Dismantles 800 tonnes of aluminium for recycle

Herøya Industripark AS dismantles 800 tonnes of aluminium scrap from the old magnesium factory at Herøya. An important metal that will be recycled in Norway and reused.
two men wearing personel safety equipment in an old magnesium plant. Removing aluminium from the old magnesium factory at Herøya for recycling. From left Audun Elvik Thorsen, project leader, and Skjalg Aasland, head of Development and Projects at Herøya Industripark AS.

There is a great demand for aluminium in the market.

"Here in the old closed magnesium factory hall, there are large amounts of aluminium. Now we're dismantling the aluminium for recycling. This is a great circular economy project. We are "kicking off" a major preparation project at Herøya," says Skjalg Aasland, head of Development and Projects at Herøya Industripark AS.

Recycling aluminium

Audun Elvik Thorsen, Herøya Industripark AS, is leading the work of dismantling aluminium for further delivery to Metallco's recycling plant at Herøya.

"Recycling 1 tonne of aluminium saves 6 tonnes of bauxite and 9 tonnes of CO2 emissions"

Hydro

"It is mainly aluminium bars that run along a total of 48 smelters we are dismantling," explains project manager Audun Elvik Thorsen.

Read more about facts on aluminium recycling at Hydro.com here. 

man with beard wearing protective glasses and white helmet in a dark big hall
Project leader Audun Elvik Thorsen, Herøya Industripark AS.

Reuse as much as possible 

"In demolition and construction projects, we always dismantle and take out materials that can be reused," says Elvik Thorsen. "It is important to have as high a recycling rate as possible. Here in the magnesium factory, there is a lot of aluminium, and this is the largest project we are working on now."

The agreement is to deliver 800 tonnes of aluminium by the end of July this year.

"Is this a complicated job?"

"No, but no two projects are alike, so we have spent time figuring out how to do the work safely and efficiently.

Norsk Saneringsservice carries out the task of dismantling aluminium rails from the industrial halls. It's hard work, they primarily use chainsaws to cut the rails," he says.

old magnesium production hall
Dismantling aluminium from the old closed factory hall.
person in a lift basket bending over a chain saw
Getting the chain saw ready.
man standing in lift basket in a big old production hall
Norsk Saneringsservice cuts aluminium bars.
man holding a hand full of aluminium scrap
Aluminium scrap. "We deliver the aluminium scrap on to our neighbour Metallco. It is short-distance recycling, good for the environment. Everything goes according to plan and we're on schedule. We have promised Metallco 800 tonnes before the summer holidays, and they will get it by then," says Audun Elvik Thorsen.
new industrial building from outside
Metallco at Herøya receives the 800 tonnes of aluminium.
man standing among aluminium rails for recycle
Metallco at Herøya: "We cut the aluminium scrap to the right lengths and deliver directly to smelters in Norway," explains Jo Erland Kjær, manager of Metallco at Herøya. "This is the largest metal order we have received. Being located here in the industrial park, we contribute to short-distance environmentally friendly recycling," he says.

 

Text/photoes: Siri Krohn-Fagervoll  siri@krohnfagervoll.no

09. May 2022

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