Infinite supply
Aluminum is made from bauxite, which occurs in large quantities in the Earth’s crust. The outer layer of the Earth’s crust is estimated to contain about eight percent aluminum by weight. So the supply is huge, creating room for increased aluminum production.
High recycling rate
Remelting aluminum requires only about five percent of the energy used in primary production, so there is every reason to recycle the material. In addition, because aluminum has a high material value, recycling systems work very well. Today, the average recycling rate is 73%. For transport vehicles it is 95%.
Infinitely recyclable
Aluminum is a durable, lightweight and malleable material that can be recycled almost infinitely without losing its properties.
Demand for recycled aluminum exceeds supply
Aluminum products have a long lifetime, which means that most of the material produced is used in products around us. The supply of recycled materials does not nearly match the demand. Therefore, we need to continue to replenish the cycle with more primary aluminum. Demanding recycled aluminum does not contribute to a more sustainable world until the cycle is replenished.
Circular services
ProfilGruppen helps customers develop circular business models. Among other things, we offer recycling of customers’ aluminum scrap. Together with our partners, we handle dismantling, sorting and remelting to make new products.
Good properties increase use
Aluminum profiles are used in many different industries. In construction, aluminum profiles are used in windows, doors, entrances and balconies, for example. The reasons include corrosion resistance and low weight. High strength and low weight contribute to the use of aluminum in load-bearing structures such as aircraft. Solar panels also take advantage of the material’s good thermal conductivity.
Aluminum extrusions are widely used in the automotive industry, not least because their low weight means fuel savings over the life of the vehicle. Lower weight of trucks, buses and trains can be used for increased load capacity. Light vehicles also reduce the risk of injury in accidents. The low weight and low maintenance requirements also contribute to an increasing number of ships being built in aluminum.
In the electronics and telecom industry, profiles are used in base stations, antenna mounts and front panels, among others. Low weight and good possibilities to build in many functions are natural explanations for the use of aluminum profiles in components for the telecom industry.
One kilogram of aluminum can transmit twice as much electricity as one kilogram of copper. This is why aluminum has largely replaced copper in high-voltage power lines, for example.
- 73% of all used aluminum is recycled.
- 75% of all alumihium produced is still in use.
- 95% energy saving in recycling (compared to primary production)
