F.W. Brökelmann Aluminiumwerk GmbH & Co. KG. based in Ense-Höingen, Germany, is investing in a new 22/24 MN extrusion press. The new plant is expected to go into operation at the end of 2009/beginning of 2010. The company is planning to invest about 4.5m euros at the location.

The new press replaces an old 17 MN press, which will be shut down and dismantled at the end of 2009. There will be a significant increase in productivity associated with the new press concept with its modern short-stroke front-loading design and long run-out. There will be a reduction in the amount of scrap produced.

With this investment project, Brökelmann is joining the ranks of the German profile producers that have completely modernised and expanded their production facilities in recent years and thereby significantly improved the economic efficiency of their profile production. Among other things, the good competitive position of the German suppliers is illustrated by the statistics for growth in production over the last few years.

Brökelmann processes about 23,000 tonnes of aluminium a year at its Ense-Höingen plant. The company had a turnover of approximately 96m euros in 2007 and employed some 360 people. It sees the automotive sector as its most important market.