French to English Bus/Financial Manufacturing

I'm translating a document for a car parts manufacturer specialized in aluminum die casting, which has just been acquired by a larger firm.

The company that was acquired is listing the benefits of this acquisition, which include:
"- l’avantage d’une taille d’entreprise beaucoup plus importante,

- une meilleure couverture géographique du fait de sa présence en Chine,

- un renforcement de présence en Amérique du Nord,

- une ouverture **vers l’aval de notre métier d’origine**"

(A new section starts after that so the rest isn't helpful)

I don't really understand the meaning of "vers l'aval de notre métier" here. The company that was acquired started as an aluminum foundry and then began to specialize in the automotive industry. It manufacturing aluminum castings, particular cylinder heads. The company that acquired it manufactures metallic components and systems and specializes in aluminum component machining. So completely different, though of course complementary, aspects of the industry.

I'm tempted to read this as they are returning to their more general aluminum foundry roots, but I'm not really sure how the notion of 'downstream' fits into all this. I know that 'aval' can also refer to endorsement or approval, but I'm not sure that makes any more sense here.

Any ideas of what this could mean and how to render it in English?

Thanks!