Rolled aluminum products producer Novelis has announced the commissioning of its $340m expanded aluminum rolling facility in Pindamonhangaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The expansion, which is set to bolster the company's commitment to the region, will increase the plant's production capacity by more than 50% to greater than 600,000mt of aluminum sheet annually.
Novelis South America president Tadeu Nardocci said, "The investment strengthens the company's leadership position in key markets including beverage cans and aluminum packaging."
The company said the expansion will also position the company to address growing market demand with new technologies designed to deliver quality product to customers.
Novelis president and CEO Phil Martens said the investment in Brazil, one of the rapidly-growing regions, reflects the company's ability to respond to the needs of its customers and develop new products.
"With the expansion of our plant in Pindamonhangaba, we expect to meet the growing demand for aluminum flat rolled products in South America for the next decade," Martens added.
As part of the expansion, the company installed a third cold rolling mill and added a new ingot casting center as well as a new pusher furnace for the hot rolling mill.
Novelis is increasing the use of post-consumer aluminum scrap and accelerating the development of new alloys that contain a greater percentage of recycled content.
According to the company, the changes are well aligned with its sustainable business strategy including its target to reach 80% recycled content in its products by 2020 globally.
