Anglo-Australian metals titan Rio Tinto Group announced a plan to increase the capacity of the recycling operations at Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, in order to offer more low-carbon and recycled aluminium to rolled aluminium buyers in North America.
The US$8.4 million project will consist largely of the installation of a new remelt furnace in the Laterrière Plant’s casting center. The furnace will be used to melt down aluminium cuttings from customers and use it to produce rolling ingots for packaging and automotive clientèle.
Rio Tinto vice president of sales and marketing Tolga Egrilmezer explained the decision to add capacity in a related press release.
“The investment continues Rio Tinto’s focus on enhancing the recycling solutions it offers to customers, supporting the transition to a circular economy. This new furnace will allow us to provide a recycling service to our customers for scrap from their manufacturing processes, helping them meet the growing consumer demand for sustainable products. This innovative step will add to our responsible production in Quebec, where we produce aluminium with one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world using hydropower.”
The project will yield an annual capacity of 22 thousand metric tons per year upon completion and commissioning next year. Rio Tinto says it is prepared to aid customers in choosing the appropriate alloy for their needs.