EoW September 2009

Transat lant ic Cable

Metals

US aluminium producer Alcoa strengthens its position in the European market with advances in Russia and Morocco Alcoa Russia on 24 th June commissioned a new state-of-the-art aluminium coating line at its plant in Samara for production of coated sheet used in the packaging and construction industries. The coating line processes aluminium coil in various alloys in thicknesses of 0.15mm to 0.8mm and sheet in widths of 1,050mm to 2,050mm at rates up to 250m per minute. Capacity is approximately 60,000 tons per year. The first products were shipped in June. The line is one of a kind in Russia, just as Samara is the sole can stock producer in the country. Painted sheet for architectural uses is another product of the line, which will serve customers in Russia and across Europe. The opening of the line completes a $750 million investment in its Russian operations by Pittsburgh-based Alcoa. The commissioning ceremony, which was attended by the US Ambassador to Russia, stirred Andrey Donets, president of Alcoa Russia, to lyrical expression. Having extolled aluminium – “most sustainable, lightweight, multifunctional” – he said, “Our ‘winged’ metal lends wings not only to aircraft, for which the Samara metallurgical plant produces many parts. Today, by launching our state-of-the-art coating line, we definitely lighten life for Russian can producers.” Another Alcoa unit, Alcoa Fastening Systems (Torrance, California), on 11 th June announced completion of its acquisition of Demicron SNC, now known as Alcoa Fixations Maroc. The Moroccan operation, centred in Casablanca, serves the European aerospace industry as a manufacturer of precision machined parts, complex progressive dies, and forging and stamping tools. It has been a partner to Alcoa Fastening Systems for some two years, and its full integration is expected by year-end. Olivier Jarrault, president of Alcoa Fastening Systems, sees the acquisition as enhancing Alcoa’s presence in the European speciality machined aerospace parts segment. He said, “It also will benefit [us] and our customers through improved affordability and capacity in support of the Airbus A350 launch and as the markets turn around.” Elsewhere in metals . . . State government and economic development officials ❈ ❈ in Mississippi are arranging grants to help a Texas steel distributor build a new steel mill in their state. As reported by Neal Wagner of the Commercial Dispatch ( Columbus, Mississippi), Houston-based New Process Steel will invest $25 million in the project, in expectation of an additional $1.8 million in community development awards. The memorandum of understanding envisions a flat rolled steel manufacturing plant in western Lowndes County, adjacent to a mini-mill owned by the Severstal North America unit of the Russian steel maker.

26

EuroWire – January 2006 EuroWire – September 2 09