Aleris signs multi-year contract with Airbus

Aleris announced that it has signed a five-year contract to provide aluminum plate and sheet in a range of alloys to Airbus for its global programs. The agreement covers supply for the years 2012 through 2016, and reconfirms Aleris's longstanding position as a major supplier and strategic partner to Airbus.

The agreement also includes the development of a recycling program, where Aleris will recycle scrap for Airbus. Aleris is a leader in merchant aluminum recycling.

"Aleris and Airbus have enjoyed a productive and beneficial 15-year partnership," said Steven J. Demetriou, Aleris chairman and chief executive officer. "This contract strengthens our position as a key global supplier to Airbus, and as a leading supplier of aluminum in the aerospace industry. Airbus will benefit from the advanced manufacturing capabilities and research and development investments that enable us to provide increasingly sophisticated aluminum solutions for customer needs."

Product will be produced by Aleris at its state-of-the-art plant in Koblenz, Germany and at its Duffel, Belgium operations, which support the company's advanced production capability for aircraft sheet. Aleris also will supply plate to Airbus from its new plate mill in China when construction of that plant is completed in late 2012. "We believe that our $300 million investment in the China plant uniquely positions Aleris to supply plate from Asia to customers in a variety of industries," said Demetriou.

Demetriou and Roeland Baan, Aleris executive vice president and chief executive officer, Europe and Asia, attended the signing ceremony at the Paris Air Show. Attending for Airbus were Klaus Richter, executive vice president, Procurement, and Eric Zanin, senior vice president and head of Material and Parts Procurement.