How is aluminium made?

Production begins with the mining of bauxite, after which it undergoes a refining process. The refined bauxite is then transformed into a white powder called alumina. After being subjected to an electrochemical process, alumina is transformed into liquid primary aluminum.

Alumina has been known since the 19thcentury and was first produced in Brazil in the 1940s. It is obtained by dissolving bauxite in heated lye and lime. The element is then filtered and dried into a white powder similar to sugar, called ‘alumina’, that is one of the raw materials used at Albras to make primary aluminum.

In the operating units at Albras, the alumina is poured in furnaces and undergoes a process called electrolysis. ‘Electrolysis’ means an electric current is forcefully passed through the element to force the aluminum to break away and be released. The resulting liquid aluminum is then transformed via a process called smelting, after which it is placed in molds that shape it into ingots and alloys as ordered by Albras’ customers.

Our Portfolio

Aluminum’s life cycle is different from that of other metals. It is resistant to corrosion and can be recycled repeatedly requiring only a fraction of the energy used to produce the primary metal. This makes aluminum an excellent building material, as it can be reformulated and adapted to meet the needs and challenges of different times and products.

Our products

Primary aluminium

P1020 ingot

It is 99.84% pure and contains primary aluminum, iron and silicon. It is used in construction, electrical cables, the automotive industry and packaging.

P0610 ingot

It is 99.84% pure and contains primary aluminum, iron and silicon. It is used in construction, electrical cables, the automotive industry and packaging.

Liquid Metal

We supply liquid metal to an electrical cable manufacturing plant in the state of Pará, which offers us with another vertical in the aluminum industry. We then transport the metal for manufacturing in large containers called cadinhos (crucibles), closing the cycle of another vertical for our products.

PFA Alloy

The PFA (Primary Foundry Alloy) is an alloy based on aluminum, to which are then added elements such as silicon, magnesium, strontium and titanium. It is used chiefly in the automotive industry.

Casting alloys

Albras transforms the liquid primary aluminum into ingots containing a number of metals and alloys, including P1020, PFA and P0610, as well as busbars. The PFA (Primary Foundry Alloy) was developed especially for the automotive industry. from a high-purity form of aluminum serving as the primary metal.

Iron, silicon, magnesium, strontium and titanium were then added to the aluminum base to create PFA. P0610 and P1020 are higher-purity products, ideal for customers looking for innovative solutions. The ingots produced at Albras weigh 22.5 kg and measure 750 mm in length, 170 mm in width (including side anchors) and 110 mm in height.

Nationally and internationally certified operation

GHG: Environment

We have also been certified for the seventh consecutive year with the Gold Seal of the Brazilian GHG Protocol Program, the tool that is considered a benchmark for quantifying and managing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the country. The seal certifies that the company meets the requirements of international standards for the environmental management of its operations.

Albras has held the gold seal since 2017, and its inventory is audited annually in accordance with the standards required by Brazil’s Inmetro (National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology). The greenhouse gas inventory was qualified and validated in June 2022 through an audit for compliance with standard NBR ISO 14064. Areas assessed for qualification included emissions associated with the company’s production processes and electricity consumption.

ASI: Quality and sustainability

In 2021, we received international certification from thje ASI (Aluminium Stewardship Initiative) attesting that Albras’ aluminium complies with quality standards and is produced in a responsible and sustainable way. The company’scurrentannualproductioncapacityisof 460,000 tons.

The analysis for Albras’ certification in the Performance Standard assesses compliance with environmental, social and governance principles and criteria. Standards assessed include those related to transparency, the environment, social issues, health and safety and labor rights, among others. The Chain of Custody standard assesses the company’s ability to guarantee production of certified metal with 100% certified inputs. These are the general elements of the management systems that the company needs to effectively implement for the Chain of Custody and Contractor Management standard in order to qualify the origin of its inputst.It also assesses aspects related to accounting, documentation and claims.

ISO 9001 (Quality)

Certifies that Albras’ management systems perform with excellence and have the capacity to optimize resources, ensure agility in production and steer product development in ways that ensure customer satisfaction and achieve success.

ISO 14001 (Environment)

This certification attests that Albras’ environmental management systems are structured to protect the environment and are able to respond quickly to changing environmental conditions. The seal also demonstrates that the company is aligned with good sustainable practices guided by its clients, external organizations and regulatory bodies.

ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety)

The certification attests that the company’s management systems support the management of preventive actions, risks and opportunities regarding Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) issues. This international standard certifies that Albras is committed to providing its employees with a safe and healthy working environment.

Zero Waste To Landfill

Albras has also been granted an international certification attesting that its products are manufactured in a facility with zero waste sent to landfills. The certification, first granted by the Zero Waste to Landfill Program in March 2023 and renewed in 2024, makes the company a benchmark in solid waste management in the state of Pará and for other companies in the industry.