DRUNEN & PITTSBURGH -- Aluminum extrusions produced by Alcoa Netherlands in Drunen helped to make a home featured on the popular U.S. television program "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" livable for a paralyzed man. Alcoa Netherlands is the sole supplier of aluminum extrusions to Handi-Move International, a leading manufacturer of lift and care systems for disabled persons based in Belgium. Handi-Move's U.S. distributor is SureHands(R) Lift & Care Systems of New York.

The premise of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is to challenge a team of professional designers to renovate a home in a week. Earlier this season, the designers helped a handicapped man accomplish normal activities for daily living by installing a SureHand(R) Lift & Care System - a motorized system that moves a person in a so-called body-support suspended from tracks installed on the ceiling. Alcoa extrusions are used for the ceiling tracks of the navigation system.

According to Serge Timmermans, Alcoa account manager for Extrusions and End Products, Handi-Move chose Alcoa aluminum extrusions for its products because of four attributes of the metal: weight, shape, machining and durability. "Handi-Move products use profile shapes that are made possible by aluminum extrusion forming, which is not possible with steel. In addition, aluminum profiles are easier to machine and bend than steel ones. And finally, aluminum is the preferred metal for a tool such as the Handi-Move ceiling track because of aluminum's durability and it's lightweight. It will stay in good physical shape even in humid surroundings," said Timmermans.

About Alcoa Europe Extrusions & End Products

With almost 50 presses in 6 European countries, Alcoa Europe Extrusions & End Products (EEP) is one of the largest extrusion companies in Europe. Aluminium extrusions for automotive or aerospace applications, commercial transportation profiles, building and construction systems, heat sinks for electronic components, micro extrusions, industrial products or other - Alcoa EEP is a one-stop-shop for aluminium extrusion requirements. It is ISO 9001, ISO 14000, QS 9000 & EURAS EWAA Qualanod and Qualicoat certified supplier.

Alcoa in The Netherlands

Alcoa has been active in The Netherlands since 1967. Products produced in The Netherlands include extrusions, architectural systems, building products, packaging, ingot and end products like greenhouse systems, light poles and flagpoles. Alcoa Netherlands has manufacturing facilities in Raamsdonksveer, Drunen, Harderwijk and Kerkrade.