Novelis Inc. celebrated the opening of its Customer Solution Center (CSC) for automotive aluminum in Novi, Michigan, near Detroit. The new $35 million facility will support the development of new aluminum components for automotive customers.
The aluminum company welcomed nearly 200 attendees to its ribbon cutting celebration, including customers, suppliers, local leaders from the City of Novi and Oakland County and representatives from State Senator Jim Runestad and U.S. Senator Gary Peters.
“Today marks an important milestone for our dedicated and talented team of automotive aluminum experts in Novi,” said Olga Alavanou, vice president Automotive, Novelis North America. “This facility perfectly represents who we are, and we are thrilled to use it to partner with our customers every step of the way as they design exciting, next generation vehicles.”
The Novi facility has 100 employees who have expertise in research and technology, technical development, and commercial support. The center’s high-tech equipment ranges from a hot stamping press to computer-aided design (CAD) software to visualization technologies that model vehicle safety scenarios. These capabilities will enable Novelis to develop new aluminum components and demonstrate their benefits for current and future vehicle applications. This also allows automakers and Tier 1 suppliers see the benefits of these aluminum components firsthand, which include lighter designs, greener lifecycles, and simpler, more cost-effective solutions.
Network of Automotive Service
The new facility in Novi is part of the company’s global network of CSCs, which includes operations in Stuttgart, Germany, and Shanghai, China. The CSCs are designed to speed the development of aluminum parts and components through collaborative research and development. Through the centers, Novelis partners with automakers and Tier 1 suppliers to maximize lightweight, high-strength aluminum in the next generation of vehicle design.
“Novelis’ network of Customer Solution Centers is a centerpiece of our purpose, which is shaping a sustainable world together,” said Philippe Meyer, senior vice president and chief technology officer, Novelis Inc. “As a leading automotive aluminum supplier, this investment will strengthen the partnerships we have with our customers and ensure that innovative, low-carbon aluminum adoption continues to grow across the world.”
Aluminum is the fastest growing automotive material according to DuckerFrontier. Since launching its CSCs in 2018, Novelis has made several advancements in automotive innovation. Examples include an aluminum intensive battery enclosure for electric vehicles; all-new high strength and heat-treatable alloys that are designed to compete with ultra-high strength, hot-formed steel solutions; and research proving out the benefits of aluminum use in doors and closures, one of the fastest growing aluminum applications in new vehicles. In addition, the company has worked to increase the amount of recycled aluminum in automotive alloys and expanded closed-loop recycling systems, which take back aluminum scrap from customers generated during the stamping process and recycle it back into the same product.
“In an era of increasing complexity in the global automotive marketplace, these centers confirm that Novelis is prepared to partner with our customers across the world,” said Jamie Zinser, vice president, Global Automotive, Novelis. “Whether it is aluminum door research in Novi or electrification advancements in Shanghai, Novelis aims to innovate alongside our customers every step of the way.”