Alcan Inc.

Company Description

Alcan, Inc. engages primarily in bauxite mining and alumina refining activities primarily in the United States, Europe, and Asia Pacific. It operates in four business groups: Bauxite and Alumina, Primary Metal, Engineered Products, and Packaging. Bauxite and Alumina group produces specialty aluminas, including products for a range of applications, such as fire retardant products, refractory bricks, zeolite, alum, solid surface products, absorbents, and ceramics. Primary Metal group provides aluminum products, such as sheet ingot, extrusion billet, rod, foundry ingot, and remelt ingot for conversion into fabricated products for end-use markets in consumer goods, transportation, building, and construction, as well as other industrial applications. It also offers smelter technology; equipment, such as cranes and potroom equipment for the aluminum industry; and engineering services. In addition, this group involves in the production of calcined coke, anodes, cathode blocks, and fluoride, which are used in the production, recycling, and refining of aluminum. Engineered Products group manufactures engineered or fabricated aluminum products, including rolled, extruded, and cast aluminum products, wire and cable, as well as composite materials for the automotive, mass transportation, aerospace, marine, and beverage container markets. It also manufactures aluminum cable, rod and strip products, and a range of soft and hard aluminum alloy extrusions, as well as aluminum rolled products, such as sheet, foil, and plate. In addition, this segment provides various forms of fabricated aluminum, including plates, extrusions, and composite panels, as well as offers cutting, shaping, machining, and assembling services. The company was incorporated in 1902 as Northern Aluminum Company and changed its name to Aluminum Company of Canada in 1925. Further, it changed its name to Alcan Aluminium Limited in 1987 and to Alcan, Inc. in 2001. Alcan is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.