Alcan to Expand Light Gauge Capacity With Investment at Indiana Rolling Mill.

Business Editors

TERRE HAUTE, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 14, 2000

Alcan Aluminum Corporation announced today that it is investing $15 million at its Terre Haute, Indiana, light gauge rolling facility in a project to enhance the plant's production capabilities and meet growth in customer demand. The project, which ultimately will increase the plant's capacity by 50 million pounds annually, includes a wide foil mill with doubling capability to complement existing rolling equipment. The facility is among the world's largest and most technologically advanced producers of light gauge aluminum fin and foil products.

Buddy Stemple, Director of Sales & Marketing, Light Gauge Products, said: "The Terre Haute investment significantly strengthens Alcan's capabilities to produce wide aluminum foil products, enabling us to provide greater value to our customers. This mill will meet the current increasing demand as well as ensure ample capacity for future demand growth. This strategic investment further solidifies Alcan's leading position as a value-added supplier of high quality, light gauge aluminum fin and foil products."

The Terre Haute project is the next step in capital expansions initiated by the Light Gauge Products business unit of Alcan. Over the past two years, Alcan has upgraded its light gauge narrow slitting plant in Fairmont, West Virginia, while its parent, Alcan Aluminium Limited, has made significant investments in its light gauge continuous casting facility in Jonquiere, Quebec.

The project, now underway, will be completed in mid-2001. Production will not be interrupted during the installation process.

The Light Gauge Products group, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is a unit of the Alcan Global Fabrication Group.