Aleris plans to supply Airbus operations through its state-of-the-art rolling mill being constructed in Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu Province, China, with aerospace plate by 2013. In June, the two companies signed a five-year contract at the Paris Air Show for Aleris to provide aluminum plate and sheet in a range of alloys to Airbus for its global programs.

The Aleris factory in China will produce rolled aluminum plate, heat-treated plate and non-heat treated plate. Construction of the $300 million greenfield rolling mill is expected to be completed in 2012. The Zhenjiang plant is a joint venture of Aleris and Zhenjiang Dingsheng Aluminum Industries Joint-Stock Co., Ltd., named Aleris Dingsheng Aluminum (Zhenjiang) Co., Ltd.

"We are pleased to be a key global supplier to Airbus and to support its development plans in China," said Steven J. Demetriou, Aleris chairman and chief executive officer.