Alcoa Cuts Aluminum Production at Texas Plant

Packaging market contributes to reduced demand

-- Packaging Digest, 10/24/2008 1:52:00 PM

Alcoa announced it will reduce production at its Point Comfort, Texas alumina refinery by approximately 25 percent, or a reduction of approximately 550,000 metric tons per year, by the end of November.

“Aluminum prices have fallen dramatically over the past few months,” said Bernt Reitan, Alcoa Executive Vice President and President – Global Primary Products. “We are reviewing each and every potline across our entire global smelting system and we are doing the same with each digester within our worldwide refining system. We will continue to take steps to match production with demand in the marketplace, focusing on our highest cost operations.”

The curtailment of two digesters at the Point Comfort facility follows Alcoa’s announcement last month to curtail production at its Rockdale, Texas aluminum smelter as a result of uncompetitive power supply to that smelter and overall market conditions.

As a result of the curtailment at Point Comfort, the workforce will be adjusted accordingly, with the majority of the impact on contractors at the refinery. Costs for the curtailment will not be material.

The Point Comfort refinery is part of Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals (AWAC), a global alliance between Alcoa and Alumina Ltd, with Alcoa holding 60 percent.

Source: Alcoa

Talkback

We would love your feedback!

Featured Company

Teledyne Dalsa

Teledyne DALSA is a world leader in the design, manufacture and deployment of digital imaging components for the machine vision market. Teledyne DALSA image sensors, cameras, smart cameras, frame grabbers, software, and vision solutions are used... more
SATO

SATO is a pioneer and leading global provider of integrated Automatic Identification and Data Collection solutions that leverage barcode and RFID technologies. SATO manufactures innovative, reliable auto-identification systems and offers complete... more
ECONOCORP, INC.

ECONOCORP, INC. is a leading worldwide manufacturer of ECONOSEAL cartoning, trayforming, and casepacking caters to moderate volume users and features simplicity in design, operation, and maintenance. ECONOSEALS handle paperboard and corrugated... more
QuickLabel Systems

QuickLabel Systems makes and sells digital color label printers and barcode label printers for use by manufacturers of foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and more... more
Bosch Packaging Technology

Bosch Packaging Technology, Inc. is one of the world's leading suppliers of packaging machinery. Our diverse portfolio of packaging machines, including the well known Doboy brand, includes robotic automation with pick & place robots (delta robots)... more
Hitachi America, Ltd.

Hitachi America Ltd., Industrial Components & Equipment Division, supplies a broad range of industrial products and services. The division supplies sophisticated industrial equipment, components and services for application in pharmaceutical... more
Markem-Imaje

Markem-Imaje is a trusted world manufacturer of product identification and traceability solutions, offering a full line of reliable and innovative inkjet, thermal transfer, laser, print and apply label systems and RFID-based systems. Markem-Imaje... more
Videojet

Videojet is a world-leading manufacturer of marking systems, fluids, and accessories for the product identification industry. Videojet printers apply high-quality alphanumeric codes, logos and graphics to nearly any surface at virtually any line... more
Fogg Filler

Fogg is a world leader in the design and manufacture of rotary filling, rinsing, capping and enclosure systems for free flowing and viscous liquids. Fogg serves a growing number of dairy, spirits, water, food and beverage, pharmaceutical and... more
Markem-Imaje is a trusted world manufacturer of product identification and traceability solutions, offering a full line of reliable and innovative inkjet, thermal transfer, laser, print and apply label systems and RFID-based systems. Markem-Imaje... more
Microscan Systems, Inc.

Microscan develops barcode and machine vision products that help manufacturers reduce costs, increase yields, improve product quality, and comply with regulations. Designed for precision applications, Microscan's line of 1D and 2D barcode readers... more
National Bulk Equipment, Inc.

National Bulk Equipment dry material handling systems for packaging and processing operations, include: bulk bag fillers, bulk bag unloaders, bulk container dumpers, bulk container fillers, and bulk mixing, weighing, and conveyance systems. NBE... more
Plastic Ingenuity

Plastic Ingenuity is the national leader in providing the best solutions in thermoformed packaging, tooling and extrusion services. A member of the Thermoforming Institute, and a multi-plant manufacturing operation with facilities across North... more
Thermo Scientific

Thermo Scientific Product Inspection and Processing equipment protects your brands by ensuring the quality, accuracy, efficiency and safety of your products. With more than 50 years of making sure little things don't turn into big problems, we know... more
Domino North America

DOMINO is one of the world's largest manufacturers of digital printing solutions and is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange. Our products are used for date coding, product marking, serialization and variable printing. Among our customers... more