Tag Archives: Norsk Hydro

Reuters: Norsk Hydro looks to master magnetism to keep carbon promise

Business News, Chemicals / Metals

KARMOEY, Norway/LONDON (Reuters) – In the cavernous chamber of Norsk Hydro’s aluminum smelter on the Norwegian island of Karmoey, the magnetic forces are so strong they make heavy iron wrenches float out of the hands of workers.

The company is piloting a technology that tames the effects of that powerful magnetic field, which is a consequence of the electrolysis process to make aluminum and leaches away energy.

Norsk Hydro told Reuters it was using mathematical models to mitigate the effect of the magnetism and other energy waste. The pilot project can cut the amount of energy used in production by 15% compared to the industry average, the company said, but declined to disclose further details, citing commercial sensitivity.   

The technique is one of the drives that Hydro is banking on to make good on its ambitious pledge to become carbon neutral from next year – meaning it can balance out its emissions with carbon savings elsewhere.

Read entire article HERE.

Bloomberg: NASA Says Metals Fraud Caused $700 Million Satellite Failure

Business News, Chemicals / Metals, ,

A metals manufacturer faked test results and provided faulty materials to NASA, causing more than $700 million in losses and two failed satellite launch missions, according to an investigation by the U.S. space agency.

The fraud involved an Oregon company called Sapa Profiles Inc., which falsified thousands of certifications for aluminum parts over 19 years for hundreds of customers, including NASA.

News of the satellite failures comes a week after Norsk Hydro ASA, the current parent company of Sapa, agreed to pay $46 million to NASA, the Department of Defense and others to resolve criminal charges and civil claims related to the fraud, which took place from 1996 to 2015.

A spokesman for Norsk Hydro said the case has been settled. Last week, it said it has invested “significant time and resources to completely overhaul our quality and compliance organizations.”

Read entire article HERE.