The climate challenge is more and more affecting the automotive industry. It is no longer enough only to focus on emissions in the user-phase, the carbon footprint from the production of the car itself is increasingly important.

Auto manufacturers are employing aluminum extrusions and body parts in the service of lighter, safer vehicles. This trend will only continue to grow, driven by climate concerns and economies of scale as more carmakers take advantage of these qualities. To this end, Norsk Hydro designs and manufactures a host of aluminum components and produce semis for passenger cars and commercial vehicles.

Components and systems include body applications, roof rails, seat tracks and seating components, finished trim, structural parts, fuel systems and engine products, safety parts, radiators, structural components, brake lines, air coolers, battery boxes, tubing for heat exchangers, foundry alloys, sheet and extrusions for further processing and more.

We work closely with OEMs and top-tier suppliers in North America, Europe, and Asia, serving as consulting engineers and manufacturing partner, utilizing aluminum extrusion and rolling technologies in structural and heat transfer applications

These applications are backed by deep metallurgical knowledge and R&D, including high-strength alloy development, with applied manufacturing skills in bending, machining, joining, surface treatment and assembly.

“We work closely with OEMs and top-tier suppliers in North America, Europe, and Asia, serving as consulting engineers and manufacturing partner, utilizing aluminum extrusion and rolling technologies in structural and heat transfer applications,” mentions Egil Hogna, the Executive Vice President, Extruded Solutions, Hydro

Norsk Hydro’s new range of low-carbon products – CIRCAL and REDUXA– take things a step further, contributing to reducing global emissions and creating products for a more circular economy.

CIRCAL extrusion ingot contains a minimum of 75 percent post-consumer scrap. The higher the recycled content, the lower the carbon footprint. Through the use of renewable energy sources like hydro power, Norsk Hydro reduces the carbon footprint per kg aluminum to less than a fourth of the global average with its REDUXA extrusion ingot. In fact, about 70 percent of the company’s primary aluminum production is based on renewable energy and we are deeply involved in recycling production scrap and post-consumer aluminum.

Taken together, Norsk Hydro is ideally placed to deliver solutions to its customers in the automotive sector and a host of other industries. “At the end of the day, lower carbon emissions and recyclability equal climate-ready aluminum solutions for our customers – and society,” concludes Hogna.