Elkem

Elkem ASA
Allmennaksjeselskap
Traded as OSE: ELK
Industry Chemical, Metal
Founded 1904
Headquarters Oslo, Norway
Key people
 Helge Aasen (CEO)
Products Silicones, Silicon, Microsilica, Carbon and special alloys for the foundry industry
Revenue NOK 16.4 billion (2017)
NOK 21.4 billion (2017)
Number of employees
 ca. 6,100 (2017)
Website http://www.elkem.com

Elkem is a company that produces silicones, silicon, alloys for the foundry industry, carbon and microsilica.

The company serves the construction, transport, engineering, packaging, aluminium, chemical and electronic industries. Elkem has 27 factories in Europe, North America, South America, Africa and Asia.

History

Elkem was founded in 1904 by the industrial entrepreneur Sam Eyde (1866 – 1940). He named the company Det Norske Aktieselskap for Elektrokemisk Industri (Elektrokemisk), and the goal was to create an international industry company based on Nowegian natural resources. In 1917 a ferroalloy plant was acquired and Elkem started production of the Söderberg electrode.[1]

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 the plants at Thamshavn and Bjølvefossen. In the 2000s Elkem had acquired Icelandic Alloy, Remi Claeys Aluminium and Sapa.[2]

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 became part of Orkla Group.

In January 2011 Orkla ASA signed a binding agreement with China National Bluestar Group to sell Elkem, including Elkem Silicon Materials, Elkem Foundry Products, Elkem Carbon and Elkem Solar for a sales price of $2 billion.[3] The deal excluded 85 percent of the hydroelectric power company Elkem Energi AS, which remained with Orkla.[3]

Elkem became publicly listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange in March 2018.[4]

In June 2017 Elkem assumed management responsibility of Xinghou Silicones, a silicones producer, and Yongdeng Silicon Materials, a silicon producer.[5]

Elkem has been ranked as among the 13th best of 92 oil, gas, and mining companies on indigenous rights and resource extraction in the Arctic.[6]

Operations

Silicones

Elkem Silicones is one of the foremost fully integrated silicone manufacturers in the world.The Elkem Silicones division have nine plants: Xinghou Silicones (China), Roussillon (France), Saint-Fons (France), Caronno (Italy), Lubeck (Germany), Santa Perpetua (Spain), Joinville (Brazil), Shanghai (China) and York (USA).

Silicon materials

Elkem Silicon Materials is one of the world’s leading suppliers of silicon and microsilica. Elkem has silicon plants at Bremanger, Salten and Thamshavn in Norway,[7] and one in China, Yongdeng. The division also has a special focus on raw materials sourcing and are operating two quartz mines in Norway, Tana and Mårnes, and four quartz mines in Spain, Explotacion de Rocas Industriales y Minerals SA (Erimsa).

Foundry products

The foundry production is served at seven plants, at Bjølvefossen (Norway), Bremanger (Norway), Chicoutimi (Quebec, Canada), Grundartangi (Iceland), Limpio (Paraguay), Nagpur (India) and at Elkem Foundry China (EFC).

Ferrosilicon improves the characteristics of steel and is incorporated into windmills, trains, cars and most other mechanical devices. Elkem’s special alloys are added to foundry products and contribute to the customer’s increased productivity and reduced energy use.

Carbon

Elkem Carbon is the world’s largest producer of electrically calcined anthracite and electrode paste, which are necessary in the manufacturing process for steel, aluminium, silicon, ferrosilicon[8] and other metals. There are production plants at Kristiansand (Norway), Shizuishan City (China), Ferroveld (South Africa), Sarawak (Malaysia) and Vitória (Brazil).

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sogner, Knut (2014). Creative Power. Oslo: Messel Forlag AS. p. 11-13. ISBN 9788276311242.
  2. ↑ Gram, Trond. "Elkem ASA". Store Norske Leksikon. Stpre Norske Leksikon. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Orkla sells Elkem to China National Bluestar". Wallstreet Online. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  4. ↑ "105 år etter første børsnotering: Nå er Elkem på børs igjen". E24. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  5. ↑ Elkem (2018). "Our History". Elkem. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  6. ↑ Overland, Indra (2016). "Ranking Oil, Gas and Mining Companies on Indigenous Rights in the Arctic". ResearchGate. Arran. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  7. ↑ "Healthier indoor climate for heavy industry". sciencenordic.com. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
  8. ↑ Bulletin, Metal. "GLOBAL FERRO-SILICON WRAP: European prices hit six-year peak on tight supply | Metal Bulletin.com". www.metalbulletin.com. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
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