Hydro's auto line in Germany starts rolling

The new large facility at the aluminium company Hydro´s plant in Grevenbroich, Germany, got started recently: Hydro is producing first coils for customers at automotive line 3 (AL 3).

This follows weeks of trials on how the new machines for EDT rolling, continuous annealing and coating of high-end car body sheet are working as such and as joint operations. Now first orders have been produced and shipped to automotive suppliers. Furthermore, first strip from AL 3 were sent to car makers in order to qualify products from the new facility.

“To get this challenging, innovative installation going on time and within its planned cost, is quite a strong accomplishment. Kudos and cordial thanks to the team, with our engineers, specialists and scientists, not least the partners for construction and technology,” lauded Pascal Wagner, Senior Vice President of the Global Products Business Unit.

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Some 18 months after laying the foundation stone for the € 130 million project, this highest single investment of Hydro in Germany is coming not a second too early: The automotive industry asks for more car body material from Grevenbroich. With it, thanks to aluminium light-weighting, passenger car fleets can substantially lower their weight, reduce specific need for fuel and consequently their emissions.
 
Wagner: “Only will we celebrate AL 3, when this plant will provide premium quality to our customers in a regular routine rhythm in 2017. Until then we focus on ramping up AL 3 and finish its numerous qualifications at customers successfully.” To car body construction, Hydro, foremost based on AL 3, is offering several promising advantages in processes and products.

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