After commissioning a new hot rolling mill in September 2014, AMAG opened Europe's most state-of-the-art aluminium cold rolling mill in the presence of around 700 guests on June 22, 2017.
By taking this step, the company becomes the leading centre of expertise in aluminium rolled products.
Helmut Wieser, CEO of AMAG Austria Metall AG, took the opportunity to express his thanks: "We would like to thank our owners who are enabling our strategic growth development through their forward-looking decisions, as well as our customers who have supported us on this path and have spurred us on." Wieser addressed particular thanks to the workforce and to the parties involved in the project: "We are very satisfied with the precision with which this project has been realised, including its implementation to deadline. Outstanding work by our project team and project partners has made this possible."
Investments
The Ranshofen-based company achieve its transformation into Europe's most state-of-the-art aluminium location with continuous investments totalling around EUR 1 billion (of which around 90 % in Austria) over a ten-year period. Around EUR 300 million of this amount is attributable to the most recent plant expansion. An impressive aspect of this enterprise is that most of the investments were financed from the company's own cash flow.
Boost for the location
With the construction of the new plant within a record construction time of just 16 months, AMAG commits itself again to Upper Austria as an industrial location – a site where orders worth EUR 350 million have been realised between 2013 and 2017. A total of 450 new jobs will also have been created, most of which have already been established. With its 1,750 employees AMAG is one of the flagship companies in the region playing an important role in encouraging growth and innovation.
State Governor Thomas Stelzer paid tribute to the company's commitment to the locality at the opening ceremony. "As a regional state, we are in competition with the best regions. For this reason, we as a government need a partnership with the strongest – with the leading companies in our country such as AMAG and its employees. Through its most recent investments, AMAG makes a clear commitment to Upper Austria and its future as an industrial and business location," notes Stelzer.
Portfolio expansion for top quality standards
Besides doubling production capacity to more than 300,000 tonnes, wider cold-rolled aluminium sheets and strips can also be produced now. The company retains its focus on special rolled products and sustainable production, which also prompted the company to expand its casthouse and increase recycling capacities. All of these measures make AMAG an attractive growth partner for customers from highly varied sectors, especially automotive and aerospace industries, as well as the packaging industry.
Helmut Wieser on the significance of the new cold rolling mill for the company's strategic development: "With the plant expansion, we are increasing our production capacity and at the same time our quality, flexibility, productivity, as well as our competitiveness in the global market. With the expanded product dimensions and 60 years of experience with aluminium, new sales potentials open up especially in the areas of automotive, aerospace, commercial vehicles, packaging and engineering."
Picture: From left to right - Erich Hampel (CEO of B&C Private foundation), Mag. Thomas Stelzer (Governor of Upper Austria), Dr. Wolfgang Hofer (Board member of B&C Private foundation), Helmut Wieser (CEO of AMAG Austria Metall AG)