Novelis expands European can sheet finishing capacity

The aluminum rolling and recycling firm Novelis, has commissioned a new aluminum slitting and packing line at the Aluminium Norf GmbH (Alunorf) site, its joint-venture facility in Neuss, Germany. The new facility will increase the plant’s finishing capacity for beverage can sheet.

“This investment reflects the solid growth of the aluminium beverage can market in Europe, which has resulted in significantly increased can sheet sales,” says Pierre Labat, vice president and general manager, Can for Novelis Europe. “As part of its growth strategy, Novelis Europe is continuously investing to strengthen its market leadership by increasing can sheet production and used beverage can recycling capacity to meet our customers’ requirements.”

Novelis says its Alunorf plant is the world’s largest aluminium rolling mill and the most technologically advanced aluminium manufacturing facility in Europe, casting sheet ingots and rolling semi-finished products for a wide range of applications. It is an essential part of Novelis’ operations network and is key to serving the European can sheet market. The plant also recycles beverage can process scrap.

In a press release Novelis reports that it also is adding can sheet production capacity and is investing to expand its used can recycling efforts in Europe. The company recently upgraded its recycling facility in Latchford, U.K., resulting in an increased capacity of more than 60,000 metric tons, and, by the middle of this year, it will commission what it says will be the world’s largest aluminium recycling center in Nachterstedt, Germany, with a total capacity of about 400,000 metric tons.