Operations & financial report

Engineered products

RTA's Engineered Products business unit is a portfolio of inter connected aluminium and non aluminium businesses providing innovative, high value added solutions to meet the diverse needs of its global customer base. In particular, the business is the premier supplier of high value added aluminium products to the world's leading aircraft manufacturers. In Europe, it also produces large profile extrusions for the transportation industry and is a top supplier of beverage can stock. The business is the North American leader in aluminium wire and cable, and a world leader in composite products with a unique portfolio of brands and product solutions. As at 31 December 2007, the business unit comprised 95 operating and sales sites in 34 countries and regions around the world. The unit is organised into seven sub business units; Aerospace, Transport and Industry (ATI), Cable, Extruded Products, Composites, Specialty Sheet, Engineered and Automotive Solutions (EAS) and the Alcan International Network (AIN).

On 8 November 2007, RTA announced the sale of the non aerospace portion of its service centre operations in Europe, Alcan Service Centres (ASC), to Amari Metals. The transaction was completed on 4 January 2008. Rio Tinto announced on 26 November 2007 the intention to explore options for the divestment of the remainder of the Engineered Products business unit. Although Engineered Products is a market leader in many of its largest businesses, and has recently experienced strong growth, the business unit does not fit within Rio Tinto's overall corporate strategy.