Alcan Building UBC Recycling Plant

Alcan is investing $7 million in its Specialty Sheet Alcan Rhenalu facility at Neuf-Brisach, France to recycle used beverage cans. The new capacity is scheduled to come on stream by the beginning of 2008.

"This investment will further strengthen Alcan Specialty Sheet's position as a leading supplier of aluminum can body stock in Europe," said Michel Jacques, president and CEO, Alcan Engineered Products. "Neuf-Brisach would become a unique location in Europe in that it will have a fully integrated UBC processing, rolling and finishing facility on the European continent," he added.

The investment will see the installation of an additional remelting furnace in the Neuf-Brisach cast house for UBC recycling as well as an adjacent logistic and handling facility. The Neuf-Brisach site employs about 1,650 people.

"In line with our growth strategy, Alcan Specialty Sheet is building a strong continental position in UBC recovery and processing together with our customers. By being able to offer competitive end-to-end customer solutions, highlighted by this investment, further underscores aluminum as the material of choice for beverage cans," said Christophe Villemin, president Alcan Specialty Sheet. "This investment will provide an economical and environmentally friendly solution to producing can body stock using UBC-based metal," he added.

The investment will foster high quality beverage can recycling in Europe, contributing to Alcan's strategy of optimizing material loops. Recycled aluminum saves about 95 percent of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions compared to the production from primary resources.

Alcan Specialty Sheet is a key player in the European rolling industry, and occupies leading positions in the beverage can and closures, automotive, bright products, and industrial and customized solutions markets. It includes rolling and recycling operations in Neuf-Brisach, France, and Singen, Germany, as well as dedicated R&D capabilities in Voreppe, France, and Neuhausen, Switzerland.