ALRO, one of the largest vertically integrated aluminium producers in Europe measured by production capacity, purchased an aluminium aging furnace with electric heating from SECO/WARWICK. The project objective is to increase the output of high and very high added products. This state-of-the-art electric furnace will replace three furnaces powered by natural gas with the aim of streamlining the heat treatment operations within the Alro Processed Aluminium Division and represents an important step towards achieving ALRO’s goal of becoming a greener producer. The total value of the investment, including equipment, installation works and commissioning, is of USD 2.75 million.
“While we are still making significant efforts to overcome the challenges of the international economic environment, we remain focused on our long-term goals and continue to invest in state-of-the-art technology”, said Gheorghe Dobra, ALRO CEO. “The new equipment, provided by SECO/WARWICK, will support our programme to maximise the value of the products we are manufacturing and will allow us to serve our customer requirements even better. At the same time, the new technology will support our commitment to reduce our environmental footprint”, added Gheorghe Dobra.
The installation of the aging furnace for the specific heat treatments of aluminium products, powered by electricity without CO2 emissions, and the decommissioning of three gas-fired furnaces is a significant step in increasing the energy efficiency of the technological processes and strengthening the Company’s efforts to produce low carbon aluminium, suitable for future market requirements.
At the same time, the implementation of the new investment will allow ALRO SA to optimize the process of heat treatment (artificial aging) which the aluminium products undergo, through increased efficiency and more precise control of temperature and other critical parameters, which will lead to a more efficient output of high added value aluminium of superior quality.
The solution has been designed for aging 2xxx, 6xxx and 7xxx series aluminium plates of up to 13,000 mm in length and up to 2,200 mm in width. The plates can be arranged in one or two rows, the load will be placed horizontally on loading trays, and this optimised loading arrangement will enable a maximum capacity of 60 tonnes net.
“The challenge of reducing emissions is becoming an increasingly important purchasing impulse for customers. This applies in particular to European producers, because in this region of the world environment protection regulations are currently the most restrictive. The aluminium aging furnace, powered by electric heaters, eliminates the emissions problem, hence the growing interest of aluminium producers in such solutions” – explains Piotr Skarbiński, Vice President, Aluminium Process and CAB Business Segment at SECO/WARWICK.
Aging furnaces are designed to operate in the working temperature range from 80ºC to 250ºC in accordance with the AMS 2750G standard. The temperature uniformity guaranteed throughout the entire load at the level of +/- 3C was achieved thanks to the use of optimal heat flow inside the furnace using high-performance atmosphere mixers and a system of guides directing the air stream.
“ALRO is an important partner for us, not only because of its huge production scale. We have already completed several orders for new equipment for this customer, including a gas aging furnace and ingots preheating furnace. We have also modernized furnaces for annealing aluminium sheet coils. However, it is gratifying that we signed the current contract after a ten-year gap, which shows that our solutions perform well in continuous, advanced production, and customers keep coming back even after many years. Good cooperation and partnership have always been a priority for us” added Tomasz Kaczmarczyk, Sales Manager, Aluminium Process and CAB Furnaces Team at SECO/WARWICK.
