Hydro to expand aluminum extrusion operations in Brazil

Hydro will invest NOK 300 million to deploy a new extrusion press at its aluminum extrusion plant in Itu near Sao Paulo of Brazil to expand its product offerings and fulfill the local demand for high value aluminum products.

Hydro supplies extruded aluminum products to local markets from its plant in Brazil The investment covers costs related to deployment, construction and purchase of auxiliary equipment. The Itu plant already features three presses of which two are utilized for general extrusion applications and the third one is exclusively meant for heat transfer solutions and components.

The new extrusion press will be the largest press at the Itú facility and its size will allow the company to produce larger and longer aluminum profiles, primarily to the transportation market. The press is expected to start production by January 2013.

Mr Ivar Venas, who serves as Head of Hydro’s South American extrusion activities, said that there are plenty of opportunities in Brazil to expand the applications of aluminum extrusions. The company is happy to declare such a major investment following its expansion of Brazilian operations with metal, alumina, bauxite assets.

Mr Hans Joachim Kock executive VP of Hydro’s worldwide extruded products operations said that the investment complements the company’s downstream strategy. Hydro acquired the Itu facility called Hydro Aluminio Acro in 1997. It operates a remelting facility and a precision tubing operation for heat transfer applications at the Itu facility.