EDITOR ’ S CHOICE
FROM ALUMINIUM TO APIARIES
BY WOJCIECH BROŻYNA - MD OF ALUPROF UK
Aluminium , since its commercial debut in the 1880s , has shaped our world in so many ways , in fact , if the metal did not exist , much of what we take for granted today , would never have been possible . Aluminium is the third most abundant element in the Earth ’ s crust , and makes up 8 % of it by parts per million . Once dubbed ‘ the wonder metal ’ for its light weight and high strength , its discovery continues to elevate human progress today .
Aluminium is infinitely recyclable with no loss of characteristics , using just 5 % of the original energy to produce aluminium , recycling is well established . With ‘ clean ’ scrap value almost that of new prime aluminium , it is fair to say that we cannot get hold of enough scrap aluminium to meet the current recycling demand . With an estimated total discovered and undiscovered bauxite resources across the globe to be in the region of 55 billion to 75 billion tons we will not run out of new , prime aluminium anytime soon .
So where is the downside ? Like all metals , aluminium carries high embodied energy , described today as embodied carbon . This has been historically quoted as high as 20 tonnes of carbon for every tonne of aluminium produced when energy from fossil fuels is used to produce new prime aluminium from bauxite . So aluminium smelters have traditionally been located next to renewable energy resources , such as hydro power for decades in order to use cheap renewable energy sources . Now the industry is looking at hydrogen power to further reduce embodied carbon .
Aluprof are proud to be leading this low-carbon revolution , using a greater recycled content to prime in aluminium can reduce embodied carbon to a very low parameter of 2.79 tCO2e ( Tonnes of CO2 equivalent ) for low-carbon billets manufactured at the group ’ s low-carbon Kęty line at the factory in the southern Polish town of Kęty . These low levels of emissions
have been achieved thanks to the use of the company ’ s cutting-edge plant for the manufacturing process and the high content of secondary raw materials in the form of recycled aluminium scrap at an average level of 65 %. Whilst to some this may seem to still be a high carbon price to pay , consider the carbon savings using a product containing aluminium during its long life span , compared to alternative materials which can create more carbon in their lifetime .
Architects are understandably wanting to specify low-carbon aluminium for future projects but with global aluminium recycling running at about 33 % of all aluminium output , to source 65 % scrap for specific projects will often mean extended lead times should be catered for . The Aluprof UK field team are always on hand to advise specifiers on what can be achieved for any given project and how further carbon savings can be achieved through the supply chain .
OK , so where do Bees enter the cycle of aluminium production ? Many companies in the aluminium supply chain strive to save energy and at the same time protect our fragile environment from climate change . Aluprof , together with their parent company Grupa Kęty , are probably the most forward thinking aluminium company operating out of Poland today . The company has acquired and run their own apiaries and produce honey that goes to the charges of the
Grupa Kęty Foundation for the Children of the Podbeskidzie Region . Honey is also handed to employees for dining rooms and used in kitchens of various group companies . Some of the smallest jars are used as corporate gifts for customers . The delicate balance of bees and their environment , reminds our employees of the fragile environment we live in today and ensures that employees continue to strive to improve manufacturing efficiency whilst protecting our own ecosystem .
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