In late August an aluminium ingot was dropped at the plant causing some damage. Work is thought to have stopped for several days although used cans were still brought in for reprocessing.
However, since then the production process has also been disrupted by a non-related equipment failure which has seen supplies of used aluminium cans to the plant halted. Repairs and maintenance work are now underway.
Suppliers into the plant said that the lack of demand from Novelis had seen a weakening of the used aluminium can price which was also being hit by the decline in the value of sterling. Exporters are said to find it easier to buy material from the UK because of the reduced sterling value.
Competition
Novelis continually faces competition from other buyers of used aluminium cans, largely for the export market. Last month it attended the RWM show in Birmingham where it emphasised its message to local authorities, waste management companies, business owners and community enterprises about how it can help them maximise the potential value of collected aluminium.
Highlighting the fact that the cans are processed within the UK, Andy Doran, senior manager, for sustainability & recycling development for Novelis Europe, said that there had been capital investment in the Warrington plant.
In terms of the current situation, Mr Doran explained that taking the equipment failure into account the company had brought forward a maintenance period. He said: “In response to recent events we have accelerated our scheduled maintenance programme and continue aluminium production in line with our forecasts to meet customer demand”.
The plant is expected to take cans in again soon.
Novelis’ UK plant at Latchford Locks on the outskirts of Warrington produces ingots for the beverage can manufacturing industry and has the capacity to recycle around 150,000 tonnes of used beverage cans (UBCs) per annum – more than every aluminium beverage can sold in the UK.
Design competition
- Novelis has announced that it is again supporting a schools-based Aluminium Design and Technology Challenge. This provides secondary school students aged between 11-14 years across the UK with a hands-on opportunity to explore the importance of sustainable design, similar to the real-life challenges faced by designers every day, and the role of aluminium as a sustainable material. Students participate by selecting and working to one of the three D&T design briefs: transport, construction and packaging. More information at: Design challenge
Subscribe for free