Wise Metals cuts ribbon on Element 13

United States – Major American aluminium manufacturer Wise Metals Group has added a Euro 19 million facility to its Alabama operations, known as Element 13.

Equipped with a furnace that can process 250 000 pounds of aluminium per hour, as well as a delaquering kiln and shredding system that can handle 80 000 pounds per hour, the 74-acre recycling complex is hailed as the largest single used beverage can (UBC) melting plant in the world.

According to David D’Addario, Wise Metals’ Chairman, the new location will increase the company’s overall melting capacity by roughly 27% and its UBC melting capacity by around 55%.

The Chairman adds that Element 13 is already running smoothly, being completed four months ahead of schedule and brought in well within budget. ‘Our ability to process 14.6 billion aluminum cans every year will help this project pay for itself quickly,’ Mr D’Addario explains.