As demand from carmakers soars, aluminum plant to expand

The manufacturing sector in the U.S. has helped to drive economic growth over the past few years, often serving as one of the lone bright spots in an otherwise murky economic picture. According to a published report, one aluminum plant in New York plans to expand. 

The Associated Press reports that an aluminum plant in northern New York run by Novelis has begun to invest some $200 million to upgrade the manufacturing facility. Sheet aluminum has become an increasingly hot commodity over the past few years as the global automobile market has rebounded from its recessionary lows.

As a result, Novelis officials said that the company needs to augment production capacity at the plant to keep up with burgeoning demand. The strategic sourcing of such metals is of the utmost importance to many carmakers and the plant is a supplier to a number of the biggest automakers.

The plant in Sriba, which is about 30 miles northwest of Syracuse, currently employs 650 people and is the world's biggest producer of rolled aluminum, according to The AP. The planned expansion will help the facility to generate 200,000 tons more aluminum sheet per year.