Constellium to expand operations in Czech Republic

Constellium is expanding its operations in Decin, Czech Republic, to support increased demand for aluminium profiles by its customers. Expected to be completed by October 2019, the expansion will include a new casthouse and extrusion press, and will increase the plant’s recycling capacity.

Europe’s largest integrated manufacturer and processor of hard and soft alloys profiles, Constellium Decin produces customized aluminium extrusions primarily for automotive and industrial applications. With this added capacity, the plant will broaden its product portfolio to include sections for crash management systems and for new aluminium applications for hybrid and electric vehicles. Constellium currently employs more than 800 people in Decin and expects to create around 90 new jobs at the plant by end of 2019.

Constellium previously expanded its Decin operations in 2015 to increase production of hard alloy extrusions. Both developments further Constellium’s strategy of boosting production capacity of high-volume specialty alloy products and extrusions. “As the auto industry increasingly turns to lightweight, high-strength aluminium, Constellium’s expansion in Decin will support rising demand for hard and soft alloy profiles and bars from automotive customers across Europe,” said Paul Warton, president of Constellium’s Automotive Structures and Industry business. The new activity is expected to increase Decin’s total extrusion capacity to 96,000 tonnes per year.

Constellium Decin currently has an integrated foundry and 12 presses for direct and indirect extrusion production, as well as equipment for additional downstream operations, such as sawing and milling.