Alcoa Honors 10 Suppliers for Top UBC Quality; Five Are Repeat Winners

    Business Editors

    KNOXVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 31, 2005--Alcoa Rigid Packaging, one of Alcoa's largest businesses, today announced the selection of 10 companies to receive 2004 Alcoa UBC Supplier Quality Awards for the supply of outstanding quality used beverage containers (UBCs).
    Those being honored for '04 performance are:

    Bruno's Iron & Metal Company, Fresno, CA
    Mid America Recycling Company, Des Moines, IA
    Container Recovery Inc., Portland, OR
    Miller Compressing Company, Milwaukee, WI
    Morristown Iron and Metal Inc., Morristown, TN
    Brandywine Recyclers Inc., Lebanon, PA
    Anheuser-Busch Distributors of NY, Long Island, NY
    L Knife and Sons, Kingston, MA
    BARC Industries, Bakersfield, CA
    Quick Service, Oklahoma City, OK

    Demonstrating a true dedication to outstanding UBC quality are three companies that have earned this award twice before - Mid America Recycling Company, Morristown Iron and Metal, Inc., and L Knife and Sons. Two honorees have received the award once before - BARC Industries and Quick Service.
    Over the past eight years, the Alcoa UBC Supplier Quality Awards have spotlighted the importance of high quality UBCs in the melting process and in eliminating potential hazards for employees.
    According to Pam McNealy, Alcoa RPD Metal Planning and Procurement Manager, in the highly competitive aluminum market, a consistent supply of quality UBCs is an advantage for Alcoa. "We are fortunate to procure UBCs from more than 2,000 locations throughout the U.S., but only a select few truly step up and expect the same excellence in their UBC supply as we do," McNealy says. "It is these very dedicated and valuable suppliers that we honor today. These firms are proudly invested in the product they send us ... we salute their hard work and focus."
    The elimination of moisture, dirt, glass, plastic and other contaminants from UBC shipments has a direct impact on the quality and cost of recycled aluminum cans, as well as the safety of employees involved in the recycling process. For this reason, quality UBCs are critical to Alcoa's recycling operations.
    Alcoa Rigid Packaging produces aluminum sheet for the beverage and food can industries and leads Alcoa's aluminum can recycling activities. Alcoa (NYSE:AA) is one of the nation's largest consumers of UBCs.
    www.alcoa.com

--30--JAM/cl*

CONTACT: Alcoa Rigid Packaging Craig Covert, 865-977-2082

KEYWORD: TENNESSEE PENNSYLVANIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ENVIRONMENT MANUFACTURING MINING/METALS SOURCE: Alcoa

Copyright Business Wire 2005