Elkem Iceland turns 40
On Saturday, Elkem Iceland celebrated its 40th birthday. The facility, located 40 km outside Reykjavik in the town of Akranes is one of the world's largest ferrosilicon plants and is focused on the production of sustainable, high quality ferrosilicon (FeSi).
The first furnace at Elkem became operational in 1979. Over the years the goal has been to decrease production of standard FeSi and increase production of speciality FeSi, all in a sustainable manner.
Elkem Iceland was the first major industrial player on the island to pledge to the nation that it would become carbon neutral by 2040.
The company also took time to praise its employees and their dedication to Elkem. Two thirds of Elkem Iceland's employees have worked there for over ten year, and around 20% for more than twenty.
“We train our people in a way that they are sought after elsewhere and treat them in a way so that they don't wish to leave. Our people, their knowledge and our culture for continuous innovation and world class products is our most important competitive edge in the global competition we compete every day. Celebrating our 40-year anniversary is an acknowledgement of all of us working here today, and of the generations before us”, says Gestur Pétursson, Plant Manager of Elkem Iceland.
The goals of the Paris Agreement are the goals of Elkem Iceland and decreasing greenhouse gases is an important step for the company. This is especially true when noting that the demand for high quality ferrosilicon is rising from manufacturers of electric cars and wind energy generators, as well as for electric motors, which can be found in common appliances like tumble dryers, washing machines, fridges and vacuum cleaners with energy efficiency rating above A+.
Through provision of products which are the basis of the production of more environmentally friendly applications that demand less fossil fuels, and the constant focus on sustainable production within Elkem, Elkem Iceland contributes to less emission of Greenhouse Gas globally.
“Elkem is a leading supplier of ferrosilicon solutions, amongst others for electrical steel manufacturers. We are at the forefront of research and development for our industry, working towards sustainable production. We are proud of the achievements in Iceland so far and the ambitious goals for the future”, says Nick Magnussen, General Manager Ferrosilicon for Elkem.
The birthday celebrations involved guided bus tours, science-based entertainment for kids and adults, and local food with inspiration from all over the world. The celebration will also be joined by Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, Iceland's Minister of Industry.
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