Wedoany.com Report on Feb 28th, Hydro has signed an agreement with Danieli to procure and install an advanced wire rod casting and rolling line as part of a NOK 15 billion expansion project at its Karmøy aluminium plant in Norway. This move aims to meet the growing market demand for aluminium wire rods.
Compared to copper conductors, aluminium conductors with equivalent electrical conductivity are approximately 50% lighter, giving them an advantage in energy transmission. Aluminium wire rods are therefore a crucial material for Europe's energy transition. By constructing a new wire rod casting shop, Hydro will enhance its aluminium wire production capacity to address market expansion.
Speaking at the project announcement in 2025, Eivind Kallevik, President and CEO of Hydro, stated: "The key to Europe's energy transition is increasing renewable energy production, and electricity needs to be transported over long distances. Aluminium plays a central role in power transmission. By boosting our capability to supply low-carbon aluminium from Norway to the EU, we support infrastructure development and help Europe achieve its security and climate goals." He added: "Hydro is committed to being a reliable supplier of aluminium solutions and playing a significant role in Europe's transformation."
The Karmøy aluminium plant is one of Europe's primary aluminium production facilities, with an annual output of approximately 270,000 tonnes of primary aluminium. The new wire rod casting shop is expected to provide an annual capacity of 110,000 tonnes of aluminium wire rods. The products will be delivered in compact coils, each weighing between 2 and 3.6 tonnes, with diameters of 9.5, 12, 19, and 25 millimetres.
The wire rod casting and rolling line supplied by Danieli will be integrated into Karmøy's existing facilities. It includes melting furnaces, a high-performance production line with a capacity of 15 tonnes per hour, automated handling and storage systems, and a fully automated packaging line. The specific configuration features a metal treatment system (degasser and filter), a casting wheel with ingot transport, 13 twin-roll mill stands, a water cooling line, and two coilers.
The plant design emphasizes safety and forward-thinking, employing a high degree of automation to ensure efficiency and reliability. Automation covers the entire process from material handling to production and quality control.
The new production line is scheduled to be operational in early 2028, further strengthening Hydro's aluminium wire rod supply capabilities.
