Our history

Find out about our history going back to the beginning of the 20th century when the pioneer Gotthard Nilsson started recycling used materials. 40 years later, the operation was expanded with the production of aluminium.

Since 1949, we have driven forward the development of aluminium alloys. Over the years we have invested successively in technology, which has made our production more efficient - at the same time as using waste from production and reducing our impact on the environment.

IMPORTANT EVENTS IN OUR HISTORY

• 1906: Gotthard Nilsson starts recycling used materials in Älmhult. The recycled material included everything from scrap iron to rags.
• 1939: The trading company Sten A Olsson Metallprodukter was established.
• 1949: Production of aluminium alloys starts.
• 1976: The family-owned company is sold to three external owners. Ratos, Gränges and Holmen each purchase 30 percent while the Nilsson family retains 10 percent of the company.
• 1986: Gränges takes over Gotthard Nilsson completely.
• 1990: Gotthard Aluminium buys the foundry in Kolding from Boliden Bergsö.
• 1998: Stena Metall purchases the entire Gotthard group.
• 2001–2004: New melting technology is installed.
• 2005: Acquisition of Boxholm’s Aluminium Recycling.
• 2007: Production of liquid aluminium starts in Älmhult.
• 2008: Liquid aluminium is delivered to Ljunghäll and Varnäs companies.
• 2008: Production is concentrated in Älmhult.
• 2010: The company obtains a new environmental permit for an annual production of 90,000 tonnes.
• 2011: A laboratory for materials testing is inaugurated to assist customers with product, process and material development.
• 2012: The largest environmental investments in the company's history are made. A new flue gas treatment system is inaugurated, which allows significantly increased production with lower environmental impact. Together with E-ON, a system to recover waste heat from the furnaces is inaugurated. Waste heat is used to heat the water in the municipal district heating system.
• 2016: A facility for recycling aluminium from slag is commissioned. Slag is the byproduct of aluminium production. A significantly smaller amount of slag is sent to landfill and customers receive a more environmentally-friendly raw material.
• 2017: Building of new materials halls for raw material starts in January, the first section is opened in the summer of the same year. In the factory area, a new joint office is also built.
• 2018: New environmentally correct logistics solution is introduced, salt and salt slag are transported by train instead of truck. This results in a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by about 70 percent.