Reviewed by: Pat Byington
Novelis starts production at Bay Minette plant: What it means for Baldwin County jobs
Reading time: 2 minutes
Novelis has produced the first coil on the cold mill at its $5 billion aluminum recycling and rolling plant in Bay Minette, the company announced Wednesday, Oct. 7.
The milestone moves the South Alabama Megasite project closer to commercial shipments, which Novelis says are on track to begin in the second quarter of 2027.
What does the first coil mean for the Novelis Bay Minette plant?
The cold mill is where aluminum is rolled into thin sheets. Producing the first coil is part of commissioning, the stage when a new plant’s equipment is tested and tuned before full production. Novelis says all assets needed to start commercial shipments are now in that process.
The company is also working toward customer qualification, meaning customers must approve the product before regular shipments begin.
Novelis leaders called the milestone an important step for the plant and for the U.S. aluminum supply.
“With the North American market being capacity constrained, this investment will help Novelis meet long-term market demand, strengthen our U.S. manufacturing footprint and increase the use of recycled content in our products.”
Steve Fisher, president and CEO of Novelis
How many jobs will the Bay Minette Novelis plant create?
Novelis expects the facility to create up to 1,000 new jobs once fully operational. The company has been hiring for the plant for months, and openings are still posted online. Back in July, the company said that about 400 roles had been filled.
Novelis is working with Coastal Alabama Community College, Bishop State Community College and Baldwin Preparatory Academy on technical training.
What will the Bay Minette plant produce?
Novelis calls Bay Minette the first fully integrated aluminum recycling and rolling plant built in the U.S. in more than 40 years. At full operation, the plant will:
- Add 600 kilotonnes of annual rolled aluminum capacity
- Serve beverage packaging, automotive and specialty product markets
- Include a recycling center able to process more than 15 billion used beverage cans each year
Read our earlier coverage of the Novelis Bay Minette campus for more on the project and what it means for local businesses.
