History

Elkem Iceland (former Icelandic Alloys Ltd.) was established April 28, 1975 by the Icelandic government in cooperation with the American company Union Carbide. In 1976 Union Carbide withdrew from the Company and Elkem took their place. The Japanese company, Sumitomo Corporation, became a stockholder in 1984. In 2003, Elkem AS became the only shareholder.

The original plan was to build 4 furnaces at Icelandic Alloys, but during the construction it was decided to build only 2 furnaces in the first phase. The construction started in 1977. The first furnace came on stream in 1979 and the second furnace in 1980. A third furnace was put into operation during the autumn of 1999. 

In 2006 the decision was made to start production of MgFeSi (nodularisers for the iron foundry industry) at Elkem (then Icelandic Alloys). The new MgFeSi plant (270 MNOK investment) started production in the spring of 2008.

Products

The core product at Elkem Iceland is FeSi 75% of different grades. FeSi is one of the raw materials for the steel industry, either used in the refining of steel or as an alloying element. In addition to this it is used to a minor extent in the chemical industry.

Elkem Iceland has always produced standard FeSi. During recent years the plant has also produced refined metal with reduced content of aluminium, carbon and titanium. These products are more valuable than standard FeSi. The company now intends to increase the share of refined metal.
Icelandic Alloys will use approx. 1/3 of the FeSi output to produce MgFeSi products. The MgFeSi is used by the iron foundry industry to produce ductile iron. Elkem Iceland are working towards certification according to the ISO TS-16949:2002 automotive quality standard for the MgFeSi products.

The by-product, Microsilica®, SiO2 dust, is packed in big bags and sold abroad and in Iceland. Some of the SiO2 is also transported in tankers to the cement plant at Akranes. All the cement that is produced at the cement plant contains 5 – 7% SiO2.

Elkem Iceland is ISO 9001 certified

• [Editor:Phillip.Feng]