Novelis plans investment of $130 million to boost Oswego operations

On Monday, October 18, Novelis Inc., one of the leading producers of rolling aluminum and the global leader in beverage can recycling announced that they will invest US$130 million in their Oswego, New York operations to fulfil growing customer demand for sustainable aluminum flat rolled products. This project will enable Novelis to ascend their hot mill capacity at the factory, which services the can, automotive, and specialty products industries, by 124,000 metric tonnes, as well as improve automotive sheet finishing capabilities.

Novelis is the world's biggest supplier of aluminum automotive sheet, which is used to construct structural components and exterior body panels in over 225 vehicle types manufactured by leading automakers around the world. Novelis aluminum is developed to support lightweight automobiles and commercial trucks in a safe, sustainable, and cost-effective manner, resulting in improved performance and agility, enhanced fuel efficiency, and lower carbon emissions.

Upgrades to the plant's hot reversing mill motors and drive train, as well as the hot finishing mill coolant systems and batch annealing capabilities, are part of the new investment. The project will also improve energy efficiency at the factory, in accordance with Novelis' sustainability objective of reducing energy use by 10 percent by 2026. This investment boosts the plant's position in the future for more recycled aluminum inputs and recycled content across its product lines. The investment projects are set to commence in the spring of 2022 and is expected to be completed by 2024.

"By investing in modern, energy-efficient upgrades in Oswego, we aim to sustain and grow important partnerships with our valued customers. These upgrades also strengthen Novelis' ability to thrive in Oswego as a great place to work and a partner to the community,” said Tom Boney, Executive Vice President and President of Novelis, North America.

The investment comes on the heels of the Oswego plant's successful expansion of major automotive finishing capabilities and recycling capacity during the last decade. The expansion of the recycling centre, which processes nearly 25 million pounds of vehicle aluminum scrap each month, and the addition of more than 300,000 metric tonnes of state-of-the-art automobile finishing capacity were among the investments. Recycling aluminum saves a lot of energy and water, and it eliminates 95 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions that come with primary aluminum production.