Novelis is to build a US$300m automotive aluminium sheet manufacturing facility in Guthrie, Kentucky to open in 2020.
The greenfield facility, with an annual nameplate capacity of 200,000 metric tons, will include heat treatment and pre-treatment lines, which prepare aluminium for use in vehicle parts such as body-in-white, hoods, doors, lift gates and fenders. The company expects to break ground in early spring and create around 125 jobs at the new facility.
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“Today’s announcement by Novelis to expand its capabilities in North America is a strategic decision fully supported by the Aditya Birla Group to maintain the group’s leadership position in the global metals sector and its ongoing commitment to serve both upstream and downstream customers,” said Novelis chairman and chairman of Hindalco Industries, Aditya Birla.
The investment is the latest addition to Novelis’ network of automotive finishing lines. Demand for automotive aluminium is expected to rise according to the 2017 Ducker Worldwide survey projection that aluminium content in North American passenger vehicles, particularly light trucks and SUVs, will increase 42% from its 2015 level by the year 2028.
“Aluminium is a growing material of choice for the automotive industry worldwide as auto manufacturers continue to demand more and more aluminium to produce lighter, safer and stronger cars, trucks and SUVs,” said Novelis president and CEO, Steve Fisher.
“Novelis will continue to innovate alongside our automotive customers to lightweight the vehicles of today while looking ahead to meet the mobility needs of the fleet-based economies of tomorrow.”
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By GlobalDataThe new facility will be in close proximity to Logan Aluminium, a Novelis joint venture in Russellville, Kentucky and several nearby automotive manufacturing plants.
“Partnering with companies like Novelis, who are investing here for the long term, supports the State’s economy and advances our efforts to make Kentucky the centre for engineering and manufacturing excellence in America,” said Kentucky Govenor, Matt Bevin.
“We are grateful to Novelis for this tremendous vote of confidence in our workforce and for broadening their footprint in Kentucky.”
More than 200 different vehicle models on the road today feature Novelis aluminium.
