At Atlanta, a Global Research & Technology Center of 160,000 sq. ft. has been opened by Novelis, a recycler of aluminum beverage cans and producer of rolled aluminum. This center will be used for extending the company's R&D activities.
Jack Clark, Chief Technical Officer at Novelis, stated that by 2020, 80% of recycled content is expected to be achieved. The new center will allow the company to increase collaboration with its customers, thus allowing it to develop sustainable and innovative aluminum products.
This new center will be a focal point for the company’s R&D. It will also serve as a central point for the Novelis’ technical activities worldwide such as engineering and manufacturing metallurgy.
The center consists of a pilot beverage can production line, materials development and testing labs and meeting space. Heat treatment capabilities and small scale aluminum rolling mill will be required in the future for preparing automotive aluminum sheets.
Stefan Erdmann, Vice President of Global R&D at Novelis, stated that the new Global Research & Technology Center will bring leading metallurgists, engineers, materials scientists, and technologists together. This center will be able to handle various challenges, like increasing the sustainability of electronics products and consumer packaging and boosting fuel efficiency.
Novelis will team up with the Southern Polytechnic State University and Georgia Institute of Technology for recruitment, internships and research opportunities. It has also opened six satellite research and technology centers in the U.S., Germany, Canada, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Korea.