Global leader in aluminum rolled products increases its capabilities with $300m facility

NOVELIS is set to expand its automotive aluminum capabilities with a new manufacturing facility in Kentucky.

The world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling will build a $300m automotive aluminium sheet manufacturing facility in Guthrie, Kentucky.

The 400,000 sq ft facility is scheduled to open in 2020 and will produce an annual nameplate capacity of 200,000 metric tons, while at the same time creating 125 jobs.

The new facility will include heat treatment and pre-treatment lines which prepare aluminum for use in various vehicle parts such as hoods, doors, lift gates and fenders.

The facility is the latest addition to Novelis’ extensive network of automotive finishing lines, which produce aluminium featured in many of the world’s premier brands including FCA, Ford, GM, Jaguar Land Rover and Toyota.

Breaking ground

To help recognize the investment and likely economic impact of the new Guthrie facility, Novelis recently hosted community members as well as federal, state and local officials to break ground on its $300m automotive aluminium sheet manufacturing facility.

The decision to build the new facility at Guthrie was one which made strategic sense, according to Novelis president and CEO, Steve Fisher.

“The increased adoption of aluminium in cars, trucks and SUV’s, coupled with more automotive manufacturing plants in the southeast makes Guthrie a strategic location to serve our customers,” he said.

“With the strong, highly-skilled workforce in Kentucky, we believe our culture and commitment to building a sustainable world together will have a lasting and positive impact on this community.”

Presence in Kentucky

Novelis currently employs 1260 people in Kentucky and has invested in local communities and provided jobs in the state for the past 34 years.

Senator Mitch McConnell praised Novelis’ decision to build a new facility in Kentucky, continuing a tradition of the company’s presence in the state.

“Kentucky’s workers are some of the best in the world – driven by ingenuity and determination,” he said.

“I am proud that Novelis has chosen to reinvest in our people and our Commonwealth by breaking ground on this new facility,

“It’s a prime example of the good news we’re hearing from across Kentucky and the county since Congress passed historic tax reform last year,

“Today’s ground breaking exemplifies the remarkable promise ahead.”

Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin said Novelis and its new facility were transforming Kentucky.

“How fortunate for us to be part of this incredible global company,” he said.

“These are the kinds of investments that are transforming Kentucky and transforming the industry,

“My vision for this state is simple, and that is, that we will be the centre for engineering and manufacturing excellence in the US,

“If we can go all the way down the supply chain, not just to fabricate materials but to roll those materials, to smelt those materials, to slit those materials – whatever the case might be – to get those materials to market; these are the kinds of things that are going to transform the state.”

 Global leader

Novelis is the global leader in aluminum rolled products and the world’s largest recycler of aluminum.

Novelis operates in 10 countries with 11,000 employees and had $11.5b in revenue during its 2018 fiscal year.

Novelis provides premium aluminum sheet and foil products to transportation, packaging, construction, industrial and consumer electronics markets throughout the globe.

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