Howmet Aerospace's history spans nearly a century, tracing back to 1926 when Austenal was founded by Reiner Erdle and Charles Prange in Chicago to manufacture materials for dental appliances. The company pioneered investment casting technology, developing processes for creating precision metal parts using ceramic molds.
During the 1930s, Austenal expanded into aircraft engine superchargers when General Electric requested help improving manufacturing practices for wartime production. This marked the beginning of Howmet's long relationship with the aerospace industry.
In 1958, Howe Sound Company, a metals and mining business, acquired Austenal. In 1959, Howe acquired Michigan Steel Casting Co. (MISCO), which provided the monolithic shell process for ceramic shell casting. Howe Sound Company renamed itself Howmet in 1965, marking the transition from mining to precision metal products manufacturing.
Howmet was purchased by Pechiney, a French multinational aluminum company, in 1975. In 1995, Pechiney sold Howmet to a joint venture between Thiokol Corporation and The Carlyle Group. In 2000, Cordant Technologies (formerly Thiokol) sold its stake to Alcoa, which integrated Howmet into its Alcoa Industrial Components unit.
In 2016, Alcoa Inc. undertook a major corporate restructuring, spinning off its bauxite, alumina, and aluminum operations to create Alcoa Corp., while Alcoa Inc. was renamed Arconic Inc. Arconic focused on engineered products and solutions for aerospace, automotive, and other industries.
In February 2019, Arconic announced it would split into two separate publicly traded companies. Arconic Inc. was renamed Howmet Aerospace Inc., focusing on engineered aerospace products (jet engine components, fastening systems, titanium structures, and forged wheels). A new company called Arconic Corporation was spun out to focus on rolled aluminum products for automotive and industrial applications. The separation became effective on April 1, 2020.
Following the separation, Howmet Aerospace focused on its core aerospace and transportation businesses, benefiting from the recovery in commercial aviation following the COVID-19 pandemic.
In December 2025, Howmet Aerospace announced an agreement to acquire Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing (CAM) from Stanley Black & Decker for approximately $1.8 billion. CAM is a manufacturer of aerospace fasteners and structural components, and the acquisition is expected to strengthen Howmet's fastening systems business.
In FY2024, Howmet reported revenues of approximately $7.4 billion, up approximately 12% year-over-year, driven by strong commercial aerospace demand as airlines expanded their fleets and aircraft manufacturers ramped up production.