Alcoa's Excel to be sold

WARREN — Employees at Alcoa’s Excel Extrusions here are concerned but “cautiously optimistic” after learning Tuesday morning that their plant has been put up for sale by the aluminum producer.

Mary Frazzini, Excel human resources manager, said eight employee meetings were conducted Tuesday to inform the workers about Alcoa’s plans, which she said came as a surprise.

They had many questions, including what will happen to their   jobs and benefits, Frazzini said.

The news about the Warren plant, located at 1000 University St. N.E., was included in an announcement issued by Alcoa Tuesday in which it said it will shed 6,700 jobs as part of a restructuring program designed to improve profits and efficiency.

Also, Alcoa said it had agreed to join its soft alloy extrusion business with the Sapa Group, part of Norway’s Orkla, in a joint venture the two firms intend to take public.

Along with Excel in Warren, two other soft alloy plants are not included in the joint venture, and will be sold. They are in Tifton, Ga., and Plant City, Fla., Alcoa said.

Frazinni said Excel, which has 150 employees, all nonunion, will continue to operate and stay part of Alcoa until it (Excel) is sold.