Aludium announced plans to reopen aluminum casting operations at its plant in Alicante, Spain. The facility had been closed since 2008 due to the impact of the financial crisis on the global aluminum industry. The company’s decision is part of its strategic plan to grow the business, which is also comprised of rolling mills in Amorebieta, Spain, and Castelsarrasin, France.
The casthouse will have two lines, one of which will produce plates for further processing at Aludium Amorebieta. The second line will use continuous casting technology to produce coils that will be processed in Alicante. Work has begun to ensure the casthouse is fully operational in the first quarter of 2019. The work is expected to cost €7 million and will create 23 new positions in Alicante.
The decision to re-start smelting operations at Aludium Alicante will enable the company to increase the amount of aluminum Aludium recycles by 10% and reduce energy consumption by 150 kWh annually, resulting in a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to 150,000 tonnes per year. It will also allow the company to reduce its dependence on external sources of aluminum and meet the increased demand for its products.
“All of the steps we have taken since Aludium was formed have been aimed at creating sustainable growth for the long term while reducing our material costs, cutting our environmental footprint, and limiting our dependence on external sources of metal,” said Manuel Ruano, who recently retired as COO and president of Aludium and now serves on the company’s board of directors.
Aludium’s Alicante plant has increased its production by more than 30% in the three years since it was acquired by Atlas Holdings. That growth has been supported by a series of investments, which have modernized Alicante’s main facilities.