Alcan to Build China Manufacturing Plant

Alcan Inc. announced Monday that it has broken ground at the Tianjin Airport Industrial Park in China for the construction of a specialty alloy cable manufacturing facility. (August 27, 2007). The $40 million facility will produce specialty alloy cable products for commercial, institutional and industrial applications. The plant is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2008. "Alcan is very proud to be breaking ground on this new state-of-the-art facility. We are excited about the continued growth of Alcan Engineered Products into China with cost effective and innovative solutions to support China's rapidly expanding commercial construction market," comments Christel Bories, president and CEO of Alcan Engineered Products. "Today's ground breaking ceremony is a demonstration of Alcan Cable's ability to tap new market opportunities for its aluminum alloy products," adds Ian Hewett, president of Alcan Cable. "Alcan is also very appreciative of the support provided by the Tianjin government to help Alcan Cable establish a presence in China. We look forward to further developing our relationships with the local business community and the Chinese construction industry." According to a press release, as a welcoming gesture, Tianjin's Mayor Dai Xianglong met with Alcan's senior officials prior to the ground breaking event. Attending the ceremony were Tianjin's vice-mayor Yang Dongliang and Feng Zhijiang, president of the administrative committee of the Tianjin Free Trade Zone & Airport Industrial Park, along with Ian Hewett, President of Alcan Cable and Alcan International Network. Alcan Cable is a manufacturer of aluminum cables for the utility, residential, and commercial markets in North America.