Comalco marketing team formed

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32588, 23 April 1971, Page 16

Comalco marketing team formed

Comalco has established its New Zealand marketing team in preparation for the commercial availability of aluminium from the Bluff smelter by mid-year, and the start of extrusion operations in Auckland, the managing director of Comalco’s metal group (Mr A. V. Lorch) announced yesterday.

Mr J. R. Hunt has been appointed commercial manager for New Zealand, and will be in charge of marketing and commercial activities for the company. He has had more than 10 years experience in all phases of aluminium production and marketing, both in Australia and New Zealand. He is based in Auckland.

Beginning in July, the Bluff smelter will be producing a- range of cast primary metal products for the New Zealand market; Comalco

Extrusions, Ltd, in Auckland, owned jointly by Comalco and Alex Harvey Industries, Ltd, will supply extruded sections to the architectural market and other industries.

These products will be supplemented from Comalco extrusion and rolling plants in Australia. Mr Lorch said that, in the course of developing the local alminium market, Comalco would be undertaking market expansion programmes to assist New Zealand manufacturers in developing new applications for aluminium, and to find new outlets for their products both locally and overseas. Steady growth

In Australia, since production of aluminium began in 1955, consumption had grown from 51b pgr capita annually to 241 b per capita in 1970, he said.

“This represents an average growth rate in the market of 12 per cent annually over that period. “With the availability of Bluff aluminium, I am confident that we can look forward to a similar pattern of growth in New Zealand,” Mr Lorch said.

Assisting Mr Hunt in marketing activities will be Messrs R. N. Barnes and O. lA. Brimble. In addition Mr J. J. Sloey had been appointed plant manager of Comalco Extrusions, and Mr B. G. Nicey administration manager for the same company, Mr Lorch said.

ChCh Gas div. increased

' The Christchurch Gas Company, Ltd, is to pay a 7j per cent dividend this year, an increase from the 6 per cent paid last year. The directors have recommended a final 4 per cent after paying a 3 J per cent interim. The dividend is payable June 22; ex June 1.