Indalex makes improvements at Elkhart aluminum extrusion plant

Indalex is investing $1.2 million to improve material flow at itsElkhart, Indiana, aluminum extrusion plant, bringing total investment inMidwest manufacturing operations to more than $26 million this year. The improvement project at Elkhart, part of the company's ManufacturingImprovement Strategy, will be completed early in the fourth quarter. Indalexhas invested more than $26 million in the state of Indiana in the last year. A major expansion of its Connersville, Indiana, plant and installation ofa new 6000-ton UBE extrusion press, the centerpiece of the automated extrusionsystem being installed at the facility, is the largest in the company's NorthAmerican manufacturing network. The Connersville expansion will be completedlater this year and will add 47 million lb of manufacturing capacity. "The investments at Elkhart and Connersville are part of our ongoingManufacturing Improvement Strategy. We have invested more than $200 million inimprovements during the past decade resulting in increased capacity with eightfewer manufacturing plants. We are fortunate to have the capacity andcapabilities to align our production capacity with lower market demand in theshort term, yet be prepared to expand capacity when market demand rebounds,"said Tim Stubbs, president and CEO, Indalex. Indalex operates 11 extrusion facilities, 31 extrusion presses withcircle sizes up to 20 inches, a variety of fabrication and close tolerancecapabilities, two anodizing operations, two billet casting facilities, and sixelectrostatic paint lines, including powder coat capability. ---Washington (Platts)