Carl Benz made his first car in 1886, the same year the industrial production of aluminium saw its birth. The process patented independently by Hall and Heroult is still the core of the present production process, but the technological developments have been tremendous.

Research and development efforts have been key input factors too achieve today's high technology production. SINTEF do contract research in most fields of primary aluminium production:

• anodes and cathodes
• refractory materials in cells and baking furnaces
• electrolyte properties and alumina dissolution
• modelling of cell design and performance
• environmental and cleaning technology
• standard test methods
• alternative and emerging processes

SINTEF, together with our University partner NTNU (The Norwegian University of Science and Technology) represents one of the world's largest independent research communities serving the aluminium industry.

Contact person: Haarberg, Torstein