Novelis to build first plant in China

Novelis Inc., a producer of premium aluminium rolled products, signed an agreement with the Changzhou National Hi-Tech District to build the company's first automotive sheet manufacturing facility in China. The agreement, which includes land use rights to more than 160 acres, was inked at a formal ceremony in Changzhou City in the Jiangsu Province of China.

The wholly owned, US$100-million plant will have a capacity of 120,000 metric tonnes per year and is expected to be commissioned for operation in late 2014. Located in the heart of the Changzhou National Hi-Tech District, the new site is close to vital rail lines, the Changzhou deep water port on the Yangtze River and other world-class business and commercial infrastructure. The company plans to ship rolled aluminium coils manufactured at its South Korean operations to the new facility in Changzhou for heat treatment and finishing before delivery to automotive customers within China as well as to export markets. Current Novelis auto sheet customers include Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Ferrari, Ford, GM, Hyundai, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Volvo, among others.