Daniel Lim, the Sales & Marketing Director at ALCOM, drives the company’s global growth in HVACR, building and industrial segments. With 20+ years of aluminium industry expertise, he leads commercial strategy and client engagement with top brands like Daikin, Carrier and York. His focus on sustainability has positioned ALCOM as the world’s first aluminium producer with Product Carbon Footprint certification across all product ranges.
In an interview for American Aluminium Industry: Focus 2025 e-magazine Daniel Lim talks about how ALCOM supports US downstream markets through innovation in alloys, coatings and fin-stock technologies, while driving decarbonisation via circularity, renewable energy and carbon mapping. He also addresses the US industry challenges like tariff volatility, net-zero investment needs and competition from low-cost economies, positioning ALCOM as a strategic partner for technology transfer, sustainable manufacturing, and resilient supply chains.
AL Circle: ALCOM is the largest manufacturer of rolled aluminium products in Malaysia and a leading supplier in the Asia Pacific region. Can you share how ALCOM’s experience in high quality rolled products and global client servicing (e.g., Daikin, Carrier, York) can benefit developments in America’s mid and downstream aluminium market?
Daniel Lim: Founded in 1960, Aluminium Company of Malaysia Berhad (ALCOM) has become a trusted partner to leading HVACR brands worldwide. Beyond reliable supply, ALCOM strives to deliver needed selling solutions that strengthen customer competitiveness and elevate industry standards. With a focus on anticipating needs and challenging conventions, ALCOM continues to position itself as a catalyst of change in the aluminium sector.
Rooted in deep customer understanding and superior technical expertise, ALCOM consistently advances value through innovation. Recent investments in state-of-the-art EV foil manufacturing demonstrate its readiness to support emerging industries, while its achievement as the world’s first aluminium producer with Product Carbon Footprint certification across all product ranges reflects a firm commitment to sustainability.
Building on decades of supply to global HVACR leaders, ALCOM sharpens its expertise in alloys, surface treatments, coatings, and ultra-fine tolerances to enhance hydrophilicity, thermal efficiency, corrosion resistance, and formability. Sustained investments in artificial intelligence and next-generation processes further strengthen its precision and consistency.
Humbled by its legacy yet driven by bold innovation, ALCOM stands as a strategic partner for U.S. downstream manufacturers seeking consistent, performance-driven inputs and value-added excellence. In doing so, it redefines infinite possibilities and expectations while helping to build a more sustainable and innovative aluminium future.
AL Circle: The US needs approximately $60 billion in investments to meet netzero goals by 2050, given current output growth projections. In your view, what role could a company like ALCOM play in supporting such investments—perhaps through technology licensing, partnerships in recycling, or ESG-driven supply chain commitments?
Daniel Lim: ALCOM’s radical investments in recent years reflect a deep commitment to reducing carbon emissions at the source— delivering direct financial and environmental benefits for the US market. By leveraging its upstream decarbonisation, ALCOM offers value through imported products, potential facility investments in the US, circular supply chain practices, and even the sharing of breakthrough technologies. As a proactive agent of green transformation, ALCOM has already begun engaging and educating US partners on sustainable practices. Extending this role offers significant potential—not only to strengthen industry competitiveness but also to accelerate the US journey toward a low-carbon future.
AL Circle: Tariff volatility, like the recent 50 per cent aluminium import duties, has significantly impacted US downstream users. From ALCOM’s global supply perspective, how does policy uncertainty affect planning, and what mitigation strategies (e.g., diversification of sourcing or flexible contracts) might offer insights for US manufacturers?
Daniel Lim: While abrupt tariff shifts have unsettled many exporters to the US, ALCOM views such measures as a fair correction to level the playing field against competitors enjoying unfair advantages. Guided by optimism, ALCOM continues to strengthen its commercial and technological value propositions while positioning for the next cycle of US imports.
With close observation of domestic capacity, stable Midwest premiums, and consistently lower freight costs, ALCOM is prepared to respond with agility. Having successfully navigated similar policy swings in the past, the company leverages multimarket sourcing, geographically diversified raw material streams, and adaptable production scheduling to redirect supply to where demand is strongest.
Applied to the US market, these strategies offer downstream importers more than just supply—they deliver value-added reliability, resilience against cost volatility, and a trusted partner in a dynamic trade environment.
To explore the full interview and gain deeper insights into the aluminium downstream market, click here.
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