Alcoa Opens New Facility In North Carolina; $6 Million Investment Adds

    Business Editors

    PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 14, 2005--Alcoa (NYSE:AA) today announced that its Alcoa Subassembly and Logistics business will open a new manufacturing plant in Salisbury, Rowan County, N.C., creating 75 new jobs in the area.
    Alcoa Subassembly and Logistics, a part of Alcoa Wheel and Forged Products, provides wheel and tire assemblies to the Freightliner Group, the largest heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America and a leading manufacturer of medium-duty and specialized commercial vehicles. The new North Carolina facility - a $6 million investment - will support Freightliner locations in North and South Carolina. Production is scheduled to start in mid-April.
    "Alcoa's investment and creation of 75 jobs is great news for Rowan County," said North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Jim Fain. "It is a welcomed addition to the strong transportation components sector of North Carolina's economy, which is vital to our region."
    The Salisbury-Rowan Economic Development Commission was instrumental in helping Alcoa site its new facility.
    "This is great news. The company plans to hire local people and provide good wages and benefits," said Randy Harrell, executive director of the Salisbury-Rowan Economic Development Commission.
    The Rowan County Board of Commissioners will provide a location assistance grant to aid with transition costs. The Rowan-Cabarrus Community College will also help by providing training resources to newly hired employees and the Employment Security Commission of Rowan County will assist in the screening of applicants.
    The new facility will add to Alcoa's presence in North Carolina, where Alcoa has four other operating locations in the cities of Badin, Catawba, Charlotte and Greensboro. The Salisbury plant will be the largest facility that Alcoa Subassembly and Logistics operates.
    "Alcoa has made this investment in response to a strong commercial vehicle market," said James Albon, manager, Alcoa Subassembly and Logistics. "Our investment in Rowan County will bring a wealth of opportunities with it for the local community, such as increased sales to state and local vendors as well as an expansion of the state and local tax base. Local non-profit organizations will benefit too through Alcoa Foundation programs and grants that are made in Alcoa communities worldwide."
    Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation invest nearly $150,000 annually in the state through grants and community engagement activities by partnering with non-profit organizations located near Alcoa operating locations.

    About Alcoa Subassembly and Logistics

    Alcoa Subassembly and Logistics, founded in 2000, operates four locations in the United States and one in Canada. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, the business is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alcoa Inc.

    About Alcoa

    Alcoa is the world's leading producer and manager of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina facilities, and is active in all major aspects of the industry. Alcoa serves the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation and industrial markets, bringing design, engineering, production and other capabilities of Alcoa's businesses to customers. In addition to aluminum products and components, Alcoa also markets consumer brands including Reynolds Wrap(R) foils and plastic wraps, Alcoa(R) wheels, and Baco(R) household wraps. Among its other businesses are vinyl siding, closures, fastening systems, precision castings, and electrical distribution systems for cars and trucks. The company has 131,000 employees in 43 countries and has been a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average for 45 years and the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes since 2001. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com.

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CONTACT: Alcoa Investor Contact, William F. Oplinger, 212-836-2674 Media Contact, Kevin G. Lowery, 412-553-1424 Mobile, 724-422-7844

KEYWORD: PENNSYLVANIA NORTH CAROLINA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: AUTOMOTIVE TRANSPORTATION SOURCE: Alcoa

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