The proposed closure affects approximately 80 employees at the plant, and a formal consultation process with employee representatives will begin shortly. If the decision is finalized, the plant will be closed within 2026.
Erik Fossum, Senior Vice President of Hydro Extrusion Europe, stated: “The European market remains challenging, and we need to take additional steps. While these decisions are difficult, we will prioritize safety and ensure that employees are treated fairly and respectfully. We will maintain our strong presence in the French market and continue to support our customers with high service quality.”
The decision to close the Lucé plant follows the plan announced on November 26, 2025, to close five extrusion plants in Europe. The closure of two plants in the UK has been confirmed and they will be closed in the second quarter of 2026. These steps aim to strengthen long-term competitiveness by optimizing Hydro’s extrusion activities in Europe.
Owned by Hydro since 1986, the Lucé plant operates two extrusion presses. Hydro’s aluminum recycling plant, which is adjacent to the facility, will not be affected by this decision.
Hydro stated that they remain committed to the European extrusion market and that the planned changes will not affect customer commitments or service levels. If the closure is confirmed, customers served by the affected plant will receive their products from other Hydro facilities.
The total restructuring cost is expected to be NOK 260 million; of this, NOK 80 million will be reflected as impairment and NOK 175 million as a provision expense in Q1 2026. Additionally, a cost of approximately NOK 5 million will impact Adjusted EBITDA in Q1 2026.
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