NEW YORK -- Norwegian light metals, energy and fertilizer giant Norsk Hydro AS has reorganized its Hydro Aluminum Wells Inc. operations into three business units.


The Baltimore-based, six-plant network now includes Hydro Aluminum Wells East, which houses the company's extrusion, fabrication and finishing operations in Belton, S.C., arid Moultrie, Ga.; Hydro Aluminum Wells Midwest, which houses the Monett, Mo., and North Liberty, Ind., plants; and the Components and Assemblies Group, which includes plants in Kalamazoo, Mich., and Sidney, Ohio.

Raymond Pallen, recently-installed president of Hydro Aluminum Wells, said the reorganization is designed to "push decision-making closer to the market." The Norwegian company's Lausanne, Switzerland-based Hydro Aluminium Extrusions unit bought the former Wells Aluminum Corp. in February 2000.