Unlocking efficiency and sustainability in aluminum can production - Ultrium™ 8900

This case study explores how Aurorium’s innovative additive, Ultrium 8900, helps aluminium can manufacturers enhance operational efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and achieve significant cost savings.

Key highlights include:

• Customer Challenge: Increasing pressure to improve operational efficiency, reduce costly maintenance downtime, and adhere to strict environmental standards in the aluminum can industry.
• Innovative Solution: Ultrium 8900, also known as Octenyl Succinic Anhydride (OSA), is a multifunctional additive that provides superior cleanliness, corrosion inhibition, and lubrication in a single, environmentally preferred product.
• Business & Sustainability Benefits: A switch to Ultrium 8900 may result in up to an estimated $800,000 in annual savings through reduced waste, lower additive costs, and decreased downtime, all while using a readily biodegradable and ashless solution.

customer challenge

balancing efficiency, cost, and sustainability in can manufacturing

Aluminum can manufacturers face constant pressure to improve the efficiency of their production lines, minimize maintenance-related downtime, and meet ever-more stringent environmental standards. A key challenge is achieving these goals while maintaining product quality and managing operational costs effectively.

Aurorium’s innovative solution

Ultrium 8900: a multifunctional additive for superior performance

To address these industry-wide challenges, Aurorium offers Ultrium 8900. This product, chemically known as Octenyl Succinic Anhydride (OSA), is an advanced, multifunctional additive designed for metal forming operations. When neutralized with common amines, Ultrium 8900 delivers a unique combination of benefits, acting as a corrosion inhibitor, lubricant, and surfactant simultaneously.

This innovative solution stands apart due to several key differentiators:

• Enhanced Cleanliness: It actively reduces residue buildup, keeping both the manufacturing equipment and the aluminum cans cleaner, when compared to the other options available in the marketplace.
• Environmentally Preferred: The formula is readily biodegradable and ashless, containing no sulfur, phosphorus, or nitrogen.
• Formulation Flexibility: Its multifunctional nature aims at reducing the need for manufacturers to use additional surfactants and lubricity additives.

proven benefits

driving significant cost savings and operational uptime

The adoption of Ultrium 8900 translates into direct, quantifiable financial and operational advantages for aluminum can operators. By integrating this single solution, a can plant operating in the South-eastern US was able to achieve the below estimated savings.

These savings are broken down across several key areas of impact:

• Up to $100,000 from Reduced Hazardous Waste: An estimated reduction of 50 tons of hazardous waste per year.
• Up to $250,000 from Lower Additive Costs: A 45-ton-per-year reduction in the need for separate lubricity additives.
• Up to $450,000 from Less Downtime: The prevention of approximately three maintenance shutdowns annually.

customer impact

achieving sustainability and efficiency goals with Aurorium

By partnering with Aurorium and switching to Ultrium 8900, aluminum can manufacturers can successfully transform their operations. Specifically, operators may achieve, when compared to other options in the market:

• Cleaner cans and equipment.
• Fewer maintenance interruptions.
• Lower environmental impact.
• Potentially significant cost savings.

future outlook

Aurorium's commitment to the aluminum packaging industry

Aurorium remains dedicated to developing innovative and sustainable solutions that create value for the industrial manufacturing sector. Ultrium 8900 is a prime example of our commitment to engineering high-performance, environmentally responsible materials that solve our customers' most pressing challenges.

Talk to us today to discuss your specific operational needs and discover how we can help you achieve your efficiency and sustainability goals.