Leading aluminum manufacturer Capral has announced the introduction of its new LocAl aluminum, a low carbon primary aluminum option available on Capral’s locally manufactured extruded aluminum products.
The LocAl offering includes two low carbon aluminum options – LocAl Green with carbon emissions of eight kg CO2e/kg Al and LocAl Super Green at four kg CO2e/kg Al – among low carbon aluminums available worldwide.
In 2022, Capral committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, a significant step change, driving rapid innovation and cultural change across the business, especially in procurement and operations.
Supply & Industrial Solutions Managing Director Luke Hawkins said, “In 2022, 22% of the primary aluminum billets that Capral uses in its eight local extrusion presses have a carbon content of less than eight kilograms of CO2e per kilogram. of aluminium.
“About 300 tonnes have a certified carbon content of less than four kilograms of CO2e per kilogram of aluminium.
“This is a strategic shift for Capral, driven by our desire to make low carbon aluminum accessible to Australian manufacturers.”
Hawkins said the market was looking for this product and, as Australia’s largest aluminum extruder, the company was making it available.
Aluminum produced with renewable energy has the potential to be a “sustainable metal”.
However, there are significant variations in the carbon emissions generated by foundries – from the electrolysis process – during the production of primary aluminium.
The four aluminum smelters producing primary aluminum in Australia consume around 10% of the national energy grid.
Carbon emissions in primary aluminum production range from less than four kg CO2e/kg Al to over 20 kg CO2e/kg Al, largely depending on the energy sources used.
Capral’s Chief Marketing and Technology Officer, Michael O’Keefe, said: “With eight kilograms of carbon emissions per kilogram of aluminium, the LocAl Green offering has 50% lower carbon emissions. than the current world average for primary aluminium.
“At four kilograms, LocAl Super Green is 75% lower – that’s a significant reduction. This gives Australian manufacturers a significant opportunity to make more responsible sourcing decisions when sourcing aluminum extrusions.
In addition to reducing carbon emissions, the primary aluminum offered under the LocAl brand comes exclusively from Aluminum Stewardship Initiative (ASI) certified smelters.
LocAl aluminum is available in all of Capral’s locally manufactured extruded aluminum products, including custom designed aluminum sections, standard extrusions, geometry, transportation sections, solar rail and marine.
LocAl Green will be supplied as standard on all Capral proprietary window and door systems from November 2022.
Photo: Capral
