Alcoa has announced a US$40 million investment in its rolling mill in Itapissuma, Brazil, aimed at increasing production of specialty foils for aseptic and flexible packages.
According to Alcoa, a leading global presence in lightweight metals engineering and manufacturing, initial work for the expansion is underway and commissioning is expected to begin in 2016.
The company cites forecasts from the Brazilian Aluminum Association, Abal, to show that demand for specialty packaging in Brazil is expected to rise 7% annually over the next three years, due to population growth and consumer preference.
“Alcoa enjoys a leading market position in specialty foil in Latin America where our value-add aluminum is essential for producing highly differentiated packaging,” says Aquilino Paolucci, president of Alcoa Latin American and the Caribbean.
“A growing number of consumers prefer this type of packaging because it keeps products fresher, longer and our expansion will enable Alcoa and our customers to capture that rising demand.”
The Alcoa Itapissuma packaging facility is located in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, in the Recife region, employing approximately 700 people.
The expansion of the facility is expected to add approximately 50 jobs at the plant following ramp-up of production.
www.alcoa.com
