Novelis Inc., the world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, broke ground on its $300 million automotive aluminum sheet manufacturing facility in Guthrie, Kentucky. The plant, with an annual nameplate capacity of 200,000 metric tons, will begin producing automotive aluminum in 2020.

The increased adoption of aluminum in cars, trucks and SUVs, coupled with more automotive manufacturing plants in the southeast makes Guthrie a strategic location to serve our customers.

—Steve Fisher, President and CEO, Novelis

The significant positive impact of tax reform in the US reinforced Novelis’ decision to expand at this time. A favorable economic environment has enabled Novelis recently to finalize key contracts totaling approximately $60 million for engineering plans, site preparation and state-of-the-art equipment for the greenfield facility. The facility will include heat treatment and pre-treatment lines, which prepare aluminum for use in vehicle parts such as body-in-white, hoods, doors, lift gates and fenders.

Paul Banks, a 25-year veteran of the aluminum rolling industry, will oversee the project as Plant Manager, having previously served as Unit Manager at Logan Aluminum, a Novelis joint venture in nearby Russellville, Kentucky.

According to Ducker Worldwide, automakers are expected to increase the adoption of high-strength, lightweight aluminum in new cars and trucks over the next decade.

Novelis is the only aluminum supplier with automotive sheet production capability in all three major auto-producing regions: Asia, Europe and North America.