Rene Liedtke, Segment Leader Non-Ferrous Europe at Quaker Houghton, has a PhD in organic chemistry with a background in synthesis and instrumental analysis. He is also a subject matter expert for lubrication of aluminium processing with broad experience in project management from R&D and production. He shares his views through an interview for AL Circle ‘Aluminium Industry: Focus Europe’ e-magazine on the European aluminium market and how team Quaker Houghton is supporting the unique demands of the aluminium rolling industry.

AL Circle: How do you see the outlook for the aluminium industry in Europe?

René Liedtke: The outlook for the aluminium industry in Europe is very positive. It’s an unprecedented time of investment, fuelled primarily by the global macrotrend of sustainability. Despite slower-than-forecast growth in the e-Mobility market, demand for battery foil and casings, as well as vehicle lightweighting components, is still increasing steadily.

The role of aluminium in supporting a more circular economy is, of course, key. Secondary aluminium production has up to a 25-times lower carbon footprint, and in Europe, we’re leading the world in terms of aluminium recycling efficiency rate. For this reason, we continue to see growth in the aluminium packaging industry, particularly beverage cans. The recyclability of aluminium also brings a cost benefit compared to using virgin materials, which can help provide the investment needed for future-fit production capabilities. 

AL Circle: What’s a key industry trend you’re seeing in rolling mills across Europe, and how does this affect lubrication requirements?

René Liedtke: In Europe, a key trend for rolling mills is portfolio diversification. In North America and China, we see greenfield projects with new mills being built that are dedicated to certain growing end markets. In contrast, in Europe, the investment strategy tends to expand production at existing mills. This approach is logical as it helps producers mitigate risk in case specific end markets are softer than forecast, but it also presents practical challenges for operations. 

If we take the example of foil cold rolling in Europe, currently — due to a combination of reduced government incentive schemes, electricity costs, and driving range/charging infrastructure concerns — growth in electric vehicles and battery foil is slower than predicted. However, household foil demand is still strong, and mills want the flexibility to pivot their output for this market. However, the process conditions and lubrication requirements for the two products are typically quite different. The critical concerns for battery foil are hardness, cleanliness and surface quality; household foil is much softer and typically requires FDA-approved lubrication. 

The trend for portfolio diversification means there’s a greater demand for the rolling fluid to perform across different alloys, and a greater level of process and lubrication expertise is needed to achieve the desired surface quality.

To explore the full interview and gain deeper insights into the global aluminium market and how Quaker Houghton is contributing to its growth, click here.