Alcoa (NYSE: AA) was awarded Metal Bulletin’s top innovation prize for
the company’s breakthrough technology enabling the production of more
aluminum-intensive vehicles. Alcoa’s invention, an aluminum bonding
technology, won “Best Product Innovation” of 2013 at the publication’s
Global Awards for Aluminium Excellence in Geneva.
“Alcoa is honored to receive this prestigious award for our
game-changing technology that opens the door for more aluminum-based
vehicles,” said Klaus Kleinfeld, Alcoa Chairman and CEO. “Alcoa’s
experts continue to expand the bounds of aluminum applications. Through
our latest breakthrough technology, Alcoa is capturing growth in the
auto industry as more manufacturers shift to making fuel-efficient
vehicles that consumers want.”
Alcoa’s technology, called Alcoa 951, is an aluminum pretreatment
process that results in enhanced adhesive bonding durability and
overcomes previous challenges with joining aluminum to itself or other
materials. It has become the auto industry standard for aluminum sheet,
extrusion and casting suppliers. In customer trials, Alcoa 951 was
proven to be up to nine times more durable than previously used titanium
zirconium. In addition, Alcoa 951 employs organic,
environmentally-friendly materials as opposed to other commercially
available coatings which generally contain heavy metals and are
measurably thicker, leading to potential environmental concerns and
diminished performance in other manufacturing processes. Following a
very positive response from auto manufacturers, Alcoa is licensing its
technology to all aluminum suppliers in the industry.
Aluminum use in cars is expected to nearly double by 2025, as automotive
manufacturers make cars more fuel efficient by using lightweight
aluminum materials. To meet increasing demand for aluminum for vehicle
production, Alcoa is investing approximately $575 million to expand its
auto sheet business in the United States—in Davenport, Iowa and Alcoa,
Tennessee. In addition, Alcoa is building a rolling mill at its
greenfield joint venture project in Saudi Arabia with the capacity to
produce aluminum automotive sheet. The projects will incorporate,
through Alcoa’s supply chain, the proprietary Alcoa
951 pretreatment bonding technology.
Winners of the Metal Bulletin Global Awards for Aluminium Excellence
were determined by a panel of industry experts based upon a fully
audited, point-based judging process to ensure integrity and objectivity.
About Alcoa
Alcoa is the world’s leading producer of primary and fabricated
aluminum, as well as the world’s largest miner of bauxite and refiner of
alumina. In addition to inventing the modern-day aluminum industry,
Alcoa innovation has been behind major milestones in the aerospace,
automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial
transportation, consumer electronics and industrial markets over the
past 125 years. Among the solutions Alcoa markets are flat-rolled
products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, as well as Alcoa® wheels,
fastening systems, precision and investment castings, and building
systems in addition to its expertise in other light metals such as
titanium and nickel-based super alloys. Sustainability is an integral
part of Alcoa’s operating practices and the product design and
engineering it provides to customers. Alcoa has been a member of the Dow
Jones Sustainability Index for 12 consecutive years and approximately 75
percent of all of the aluminum ever produced since 1888 is still in
active use today. Alcoa employs approximately 61,000 people in 30
countries across the world. For more information, visit www.alcoa.com
and follow @Alcoa on Twitter at twitter.com/Alcoa and follow Alcoa on
Facebook at www.facebook.com/Alcoa.
Alcoa
Investor Contact
Kelly Pasterick, 212-836-2674
Kelly.Pasterick@alcoa.com
or
Media Contacts
Christa Bowers, 212-836-2605
Christa.Bowers@alcoa.com
or
Kevin G. Lowery, 412-553-1424
Mobile 724-422-7844
Kevin.Lowery@alcoa.com