Alcoa opens third flat-rolled products plant in China

Alcoa formally opened its aluminum brazing sheet plant in Kunshan City, China, recently in a ceremony attended by local government dignitaries and customers. Kunshan Aluminum Products Co., Ltd., a joint venture between Alcoa and Yencheng Engraving established last April, produces heat exchanger materials for automotive and other industrial HVAC applications and complementary common alloy aluminum products. It is Alcoa’s third flat-rolled products facility in China.

Kunshan Aluminum is designed to produce 50,000 million tons per year of aluminum brazing sheet primarily for the Asian automotive market.

“During the past eight months, Kunshan Aluminum employees have worked hard to improve manufacturing capability and processes. Alcoa invests where we create value for our customers, markets, applications and technology. Our goal is to provide our customers with world class products and service and establish Kunshan Aluminum as the supplier of choice,” said Jack Clark, general manager, Kunshan Aluminum Products, at the opening ceremony.

Kunshan Aluminum’s sister brazing sheet production centers are located in Lancaster, Pa., in the U.S., and Kofem, Hungary in Europe. Kunshan Aluminum employs approximately 260 people.

Alcoa also produces aluminum rolled products at Alcoa Bohai Aluminum Industries Company Ltd., a joint venture with China International Trust & Investment (CITIC), based in Qinghuangdao, China and at its Alcoa (Shanghai) Aluminum Products Ltd. facility. The Bohai plant is the largest foil producer and exporter in China.