Emergence
of a metals major: The beginning of a chronicle
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 visionary — late Mr. G.D. 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 Mr.
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 are 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 the Australian Nifty and
Mt. Gordon copper mines.
Over the years, Hindalco has grown into the
largest vertically integrated aluminium company
in the country and among the largest primary
producers of aluminium in Asia. Its copper
smelter is today 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 and also
placing it in the Fortune 500 league.
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