Aluminum Giants Halve Production in Valais Amid Floods, Leaving Some Businesses Unscathed

The recent floods in Valais have had a significant impact on the industrial sector, with two large companies in the aluminum industry, Novelis and Constellium, temporarily halting production in Sierre. Novelis’ rolling mill in Sierre was heavily damaged following the overflow of the Rhone river, prompting the evacuation of all employees and suspending production until further notice. The extent of the damage is still unknown, but it has left one of the top industrial employers in Valais out of operation.

Constellium, which has 700 employees in Valais, also suspended production in Chippis due to flooding. However, no employees were injured in either company’s facilities. Fortunately for Lonza, the largest industrial company in Valais with around 5,000 employees in Visp, was able to continue production unaffected. Lonza benefited from safety measures implemented during the third Rhone correction project and has a monitoring system to track water levels on the Rhone river.

While Lonza remained operational, other businesses and residents in the Rhone valley are still dealing with the aftermath of the flooding. The floods have disrupted tourism and transportation sectors as well as caused significant damage to many industrial plants and infrastructure throughout Valais.

In summary, while some companies have been affected by the floods in Valais and forced to halt production temporarily or suspend operations entirely, others have been able to continue working without interruption thanks to safety measures put in place beforehand. The full extent of damage caused by these floods is yet to be assessed but will likely lead to an economic impact for many businesses operating within this region.