PARIS, June 21 – Aluminerie Alouette announced today during the 49^th International Paris Air Show that it is strengthening its partnership with Aéro Montréal, and will make a 1.5 million dollar contribution to its MACH initiative over five years.  The agreement aims to support the mission of Québec’s aerospace cluster: mobilizing the players in the Québec aerospace industry around common goals and focused actions to increase cohesiveness and to optimize the competitiveness, growth and expansion of Québec’s aerospace cluster.

The aerospace and aluminum sectors work closely together, as several of aluminum’s properties, such as its light weight and malleability, make it a choice material for many uses in the aerospace industry. 

From this perspective, Aluminerie Alouette will also play an active role in Aéro Montréal’s many working groups and participate in projects such as the MACH initiative, which aims to propose ways to strengthen the Quebec aerospace supply chain in the face of the challenges brought about by international competition.

‘‘Aluminerie Alouette is pursuing its commitment to job and wealth creation in Québec,’’ declared Michel Gagnon, Vice-President of Finance and Business Development at Alouette. “We are convinced the programs that have been set up, such as Aéro Montréal’s MACH initiative, are reinforcing the performance and competitivenesss of Québec companies. Maintaining a base of competitive suppliers on the global scene also favours job conservation and creation in the aerospace sector, where aluminum transformation represents a major industrial capacity.’’  

On her part, Suzanne M. Benoît, President of Aéro Montréal, said:  “Aéro Montréal is contributing to reinforce the positioning of the Québec aerospace industry and ensure its sustained competitiveness among the world’s leading aerospace centres. We are once again delighted to be able to count on the support of our strategic partner, Aluminerie Alouette, so as to pursue the development of the Québec aerospace industry.”

Aluminerie Alouette’s contribution will strengthen the individual links in the manufacturing industry’s supply chain – the subcontractors – so as to accelerate its overall performance. 

About Aluminerie Alouette
Founded in 1992, Aluminerie Alouette is an independently operated company that produces primary aluminum. With close to 1,000 employees and an annual production capacity of over 575,000 tonnes, it is the largest employer in Sept-Îles and the leading aluminum smelter in the Americas. The Sept-Îles smelter, featuring numerous innovations, is a state-of-the-art facility. Aluminerie Alouette meets and exceeds governmental standards with regards to environmental responsibility.

About Aéro Montréal

Aéro Montréal, Québec's aerospace cluster, is a strategic think tank that brings together all the major decision makers in Québec's aerospace sector, including companies, educational and research institutions, associations and unions. Aéro Montréal's mission is to mobilize industry players around common goals and focused actions to increase cohesion and optimize competitiveness. By fostering the growth and expansion of Québec’s aerospace cluster, it intends to make this industry an increasingly important source of wealth creation for the Montréal region, Québec and Canada.

For more information:   

Marie-Claude Guimond

Director, Communications

Aluminerie Alouette

418 964-7335

mcguimond@alouette.qc.ca

Véronique Coutu

Senior Communications Advisor

Aéro Montréal

(514) 987-9334, Cell: (514) 882-9791

veronique.coutu@aeromontreal.ca