Trimet adds new electrolytic furnaces to its Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne smelter

Trimet is one step closer to achieving full capacity as its opens additional electrolytic furnaces at its Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne aluminium smelter. This medium sized family enterprise plans to invest a total sum of 100 million euros in the next three years to expand production at its France sites.

Emmanuel Macron, the French Minister of Economic Affairs visited the Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne smelter on Saturday, September 6, 2014. The new electrolytic furnaces were put into operation at a formal commissioning ceremony where the entire staff was present. Trimet’s owner Heinz-Peter Schlüter and the Minister jointly inaugurated the new furnaces by giving the starting signal for the production line F. This section was decommissioned in 2009 and had been undergoing rigorous repairs over the past few months.

With the start of the additional facilities, the company’s capacity is going to rise from 90,000 tonnes to 145,000 tonnes annually over the next few months. Dr. Martin Iffert, CEO of Trimet Aluminium SE and President of Trimet France SAS is very happy with the expansion and is excite about the prospect of “producing this high-quality and sustainable material at full speed.”

This new expansion is part of Trimet’s comprehensive investment program where they are planning to invest around 100 million euros. Foundry plants are also in the list of expansion with the Savoy Alps gaining most importance. Trimet plans to restore the plant they acquired nine months ago to its full production capacity thereby creating new employment opportunities as well.

The Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne aluminium smelter was bought over from Rio Tinto Alcan in December 2014 which also included the partner location at Castelsarrasin with their 500 employees.