Novelis Opens Global Research & Technology Center in Atlanta

Novelis, an Atlanta-based producer of rolled aluminum and a recycler of aluminum beverage cans (UBCs), has officially opened its new Global Research & Technology Center outside of Atlanta. The company says that its 160,000-square-foot facility will serve as the global hub for its research and development (R&D) activities.
 

“Innovation is the foundation of our strategy and a critical driver of our growth,” Jack Clark, Novelis chief technical officer, says. “It's also one of the key components of achieving our commitment to having 80 percent recycled content across our products by the year 2020. This new center will help drive increased collaboration with our customers, enabling us to work side-by-side in developing innovative, sustainable aluminum products.”
 

The center will focus on solutions for the company's can, automotive and specialty customers. It is also the central point for all of Novelis' technical activities worldwide, including engineering, manufacturing excellence and metallurgy.
 

The facility will include a variety of materials development and testing laboratories, a pilot beverage can production line and meeting space. Future plans include a small scale aluminum rolling mill and heat treatment capabilities for finishing automotive aluminum sheet.
 

“The new Global Research & Technology Center will bring together some of world's leading metallurgists, materials scientists, engineers and technologists all working for the benefit of Novelis' customers across the globe,” Stefan Erdmann, Novelis vice president of global R&D, says. “The center will tackle challenges ranging from increasing fuel efficiency in automobiles to making consumer packaging and electronics products more sustainable.”