Riedhammer, a German company (of which 90% is held by Sacmi) specialised in closed-type anode and cathode baking furnaces, has obtained approval from the European Community for the acquisition of open-type technology from Alcan Alesa Engineering Ltd (which has installed dozens of furnaces all over then world), a division of the Alcan multinational, the world’s second largest producer of primary aluminium. Acquisition of this technology makes Riedhammer the only producer in the world capable of meeting the full needs of those operating in the primary aluminium industry and offering both open and closed-type furnaces for the baking of first class anodes. Worldwide, about 30% of furnaces already feature Alesa or Riedhammer technology. Today Riedhammer, a subsidiary of the Sacmi group (total sales € 862 million and 3,180 employees on 31-12-2003), is steadily upgrading its flexibility and competitiveness in the execution of anode and cathode “turnkey” firing systems.
Recent fluctuations in the demand for aluminium meant that the market was in need of an independent supplier also as regards open-type technology. Riedhammer, thanks to strategic and financial support from the Sacmi Group, has decided to take up this challenge. It aims to dialogue with all market players so they can make full use of Riedhammer’s 50 years’ of experience, its top-class, specialised industrial organisation and its direct presence in over 35 countries.
According to estimates from forecasting institutes international demand for aluminium is set to grow by 4% in 2005. On the supply side, the increase is expected to be around 5.7%, yet will still fail to bridge the world aluminium output shortfall, which, in 2005, should be around 200 thousand tons. Riedhammer, with over 6,000 kilns installed in different industries all over the world, has been producing ceramic firing systems since 1924. This historical German brand, in addition to being specialised in the baking of anodes, cathodes and carbon electrodes, is the market leader in industrial firing processes that range from ceramic (sanitaryware and tableware) to technical ceramic (refractories, insulators, electronic components) and recycling (batteries, non-ferrous metals).