Aluar
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aluminium smelting and manufacturing |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Founder | José Ber Gelbard, FATE, private investors |
| Headquarters | Puerto Madryn , Argentina |
Key people | Dolores Quintanilla de Madanes (control after 1988) |
| Products | Aluminium and aluminium products |
Aluar stands as Argentina's only aluminium smelting facility and ranks among the largest in South America.
History
Established in 1970 through a collaboration involving synthetic rubber manufacturer FATE, entrepreneur José Ber Gelbard, and private investors, Aluar obtained an exclusive licence from General Alejandro Lanusse's military government to produce aluminium. This initiative was part of a national strategy to achieve self-reliance in this vital industrial resource. Following the completion of state-supported hydroelectric projects in Trevelin, located in Chubut Province, Aluar inaugurated its initial smelting plant in Puerto Madryn in 1974.
By 1979, Aluar/FATE had become Argentina's 47th largest enterprise, producing 140,000 metric tons of aluminium and securing a listing on the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange. The company diversified into aluminium product manufacturing by acquiring Kicsa (previously affiliated with Kaiser Motors) in 1983. After the passing of founder Manuel Madanes in 1988 and subsequent family disagreements, control shifted to Dolores Quintanilla de Madanes.
The company's expansion continued through acquisitions such as Camea from Canadian corporation Alcan in 1993 and C&K Aluminio in 1996. Under President Carlos Menem’s privatization agenda, Aluar purchased the Futaleufú Dam in 1995, which doubled its hydroelectric generation capacity to 472 MW. In 1998, it ventured into intermediate aluminium products by acquiring Uboldi & Compañía.
During the economic turmoil between 1998 and 2002, Aluar capitalized on the depreciation of the Argentine peso, which enhanced its export competitiveness. Production increased from 275,000 tonnes in 2006 to 410,000 tonnes by 2008 following capacity expansions at the Puerto Madryn facility.
Technology
The Puerto Madryn plant operates with four reduction lines:
- Lines 1 and 2 are each equipped with 200 Montecatini P-155 reduction cells.
- Line 3 utilizes 144 Pechiney AP18 reduction cells.
Stage one of Line 4, brought online in 2007, comprises 168 Pechiney AP18 cells running at a current of 220 kA, boosting production capacity by 105,000 tonnes. Plans are underway to extend Line 4 to a total of 336 cells.