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Industry Announces Cooperation to Address Potential In Auto Applications

9 September 1999

Industry Announces Global Cooperation to Address Market Potential In Automotive Applications

    DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 9 -- The aluminum industry, through
nine of its national trade associations on six continents, will combine
efforts to promote aluminum applications in the global automotive market.
    Richard B. Evans, president of Alcan Aluminum Corporation and Alcan Global
Fabrication Group, and Chairman of the Board, The Aluminum Association,
unveiled this development during his remarks at the association's Annual
Meeting here.  This global effort will combine the resources and initiatives
of The Aluminum Association Inc. (AAI), Washington, D.C.; the International
Primary Aluminium Institute (IPAI), London; the European Aluminium Association
(EAA), Brussels; the Australian Aluminium Council, Manuka; the Aluminium
Association of India, Bangalore; the Associacao Brasileira Do Aluminio (ABAL),
Sao Paulo; the Japan Aluminium Federation (JAF), Tokyo; the Aluminium
Association of Canada, Montreal; and the Aluminium Federation of South Africa
(AFSA), Isando.
    "The transportation market has become our global industry's largest market
and the automotive sector provides its largest growth potential," said Evans.
"Meeting that potential requires that we effectively present a common front
for aluminum to our customers, regardless of where they operate."
    Donald W. Macmillan, president of Alcan Global Automotive Products, and
chairman of The Aluminum Association's Auto and Light Truck Group, added,
"This international effort provides the platform to consolidate and expand on
many of the successful aluminum initiatives which have previously been
national or regional in scope. Bringing together the aluminum associations of
the world's leading car manufacturing countries adds an exciting new dimension
to global capabilities of the aluminum industry, in step with our customers'
worldwide reach."
    The concept of this "alliance" began earlier this year at the initiative
of The Aluminum Association's Auto and Light Truck Group, when the association
was invited to make a presentation at the IPAI Annual Meeting in Montreal.
A meeting in Brussels followed this, where leaders of The Aluminum Association
and EAA automotive committees met to exchange information on research and
promotion projects.
    J. Stephen Larkin, president of The Aluminum Association, said, "Our
organizations intend to keep current with one another on breaking issues.  We
will enhance one another's efforts by exchanging information on our
individual, national programs.  We all have the same goal: to increase the use
of aluminum in the global automotive market."
    Through the IPAI, the organizations meet twice yearly.  Those meetings
will serve as the chief communications opportunity for the association
executives to interface with one another.
    Dick Dermer, secretary general of the European Aluminium Association, said
that EAA is working on an automotive manual for the European automotive
industry to demonstrate the excellent characteristics of aluminum in
automotive applications.  The association will also be developing European
standards for test procedures in formability, surface properties, corrosion,
and fatigue.
    "This is an exciting opportunity for us all," Dermer said.  "We certainly
welcome the exchange of information and opportunities to work together."
    Also in his remarks, Evans announced The Aluminum Association will open a
Detroit office, staffed by an automotive vice president and technical expert,
representing the aluminum industry.
    "We welcome this initiative," said Robert Chase, secretary general of the
IPAI.  "Our financial support of the Detroit effort is reflective of our work
encouraging those national and regional aluminum associations outside North
America with large, locally-based automobile industries to cooperate."  IPAI
will be contributing $10,000 to The Aluminum Association initiative.
    Evans added, "The programs envisioned for the alliance are focused on pre-
competitive activities that supplement the respective members companies'
strategies in increasing aluminum use in automotive applications.
    "To communicate a global plan, we will work cooperatively and advance this
industry to be a leading material for the automotive industry, domestic and
international," he said.
    The Aluminum Association represents primary producers, recyclers, and
producers of semi-fabricated products in the United States.  Its members
operate approximately 200 plants in 35 states.
    EAA represents primary producers, recyclers and producers of semi-
fabricated products.  Its members operate approximately 500 plants throughout
Europe.
    The IPAI membership comprises the CEO's of some 30-member companies from
18 different countries across the globe.  The membership is responsible for
approximately 60% of the world's primary aluminum production.