European value-added aluminium firm Constellium NV is enhancing its technological partnership with CNRS (French National Centre for Scientific Research), and the University of Grenoble Alpes (UGA) with the creation of a new laboratory for research into aluminium in industrial production.

The new lab, which will be known as 3ALP, will concentrate upon developing new and useful aluminium alloys and finding ways to use new and existing aluminium alloys. In addition, the lab will collaborate with Science and Engineering of Materials and Processes (SIMaP) to develop new manufacturing processes, including new methods for additive manufacturing (3-D printing).

3ALP will provide Constellium with cutting-edge aluminium manufacturing technology and tools as well as expertise in microstructural and multiphysical characterization of materials, instrumental design, and development of artificial intelligence tools for materials. 

Constellium says it hopes to utilize 3ALP to develop new aluminium products using the methods and tools developed as a result of research at the lab in order to provide its customers with new and innovative products tailored to their specific needs.

Constellium, based in France, was founded 1855 as Henri Merle et Compagnie and subsequently renamed Pechiney in 1950. Pechiney was purchased by Alcan in 2003, which was purchased by Rio Tinto in 2007. In 2011 Rio Tinto sold Alcan Engineered Products to Apollo Management (51%) and FSI (10%). Constellium produces rolled and extruded aluminium products from various alloys, bringing in €6.2 billion of revenue in 2021.