ACTION TEAM SESSION
Session 1 – Aluminum
Recycling is the key: (common issue for all companies)
John Schleicher from York Wire: Need an industry group with an “applications stand-point”. Recalled a
company brought up last meeting which departed from aluminum products due to a lack of knowledge
about welding Al.
Wojciech Misiolek mentions education, design projects.
Evidence of the lack of knowledge about aluminum: Australia and Sydney Olympics: aluminum was called
a “dirty metal”, and they were planning on banning it. This is proof that you need education. (Even in a
place like Australia, with such a heavy bauxite mining industry!).
William asks: How do you create a Liaison Center? The legal point of view determines how it would
operate.
Recycling came up because it is “across the board”.
Post-Consumer Recycling Recycling Company Representative: Legislation is necessary: Act 101 - recycling Al cans – market is
created by legislation. AS OPPOSED TO – industry-to-industry:
- there’s a disconnect between what happens and what should happen :
- what happens : People collect scrap, go to a processor, and ask if they will accept it
- what should happen : People go to processor, ask what they want, and then go get it
Same technical issues exist: controlling chemistry. How to limit and control Fe? This will make the
recycled alloys more friendly.
In a “market center” there is lots of room. Penn Dot and Drexel - project to determine the marketability
and recyclability of glass.
These agencies gather and distribute info:
-MANNTECH
-PENNTAP
There is a need for post-consumer recycling technical knowledge: there is also a shortfall in discussion with
industry.
Overseas labor is cheaper: ALSO scrap is going overseas. (Goods are imported from abroad – those
transport ships are filled with scrap, in order to make up some of the return cost).
535.2 Al-Mg (?) – Alcoa doesn’t make anymore because of Be. Can’t make it from scrap anymore.
Lose scrap due to dross burn-off.
TAA or AEC as subset of PA companies? Instead of going nationally. AEC: too specific. TAA –
primarily big companies, lobbying.
Do we need out of these umbrella organizations?
Process technology: yield of recycling. If an outstanding process technology produces a greater yield, this
is critical.
Suggestion: get PFA, AEC, TAA, ISRI (Institute for Scrap Recycling Industries) together for a day to
brainstorm.
There was a push to move the federal $ down to the state level. “Who knows if this is happening….”
Ben Franklin does this well: 2100 % return on investment: but, it’s mostly start-up companies.
“What are the sexiest attributes of aluminum?” This was a question posed by Jesse …. (from Iacocca
Institute). The Audi A8 is toted as the most Al-built-in vehicle on the market. Do corporations advertise
this? (Aluminum Jaguar is unpainted).
Aluminum Can recycling: With deposits, the recyclables delivered are cleaner, but you do not get more
recyclables delivered.
American Plastics Council: does a good job of promoting plastics. Is there a slogan for aluminum? TAA:
The Answer is Aluminum (motto). Outreach is more to industry than to consumers. Things that have been
toted before as “sexy”: Al engine block; Al design (extrusions).
Where do we go from here?
Talk to State and Federal Agencies:
-Kentucky: a few Al processing companies and the University Of Kentucky. South East Center
for Al Technology (SECAT). Everyone benefits: got great collaboration between SECAT and
DOE. $12-15 million.
-Their method is “brick and mortar”.
-Maybe we don’t need to do this: the infrastructure is already there – we just need to unit it!
We need more than just a “report”. At least a proposal on the state level to go with very minimal support,
to keep us connected to industry. This is almost a “virtual” association, which when we get projects, you
pay for research. (ACCT #’s).
After this meeting, we must put together a summary, and circulate it amongst everyone. BE
AGGRESSIVE! Can’t wait for better times, must create better times.
There is still a lot of room for new projects funded by state and government – must go for it. But: can’t be
just one company and one university partnered together: need to go as a big group.
If we are using recycling as the key issue: must show that everyone has a “finger in the pot” – point out to
everyone that they can benefit also from process and policy improvements.
-Energy
-Recycling
-Yield
-Process/practice improvement (such as casting)
Must be prepared for 1, 2, 3 scenarios. Who drives it? Universities? Companies? We need a “dusted
white paper”.
National Science Foundation: has a strong nanotechnology push. We need not be so “buzz-wordy”. We
are not “nano”, but we are “micro”.
Concerning involvement of other companies in the design of the “dusted white paper” – it’s much easier to
“hop on board” rather than to create new ideas. Companies are very busy with their own work. Hence,
present them with a plan and invite them on, rather than ask them to compose it with you.