CRU aluminum news roundup

The company said the agreement will support rising market demand for aluminum with high-recycled content. Novelis added that availability of end-of-life material is crucial as the company is constantly developing new ways for its automotive customers to absorb more pre- and post-consumer scrap into automotive aluminum alloys.

“Ensuring that valuable resources are reused and repurposed benefits both our businesses and the planet,” said TSR’s chief operating officer Denis Reuter. Novelis plans to increase its recycling of aluminum in Europe to 750,000 mt this year from around 700,000 mt in 2023.

Hydro participates in bridge construction, supplying recycled aluminum

It was announced that Hydro is recycling and extruding 20 mt of scrap aluminum from a decommissioned oil platform in the North Sea. The aluminum, along with other discarded products, will be used in the construction of the new bridge, highlighting Hydro’s commitment to a circular economy. The Hangarbrua Bridge is truly groundbreaking because its deck, which is an all-aluminum network arch construction, will be the first of its kind in the world, consisting of 100% recycled aluminum. Only the tension rods will be made from stainless steel.

Hydro is collaborating on this project together with the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, Leirvik AS, Aker Solutions, and Stena. It is also tasked with delivering the extruded aluminum products for the bridge deck. Leirvik will then take on the construction, transportation, and installation of the bridge, which is scheduled for completion in June 2025.

Constellium showcases leading aluminum solutions at major fair

This year, Constellium is presenting the full range of its advanced aluminum solutions with the theme “Together We Care, Together We Grow,” celebrating the collective effort of its employees, customers, and partners in driving innovation and sustainability across the industry.

Present at the Aluminum 2024 fair in Dusseldorf, Germany, Constellium’s booth will feature cutting-edge solutions for the automotive, aerospace, packaging, and construction industries. It will highlight contributions to lightweight design, energy efficiency, and sustainable development. Several of the products on display reinforce Constellium’s commitment to recycling and increasing recycled content in its products.

Products and solutions on display include:

• Crash management systems, manufactured from over 90% post-consumer scrap
• A uni-alloy 6xxx automotive door
• Luxury cosmetics packaging
• Advanced sorting and recycling solutions
• High-performance aluminum powders

Vedanta places focus on low-carbon brand at aluminum fair

Also present at the aluminum fair in Germany, Vedanta issued a press statement about its offering. The company’s focus at the conference will be on its low-carbon aluminum product line, Restora – the first of its kind from India. Restora and Restora Ultra are designed to drastically reduce carbon emissions, catering to businesses worldwide that prioritize environmental responsibility without compromising on quality.

Commenting on the participation, COO Sunil Gupta of Vedanta Aluminum, said: “We are excited to showcase our sustainable aluminum products at Aluminum 2024, a premier global stage for the aluminum industry.”

He said the company’s participation “reflects our commitment to advancing responsible manufacturing while offering innovative solutions that meet the growing demand for low-carbon materials.”

“We are confident that our products will attract significant interest from global stakeholders,” he concluded.

Hydro appoints new leaders for its extrusion businesses in Europe and the US

There was another announcement made this week by Hydro. The Norwegian producer has appointed Erik Fossum and Jeff Lehman as the new leaders for its aluminum extrusion businesses in Europe and North America, respectively. Erik Fossum has been appointed as the new business unit president of Extrusion Europe. He replaces Bruno D’hondt who led the Extrusion Europe unit since September 2018. At the same time, Jeff Lehman has been named business unit president of Extrusion North America, succeeding Charlie Straface, who is retiring after 45 years in the aluminum industry. The last nine years of his career, Straface led the North American organization.

With 8,300 employees, Extrusion Europe is the largest of the four business units in Hydro Extrusions. Extrusion North America is the next-largest, with 5,600 employees at its plants and offices in the US and Canada. Combined, the two business units had revenues of €5.4 billion in 2023.

Editor’s note: This article was first published by CRU. To learn more about CRU’s services, click here.