Energy-optimized route from aluminium scrap to extruded semi-finished products

Rising energy costs, European CO2 abatement targets and growing competition from Asia are forcing aluminium extruders to investigate energy saving potentials. 14 % energy savings could be realized if all thermoprocessing equipment employed met state-of-the-art technology standards. A model greenfield investment is examined by way of example, demonstrating the potential for a further 22 % gain in energy efficiency that can become achievable by appropriately interlinking processes in the typical melting-holding-homogenizing-preheating-artificial ageing route.