LAUSANNE, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 30, 1997--Hydro Aluminium Extrusion today completed the acquisition of Ellay Enfield, the UK's leading producer of thin wall welded tube for the automotive heat exchange industry.

Ellay Enfield, based in Workington in North West England, is a world leader in the production of welded thin wall flat oval tube in both aluminum and brass for heat exchanger applications. Turnover of 12 million GBP in 1996 is expected to grow significantly in 1997 with the conclusion of current investment programmes. The company currently has 100 employees.

Hydro is a leader in extruded and drawn aluminum tube for worldwide automotive applications.

Ivar Hafsett, the president of Hydro Aluminium Extrusion, comments: "The acquisition is an important strategic step for Hydro as welded tube is a complementary product to our extruded and drawn tube products. We will now be in a position to offer our customers a `one stop shopping' solution for all their heat exchange tubing needs and to take advantage of the opportunity for product integration. This will become increasingly important as first tier automotive manufacturers rationalise their supplier bases and demand stronger and more capable suppliers. Ellay Enfield's strong technology base gives us the opportunity to develop both their and our product ranges to maintain our market leading position through the development of new and innovative heat exchange products and services, and to capitalise on the substantial growth projected in the brazed aluminum heat exchanger segment."

The new name of the company will be Hydro Ellay Enfield.

Hydro Aluminium Extrusion is a world leader in aluminum extrusions and a division of Norsk Hydro, the Norwegian-based industrial group with major interests in light metals, oil and gas, agriculture and petrochemicals. Total Norsk Hydro sales in 1996 were more than $13 billion.