Alcan signed a joint venture agreement with Dingsheng Aluminium, a privately owned Chinese foil producer, to set up a greenfield facility in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province, China. The facility will produce heat-treated aluminum plates for the growing aerospace and general engineering markets. Alcan is the majority partner in the project.

The facility, which is subject to approval by the Central Chinese government and Alcan’s Board, will produce aluminum plates with advanced patented alloys. It will also strengthen Alcan’s position in the heat-treated plate markets, specifically in the aerospace sector, where these plates are used in the wings and fuselages of airplanes.