ALVANCE: GFC Alliance debuts low carbon GREEN-ALUMINIUM vertical

Sanjeev Gupta, Executive Chairman of GFC Alliance has declared the creation of a new global low carbon aluminium champion, ahead of his participation at the Choose France summit

The new aluminium group will be known by the name ALVANCE Aluminium Group. It will be headquartered in Paris and lead together all of GFC Alliance’s assets across the verticals of the aluminium supply chain starting from raw materials to finished components. This will deliver towards teamwork that will support the business to meet the ever uprising market challenges and take full advantage of opportunities to expand.

ALVANCE will be the first GFG Alliance global vertical to be headquartered outside of its international headquarters in London and will initially group the GFG Alliance’s existing high-value upstream aluminium production activities in the UK and France together with its French engineering businesses. ALVANCE has an experienced multinational management team and is in the process of appointing a Board of Directors to oversee the highest standards of corporate governance.

ALVANCE will now share this CN30 target, to set ALVANCE on course to become the new standard-bearer for sustainable aluminium production, GREEN-ALUMINIUM.

ALVANCE’s portfolio includes Europe’s largest aluminium smelter ALVANCE Aluminium Dunkerque, the UK’s only remaining aluminium smelter at Fort William, Scotland, ALVANCE Wheels (Chateauroux), France’s only manufacturer of aluminium wheels in Chateauroux and engine cast part producers ALVANCE Aluminium Technologies Poitou and ALVANCE Cast Products Poitou. ALVANCE has also conditionally agreed to acquire Belgium’s Duffel aluminium rolling facilities and is participating in an approval process with the European Commission’s competition team.

In France, the Dunkerque smelter makes use of the existing low-carbon French energy mix derived mainly from nuclear and hydro sources.

Sanjeev Gupta, Chairman of GFG Alliance, said: “The creation of ALVANCE highlights the global nature of our ambitions. We’ve made huge progress in both consolidating our steel network worldwide and delivering higher value-added products to our consumers. ALVANCE now aims to establish itself as a champion for GREEN-ALUMINIUM. Extending our CN30target to this part of the business is both a logical and necessary step in its development.”

He also added“Given the rise in customer demand for stronger, lighter-weight, recyclable materials, we see aluminium as a key opportunity for growth and sustainable profitability. However, we operate in an international market that’s both cyclical and under competitive pressure, and so by combining our businesses, we’re looking to achieve greater synergies, increase efficiencies and ensure the business is fit to meet the challenges ahead. ALVANCE is a key supplier to Europe’s automotive and general industrial space so the unique selling point of GREEN-ALUMINIUM is a strong marketing proposition.”

“As the majority of our current aluminium assets are in France it was a natural decision to headquarter our new operation in Paris. We are immensely proud to be playing a role in the reindustrialisation of a country with such proud manufacturing and engineering heritage and look forward to ALVANCE helping us make even greater strides towards our goals. In Scotland, we are seeking to extend ALVANCE’s aluminium investments in Fort William.”

Arnaud de Weert, ALVANCE Chief Executive, said: “I am delighted to be taking this new ALVANCE business forward for GFG Alliance. ALVANCE sits at a pivotal moment in its international development and with a rich history in aluminium, I can think of no better place than France to base this new enterprise. GFG Alliance aims to be at the vanguard of sustainable production of materials that will help the automotive and other sectors deliver lighter, greener, more efficient products – ALVANCE will champion this programme with GREEN-ALUMINIUM. To do this ALVANCE will drive synergies, capitalise fully on our existing skills and build new expertise to serve the different parts and evolving needs of these markets.”