Alcoa, Tenn. – Blount County’s most notable landmark is getting a facelift - one of many activities that are giving employees a brighter outlook on Tennessee Operations’ business future.

Beginning Tuesday, July 17, Alcoa’s Continuous Cold Mill (CCM) tower will be cleaned with an environmentally-safe solution, then the Alcoa logo emblazoned on the tower will be given a fresh coat of paint that incorporates the logo’s blue hue.  Cleaning will occur first before painting begins. 

Alcoa officials, however, are quick to point out that this is not just superficial cleaning and painting.
 
“Making the tower look like new has a much deeper meaning for the business and our employees,” said Malcolm Murphy, location manager for Alcoa’s Rigid Packaging Division in Blount County.  “This is a visual indicator that we are becoming more competitive on the global stage, and employees can be proud of this progress.”
 
The cleaning of the tower is in addition to the roughly $265 million in capital investments that will occur during the next three years – projects that include new pusher preheat furnaces, new crusher and delac furnace, new fume extraction system, and several upgrades at Tennessee’s smelting facility and Tapoco hydropower facilities.  The pusher preheat furnaces will be the first of its kind in Alcoa facilities and will allow Tennessee to compete on a more level playing field with its competitors.
 
“Employees have worked extremely hard to earn the right for reinvestment back into our facilities,” Murphy said.  “These substantial investments represent a significant step in our journey toward long-term viability.”
 
Alcoa’s Tennessee Operations is one of the world's largest producers of rolled aluminum can sheet for beverage cans.   It has been in operation in Blount County, Tenn., since 1910 and currently employs approximately 1,850 East Tennesseans in its Blount and Knox County locations.