Novelis completes $150M expansion at Brazil facility

Novelis Inc., an Atlanta-based producer and recycler of aluminum, has completed its $150 million investment to expand its rolling and recycling capacity at its plant in Pindamonhangaba, Brazil, by 100,000 metric tons each. Annual capacity at this rolling and recycling complex is expected to increase to about 680,000 metric tons for aluminum sheet and 490,000 metric tons for recycling.

Novelis says this additional capacity at the South American plant will enable the company to grow alongside its beverage packaging and specialty customers in the region. The company says the investment also includes the purchase of an additional 380,000 square meters of land for potential future expansion.

In addition to the new aluminum rolling and recycling capacity, the investment includes the establishment of another reliable water source for the plant and a new railway terminal. The company also has added 90 new permanent positions at the Pindamonhangaba plant as a result of the expansion, which Novelis says was completed on time and within budget.

According to a news release from Novelis, this additional recycling capacity is the company’s latest step in support of its sustainability goals to reduce its carbon footprint by 30 percent by 2026 and to be net carbon neutral by 2050.

“Recycling and increasing the use of recycled content in our products is the cornerstone of Novelis’ sustainability journey,” says Steve Fisher, president and chief executive officer at Novelis Inc. “We will continue to identify and invest in projects like this expansion in Brazil that will move Novelis toward being a fully circular business.”

This marks Novelis’ second major investment in a decade in the Pindamonhangaba plant. Novelis says it received technical support for this investment from InvestSP, a São Paulo agency for promoting investments and competitiveness.

“This project reaffirms Novelis’ commitment to serve the growing South American market with high-quality, innovative, low-carbon, sustainable aluminum solutions,” says Francisco Pires, senior vice president of Novelis Inc. and president of Novelis South America.