Hindalco Industries: Forging ahead
The Hindalco story dates back to the young Indian democracy of the 1950s. Ready to take a giant leap, India was geared to make it big, especially in terms of innovation and industrialisation.
Hindalco embarked on its journey in 1958. Its first real contribution to the vision of an industrial India occurred four years later, when the late visionary GD Birla set up India's first integrated aluminium facility at Renukoot, in the eastern fringe of Uttar Pradesh, India. It was backed by a captive thermal power plant at Renusagar in 1967. Hindalco attained its leadership position in the aluminium industry under the dynamic leadership of the late Aditya Vikram Birla — a formidable force in the Indian industry.
And it was through the vision and guidance of Mr Kumar Mangalam Birla, the Group Chairman that the business segments of aluminium and copper were consolidated to make Hindalco the non-ferrous metals powerhouse it is today. This was achieved in part by expansion through mergers and acquisitions with companies such as Indal and Birla Copper. Hindalco also secured copper reserves and amplified its operating base by acquiring Australian copper mines.
Over the years, Hindalco has grown into a major vertically integrated aluminium company in the country and among the largest primary producers of aluminium in Asia. Its copper smelter is today one of the world's largest custom smelter at a single location.
In 2007, the landmark acquisition of Novelis Inc., the world's largest aluminium rolling company, placed Hindalco's footprint across the globe, securing it a rank amongst the top five global aluminium majors.