Norwegian aluminum component supplier Sapa opens R&D center in Troy

Aluminum component supplier Sapa Group opened a new R&D center in Troy on Tuesday.

The Oslo-based firm invested $3 million into the 10,000-square-foot center, operating as Sapa Technology Americas LLC, at 1200 Kirts Blvd. The center will work to develop extruded aluminum parts for the automotive industry and employ 10 professionals with advanced degrees by mid-2016.

The investment is representative of the market growth for Sapa, said Charlie Straface, president of Sapa North America.

"With new applications, such as in automotive, we absolutely felt the need to bring the R&D center closer to the market to speed up innovation," Straface said.

Automotive represents between 10 percent to 15 percent of Sapa's roughly $3 billion business in North America behind its transportation group, which supplies aluminum for commercial trucks and trailers, metal distribution and building and construction groups.

Straface said the automotive segment is Sapa's fastest growing and is expected to become its third largest sector in the near future.

Sapa's customers include Ford Motor Co., Tesla Motors Inc., General Motors Co. and others.

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