Alcoa 1996 Annual Report Download - page 19

17
One Less Pollutant. Alcoa
Fujikura’s Spartanburg, S.C.,
telecommunications facility
was recognized by the EPA for
its 33/50 pollution prevention
efforts. The 33/50 initiative
began in 1990, with the EPA
asking U.S. industries to reduce
the release of 17 chemicals
33% by 1992 and 50% by 1995.
Spartanburg eliminated
trichloroethylene as a cleaning
solution and was honored at
the EPA’s national conference
called “Putting Pollution
Prevention Into Action.”
Truck Bodies for Eastern
Europe. In 1996 Alcoa-Köfém
began delivery of its first alu-
minum truck bodies to major
beverage companies in Russia
and Poland — nearly 100 truck
bodies delivered in a three-
month period. An additional
675 truck bodies were ordered
by beverage companies in
Hungary and Israel, for delivery
in early 1997. Total value of
these orders: $17 million.
Leaner, Cleaner Cars. “Ten
percent of the cars and light
trucks produced in North
America in 1996 have at least
one aluminum outer body
panel,” reports Dick Schultz,
president of Alcoa Automotive
Structures – North America
and Asia. Speaking at an
two safety problems: it cuts
down on dusting problems and
incidents of back strain from
handling bags.
Australia’s New Board. Alcoa
of Australia (AofA) has
restructured its board of direc-
tors to reflect the formation in
1995 of Alcoa World Alumina
and Chemicals (AWAC).The
world’s leading alumina pro-
ducer, AWAC is 60% owned by
Alcoa and 40% by WMC Limited.
Its strategic and policy direction
is determined by a five-mem-
ber Strategic Council including
representatives of both com-
panies. In this context, respon-
sibilities of the board of AofA
will be carried out by officers
directly involved in managing
the alumina business, under
the direction of the Strategic
Council. Chairman Sir Arvi
Parbo and directors Sir
Laurence Muir, Adrienne
Clarke, and M. J. Phillips have
retired. The new board is com-
posed of executives of AofA
aluminum conference, Schultz
said, “Every 10% reduction in
weight brings about a 7% gain
in fuel economy and even
greater reductions in emis-
sions. Alcoa’s goal and the
goal of the entire aluminum
industry is to lightweight as
quickly and efficiently as
possible the world’s entire
automotive fleet.”
Acuna Honors Alcoa. The city
of Acuna, Mexico, awarded
Alcoa Fujikura Ltd. the Manuel
Acuna sculpture, first in a
series of annual awards. This
citation is presented to the
company, organization, or indi-
vidual whose actions and
involvement have made a sig-
nificant positive impact on the
community. Manuel Acuna was
the famed Mexican poet for
whom the city was named.
Build a Better Container.
Alcoa Technical Center and
the Aerospace/Commercial
Rolled Products business unit,
in partnership with two cus-
tomers, have developed a dry
bulk intermodal container
made of aluminum. The pro-
ject was completed in 90 days.
This container replaces dry
bulk bags, which are used once
or twice, then discarded to a
landfill. The aluminum con-
tainer can be used for decades,
then recycled into a new
container. Several other Alcoa
business units are interested
in using the new shipper
because it offers the lowest-
cost and most environment-
friendly method of moving
dry products around the
world. It also addresses
and WMC. The chairman is
Roger A. G. Vines, AofA manag-
ing director. Other members
are H. M. Morgan, managing
director, WMC; D. M. Morely,
director of finance, WMC; J. M.
Sibly, executive director–
Western Australia Operations,
AofA; and Phil Spry-Bailey,
executive director–finance and
administration, AofA.
Wire Harnesses for Ford. Ford
Motor selected Alcoa Fujikura
Ltd. (AFL) of Brazil to provide the
electrical distribution systems,
or wire harnesses, for the new
Ford Fiesta
being built
in that
country.
AFL is pro-
ducing the
wiring sys-
tems at its
new Itajubá plant. The plant is
also manufacturing wire har-
nesses for the new KA passen-
ger auto and will soon begin
production for the Fiesta pick-
up truck.
33/50
Samuel William de Sales installs an AFL wire harness.