Novelis is investing EUR 43 million in its European rail logistics network with the acquisition of 220 new Shimmns freight wagons.
The newly purchased wagons are designed for flexible use, allowing the transport of aluminium coils, scrap, and ingots—materials previously handled by separate wagon types or, in some cases, trucks. The wagons will serve all 10 of Novelis’ production sites across Europe, replacing older leased stock and aiming to streamline deliveries and reduce operational complexity.
A specific focus of the project is the aluminium route between Nachterstedt and Neuss in Germany. Due to insufficient rail capacity, some material flows—mainly aluminium ingots—had been shifted to road transport. The expanded rail capacity is expected to eliminate up to 2,000 truck trips annually and reduce related CO₂e emissions by an estimated 78%.
Novelis has already taken delivery of the first 30 wagons, equipped with GPS tracking, with full deployment planned by September 2026. The wagons are supplied by On-Rail, based in Mettmann, Germany. The handover of the first batch took place on 2 December 2025 at the DUSS terminal in Göttingen.
