Norsk Hydro ASA (Hydro) announced that it has invested NOK 300 million in a new automotive extrusion press at its plant in Tonder, Denmark. The new 12-inch, 6000-tonne extrusion press will serve the European automotive and EV market, adding production capacity and the capability to produce extrusions with larger cross-sections. It will be used to extrude components for EVs and hybrids including battery frame applications, crash management systems such as bumper beams, crash boxes, as well as side sill inserts, side beams, and longitudinal beams. The investment at this extrusion plant will create approximately 40 new jobs from the current 300 employees at the plant. In addition, the profiles from the 12-inch press will also be fabricated to advanced components at the adjacent fabrication center. (From a press release dated July 7, 2022)

Norsk Hydro ASA (Hydro) announced that a new remelt facility will be built at its aluminium extrusion plant in Szekesfehervar, Hungary. The facility will have an annual capacity of 90,000 tonnes and is expected to start production in Q1, 2024. It will create more than 70 new jobs. The Hungarian plant is the largest aluminium extrusion plant in Europe. The plant serves many automotive customers, focusing on e-mobility. The demand for recycled aluminium is increasing and the investment will allow the plant to take back production scrap and create closed-loops. In a closed-loop, production scrap from customers like the automotive tier-one suppliers is collected and sent directly back to the remelt plant. The recycled aluminium goes right back into the production of advanced car components. The automotive components that are made in Szekesfehervar include crash management systems such as bumper beams and crash boxes, as well as many structural parts of the car body, like side sill inserts, side beams and battery housings and structures. The new facility will allow developing and optimizing the advanced alloys locally in Hungary, in collaboration with customers. (From a press release dated December 14, 2021)

Daejoo Kores Co., Ltd. (Daejoo Kores) announced a plan to build a next-generation car parts production plant in Wanju-gun, North Jeolla Province. The total investment in the project will be KRW 84.3 billion (JPY 8.18 billion). The South Korean company has headquarters and a plant in Wanju-gun. It produces aluminum components such as bumper beam assemblies and battery housings. (From a press release on October 27, 2021)