Bonnell Aluminum to add large extrusion press at Carthage

US aluminum extruder Bonnell Aluminum is launching a $25 million large extrusion press expansion project to add a new 5,500-ton hydraulic press at its Carthage, Tennessee, plant, with startup planned for the fourth quarter of 2009. The new press, handling systems and ancillary equipment will arrive over several months and be installed in a building covering 70,000 square feet. The lead time of more than one year until startup is due to the one-year lead-time to get the press from Italy as well as the construction to expand an existing building, a spokesman explained. "It's a major investment," he added. Bonnell's aluminum overall extrusion capacity will increase as a result, as part of an overall ramp-up plan, but the company is not providing specific quantities or percentages at this point, the spokesman said. Bonnell is at the limit of its capabilities for large-press extrusions and "this will give some relief" to that bottleneck, to optimize the current product mix, as well as enabling the company "to go after new business," the spokesman said. Bonnell expects to continue to use a mix of its own billet and billet it purchases in the market, the spokesman said, without detailing what the mix would be for the new press. The new press and its handling systems will be specifically engineered to extrude products requiring a critical surface for high-profile exposed architectural applications. "Currently, this capability is not offered by any other North American manufacturer in this large-size range and will enhance Bonnell Aluminum's recognition as the premier supplier of products to curtain wall, walkway cover, storefront and automatic entry door manufacturers," said Ira Endres, director of sales and marketing, in a statement issued Tuesday. The expansion is directed toward architects, designers and engineers, particularly those seeking larger extruded profiles and more design freedom, the company said. "We have seen tremendous growth in the commercial construction market over the past several years," Endres said. "The introduction of this new press will take us to the next level in the industry. It is a very exciting time for the company and our customers." Company President Duncan Crowdis concluded, "Soon, we will have the ability to offer the building and construction market the largest range of capabilities in the industry, all this under one roof. This will further strengthen our position as a market leader and provide our customers new arrays of services, setting us apart from the competition." Bonnell is a subsidiary of Richmond, Virginia, based Tredegar, and one of the largest North American diversified aluminum extruders, focused on architectural nonresidential construction markets. The company produces soft-alloy aluminum extrusions primarily for building and construction, distribution, transportation, machinery and equipment, electrical and consumer durables markets. Source: Platts,by Karen McBeth, karen_mcbeth@platts.com