Exlabesa, a provider of customized industrial components made of aluminum, is expanding its recycling capacities in the Spanish province of A Coruña. The company is once again relying on technology from Hertwich Engineering, a company of the SMS group. As part of the expansion, a new continuous homogenization plant has been installed, which includes an air cooling station, a long-billet stacker, and a semi-automatic PET strapping system. This facility complements the existing melting furnace and is specifically designed for processing recycled aluminum from post-consumer scrap.
With the expansion of the foundry through the new continuous homogenization plant, Exlabesa aims to meet the increasing demand for recycled aluminum. Additionally, the company expects this to improve its sustainability by adhering to the principles of the circular economy.
Increase in Production Capacity by 30,000 Tons per Year
In 2018, Exlabesa had already commissioned a second continuous homogenization plant and a multi-chamber melting furnace from Hertwich at this location. With the new expansion, the capacity for continuous homogenization of aluminum billets at the facility in northwestern Spain increases by 30,000 to a total of 80,000 tons per year. This capacity expansion enables Exlabesa to increase the processing of new scrap while simultaneously reducing dependence on primary aluminum.
The new plant is designed for aluminum billets with diameters ranging from 178 to 406 millimeters and a length of 7.0 meters, and it can process all alloys from Exlabesa's portfolio. One advantage of Hertwich's continuous homogenization plant over batch homogenization processes is the uniform heat treatment of the billets at temperatures of up to 590 degrees Celsius. This precise temperature control ensures high billet quality while simultaneously reducing energy consumption.
According to Gerold Keune, CEO of Hertwich Engineering, the expansion of the continuous homogenization plant integrates seamlessly into the existing production infrastructure: "This project is not only an investment in the sustainability of aluminum production but also underscores our commitment to long-term collaboration and partnership. We believe in strong alliances with our customers, based on trust and shared goals."
