Alcoa Presents UltrAlloy 6020 at Aluminium 2004 World Trade Fair and Convention in Germany

PITTSBURGH--Sept. 20, 2004--Alcoa announced today that the Aluminium 2004 World Trade Fair and Convention in Essen, Germany will include a presentation of Alcoa's UltrAlloy(R) 6020, which removes lead from aluminum precision machined parts, increases machining productivity and boosts machine shop competitiveness.

The presentation by Alcoa Global Cold Finished Products will take place between 9 a.m. and noon on Wednesday, September 22 in one of the conference halls. Aluminum industry members will be presenting their product and service portfolios at the trade show, which more than 600 exhibitors from 38 countries are expected to attend.

While there has been a significant movement to eliminate lead and lead-containing products in the U.S. and abroad over the last 20 years, lead removal has been a dilemma for the majority of parts manufacturers. Since the 1980s, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has helped to phased out lead in gasoline, reduced lead in drinking water, reduced lead in industrial air pollution and banned or limited lead used in consumer products, including residential paint. Like the EPA, the European Union is also looking to greatly reduce lead contamination in the environment.

Alcoa's UltrAlloy(R) 6020 alloy solved the dilemma for the metals industry. Alcoa removed the lead as an alloying element and developed an alloy that has an A rating for machinability. UltrAlloy(R) 6020 is a 6XXX alloy with all of the inherent six series advantages: corrosion resistance, joinability, anodizability, etc. that provides machined chips comparable to 2011 commonly recognized as the benchmark for aluminum alloy machinability.

Alcoa is the world's leading producer and manager of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina facilities, and is active in all major aspects of the industry. Alcoa serves the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation and industrial markets, bringing design, engineering, production and other capabilities of Alcoa's businesses to customers. In addition to aluminum products and components, Alcoa also markets consumer brands including Reynolds Wrap(R) foils and plastic wraps, Alcoa(R) wheels, and Baco(R) household wraps. Among its other businesses are vinyl siding, closures, fastening systems, precision castings, and electrical distribution systems for cars and trucks. The company has 120,000 employees in 42 countries and has been a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average for 45 years and the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes since 2001. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com