Alucoil America announces new operations in Clarendon County

Alucoil America Corp., a European manufacturer of aluminum composite material and other wall cladding products, today announced new operations in Clarendon County through the purchase of Intrabond USA. An investment of more than $5 million is expected to generate 18 new jobs.

The company plans to begin hiring for the new positions in the latter half of 2012.

Alucoil will import its own technology to enhance current operations at the plant in Manning. The company will continue to employ all existing personnel in the plant and plans to double the number of jobs over the next two years. Intrabond products will be migrated to Alucoil brands in the future and further enhanced by technology and product line additions from its home operations in Spain.

“With this acquisition, we are committed to being a strategic supplier to the North American building cladding market and are preparing to invest resources, talent and sweat equity to grow our brands, product range and footprint,” said Clemente Gonzalez Soler, chairman and CEO of Alucoil and Grupo Aliberico. “This acquisition of the Manning facility is an integral part of an aggressive international expansion plan we initiated with the opening of Alucoil Moroc in Casablanca last year, and will continue in 2012 with the establishment of Alucoil Do Brasil with the construction of our new ACM plant in Sao Paulo.”

Intrabond USA, which began operations in 2009, comprises a modern manufacturing facility with two aluminum composite material production lines. Close to the Port of Charleston and major highways, the facility is strategically located to service the U.S. domestic market as well as import raw materials and export finished products to Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Alucoil S.A. was founded in 1996 and is owned by Grupo Aliberico.

“Companies like Alucoil continue to help strengthen our state’s manufacturing sector. The company’s decision to put down roots here also shows that our state’s business-friendly climate is helping attract investment that creates jobs,” said Bobby Hitt, Secretary of Commerce.

Central SC Alliance Chairman Jim Apple said, “International companies know the value of a South Carolina address, and we welcome Alucoil America Corp. to Clarendon County. Today, there are over 100 foreign-affiliated companies with locations in our nine-county region. Our efficient transportation network with direct access to the Port of Charleston makes it easy for companies to move product and raw materials in a timely manner.”

Alucoil makes high-tech aluminum products for building and construction, transportation, and industrial applications in Europe. Under the Larson brand, Alucoil offers coating technologies, including powder-coated coil, flat sheet and aluminum composite material, and 100% recyclable A2 fire-rated building panels.

Alucoil is part of Grupo Aliberico, a European aluminum company that is more than 40 years old. The company transforms more than 100,000 tons of aluminum annually. The Aliberico team comprises more than 1,000 people and has manufacturing facilities in Spain and commercial offices all over Europe and North Africa. It exports to more than 45 countries on five continents.