Hydro Aluminium has placed an order for a batch homogenisation plant to enhance operations at its recycling facility in Spain, marking another strategic advancement in the global aluminium recycling sector. The plant will be supplied by Hertwich Engineering, a company known for its expertise in energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable technologies.
Image source: hertwich.com
The scope of supply includes three batch homogenisation furnaces, two integrated cooling chambers, a billet saw, an ultrasonic testing station and a packing station. The addition of these homogenisation furnaces, supported by an optional step cooling system, will enable Hydro to manage frequent temperature fluctuations within its recycling operations efficiently.
Gerold Keune, managing director of Hertwich, stated, "Hydro's goal is to ensure consistently high-quality products at all its sites worldwide. Hertwich technology provides an important and reliable foundation for this. The new order underlines our long-standing partnership."
The furnace will incorporate bi-directional airflow to ensure uniform temperature distribution and accelerate chamber heating. This feature is expected to enhance energy efficiency and significantly reduce overall energy consumption.
The fully integrated system is engineered for efficient operation with minimal personnel involvement. It is designed to process extrusion billets ranging from 178 to 305 millimetres (7–12 inches) in diameter and up to 7.0 metres in length.
The chamber homogenisation process, conducted at temperatures of up to 610°C over several hours, ensures a consistent microstructure throughout the billets. Post heat treatment, the billets are cooled in dedicated chambers, then arranged in individual layers, weighed and secured with plastic strapping at the packing station.
The new facility, located in Torija near Madrid, will have an annual production capacity of approximately 120,000 tonnes of low-carbon recycled aluminium billets. These billets are intended for use across various European industries, including building and construction, consumer durables, transportation and automotive, as well as renewable energy installation sectors.
It is expected that the operation of the newly ordered plant by Hydro will start in 2026.
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