Ohio Governor Taft Recognizes Alcoa's Presence in the State
CLEVELAND, OHIO August 4, 2003 - Ohio Governor Bob Taft, Cleveland community leaders and Alcoa employees today will celebrate the opening of a new transportation headquarters at Alcoa's facility in Cleveland.
The Alcoa Automotive, Aerospace and Commercial Transportation group develops products and technological solutions for global transportation markets. The organization includes six businesses that have plants and facilities worldwide serving customers globally. These businesses are: Alcoa Fujikura Ltd., Alcoa Fastening Systems, Alcoa Wheel and Forged Products, Advanced Transportation Systems, Cast Auto Wheels and Howmet Castings. Approximately 1350 people employed in these businesses are located in Alcoa's Cleveland, Ohio office. Worldwide, the Group has approximately 59,000 employees in 19 countries.
Alcoa's transportation markets - aerospace, automotive, and commercial transportation - comprised approximately 25% of Alcoa's $20.3 billion in revenues in 2002. The establishment of the transportation headquarters signifies a deeper commitment by Alcoa to the state of Ohio and the Cleveland regional community.
The agenda for today's event will include a keynote address by Governor Taft, which will focus on the future of business in Ohio and the "Third Frontier Project", Governor Taft's proposal to make Ohio a leader in high-tech, high-pay jobs. His presentation follows an historical presentation by Alcoa employees, which will commemorate Ohio's bicentennial and the centennial of flight. William (Bill) F. Christopher, Alcoa executive vice president and group president of Alcoa Automotive, Aerospace and Commercial Transportation will discuss the impact of global business headquarters in northeast Ohio. Mario Longhi, Alcoa vice president and president of Howmet Castings, and Raymond (Ray) Mitchell, president of Alcoa Wheel and Forged Products, will discuss Alcoa's history and future in Cleveland, as well as address the affect of today's business climate on industrial manufacturers.
"The consolidation of our group and Howmet headquarters into Cleveland represents a deeper commitment to our partnership with the state of Ohio and the Cleveland community," says Mr. Christopher. "We believe Northeast Ohio represents a unique opportunity to intersect with transportation markets, customers, suppliers and technology. We're looking forward to being an integral part of the Ohio business community, contributing to the growth of the technology corridor in Ohio and an involved resident of the Cleveland community."
The aerospace group was previously located in Salt Lake City, Utah; Howmet was previously headquartered in Darien, Connecticut. Consolidating these offices to the existing Cleveland centers offers cost savings in building expenses, while providing increased collaboration for transportation customers.
Alcoa is pleased that this move coincides with the state's bicentennial and with the one-hundredth anniversary of the first successful flight at Kitty Hawk because Alcoa cast the aluminum block engine that propelled the Wright Brothers' flight. Says Mr. Christopher, "Alcoa played an integral role in first successful flight, we've had a presence in Ohio since 1919 and Alcoa's founder Charles Martin Hall discovered the process for making aluminum in 1886 in Oberlin, Ohio."
In addition to the group's headquarters, the Cleveland center will also be home to the headquarters of Alcoa Wheel and Forged Products, Howmet Castings and Cast Auto Wheels. Besides transportation related facilities, Ohio also is the home to more than 10 other Alcoa facilities, including Excel Extrusions in Warren, Huck International in Medina, Alcoa Consumer Products in Elyria, Packaging Machinery in North Canton and Alcoa Home Exteriors and Alcoa Packaging, both in Sidney. Alcoa has more than 4000 employees in Ohio; the company pays more than $230 million annually in Ohio employee salaries and purchases more than $321 million in goods and services annually in Ohio. Alcoa businesses serving the automotive market will continue to have a significant presence in Detroit, Michigan.
Alcoa is the world's leading producer of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina, and is active in all major aspects of the industry. Alcoa serves the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation and industrial markets, bringing design, engineering, production and other capabilities of Alcoa's businesses as a single solution to customers. In addition to aluminum products and components, Alcoa also markets consumer brands including Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil, Alcoa wheels, and Baco household wraps. Among its other businesses are vinyl siding, closures, precision castings, and electrical distribution systems for cars and trucks. The company has 127,000 employees in 40 countries. To learn more about the markets these businesses serve visit www.alcoa.com.
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Related Sites
To learn more about Alcoa in Ohio and its businesses visit these sites.
 Howmet Castings
Alcoa Wheel and Forged Products
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