Crain’s Grand Rapids Business
Kayleigh Van Wyk
Dec. 6, 2023
A Norwegian aluminum and renewable energy company recently completed a $150 million processing plant in Southwest Michigan that brings the company’s unique recycling technology to the U.S.
Norsk Hydro ASA’s (Hydro) investment will create 70 new jobs in Cass County.
While Hydro operates various plants in the U.S. and one in Canada, the new plant will function as the company’s largest producer of Circal, the company’s own brand of recycled aluminum made with a minimum of 75% recycled, post-consumer aluminum scrap.
The plant, located at 1475 Follett Drive in Cassopolis, will recycle the post-consumer aluminum scrap into products for the automotive, transportation, building and construction, and consumer goods industries.
“One of the age-old goals of companies that design, engineer and manufacture vehicles is to make them as light and as safe as possible, and one of the downsides of electric vehicles at this present time is that the batteries are very heavy,” said Glenn Stevens Jr., Executive Director of MICHauto and Vice President of Automotive and Mobility Initiatives for the Detroit Regional Chamber. “Any opportunity that a company has as they design a vehicle — whether it’s the use of aluminum or lightweight composite materials — is really something that’s extremely important to them as they try to lightweight and make these vehicles efficient for the future.”
Stevens said companies like Hydro are important to have in Michigan to support the supply chain and boost the state’s EV capabilities.
“One of the interesting things about the electrification of transportation is that it really widens the supply chain, and the ability for Michigan to have a player like that here as part of our supply chain is really positive,” Stevens said.