New Kensington, PA: 1891 Alcoa Plant and 1930 Technical Center

Plant: (Satellite, on a satellite image I accessed in Sep 2026, parts of the site was still brownland. But it looks like they are building some warehouses.)

Tech Center: (Satellite)

The old and new headquarters buildings were in Pittsburgh.

Sean Brady posted two photos with the comment:

ALCOA PITTSBURG - 1947

INGERSOLL ALUMINUM SCALPING MACH. FOR MILLING SCALE FROM CAST ALUMINUM BILLETS BEFORE ROLLING THEM. IT MILLS OFF 1/4” TO 3/8" IN JUST A FEW SECONDS. CUTTER IS DRIVEN BY 800HP MOTOR.

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alcoa_history
In 1891, Alcoa/Pittsburgh Reduction Co. moved its operations from Pittsburgh to New Kensington.

By 1940, it had grown considerably.

HistoricPittsburgh, cropped
[The birdge is the C. L. Schmitt Bridge.]

In fact, that growth had occurred by this 1925 photo. The operation extended several blocks up the Allegheny River.

HistoricPittsburgh, cropped
[The webpage documents this as Pittsburgh, but the 1940 photo above confirms that this is in New Kensington.]

The building in the right background of the 1940 photos appears to be extant.

Street View, Sep 2018

1930:

alcoa_history

The World’s First Aluminum Research Laboratory

On a hill overlooking the Allegheny River and Alcoa's production facility along its banks in Pittsburgh, the company builds a campus-like facility dedicated to finding new aluminum applications, testing its performance and improving production processes.

HistoricPittsburgh, cropped
"The Aluminum Company of America's (Alcoa) Aluminum Research Laboratories in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, contained scientific research equipment, including the Templin precision metal-working machine, used for testing specimens. It is the most powerful machine of its kind in the world and can exert a force up to 3,000,000 lbs. in compression and 1,000,000 lbs. in tension at speeds up to 36 inches a minute."

This research facility is extant.

Satellite

HistoricPittsburgh, cropped
"Description of the photograph reads, 'Alcoa research technicians making strength tests on an aluminum alloy structural beams. Countless tests on aluminum and its alloys are constantly being conducted at Alcoa's laboratories.'"

1903:

alcoa_history

Alcoa Aluminum Gives Flight to Wright Brothers Invention

The world’s first flying machine is powered by an aluminum heart made from Alcoa’s new metal. To save weight, the engine block and crankcase of the Wright Brothers' historic "Flyer" are cast from aluminum supplied by The Pittsburgh Reduction Company.

1916:

alcoa_history

First Aerospace Alloy

Alcoa's first aerospace alloy, 2017-T4, is a critical material for building the historic USS Shenandoah rigid airship. A century later, 2017-T4 is still used for aircraft sheet and plate. More than 90% of all alloys currently used in the aerospace industry were developed by Alcoa research.

1962: I was wondering the other month when the "pop top" was invented. I can remember as a kid having to remember to pack a can opener. I think the pop top was ubiquitous by the end of the 1960s. That original version of the pop top came off the can. They became a serious pollution problem. So they invented a version that hinged a flap out of the way into the can. But note how narrow the opening was. Today's wide mouth was the next innovation.

alcoa_history

The Can Opener Becomes Extinct

Alcoa works with the Pittsburgh Brewing Company to introduce easy-open aluminum pull tabs on cans of Pittsburgh Brewing's Iron City beer. Today, because of innovations like the pull tab, and because of aluminum's recyclability, the canned beverage market is virtually 100% aluminum.