ALCAN AUTOMOTIVE TO BUILD NEW NORTH AMERICAN HEADQUARTERS AND PLANT IN DETROIT AREA

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ALCAN AUTOMOTIVE TO BUILD NEW NORTH AMERICAN HEADQUARTERS AND PLANT IN DETROIT AREA
20 May 2003 - Alcan Automotive

Alcan plans to open a new manufacturing plant and North American automotive headquarters in the Detroit area later this year, according to Kurt Wolfensberger, executive vice president of Alcan Inc. and president of its Engineered Products Group.

The new 52,000-square-foot facility, to be located at 46555 Magellan Drive in Novi, Michigan, will manufacture advanced aluminum bumpers for the company’s automotive customers in North America. The plant is expected be in production by early next year.

The new headquarters complex will house engineering, sales and administrative personnel currently located in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The move is expected to take place during the fourth quarter of 2003. Initially, the complex will have more than 60 hourly and salaried employees, including a total of 45 new jobs.

Wolfensberger noted that the new facilities are part of a planned expansion of Alcan’s North American automotive operations, which includes the establishment of a new North American structural products group to engineer and market aluminum bumper systems and other structural sub-systems.

“Alcan already is North America’s leading supplier of aluminum sheet,” Wolfensberger said. “These new developments mark the company’s emergence here as a supplier of lightweight structural assemblies as well. Alcan has developed significant expertise in the application of aluminum for crash management systems, which is especially relevant for North America.”

In Europe, where Alcan recently expanded its bumper production, customers include Audi, BMW, Rover, Opel, DaimlerChrysler, MCC and PSA Citroen. Based in Neuhausen, Switzerland, Wolfensberger is responsible for Alcan’s automotive, mass transportation, cable and composites businesses.

http://www.alcanautomotive.com

About: Alcan Automotive
Alcan is a multinational company in aluminium and packaging, as well as aluminium recycling, with operations in primary aluminium, fabricated aluminium as well as flexible and specialty packaging, aerospace applications, bauxite mining and alumina processing. Alcan employs 88,000 people and has operating facilities in 58 countries and regions.

The merger of Alcan Inc. with Alusuisse Group Ltd. has created a materials company that offers global market coverage and advanced technology solutions in aluminium and other lightweight materials. Alcan has become a leader in the significant growth taking place for aluminium in the automotive sector as manufacturers strive to produce safer, lighter, affordable vehicles.

The organisation currently represents a US$13 billion global enterprise with strong anticipated growth in our automotive businesses, operating under the banner of Alcan Automotive.

A global R&D network, with technology centres located in key markets around the world, combined with an extensive network of aluminium smelters and manufacturing facilities, provides the automobile industry with complete solutions, from materials delivery to design and manufacture of quality vehicle components and modules.

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