Aluminium recycler and roller Novelis has announced plans to expand its Warrington facility to become Europe’s largest closed-loop recycling operation for automotive aluminium rolled products.
An investment of approximately £6 million will see the plant’s capacity increase by one third and much of this will be directed to support the automotive industry’s increasing demand for automotive aluminium sheet. In particular, long-standing customer Jaguar Land Rover will take additional aluminium from the facility.
Novelis senior vice president and president Europe Erwin Mayr said: “With the commissioning in Latchford, we are expanding our recycling capabilities and developing efficient manufacturing systems along our automotive supply chain.
“Responding to the realities of our increasingly resource constrained world and demands for a more sustainable economy, Novelis is transforming its business model to be largely based on closed-loop recycling.”
The Novelis Latchford plant currently employs approximately 135 people and processes 160,000 tonnes of aluminium annually. With the expansion to 220,000 tonnes, Novelis expects the centre to create more than 30 additional full-time jobs.
As a result of the investment, new equipment for recycling automotive aluminium scrap will include a new dedicated furnace, upgraded casting system, magnetic separation and handling equipment, as well as world class environmental controls.
Novelis expects that nearly 530,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas savings over the total aluminium value chain compared to using primary aluminium.
