According to a note from the municipality of Soure, sent to Lusa news agency, the company – which is dedicated to aluminium extrusion (a process of hot transformation of that material, which is then moulded into various components) began the investment more than 12 years ago, “but only in the last two years has it reached a decisive stage of implementation”, without recourse to EU funds.
The investment of around 25 million euros (ME) has created 120 direct jobs.
The new Soure factory is located on a plot of land measuring 8.6 hectares (roughly the equivalent of 10 11-a-side football pitches) with a covered area of one hectare. It has two 2,800-tonne aluminium extrusion lines and an annual production capacity of 16,000 tonnes of extruded profiles.
It joins nine other production centres worldwide – located in the USA, the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Germany, Poland and Morocco – from which the aluminium multinational serves 16,000 customers in 40 countries, in the areas of civil construction, automotive, transport, infrastructure and renewable energy.
Founded in 1966, 58 years ago, Exlabesa has made “constant investment in advanced technology and production methods” over the last few decades, and has “unique production capabilities in its sector”, the note adds.
The statement also states that Exlabesa has “an ambitious expansion plan in Portugal”, worth more than 45 million euros, more than tripling the area of the current covered facility, with a view to an annual production of 45,000 tons.
According to the statement, the multinational “has already purchased two more lots in the industrial area of Soure”, in a space adjacent to the current one, and is finalizing the project that aims to create 200 jobs.
The official inauguration of the Soure factory, which has been in operation since 2023, is scheduled for 4:00 pm today, presided over by the Secretary of State for the Economy, João Rui Ferreira.