Alcoa forms alliance with Seohan for VRC/PRC.

Alcoa Inc., Pittsburgh, and Korea-based Seohan Industries Co. Ltd. signed a letter of intent in September forming an alliance to produce cast aluminum chassis and suspension components and modules for the automotive industry in South Korea, Japan, China and Australia.

Under the agreement, Alcoa intends to license its vacuum riserless casting/pressure riserless casting (VRC/PRC) technology and sell related production assets. Seohan, which manufactures automotive parts, will establish an aluminum castings plant in South Korea to supply OEMs in Australia and Eastern Asia with cast structural parts via VRC/PRC methods. The letter of intent provides the framework for both companies to identify, develop and launch programs. According to Alcoa officials, when operational, the Seohan plant will complement and expand Alcoa's current VRC/PRC aluminum casting capabilities in the U. S. and Europe.

"With ever-increasing demand on safety and fuel economy and consumers desiring superior driving performance, we project a significant increase in the use of aluminum castings in the critical chassis and suspension areas of the vehicle," stated Allen Zwierzchowski, president of Alcoa Automotive Castings. "We are excited to be working with a proven supplier like Seohan in order to establish the VRC/PRC technology in Asia."