Hydro has decided to close its extrusion plant in Lucé, France.
According to Hydro, this move has been made to optimise its extrusion footprint in Europe and strengthen competitiveness.
The proposed closure affects approximately 80 employees, and a formal consultation process with employee representatives at the location will soon begin.
If confirmed, the site will be closed during 2026.
Erik Fossum, Senior Vice President of Hydro Extrusion Europe, said: “The European market remains challenging, and we need to take further action. These decisions are difficult, but we will prioritise safety and ensure that people are treated fairly and respectfully.
“We will continue to have a strong presence in the French market, and we are determined to serve our customers with dedication and a high service level.”
The decision to close the Lucé plant in France follows Hydro’s previous announcement to close five other extrusions plants in Europe.
The closure of the two plants in the United Kingdom is confirmed, and the plants are scheduled to close during Q2 2026.
The Lucé plant, which has been part of Hydro since 1986, has two extrusion presses. It is co-located with Hydro’s aluminium recycling plant in Lucé, which has not been affected by this decision.
If the decision to close is confirmed, customers that are currently being served by the affected locations will receive their products from other Hydro locations.
The total restructuring cost is estimated to NOK 260 million ($26.8M), with NOK 80 million ($8.3M) of impairment charges and NOK 175 million ($18.1M) of provisions expected to be taken in Q1 2026.
Costs of around NOK 5 million ($516k) will impact Hydro's Adjusted EBITDA in Q1 2026.
