New Low Emission Buses for Singapore Built with Rio Tinto Alcan Aluminium Lightweight
Technology
PARIS, May 6 /CNW-AsiaNet/
Alcan Extruded Products, part of Alcan Engineered Products - a business unit of Rio Tinto Alcan, is
pleased to announce that it is supplying the aluminium extrusions, sheets and joining elements for a series of
500 low-floor city buses for Singapore. This significant order is the starting point for the on-going
replacement of SBS Transit, the local public transport company's bus fleet of 2,700 vehicles.
"We are very pleased to have been selected to supply the innovative
aluminium EcoRange(R) body structure system," said Reinhard Fleer, president
of the Alcan Extruded Products. "Due to its high-end technical
characteristics, it offers multiple benefits to our customers."
"This important supply contract demonstrates the bus builder's and
operator's confidence in Rio Tinto Alcan's advanced lightweighting
technologies to deliver weight and cost improvements without compromising
safety and performance", he added.
The EcoRange(R) body structure system, developed by Alcan Extruded
Products, includes high-performance aluminium extrusions, aluminium panels, as
well as aluminium bolted connections for fast and easy assembly.
To the operator, the EcoRange(R) lightweight all aluminium solution will
result in considerable weight-savings and thus in less fuel consumption and
reduced CO2 emissions of the vehicle. Additional significant emission
reductions will be achieved with the modern Euro 4 EGR Scania engine.
The Alcan Extruded Products EcoRange(R) system also meets SBS's stringent
demand for a strong body structure for improved passenger safety through
innovative design. The bodywork for all buses is produced by Scania's and Rio
Tinto Alcan's local partner Gemilang Coachworks in Malaysia.
Alcan Extruded Products is a key player in Europe with a focus on
specialty products for the mass transport sector. It includes production
facilities in France, Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
About Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the
UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE listed company, and Rio Tinto
Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.
Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining, and processing mineral
resources. Major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and
uranium), gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc) and
iron ore. Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia
and North America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe
and southern Africa.
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement includes "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other
than statements of historical facts included in this announcement, including,
without limitation, those regarding Rio Tinto's financial position, business
strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations (including
development plans and objectives relating to Rio Tinto's products and
production forecasts), are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Rio Tinto,
or industry results, to be materially different from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements.
Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions
regarding Rio Tinto's present and future business strategies and the
environment in which Rio Tinto will operate in the future. Among the important
factors that could cause Rio Tinto's actual results, performance or
achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements
include, among others, levels of actual production during any period, levels
of demand and market prices, the ability to produce and transport products
profitably, the impact of foreign currency exchange rates on market prices and
operating costs, operational problems, political uncertainty and economic
conditions in relevant areas of the world, the actions of competitors,
activities by governmental authorities such as changes in taxation or
regulation and such other risk factors identified in Rio Tinto's most recent
Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") or Form 6-Ks furnished to the SEC.
Forward-looking statements should, therefore, be construed in light of such
risk factors and undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this
announcement. Rio Tinto expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking
(except as required by applicable law, the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers
(the "Takeover Code"), the UK Listing Rules, the Disclosure and Transparency
Rules of the Financial Services Authority and the Listing Rules of the
Australian Securities Exchange) to release publicly any updates or revisions
to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Rio
Tinto's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions
or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
Nothing in this announcement should be interpreted to mean that future
earnings per share of Rio Tinto plc or Rio Tinto Limited will necessarily
match or exceed its historical published earnings per share.
Subject to the requirements of the Takeover Code, none of Rio Tinto, any
of its officers or any person named in this announcement with their consent or
any person involved in the preparation of this announcement makes any
representation or warranty (either express or implied) or gives any assurance
that the implied values, anticipated results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied in forward-looking statements contained in this
announcement will be achieved.
SOURCE Rio Tinto Alcan
CONTACT: Rio Tinto Alcan Media Relations, Paris:
Chrystele Ivins,
+33-1-57-00-24-18;
Rio Tinto Alcan
Media Relations, Montreal:
Stefano Bertolli,
+1-514-848-8151;
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