Constellium N.V., headquartered in the Netherlands, has announced its intention to expand its operations in Decin, Czech Republic, to support increased demand for aluminum profiles by its customers. Expected to be completed by October 2019, the expansion includes a new cast house and extrusion press and will increase the plant’s recycling capacity, the company says.
As Europe’s largest integrated manufacturer and processor of hard and soft alloys profiles, Constellium Decin produces customized aluminum extrusions primarily for automotive and industrial applications. With this added capacity, the plant will broaden its product portfolio to include sections for crash management systems and for new aluminum applications for hybrid and electric vehicles, Contellium says.
Constellium currently employs more than 800 people in Decin and expects to create approximately 90 new jobs at the plant by end of 2019.
The company previously expanded its Decin operations in 2015 to increase production of hard alloy extrusions. Both developments further its strategy of boosting production capacity of high-volume specialty alloy products and extrusions, according to Constellium.
“As the auto industry increasingly turns to lightweight, high-strength aluminum, Constellium’s expansion in Decin will support rising demand for hard and soft alloy profiles and bars from automotive customers across Europe,” says Paul Warton, president of Constellium’s Automotive Structures and Industry business unit. “This new activity is expected to increase Decin’s total extrusion capacity to 96,000 metric tons per year.”
Constellium Decin currently has an integrated foundry and 12 presses for direct and indirect extrusion production, as well as equipment for additional downstream operations, such as sawing and milling.