Aluminium manufacturers strike deals with Airbus

France – Two leading global providers of aluminium products – Aleris and Alcoa – have signed multi-year supply agreements with aircraft manufacturer Airbus. Both accords were signed at this month’s Paris Air Show.

Aleris has penned a five-year contract to provide aluminium plate and sheet in a range of alloys for Airbus’ global programmes; the agreement also includes the development of a programme under which Aleris will recycle scrap for Airbus. Product will be produced by Aleris at its site in Koblenz, Germany, and at its Duffel operation in Belgium. Aleris will also supply plate to Airbus from its new mill in China once the plant is completed in late 2012.
Meanwhile, Alcoa Inc. has been awarded a supply contract for the same products worth around US$ 1 billion over its life-time; flat-rolled products will be supplied from the following company plants: Davenport, Iowa, USA; Kitts Green in the UK; and Belaya Kalitva in Russia.