Elkem
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| Elkem AS | |
 |
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| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1904 |
| Headquarters | Oslo, Norway |
| Key people | John G. Thuestad (CEO) |
| Industry | Metal |
| Products | Aluminum and Silicon |
| Revenue |  NOK 9,128 million (2005) |
| Operating income | NOK 1,154 million (2005) |
| Employees | 3,056 (2006) |
| Parent | Orkla |
| Website | http://www.elkem.com |
Elkem is one of Norway's largest industrial companies, and one of the world's leading suppliers of metals and materials. The companies main products are aluminium, energy and silicon as well as specialised products such as ferrosilicon to foundries, microsilica and carbon. Elkem is part of Orkla Group and has its headquarters in Oslo, Norway.
The company serves the construction, transport, engineering, packaging, aluminium, chemical and electronic industries. Elkem has 40 factories in Europe, North America, South America and Asia in addition to several hydroelectric power plants.
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[edit] History
Elkem was founded in 1904 by Sam Eyde with the intention of development of furnaces and prosesses for electro metals. In 1917 a ferroalloy plant was acquired and Elkem starts production of the Søderberg electrode.
Throughout the 1960s and beyond Elkem expanded, primarily in Norway within aluminium, mining and finished products. In 1972 the company merged with Christiania Spigerverk and continued with an international expansion within ferroalloys and steel. In 1981-84 Elkem acquired Union Carbides plants in Norway and North America and in 1986 it acquires the plants at Thamshavn and Bjørvefossen. In the 2000s Elkem had acquired Icelandic Alloy, Remi Claeys Aluminium and Sapa (company).
Between 2002 and 2005 there was an acquisition war between the US aluminium corporation Alcoa and Orkla. At the peak Alcoa owned 40% of Elkem, but Orkla succeeded at purchasing the majority of the shares and in 2005 Orkla acquired all the shares of Elkem and Elkem becomes part of Orkla Group.
[edit] Operations
[edit] Aluminium
Elkems production of aluminium is operated though the partnership Elkem Aluminium ANS with Alcoa with plants at Lista and Mosjøen, both in Norway. All production is sold directly to manufacturers in Europe. Elkem finished product interests are held through the Swedish sister company Sapa. Elkem produces 283,000 tonnes of aluminium per year.
[edit] Carbon
The 1919 invention of the Søderberg electrode was Elkems entry into the carbon industry. Today Elkem produces 310,000 tonnes of carbon with the ferroalloy industry as its customers. Elkem is the worlds largest producer of carbon electrode paste. There are production plants at Kristiansand (Norway), Shizuishan City (China), Keokuk (USA) and Vitória (Brazil).
[edit] Energy
Elkem owns a number of hydroelectric power plants in both Norway and North America. The company has a total consumption of 8 TWh per year in Norway and an annual production of 3 TWh. The group has hydroelectrics power plants in Bremanger (Norway), Sauda (Norway), Salten (Norway), Hawks Nest (USA), Glenn Ferris (USA) and Chicoutimi (Canada).
[edit] Foundry products
The foundry production is served at four plants, at Bjølvefossen (Norway), Bremanger (Norway), Chicoutimi (Quebec, Canada) and at Icelandic Alloys on Iceland.
[edit] Microsilica
Elkem is the worlds largest producer of microsilica, with an annual production of 130 000 tonnes.
[edit] Silicon
Elkem has silicon plants at Bremanger, Meråker, Salten and Thamshavn, all in Norway. 63% of the companies revenue is silicon-based and produces 207 000 tonnes per year.
