SCRIBA, N.Y. (WSYR) -- The Novelis plant in Scriba, near Oswego, is back up and running after a destructive fire on Sept. 16. But with the hot mill out of commission until the first quarter of 2026, according to the company, there could be a toll on the automotive industry and the Central New York economy.

The hot mill consists of essential equipment for aluminum sheet production.

"You have to remember, 40 percent of the sheet metal, aluminum, is used in the automotive industry as a whole, 40 percent," Patrick Penfield, a professor of supply chain practice at Syracuse University, said. "It's really difficult. You can try and find other sources, but it's going to take time."

Time that Ford and other automotive companies do not necessarily have; they're already seeing significant drops in

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