Bernd Schäfer, Alcoa Global Rolled Products´ Commercial Vice President for Commercial Transportation and Industrial has been appointed new Chairman of the Aluminium Semis Division within the GDA - German Aluminium Association, Düsseldorf. He replaces Mr. Friedrich W. Brökelmann, who was for nine years the Chairman of the association. Mr. Frank Busenbecker, General Manager of Erbslöh Aluminium GmbH in Velbert, Germany, was elected Vice Chairman of the Division by the general assembly of the members.
Bernd Schäfer has been employed in the aluminium industry since 1999 and with Alcoa since 2008. In his current function, Mr. Schäfer is responsible for the global strategic management and marketing of rolled products of the division “Commercial Transportation and Industrial”. After completing his studies in business economics, Mr. Schäfer amassed comprehensive experience as a consultant, as well as by working in the stainless steel and nickel industries. Before entering Alcoa, Mr. Schäfer hold international management positions for the rolling divisions at Hydro Aluminium and Alcan.
The GDA - Aluminium Semis Division represents the largest producer group within the German aluminium industry. With an annual turnover of collectively around EUR 6.6 billion, the industry produced 2.55 million tonnes of aluminium semi-finished products in 2014, with some 15,000 employees. Germany is by far the largest producer of aluminium semi-finished products in Europe and one of the largest worldwide. Aluminium semis are sheets, strips, plates, profiles, rods, tubs, wires and forgings made from aluminium. Main markets for the products are the building construction industry, the traffic and transportation sectors as well as the packaging industry.