Alcan Opens Automotive Aluminum Structures Fabricating Plant to Better Serve Customers

MONTREAL, April 12 -- Alcan Inc. Toronto has announced the opening of its automotive bumper fabricating plant in Saguenay, Quebec, to better serve customer needs and promote industrial diversification in the region. Representatives from federal, provincial and municipal governments joined with the plant's main customers to celebrate the opening with Alcan management.

"This new automotive structures plant is another example of our commitment to maximizing value and our continued support of sustainable development throughout the region," said Travis Engen, president and chief executive officer of Alcan Inc.

At the opening ceremony, Jean-Noel Dargnies, president of Alcan Automotive Structures, said, "This plant is a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate our competitiveness in the demanding environment of the automotive market. We are confident that our manufacturing and technological expertise, coupled with the unique abilities of aluminum to reduce weight while improving safety, will make us successful in North America."

Located in the crucible of Alcan's primary metal production in Canada, at full capacity Saguenay will have an annual production capacity of 1 million bumper beams.

The plant represents the second step in building a new market for aluminum structural assemblies in the North American market. This effort also involves a sister plant that opened last year in Novi, Michigan. The two facilities will work closely together as an integrated operation.

In addressing the guests at the ceremony, Cynthia Carroll, president and chief executive officer of the Alcan Primary Metal Group, said, "This new plant represents an important investment in value-added activities which support the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean's efforts in industrial diversification, while confirming Alcan's desire to continue to develop in the region."

The new plant brings to 285 the number of direct jobs the company has created in the region since 2003. Through its industrial diversification strategy, Alcan also has helped create 500 additional jobs with its partners in Quebec.

Alcan has built a strong business in automotive structural products, based on a leading-edge technology developed in Europe and now offered to Alcan's North American customers. In 2004, Alcan Automotive in Europe produced more than 2.3 million bumpers, 4.4 million side-impact beams, and nearly 1 million cockpit carriers.

Alcan is a multinational, market-driven company and a global leader in aluminum and packaging, as well as aluminum recycling. With world-class operations in primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum as well as flexible and specialty packaging, aerospace applications, bauxite mining and alumina processing, today's Alcan is well positioned to meet and exceed its customers' needs for innovative solutions and service. Alcan employs 70,000 people and has operating facilities in 55 countries and regions.