Aleris Signs Five-Year Contract with Airbus

Aleris, a global aluminum processor and recycler, headquartered in Beachwood, Ohio, has signed a five-year contract to provide aluminum plate and sheet in a range of alloys to the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus. The metal will be used by Airbus for its global programs. The contract will start in 2012 and run through 2016.

Aleris notes that the agreement includes the development of a recycling program under which Aleris will recycle scrap generated by Airbus.

In a release announcing the contract, Steven Demetriou, Aleris’ chairman and CEO, says, "Aleris and Airbus have enjoyed a productive and beneficial 15-year partnership. This contract strengthens our position as a key global supplier to Airbus and as a leading supplier of aluminum in the aerospace industry. Airbus will benefit from the advanced manufacturing capabilities and research and development investments that enable us to provide increasingly sophisticated aluminum solutions for customer needs."

The aluminum and alloys to be used will be produced at Aleris’ plants in Koblenz, Germany and Duffel, Belgium. Aleris adds that it also will supply Airbus with plate from its new plate mill in China when construction of that plant is completed in late 2012.