Norsk Hydro invests in a new automotive press in Hungary

The leading Norwegian aluminium company committed highly to a sustainable future, Norsk Hydro, reported investment in a new automotive press in Hungary. Earlier in 2022, Hydro announced the investment in Denmark's automotive press network, including the new press.

Hydro Extrusions is a world-leading aluminium extrusion business, counting around 100 production sites in 40 countries and employing 21,000 people.

Bruno D'hondt, the Senior Vice President of Hydro's Extrusion Europe business unit, said, "This network of specialized plants offers a unique selling point towards car manufacturers with large volumes, allowing supply from several locations. Together, with the new press in Tønder, Denmark and our existing P5 press in Hungary, this new investment will give Hydro unmatched capabilities to supply the automotive market anywhere in Europe with the best available technology and a balanced footprint."

Electrification is driving the growth of the automotive market, increasing demand for extruded aluminium profiles for electrical vehicle applications, weight reduction, and crash properties. By 2029, electric vehicles are expected to account for roughly half of all new vehicles sold in Europe.

The new press will be installed in an existing building and primarily use billets from the newly constructed recycling plant. However, the first extrusion will commence in 2025.

The largest extrusion mill of its sort in Europe, the Szekesfehervar plant employs about 1,600 people. The facility is organized to meet the high standards of the automobile industry and has a robust automotive culture.  The plant is leading Hydro Extrusions' automotive strategy with six aluminium extrusion presses, many surface treatment technologies, more than 300 fabrication machines, and a recycling facility under construction.

The Hydro Szekesfehervar plant in Hungary is Europe's largest extrusion plant of its kind. Crash management systems, such as bumper beams and crash boxes, as well as structural parts of the car body and battery housings, are among the automotive components manufactured by Hydro in Szekesfehervar.

A chosen original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partner, the Hungarian company, creates cutting-edge aluminium products for the rapidly expanding electric car sector. The additional investment will significantly boost its ability to offer projects for e-mobility and new-generation battery housings.

The new press will be a replica of Hungary's successful P60/12-inch press line, upgraded to the most advanced and efficient technologies on the market to reduce the process's carbon footprint.