Isabelle Gaudreau, Marketing Director at EPIQ Machinery, leads global marketing and communications strategies following the merger of Mecfor and Advanced Dynamics. With industry experience since 2006, her expertise bridges technical understanding and creative communication, positioning the company as a key innovator in sustainable aluminium technologies.
In an interview for “Sustainability & Recycling: Aluminium's Dual Commitment” e-Magazine, Isabelle sheds light on how EPIQ Machinery integrates sustainability at the design stage via automation, modular systems and data-driven intelligence with the aim to enhance productivity, recycling efficiency, and energy optimisation in both primary and secondary aluminium operations. It also explores the company’s vision for advancing circular economy goals and the collaborative role of industry bodies and governments in accelerating sustainable transformation.
AL Circle: What sustainability solutions do you keep in mind while designing and developing equipment and technologies for the aluminium industry?
Isabelle Gaudreau: At EPIQ Machinery, sustainability begins at the design stage. Every new system, whether for mobile operations or fixed automation, is developed to improve productivity. Our design philosophy prioritises efficiency and modularity, ensuring each innovation delivers tangible benefits. In parallel, automation and digital intelligence through systems make sure that energy, time, and material resources. Meanwhile, the integration of smart control systems allows precise monitoring of energy use, equipment condition, and operational safety.
We are also keen on modular and upgradable designs, enabling customers to modernise existing assets, minimising material waste and extending equipment life cycles.
AL Circle: How do your technologies support secondary aluminium producers in streamlining operations, while also enhancing sustainability performance?
Isabelle Gaudreau: EPIQ’s technologies are particularly valuable to secondary aluminium producers, who face unique challenges in managing scrap efficiently while maintaining high-quality output. The MECFOR Smart Casthouse Solution platform optimises furnace charging, tending, skimming and cleaning with data-driven insights.
Complementing this, EPIQ’s AD brand Extrusion billet batch homogenising automated systems including sawing, inspection, and packaging solutions recover cutting chips and manage off-spec billets for re-melting, helping close the loop between production and recycling.
Together, these solutions contribute to the recycling process by maximising metal yield, improving safety, and reducing the energy footprint.
AL Circle: With the world turning its face towards recycling, how do you anticipate the demand growth for advanced sorting and recycling equipment, and what does this mean for your company’s growth prospects?
Isabelle Gaudreau: As the world turns toward recycling and a circular economy, demand for advanced recycling, sorting, and automated handling equipment continues to rise. Some producers are moving toward in-house recycling loops, integrating their own scrap processing facilities. This shift aligns perfectly with EPIQ’s expertise: its brands together provide a full suite of solutions for automated handling and transport within aluminium smelters.
Additionally, recycling scrap brings important challenges with stock management, proper characteristics identification, optimal cast recipe management and materials handling. All aspects that EPIQ can help with, combining our digital solutions and mobile autonomous or fixed furnace charging options.
The convergence of sustainability and automation is fueling strong growth prospects for EPIQ, positioning the company as a key technology partner in high-efficiency aluminium production.
Tap here to read the complete interview.
