Alcan

Alcan, short for Aluminum Company of Canada, was a Canadian multinational aluminum producer that operated globally across the aluminum value chain. Its activities included bauxite mining, alumina refining, primary aluminum smelting, and the manufacture of aluminum products and packaging. The company played a key role in the development of hydroelectric power-driven aluminum production in Canada and operated facilities in several countries before its later corporate integration.

Alcan was founded in 1902 as Aluminum Company of Canada to develop Canada's bauxite resources and hydroelectric power for aluminum production. Over the 20th century, it expanded through investments and acquisitions, creating a diversified portfolio that included packaging and engineering businesses. The company grew to be one of the world's largest aluminum producers, with major smelters and processing plants in North America and around the world.

In 2007, Alcan was acquired by the Rio Tinto Group for about $38 billion, and the combined company operated as Rio Tinto Alcan. In 2013, the unit was reorganized under the Rio Tinto Aluminum name, and the Alcan branding was largely retired for corporate purposes. Some legacy businesses and product lines continued under Alcan Packaging and other legacy brands.

Alcan's history is closely tied to Canada’s industrial development and to the global aluminum industry’s consolidation in the early 21st century. The Alcan name remains in historical references and in certain packaging divisions that retain the brand heritage.