Floods in Valais hit aluminium industry hard

The floods in Valais are not only affecting tourism and transport, but also industrial companies. One prominent victim is the rolling mill of the aluminum manufacturer Novelis in Sierre.

No injuries

After the Rhone overflowed its banks during the night from Saturday to Sunday, water entered the neighboring factory premises and production halls. According to the company, no one was injured, but all employees had to be evacuated.

For the time being, production at the large plant is no longer possible. As the NZZ learned upon request, it is not yet known when production can be resumed. It is also too early to make reliable statements about the extent of the damage caused by the flooding.

Hundreds of employees have to stay at home

Novelis has over 500 employees in Sierre, making it one of the leading industrial employers in Valais. Since 2007, the former Alusuisse company has belonged to the Indian industrial conglomerate Aditya Birla. Even more people, 700, are employed in Valais by competitor Constellium.

According to a spokeswoman, production at the Sierre plant had to be suspended until further notice. Water also penetrated Constellium, but no employees were injured. The US group, whose activities in Valais also date back to the former activities of the Alusuisse company, has also suspended production in Chippis – also due to flooding. Production is continuing in Steg, the company’s third Valais location.

Lonza benefits from Rhone correction

In contrast, Lonza, by far the largest industrial company in Valais, was spared. The pharmaceuticals supplier, which employs around 5,000 people in Visp, was able to continue production. There were no floods or safety-related situations in the area of ​​the factory, a spokesman said.

Lonza says it has a permanent monitoring and alarm system to monitor the water level of the Rhone, which flows right next to the plant. The company also explained that a high level of safety had been achieved in the Visp area thanks to early work on the third Rhone correction. Further down in the Rhone valley, residents and businesses are still waiting for the implementation.