Photo courtesy of Norsk Hydro
Norway-based aluminum producer Norsk Hydro says in order to finalize the integration process of acquired firm Alumetal S.A., it is rebranding that recycled-content aluminum producer’s plants in Poland and Hungary with the Hydro name.
“By presenting one face to the market, Hydro aims to take a leading role in the European foundry alloy segment,” Hydro says.
The company purchased Alumetal earlier this decade in a process that ran from 2022 into 2023.
Now, Hydro says the full integration and rebranding of Alumetal is a strategic move that will enable it to capitalize on new commercial opportunities with a unified presence in the market.
“We are setting up a true one-stop-shop for recycled and low-carbon foundry alloys that includes the full strength of Hydro’s R&D capabilities and technical support teams,” says Hanne Simensen, executive vice president at Hydro.
“Our customers can continue to expect the same high-quality service and products they have come to associate with both Hydro and Alumetal, while we keep aluminum scrap in the loop to strengthen both circularity and resilience in the European aluminum value chain."
Alumetal had been operating as a standalone company under Hydro’s ownership but now will align with Hydro’s operating model in the final stage of the integration process, according to Hydro. The Alumetal operations in Poland and Hungary will be rebranded as Hydro Kęty, Hydro Gorzyce, Hydro Nowa Sól and Hydro Komárom early next year.
Alumetal’s four plants (three in Poland and one in Hungary) have a total annual capacity of 280,000 metric tons of recycled-content aluminum alloys capacity, with its products primarily serving the automotive sector.
Since the acquisition, Hydro has invested in modernization and expansion of the Kęty plant in Poland, including an upgraded casting line and a photovoltaic solar energy farm that became operational in June.
Alumetal achieved an environmental product declaration for its recycled foundry alloys last November. This September, Alumetal’s Nowa Sól plant in Poland was certified to produce Hydro Circal foundry alloys.
Alumetal has advanced sorting capabilities designed to enable the upcycling of more challenging types of postconsumer scrap, according to Hydro, and its HySort technology became operational at Nowa Sól earlier this year.