portions of its 2005 quarterly filings after discovering an error in the treatment of cash flows associated with tax effects from employee stock-option exercises. Dawne Hickton was RTI’s vice chairman, president, and chief executive officer until 2015. In March of that year, Alcoa acquired RTI in a stock-for-stock transaction valued at approximately $1.5 billion. The transaction ended RTI International Metals as an independent public company and placed its operations within Alcoa. RTI therefore survives primarily as a historical name associated with titanium and specialty-metal manufacturing.
- 2015
Acquired by Alcoa
[1]Alcoa acquired RTI International Metals through a stock-for-stock transaction, ending RTI’s independent corporate status.
- 2010
Mississippi sponge project idled
[1]RTI indefinitely suspended the planned sponge plant and selected long-term supply agreements with Toho Titanium and Osaka Titanium Technologies.
- 2007
Premium-grade sponge plant planned
[1]RTI announced plans for a premium-grade titanium sponge plant in Hamilton, Mississippi.
- 2007
Fast-growth ranking
[1]CNNMoney ranked RTI seventh among the United States’ 100 fastest-growing companies.
- 2005
Prior cash-flow filings restated
[1]RTI restated its 2004 annual cash-flow statement and portions of its 2005 quarterly filings to correct the classification of certain tax-related cash flows.
- 1950
Business founded as Reactive Metals
[1]The enterprise that became RTI International Metals was founded as Reactive Metals Inc., also identified with the RMI Titanium Company name.
Products and positioning
A vertically capable specialty-metals manufacturer focused on titanium and other high-performance materials, combining mill production, forming, fabrication, and engineered-component expertise for demanding industrial and aerospace applications.
Titanium
Titanium mill products
RTI’s core titanium mill products formed the material base of its business. They were supplied for aerospace, defense, industrial, energy, chemical, and other applications requiring high-performance metal characteristics. The category covered processed titanium forms produced for downstream fabrication and use in customer manufacturing programs.
Specialty metals
Specialty-metal mill products
In addition to titanium, RTI produced and distributed specialty-metal mill products. These materials supported customers whose designs required properties beyond those of conventional structural metals, including demanding industrial, energy, chemical, defense, and aerospace applications.
Fabricated components
Extruded shapes and formed parts
RTI manufactured extruded shapes and formed parts, extending its role from material production into component manufacturing. These products enabled customers to procure metal forms shaped for subsequent assembly or for direct use in specialized equipment and engineered applications.
Engineered metal systems
Engineered systems
RTI also supplied engineered systems and fabricated metal assemblies. These offerings reflected the company’s downstream processing capabilities and were intended for customers seeking application-specific solutions rather than unprocessed or minimally processed metal.
Brand decisions
2015
Stock-for-stock acquisition by AlcoaM&ABackground
RTI operated as an independent titanium and specialty-metals company with international manufacturing and distribution activities.
Action taken
Alcoa acquired RTI International Metals in a stock-for-stock transaction valued at approximately $1.5 billion.
Aftermath
RTI ceased to operate as an independent corporate entity and became part of Alcoa’s business portfolio.
Transaction value. $1.5 billion (March 2015)
2010
Shift from internal sponge capacity to contracted supplyStrategyBackground
RTI reconsidered the planned Mississippi titanium sponge investment after announcing the project in 2007.
Action taken
The company indefinitely idled plans to build the plant and entered two long-term contracts with Toho Titanium Co., Ltd. and Osaka Titanium Technologies.
Aftermath
The decision gave RTI a contracted-supply route for titanium sponge without proceeding with the announced facility.
2007
Plan to build a premium-grade titanium sponge plantStrategyBackground
RTI sought to expand its titanium supply capabilities by proposing a premium-grade sponge facility beside the Tronox plant in Hamilton, Mississippi.
Action taken
The company announced plans to construct the plant.
Aftermath
The project was later indefinitely idled, and RTI ultimately pursued long-term supply arrangements with Toho Titanium and Osaka Titanium Technologies.
Recent events
- 2015
Alcoa acquired RTI International Metals[1]
M&A
Alcoa completed a stock-for-stock acquisition of RTI International Metals, ending RTI’s independent status and incorporating its titanium and specialty-metals operations into Alcoa.
- 2010
RTI indefinitely idled its planned Mississippi sponge plant[1]
Other
RTI suspended construction plans for the Mississippi titanium sponge project and chose two long-term supply contracts with Toho Titanium and Osaka Titanium Technologies instead.
- 2007
RTI ranked among the fastest-growing United States companies[1]
Other
CNNMoney placed RTI seventh in its ranking of the United States’ 100 fastest-growing companies.
- 2007
RTI announced a premium-grade titanium sponge plant[1]
Product launch
The company announced plans for a premium-grade titanium sponge facility beside the Tronox plant in Hamilton, Mississippi.
- 2005
RTI restated cash-flow classifications in prior filings[1]
Other
RTI restated its consolidated statements of cash flows for 2004 and portions of its 2005 quarterly filings after identifying an error involving the classification of cash flows related to tax effects from employee stock-option exercises.
Sources1 sources
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