Capral Aluminium is a mature company with modern values.
Founded as British Aluminium Australia in 1936, the aluminium extrusion and distribution company has grown to become a pillar of the industry in its nearly 90-year history, offering a range of aluminium plates, coils and sheets, as well as various extrusion mouldings.
A plethora of rebrands, plant openings and corporate acquisitions – all of which have created Capral as it is today – have been fuelled and underpinned by the profound vision to be Australia’s first choice supplier of aluminium products and solutions.
Over the last few decades, that vision may have taken a lot of forms. But today, it means one thing – sustainability.
Capral has long understood the importance of reducing carbon footprints in aluminium production.
Following the introduction of the Capral LocAl lower carbon aluminium range in 2022, the company is now incorporating recycled aluminium into its supply chain to deliver further advancements for manufacturers like trailer builders in the heavy vehicle sector which are looking to source more sustainable material options for their builds.
Capral’s launch of the LocAl initiative was a significant step towards providing lower-carbon aluminium solutions, yet the company believes that introducing extruded aluminium with recycled content could be even more of a game-changer.
And, having actually completed successful trials of the material through its partnership with Middle Eastern aluminium smelter, Aluminium Bahrain BSC (Alba), Capral is now aiming to deliver high-quality, recycled-content aluminium extrusions that meet the performance expectations of local industries.
Earlier this year, Capral, agreed to conduct trials on two of Alba’s aluminium products, EternAl-30 and EternAl-15, both of which are made from 30 per cent and 15 per cent recycled content respectively.
Conducted at Capral’s Bremer Park extrusion press in Queensland in July, the trials were successful and set a ‘new standard’ for carbon reduction and recycled content in the Australian aluminium market, according to Capral Aluminium General Manager of Industrial Division and Supply Chain, Luke Hawkins.
“We have completed rigorous trials of both the Eternal-15 and Eternal-30 aluminium produced by Alba and have successfully produced extrusions that meet our expectations for tolerance, structural properties, extrudability and finish,” he says. “Australian manufacturers across various sectors are increasingly demanding locally sourced aluminium with recycled content. Our commitment to sustainability and quality means we are actively working with our supply partners to meet these demands.”
The trials marked a significant advancement for both companies, promising new opportunities for local trailer manufacturers interested in putting their best foot forward with more sustainable material for their builds.
According to Luke, utilising recycled materials not only conserves natural resources but also supports a circular economy – one where materials are kept in use indefinitely.
In addition, recycling aluminium reportedly consumes up to 95 per cent less energy than producing it from raw materials. As a result, greenhouse gas emissions are extremely reduced, waste in the production process is minimised and more natural resources are conserved.
In short, it’s very sustainable.
Capral Aluminium conducting trials on two of Aluminium Bahrain BSC’s recycled aluminium products. Image: Capral AluminiumFollowing the success of the trials, Capral will now look to integrate Alba’s EternAl products into its own product range. This will give it the ability to supply lower-carbon aluminium with recycled content to the transport sector as well as a diverse range of other Australian manufacturing industries and applications such as marine, defence, construction, signage and general fabrication.
“This is an exciting achievement for both businesses as it paves the way for Capral to add the Eternal-15 and Eternal-30 options to our product offer, allowing us to deliver extrusions produced using recycled content for the Australian market,” Luke says. “We are very grateful to our supply partner Alba for taking a leadership position in this space and producing a high-quality primary aluminium option.”
Capral’s fruitful partnership with Alba has been largely driven by the companies’ similar climate-conscious missions and approaches towards achieving their respective visions.
Alba, Luke explains, has been particularly proactive in responding to Capral’s needs and supporting its desire to investigate options around primary billet with recycled content. Thus, Capral’s optimism in adding the recycled aluminium range to its offering is based on a mutual respect between both companies and the extremely high quality of the product itself.
Though it also comes down to the fact that Alba, like Capral, is an ASI Chain of Custody certified organisation.
“This gives us great confidence that they are ensuring the material they supply to Capral has been produced responsibly at every stage in the aluminium value chain,” Luke says. “It gives us great confidence in taking this product to market knowing that it will deliver a best in-class sustainable solution for Australian manufacturers.”
Capral and Alba’s successful trials, while a major innovation in sustainability across many industries, is only the beginning. Following this exciting momentum, Capral will not only focus on integrating the Alba products into its existing offerings but will also look to set new benchmarks for sustainability in the aluminium industry.
As the demand for lower-carbon options continues to rise, Luke says Capral’s initiatives will enable Australian manufacturers to align their operations with sustainability goals, thereby contributing to a more eco-conscious economy.
“Sustainability is at the core of Capral’s operations,” he says. “Recognising the urgent need to address climate change, Capral will continue to explore innovative ways to reduce environmental impact and support customers in their sustainability journeys.”
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