Hydro unlocks new achievement by opening its new HyForge casting line at Hydro's aluminium recycling factory in Rackwitz, Germany. The 40 million EUR investments respond to the automobile industry's push to reduce carbon emissions by boosting the use of recycled, post-consumer aluminium waste.
The culmination of a 14-month building period and the debut of Hydro's pioneering HyForge forging stock section at the Rackwitz facility were commemorated by the commencement of the inauguration ceremony on September 14th. Customers may be served with smaller diameter aluminium billets with improved surface quality that can be forged straight into high-quality automobile components and other products, eliminating additional process stages such as extrusion or homogenization.
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"With HyForge, Hydro is literally forging the future of automotive, responding to the industry's increasing demand for low-carbon, lightweight aluminium components. The expansion enables us to further develop our strategic partnership with automotive customers, while meeting both their high-quality standards and increasing focus on sustainability," said Eivind Kallevik, Executive Vice President for Hydro Aluminium Metal.
Lightweighting using aluminium is one of the most efficient techniques to enhance vehicle energy economy while maintaining safety. The Rackwitz expansion plays a crucial role in Hydro's pursuit of its objectives in the rapidly evolving field of recycling and achieving a twofold increase in the use of post-consumer aluminium waste by 2025. Furthermore, it is successfully fulfilling its objective of recycling more locally obtained scrap, earning a prominent position in sustainability performance within the market.
Germany alone consumes one-third of all aluminium finished in Europe. It is a significant market for Hydro, with consumers with lofty climate goals reflected in their expectations from providers like Hydro. Since the 1990s, Hydro has been attempting to decarbonize its operations. The corporation has pledged a 30% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and a net-zero goal by 2050, believing that "nothing" is impossible.
"Our plant in Rackwitz is ideally located to serve the region's automotive industry hub as more customers pursue their aim to decarbonize. It also provides easy access to sources of post-consumer aluminium scrap, giving significant customer value, and contributing to the circular economy and Germany's green transition," said Thomas Stürzebecher, Managing Director at Hydro Aluminium Gießerei Rackwitz.
The recycling process of post-consumer trash, including various products like beverage cans, window frames, and automobile components, is a key strategy in Hydro's plan to reduce emissions and achieve zero-carbon aluminium production. The Rackwitz expansion is one of numerous strategic investments in cutting-edge recycling technology to meet the increasing demand and regulatory requirements for low-carbon aluminium. The HyForge line can produce 25,000 tonnes of extrusion ingot per year in addition to the yearly output of 95,000 tonnes. The expansion has created 20 additional positions, increasing the plant's workforce to 90.
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