Alcan Opens Aluminum Bumper Manufacturing Plant in Quebec

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Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources, Incorporated; Houston, Texas). Alcan Incorporated (NYSE:AL)(Montreal, Quebec) announced earlier this month the opening of its new $25 million aluminum bumper beam manufacturing plant on Chemin de la Reserve in Chicoutimi, Quebec. The plant is located just east of Alcan’s huge Jonquière smelter complex, which will be the source for its aluminum stock.

Chicoutimi, the second step in the implementation of Alcan’s plan to build a new market for aluminum structural assemblies in the North American market, was first touted to make 600,000 aluminum bumper beams a year, to complement production of a sister plant in Novi, Michigan, but a recent report from Alcan states that the plant will have the capacity to produce one million bumper beams a year, once it comes up to full capacity. The two operations offer the North American market a leading-edge technology developed by Alcan in Europe. Chicoutimi is expected to employ 285 workers directly.

In addressing the guests at the opening ceremony, Cynthia Carroll, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alcan Primary Metals Group, said, "This new plant represents an important investment in value-added activities which support the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean efforts in industrial diversification, while confirming Alcan’s desire to continue to develop in the region."

If Alcan Automotive’s success in Europe is any measure, the Novi-Chicoutimi operations should be a grand success. In 2004, Alcan Automotive in Europe produced more than 2.3 million bumpers, 4.4 million side-impact beams, and nearly 1 million cockpit carriers. Chicoutimi is also flexible enough to eventually add various structural sub-systems to its repertoire, such as instrument panel supports, engine cradles, and sub-frames.

The Novi plant (aka Alcan Sheet), at 46555 Magellan Drive, became operational late last year. The Novi site will also be headquarters for Alcan’s Automotive Division, serving as a center for sales, manufacturing, engineering, and R&D for sheet products and structural components, and all other Michigan operations are being relocated to Novi.

Alcan Incorporated, with world-class operations in primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum, as well as flexible and specialty packaging, aerospace applications, bauxite mining, and alumina processing, is a global leader in the global aluminum industry. Alcan employs 70,000 people, has operating facilities in 55 countries and regions, and controls 13% of the world's aluminum production capacity, second only to U.S.-based Alcoa.

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