Alcoa 1999 Annual Report Download - page 19

NEWS99 17
Removing a
Hazard
An innovative vehicle towing
system developed in the
Anglesea brown coal mine
of Alcoa World Alumina-
Australia has eliminated the
risk of injury from wire sling
and hook towing systems.
Anglesea replaced the con-
ventional wire and hook
system with safer continuous
polyester slings and easy
access bollards. The new
system earned Anglesea the
inaugural Victorian Minerals
Industry Safety & Health
Innovations Award.
Inspiration for the towing
system came from the moor-
ing systems used in shipping
and the push-pull couplings
on earth-moving scrapers.
Investing in Communities
In 1999, for the fifth consecutive year, Alcoa Foundation’s commu-
nity investments grew by more than $1 million, consistent with
growth of the Foundation’s asset base. Alcoa Europe locations
saw grants in their communities increase by a total of 47%, from
$870,000 to $1.28 million. Worldwide, the Foundation made grants
totaling $17.94 million. In addition, Alcoa business units con-
tributed cash and noncash community investments of $3.5 million.
In 2000, the Foundation will continue to direct significant resources
to international community philanthropy, strengthening its
alignment with Alcoa’s global reach.
Breaking New Ground
with Mercedes
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe will be the newest production
model from the German automaker to feature aluminum in
body structure applications. Introduced at last year’s Geneva
Auto Show, the car will be in full production in early 2000.
Alcoa Automotive’s Casting and Extrusion Finishing plant
in Soest, Germany is producing several components for this
path-breaking Mercedes, including an Alcoa Vacuum Die Cast
sidewall component as well as extrusions for the front and rear
roof frames and supporting cross members for the passenger
compartment. Alcoa Automotive Engineering has been working
with Mercedes since 1994 on design, engineering, and prototyp-
ing of these aluminum parts.
More Alumina
from Wagerup
Alcoa has completed a major
expansion of its Wagerup
alumina refinery to lift the
capacity of its three-refinery
system in Western Australia.
An A$260 million expansion
– raising Wagerup’s capacity
by 440,000 to 2.2 million
metric tons per year (mtpy) –
was completed in mid-year,
on schedule and on budget,
and has now been integrated
with existing production.
Alcoa’s Pinjarra refinery has
a current rated capacity of
3.2 million mtpy, and
Kwinana is at 1.9 million
mtpy.
Spanish
Refinery
Expands
A modernization plan for
the San Ciprián plant (Lugo,
Spain) will increase alumina
production capacity by
220,000 mtpy. San Ciprián’s
current capacity is 1.11 mil-
lion mtpy of smelter-grade
and chemical-grade alumina.
This expansion in capacity
was made possible by state-
of-the-art process technology,
some of it developed at
San Ciprián and some trans-
ferred from Alcoa alumina
plants in other countries.
Basic engineering of the
project has been completed,
and the work is expected
to finish by March 2001. The
San Ciprián industrial com-
plex consists of the alumina
refinery and a smelter.
Closures’
World Strategy
Alcoa Closure Systems
International (CSI) contin-
ues to expand its manufac-
turing presence globally to
meet expected market
growth and to be situated
near major customers. This
strategy reduces shipping
costs and improves response
time during peak demand
periods. After expanding
European and South
American operations, CSI
opened new facilities in
Ensenada, Mexico and
San José, Costa Rica in early
1999. Now, construction
work has begun on a new
plastic closures manufactur-
ing facility near Manila in
the Philippines.
Dateline: Badin, N.C., 8000 BC
Near Alcoa’s Badin Works, along the Yadkin River in North
Carolina, archaeologists have unearthed a treasure trove of
artifacts dating back some 10,000 years – the oldest excavated
site in the state and one of the most ancient in North America.
Now 135,000 of these artifacts – stone tools, pottery shards,
spear points, and other articles – have been donated by Alcoa
to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, to be
shared by scholars, students, and the public. At least three
distinct cultures occupied the site from about 8000 to 1000 BC.
Growth in Fiber Optics
Alcoa Fujikura Ltd. (AFL) has bought a majority stake in Tele-
Tech Co. in Kentucky and DigiSys Corp. in Georgia. The two
companies specialize in building and installing the fiber-optic
systems that move voice, cable and data traffic – one of the fastest
growing segments of the telecommunications industry. In a related
development, based on strong fiber-optic cable sales and forecasts,
AFL moved to increase its cable capacity in Spartanburg, S.C. The
new equipment will be installed during the first quarter of 2000.