NEW YORK — Carpenter Technology Corp. expects to produce about 10,000 tons of premium alloys during the first year of operation at its planned Limestone County, Ala., greenfield facility.

"We feel very confident that as we start up that first fiscal year we’re looking at 10,000 tons and (we’ll be) able to grow that over four years up to the 27,000 tons" ultimately expected of the plant, Dave S. Strobel, senior vice president of global operations, said during the company’s quarterly earnings conference call.

The $500-million facility, expected to start up in April 2014 (AMM, Feb. 8), is being built to meet growing demand from the aerospace industry for the company’s premium alloys.

"Approximately two-thirds of our top engine and passenger customers have worked with us to establish long-term agreements that extend beyond the start of the Alabama facility in 2014," president and chief executive officer William A. Wulfsohn said during the call.

The Wyomissing, Pa.-based company said demand in the sector is picking up considerably, making capacity expansions imperative. "We could be selling significantly more premium products today if we had more capacity available, and that situation is likely to expand in the future," Wulfsohn said.

Carpenter is adding 4,000 tons of remelt capacity at its Reading, Pa., and Latrobe, Pa., facilities during the next two months (AMM, April 26) and expects an additional 4,000 tons from the two expansions next year, Strobel said.