Mitsubishi Aluminum (Malco) signed an agreement with Jiangsu Atai Light Alloy to study the establishment of an auto extrusion parts manufacturing plant in China.
Malco and Jiangsu Atai plan to set up a joint venture company as early as in the first half of 2020 but details of the partnership are yet to be finalised. Japan-based Malco produces rolled and extruded products for the automobile, construction and other sectors.
Jiangsu Atai is a China-based extrusion manufacturer specialised in automotive parts. The company has an annual production capacity of 250,000mt. Jiangsu Atai exports products to Asia, the Americas and Eastern Europe.
The venture will focus on the increased use of aluminium in the automobile sector to make vehicles lighter. China is the largest producers of automobiles and the demand for aluminium auto component is expected to rise in the country. The plant will manufacture products such as structural auto body parts, bumpers and in-vehicle battery housings.