When the rolling mill in Holmestrand introduced the recycling concept in 1992, it was to reduce costs. It has however, proven to be a competitive advantage, as the company has built expertise along a large part of the value chain. This has enabled the Holmestrand plant to use different types of scrap. Some alloys still require primary metal, and how much scrap is purchased depends on prices and which alloys the market demands.
There are many ways to modify the properties of aluminum. Elements such as silicon, magnesium, manganese, iron, copper and zinc are added to create alloys with different properties. In addition, the metal's microstructure can be changed through rolling, stretching, heating and cooling. Finally, the materials are surface treated, so that they have the colour, structure and protection the customers desire.