How is aluminium made?

How is aluminium made?

Get the highlights on aluminium's journey from bauxite, through production, use and recycling.

Raw material


Bauxite grinder



Alumina, or aluminium oxide, is extracted from the bauxite through refining.


Refining process



Pure alumina




Refinement process

Next stop is the metal plant. Here, the refined alumina is transformed into aluminium.

Three different raw materials are needed to make aluminium, aluminium oxide, electricity and carbon.


Electricity is run between a negative cathode and a positive anode, both made of carbon. The anode reacts with the oxygen in the alumina and forms CO2.


The result is liquid aluminium, which can now be tapped from the cells.



The liquid aluminium is cast into extrusion ingots, sheet ingots or foundry alloys, all depending on what it will be used for.

The aluminium is transformed into different products.



In the extrusion process, the aluminium ingot is heated and pressed through a shaped tool called a die.


The process

The extrusion technique has almost unlimited possibilities for design and offers countless application opportunities.


Sheet ingots are used to make rolled products, such as plates, strip and foil.


The process

Aluminium is very ductile. Foil can be rolled from 60 cm to 2-6 mm, and final foil product can be as thin as 0.006 mm. It still will not let light, aroma or taste in or out.


Primary foundry alloys

Aluminium foundry alloys are cast in different shapes. The metal will be remelted again and made into, for example, wheel rims or other car parts.



Recycling scrap aluminium requires only 5 percent of the energy used to make new aluminium.


Aluminium can be recycled over and over again with 100 percent efficiency. In other words, none of aluminiums natural qualities are lost in the recycling process.

The recycled product may be the same as the original product, or it can become something completely different. Aircraft, automobiles, bicycles, boats, computers, household appliances, wire and cans are all sources for recycling.

What can aluminium do for you?

We offer a wide range of aluminium products and solutions. Find your product or contact us to discuss your aluminium project with our experts.

Post time: Apr-11-2022

Please feel free to contact us