Aluminum Melting Process Cost Reductions
D. Groteke Alcovery Technologies, USA North American foundry operations are facing a number of factors beyond their control that have had a major impact upon the profitability of their operations. These include rising energy, material and labor costs, as well as the threat of additional government regulations. This paper examines aluminum melt room cost centers, and suggests a number of specific methods for reducing expenses and improving profitability. Energy requirements to melt, associated melt losses and maintenance practices are addressed, as well as methods for processing dross and skimmings in-plant to recover their contained metallics. |