ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Aluminum Association announced its 99^th and 100^th member companies today – The Schaefer Group, Inc. and Aluminum Shapes, LLC. One hundred members is a record for the 80-year trade Association, which represents the North American aluminum industry. The additions come at a time when the broader industry continues to thrive – in the United States alone, aluminum companies have committed to more than $2.3 billion in domestic plant expansion since 2013 to capture anticipated demand growth.

"This is an exciting time for aluminum, as the industry continues to see sustained expansion and transformative growth," said Aluminum Association Chairman Layle "Kip" Smith, President of Noranda Aluminum. "Customers as diverse as automakers, high-tech firms and the U.S. military recognize the potential of using light-weight, durable aluminum to meet modern manufacturing challenges – a testament to the value aluminum enables."

Based in Dayton, Ohio, the Schaefer Group has more than 80 years of experience providing furnaces and molten metal delivery systems to the aluminum industry.  Schaefer Furnaces Division has extensive experience in the systems approach to high quality aluminum delivery. The Schaefer Group, Inc. provides turn-key service; from design, to construction and installation, to complete technical support and maintenance.  

Aluminum Shapes, LLC is a fully integrated aluminum extruder, providing a vast range of services for projects from start to finish. One of the world's premier aluminum extruders, Aluminum Shapes has been part of projects with historical impact – providing aluminum scaffolding for the renovations of the Statue of Liberty and the Washington Monument.  The company is based in Delair, New Jersey.

"A milestone of 100 members is a first for the Aluminum Association, and a shining example of industry growth and the value of the Association," said Heidi Brock, President and CEO of the Aluminum Association.  "The Schaefer Group and Aluminum Shapes, LLC represent the breadth of the aluminum industry today, and our membership will benefit from their perspectives."

Since 2013, Aluminum Association member companies have announced domestic plant expansions and planned investment totaling more than $2.3 billion. These investments will create more than 1,000 permanent and temporary jobs.  The increase in investment is intended to capture and meet anticipated demand growth for aluminum in the automotive sector as automakers strive to make lighter and more fuel-efficient vehicles.  The investments announced to date could increase industry auto sheet capacity by more than 2 billion pounds over the next decade.

The Aluminum Association represents U.S. and foreign-based companies and their suppliers throughout the value chain, from primary production to value added products to recycling.  The Association is the industry's leading voice, providing global standards, business intelligence, sustainability research and industry expertise to member companies, policymakers and the general public. The aluminum industry helps manufacturers produce sustainable and innovative products, including more fuel efficient vehicles, recyclable packaging, greener buildings and modern electronics.  In the U.S., the aluminum industry creates $152 billion in economic activity. For more information visit www.Aluminum.org, on Twitter @AluminumNews or at Facebook.com/AluminumAssociation.  

Matt Meenan
703.358.2977
mmeenan@aluminum.org

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SOURCE The Aluminum Association