MONTREAL, May 14 /PRNewswire/ - Alcan Extruded Products, part of Alcan
Engineered Products - a business unit of Rio Tinto Alcan - is pleased to
announce the total order of 88 units for the production of car body shells
for the Cobra tram. Following the successful four-year development phase
and testing of six pilot units of the 37-metre long vehicles, the tram
units are scheduled to be delivered to the Zurich Public Transport
Authorities in Switzerland by mid-2009.

    "We are very proud that our company was able to make such a substantial
contribution to the development and design of the popular articulated
low-floor trams winding through the streets of Switzerland's largest city",
said Reinhard Fleer, president, Alcan Extruded Products. "This important
supply contract clearly demonstrates the rail vehicle builders' confidence
in our advanced light weighting technologies that have made us a market
leader all over the globe", he added.

    The tailor-made hybrid structure of the Cobra, developed by Alcan
Extruded Products for the railcar manufacturer includes high-performance
aluminium extrusions, aluminium panels, sandwich floor and roof structures
as well as the three-dimensionally shaped sidewalls and cockpits made from
fibre-reinforced resin at the vehicle's front and rear ends.

    To operators, the Cobra high-tech solution also offers a great number
of advantages in terms of economics, sustainability and reduced consumption
of resources. The considerable weight-saving due to the use of aluminium
and composite materials will result in less electricity consumption.

    Major benefits to passengers, apart from the comfortable low-floor
entrances, are increased safety as well as improved temperature and
acoustic insulation due to the sandwich materials used. The innovative
anti-climber design of the Cobra's front and rear cabin, developed in close
cooperation with experts from the insurance industry, minimizes the result
of an impact in the case of a collision with pedestrians.

    Alcan Extruded Products is a key player in Europe with a focus on
specialty products for the mass transport sector. It includes production
facilities in France, Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and
Slovakia.

    About Rio Tinto

    Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the
UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE listed company, and Rio
Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

    Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining, and processing mineral
resources. Major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and
uranium), gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc)
and iron ore. Activities span the world but are strongly represented in
Australia and North America with significant businesses in South America,
Asia, Europe and southern Africa.

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