Alcan Inc. has opening its new automotive bumper fabricating plant in Saguenay, Québec, to better serve customers needs and promote industrial diversification in the region.
“This new automotive structures plant is another example of our commitment to maximising value and our continued support of sustainable development throughout the region,” said Travis Engen, president and CEO of Alcan.
Jean-Noel Dargnies, president, Alcan Automotive Structures said, “This plant is a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate our competitiveness in the demanding environment of the automotive market. We are confident that our manufacturing and technological expertise, coupled with the unique abilities of aluminium to reduce weight while improving safety, will make us successful in North America.”
The plant will have an annual production capacity of a million bumper beams once at full capacity.
It is the second step in building a new market for aluminium structural assemblies in North America – a sister plant is already in place in Novi/Michigan. The two facilities will work closely together, as an integrated operation.
The number of jobs at the plant is part of the 285 direct jobs the company has announced it has or will be creating in the region, since 2003.
Alcan has also helped create 500 additional jobs with its partners in Quebec.
This project is based on a leading-edge technology developed in Europe, now offered to North American customers.
Alcan has built a strong business in automotive structural products. In 2004, its European operations produced more than 2.3 million bumpers, 4.4 million side-impact beams, and nearly 1 million cockpit carriers.
