EGA Spectro Alloys opens metallurgical testing laboratory

EGA Spectro Alloys, an aluminum recycling facility based in Rosemount, Minnesota, has opened a metallurgical testing laboratory as part of its recent expansion. The new laboratory helps ensure customers receive the highest quality recycled aluminum at their precise specifications, according to the company, and also represents Dubai-based Emirates Global Aluminium’s (EGA’s) first metallurgical lab in North America.

Photo courtesy of EGA Spectro Alloys

EGA holds an 80 percent stake in EGA Spectro Alloys and is recognized for its commitment to producing premium-quality aluminum, having introduced advancements in quality control and traceability, including digital tracking systems. Under EGA’s leadership, investment in Spectro’s quality laboratory has tripled, transforming it into one of the most advanced labs in the aluminum recycling industry, according to the company.

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“EGA is recognized as the premier, top-quality aluminum producer,” EGA Spectro Alloys President Luke Palen told Recycling Today earlier this year. “And the whole aim here is to have the same quality expectation and reputation on the recycled side. That is something that EGA always has had pride in, and it’s going to extend to everything that we’re doing at Spectro.”

The added investment in its lab capabilities translates to more and better equipment, as well as a larger team, Palen said.

“Then we’ll have the ability to handle customer support across EGA’s entire North American business, not only on recycled products but everything,” he added. “It will be really a fantastic asset for all EGA customers in North America.”

The lab is part of EGA Spectro Alloys’ $71 million expansion project that allows the company to produce recycled billet from regionally sourced aluminum scrap. The lab conducts metallographic analyses and mechanical testing of the company’s finished products and offers samples testing from customer castings or extrusions to help troubleshoot and optimize downstream quality. The lab will result in improved and faster sample analysis services for customers, according to the company.

“It is important that we provide the highest quality of recycled aluminum to our customers around the U.S. and demonstrate that recycled aluminum is just as valuable and reliable as new metals,” Palen says in the news release announcing the opening of the lab. “Customers don’t sacrifice quality when selecting recycled aluminum, which is a win for our environment.”