{"id":10992,"date":"2025-03-04T11:57:39","date_gmt":"2025-03-04T09:57:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/?p=10992"},"modified":"2025-03-04T11:57:39","modified_gmt":"2025-03-04T09:57:39","slug":"pioneering-energy-efficiency-from-finland-an-award-winning-aluminium-profile-manufacturer-drives-the-green-transition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/en\/news\/pioneering-energy-efficiency-from-finland-an-award-winning-aluminium-profile-manufacturer-drives-the-green-transition\/","title":{"rendered":"Pioneering energy efficiency from finland: An award-winning aluminium profile manufacturer drives the green transition"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu has made significant investments in low-carbon solutions over recent years. With projects undertaken in 2023 and 2024 alone, the company will achieve an annual CO2 reduction of nearly 2,000 tonnes. Central to this progress is the abandonment of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as well as the adoption of modern electric furnace technology and heat recovery systems.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu is a family-owned company with roots dating back to 1937. Over its long history, the company has weathered various economic cycles. For more than 30 years, it has specialised in aluminium profile extrusion. Sustainability has been a guiding principle for years, evidenced by substantial investments in modern technology.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur ambitious goal is to achieve carbon neutrality in our own production by the end of 2025. Producing aluminium profiles is energy-intensive, requiring extremely high temperatures. By making responsible decisions in our production processes, we reduce not only our environmental impact but also the carbon footprint of our customers when they use our products,\u201d says<strong> Petri M\u00e4kel\u00e4<\/strong>, Chairman of the Board and Co-Owner of M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu Oy.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-9810\" src=\"https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/makela_alu_vastuullinen_alumiiniprofiilivalmistaja_suomesta.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1112\" srcset=\"https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/makela_alu_vastuullinen_alumiiniprofiilivalmistaja_suomesta.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/makela_alu_vastuullinen_alumiiniprofiilivalmistaja_suomesta-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/makela_alu_vastuullinen_alumiiniprofiilivalmistaja_suomesta-1024x569.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/makela_alu_vastuullinen_alumiiniprofiilivalmistaja_suomesta-768x427.jpg 768w, https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/makela_alu_vastuullinen_alumiiniprofiilivalmistaja_suomesta-1536x854.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/makela_alu_vastuullinen_alumiiniprofiilivalmistaja_suomesta-500x278.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Award-winning energy efficiency<\/h2>\n<p>At the end of last year, M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu received two significant awards for its energy efficiency upgrades in one of its production units. The heating and cooling system of the anodising plant was modernised by replacing the LPG-powered steam system with a heat pump and electric boilers. The heat pump recovers waste heat while simultaneously cooling the process. Additionally, drying operations were switched from steam to heated water and electric resistances.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs a result of this upgrade, we were awarded the Net-Zero Industries Award as the national winner in the Outstanding Projects category. The award ceremony took place at the UN Climate Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. In addition, we received the Energy Genius of the Year 2024 recognition, granted by the Energy Authority, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, and Motiva, for energy efficiency measures that promote responsible energy use in a distinctive way,\u201d says<strong> P\u00e4ivi Venesoja<\/strong>, M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu\u2019s EHSQ Manager.<\/p>\n<p>This modernisation reduced the company\u2019s CO2 emissions by over 700 tonnes last year. Read more about the rewarded solution: <a href=\"https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/en\/news\/the-energy-system-at-our-anodising-plant-awarded-energy-genius-of-the-year-2024\/\">The energy system at our anodising plant awarded Energy Genius of the Year 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-10748 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG_2347.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1536\" srcset=\"https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG_2347.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG_2347-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG_2347-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG_2347-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG_2347-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG_2347-500x375.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>New technology for the extrusion press<\/h2>\n<p>An even larger emission reduction project is currently underway. M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu operates three extrusion lines, one of which is now undergoing modernisation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn this renewal, the old equipment is being replaced with modern, electricity-powered technology, reducing LPG consumption by approximately 320 tonnes per year and CO\u2082 emissions by 960 tonnes,\u201d says Development Director <strong>Tomi Pilbacka<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The new equipment includes a combination of an electric resistance furnace and an induction furnace. The project also upgrades the billet table and billet saw. The commissioning of the new equipment is ongoing, and the emission reductions will be realised during 2025.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Waste heat recovery in the foundry<\/h2>\n<p>M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu operates its own foundry, where recycled aluminium billets are produced. When aluminium billets are cast, they are cooled with water. The cooling water and the energy it absorbs are collected in a basin.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have also invested in heat recovery and heat pump systems in the foundry to capture waste heat from the cooling water. At present, we heat our powder coating plants using waste heat from the foundry,\u201d explains Tomi Pilbacka.<\/p>\n<p>These investments are just part of the energy efficiency projects implemented in recent years. The company launched a development programme exceeding \u20ac10 million in 2022 to achieve carbon neutrality.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSustainability is about actions. For us, sustainability means setting our own ambitious goals when regulatory standards are not enough to achieve the best outcomes for people or the environment. At M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu, we have chosen to do more,\u201d summarises Petri M\u00e4kel\u00e4.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>AluPlanet\u00ae: a low-carbon aluminium profiles<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu has launched its environmentally friendly aluminium profile product family, <a href=\"https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/en\/services\/aluplanet\/\">AluPlanet\u00ae<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe product family is designed to meet sustainability requirements and support planetary durability. AluPlanet\u00ae products play a key role in combating climate change,\u201d says P\u00e4ivi Venesoja, M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu\u2019s EHSQ Manager.<\/p>\n<p>The emissions of the AluPlanet\u00ae product family are exceptionally low: only 2.04\u20132.59 t CO2e\/t, depending on the surface treatment. Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) measures the climate impact of greenhouse gases produced by humans. The unit (t CO2e\/t) represents how many tonnes of CO2 equivalents are produced for every thousand kilograms of the product manufactured.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBy choosing AluPlanet\u00ae profiles for your production, you can significantly reduce the environmental impact of your own operations,\u201d adds P\u00e4ivi Venesoja.<\/p>\n<p>For comparison, the European average for primary aluminium production (raw material, not finished profiles) is 6.7 t CO2e\/t.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu has made significant investments in low-carbon solutions over recent years. With projects undertaken in 2023 and 2024 alone, the company will achieve an annual CO2 reduction of nearly 2,000 tonnes. Central to this progress is the abandonment of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as well as the adoption of modern electric furnace technology and heat recovery systems. M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu is a family-owned company with roots dating back to 1937. Over its long history, the company has weathered various economic cycles. For more than 30 years, it has specialised in aluminium profile extrusion. Sustainability has been a guiding principle for years, evidenced by substantial investments in modern technology. \u201cOur ambitious goal is to achieve carbon neutrality in our own production by the end of 2025. Producing aluminium profiles is energy-intensive, requiring extremely high temperatures. By making responsible decisions in our production processes, we reduce not only our environmental impact but also the carbon footprint of our customers when they use our products,\u201d says Petri M\u00e4kel\u00e4, Chairman of the Board and Co-Owner of M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu Oy. Award-winning energy efficiency At the end of last year, M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu received two significant awards for its energy efficiency upgrades in one of its production units. The heating and cooling system of the anodising plant was modernised by replacing the LPG-powered steam system with a heat pump and electric boilers. The heat pump recovers waste heat while simultaneously cooling the process. Additionally, drying operations were switched from steam to heated water and electric resistances. \u201cAs a result of this upgrade, we were awarded the Net-Zero Industries Award as the national winner in the Outstanding Projects category. The award ceremony took place at the UN Climate Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. In addition, we received the Energy Genius of the Year 2024 recognition, granted by the Energy Authority, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, and Motiva, for energy efficiency measures that promote responsible energy use in a distinctive way,\u201d says P\u00e4ivi Venesoja, M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu\u2019s EHSQ Manager. This modernisation reduced the company\u2019s CO2 emissions by over 700 tonnes last year. Read more about the rewarded solution: The energy system at our anodising plant awarded Energy Genius of the Year 2024 New technology for the extrusion press An even larger emission reduction project is currently underway. M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu operates three extrusion lines, one of which is now undergoing modernisation. \u201cIn this renewal, the old equipment is being replaced with modern, electricity-powered technology, reducing LPG consumption by approximately 320 tonnes per year and CO\u2082 emissions by 960 tonnes,\u201d says Development Director Tomi Pilbacka. The new equipment includes a combination of an electric resistance furnace and an induction furnace. The project also upgrades the billet table and billet saw. The commissioning of the new equipment is ongoing, and the emission reductions will be realised during 2025. &nbsp; Waste heat recovery in the foundry M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu operates its own foundry, where recycled aluminium billets are produced. When aluminium billets are cast, they are cooled with water. The cooling water and the energy it absorbs are collected in a basin. \u201cWe have also invested in heat recovery and heat pump systems in the foundry to capture waste heat from the cooling water. At present, we heat our powder coating plants using waste heat from the foundry,\u201d explains Tomi Pilbacka. These investments are just part of the energy efficiency projects implemented in recent years. The company launched a development programme exceeding \u20ac10 million in 2022 to achieve carbon neutrality. \u201cSustainability is about actions. For us, sustainability means setting our own ambitious goals when regulatory standards are not enough to achieve the best outcomes for people or the environment. At M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu, we have chosen to do more,\u201d summarises Petri M\u00e4kel\u00e4. &nbsp; AluPlanet\u00ae: a low-carbon aluminium profiles M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu has launched its environmentally friendly aluminium profile product family, AluPlanet\u00ae. \u201cThe product family is designed to meet sustainability requirements and support planetary durability. AluPlanet\u00ae products play a key role in combating climate change,\u201d says P\u00e4ivi Venesoja, M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu\u2019s EHSQ Manager. The emissions of the AluPlanet\u00ae product family are exceptionally low: only 2.04\u20132.59 t CO2e\/t, depending on the surface treatment. Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) measures the climate impact of greenhouse gases produced by humans. The unit (t CO2e\/t) represents how many tonnes of CO2 equivalents are produced for every thousand kilograms of the product manufactured. \u201cBy choosing AluPlanet\u00ae profiles for your production, you can significantly reduce the environmental impact of your own operations,\u201d adds P\u00e4ivi Venesoja. For comparison, the European average for primary aluminium production (raw material, not finished profiles) is 6.7 t CO2e\/t.","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":10564,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[42,201],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10992","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-responsibility"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Pioneering energy efficiency from finland: An award-winning aluminium profile manufacturer drives the green transition - M&auml;kel&auml; Alu Oy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/en\/news\/pioneering-energy-efficiency-from-finland-an-award-winning-aluminium-profile-manufacturer-drives-the-green-transition\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Pioneering energy efficiency from finland: An award-winning aluminium profile manufacturer drives the green transition - M&auml;kel&auml; Alu Oy\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu has made significant investments in low-carbon solutions over recent years. With projects undertaken in 2023 and 2024 alone, the company will achieve an annual CO2 reduction of nearly 2,000 tonnes. Central to this progress is the abandonment of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as well as the adoption of modern electric furnace technology and heat recovery systems. M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu is a family-owned company with roots dating back to 1937. Over its long history, the company has weathered various economic cycles. For more than 30 years, it has specialised in aluminium profile extrusion. Sustainability has been a guiding principle for years, evidenced by substantial investments in modern technology. \u201cOur ambitious goal is to achieve carbon neutrality in our own production by the end of 2025. Producing aluminium profiles is energy-intensive, requiring extremely high temperatures. By making responsible decisions in our production processes, we reduce not only our environmental impact but also the carbon footprint of our customers when they use our products,\u201d says Petri M\u00e4kel\u00e4, Chairman of the Board and Co-Owner of M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu Oy. Award-winning energy efficiency At the end of last year, M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu received two significant awards for its energy efficiency upgrades in one of its production units. The heating and cooling system of the anodising plant was modernised by replacing the LPG-powered steam system with a heat pump and electric boilers. The heat pump recovers waste heat while simultaneously cooling the process. Additionally, drying operations were switched from steam to heated water and electric resistances. \u201cAs a result of this upgrade, we were awarded the Net-Zero Industries Award as the national winner in the Outstanding Projects category. The award ceremony took place at the UN Climate Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. In addition, we received the Energy Genius of the Year 2024 recognition, granted by the Energy Authority, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, and Motiva, for energy efficiency measures that promote responsible energy use in a distinctive way,\u201d says P\u00e4ivi Venesoja, M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu\u2019s EHSQ Manager. This modernisation reduced the company\u2019s CO2 emissions by over 700 tonnes last year. Read more about the rewarded solution: The energy system at our anodising plant awarded Energy Genius of the Year 2024 New technology for the extrusion press An even larger emission reduction project is currently underway. M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu operates three extrusion lines, one of which is now undergoing modernisation. \u201cIn this renewal, the old equipment is being replaced with modern, electricity-powered technology, reducing LPG consumption by approximately 320 tonnes per year and CO\u2082 emissions by 960 tonnes,\u201d says Development Director Tomi Pilbacka. The new equipment includes a combination of an electric resistance furnace and an induction furnace. The project also upgrades the billet table and billet saw. The commissioning of the new equipment is ongoing, and the emission reductions will be realised during 2025. &nbsp; Waste heat recovery in the foundry M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu operates its own foundry, where recycled aluminium billets are produced. When aluminium billets are cast, they are cooled with water. The cooling water and the energy it absorbs are collected in a basin. \u201cWe have also invested in heat recovery and heat pump systems in the foundry to capture waste heat from the cooling water. At present, we heat our powder coating plants using waste heat from the foundry,\u201d explains Tomi Pilbacka. These investments are just part of the energy efficiency projects implemented in recent years. The company launched a development programme exceeding \u20ac10 million in 2022 to achieve carbon neutrality. \u201cSustainability is about actions. For us, sustainability means setting our own ambitious goals when regulatory standards are not enough to achieve the best outcomes for people or the environment. At M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu, we have chosen to do more,\u201d summarises Petri M\u00e4kel\u00e4. &nbsp; AluPlanet\u00ae: a low-carbon aluminium profiles M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu has launched its environmentally friendly aluminium profile product family, AluPlanet\u00ae. \u201cThe product family is designed to meet sustainability requirements and support planetary durability. AluPlanet\u00ae products play a key role in combating climate change,\u201d says P\u00e4ivi Venesoja, M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu\u2019s EHSQ Manager. The emissions of the AluPlanet\u00ae product family are exceptionally low: only 2.04\u20132.59 t CO2e\/t, depending on the surface treatment. Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) measures the climate impact of greenhouse gases produced by humans. The unit (t CO2e\/t) represents how many tonnes of CO2 equivalents are produced for every thousand kilograms of the product manufactured. \u201cBy choosing AluPlanet\u00ae profiles for your production, you can significantly reduce the environmental impact of your own operations,\u201d adds P\u00e4ivi Venesoja. For comparison, the European average for primary aluminium production (raw material, not finished profiles) is 6.7 t CO2e\/t.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/en\/news\/pioneering-energy-efficiency-from-finland-an-award-winning-aluminium-profile-manufacturer-drives-the-green-transition\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"M&auml;kel&auml; Alu Oy\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-03-04T09:57:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/vastuullisuus-ymparisto-makela-alu-alumiiniprofiilit-1024x696.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"696\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Susanna Korkiatupa\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Susanna Korkiatupa\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/makelaalu.fi\\\/en\\\/news\\\/pioneering-energy-efficiency-from-finland-an-award-winning-aluminium-profile-manufacturer-drives-the-green-transition\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/makelaalu.fi\\\/en\\\/news\\\/pioneering-energy-efficiency-from-finland-an-award-winning-aluminium-profile-manufacturer-drives-the-green-transition\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Susanna Korkiatupa\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.makelaalu.fi\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/9a809b6cc4e323d49d85ca0a349b40af\"},\"headline\":\"Pioneering energy efficiency from finland: An award-winning aluminium profile manufacturer drives the green transition\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-03-04T09:57:39+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/makelaalu.fi\\\/en\\\/news\\\/pioneering-energy-efficiency-from-finland-an-award-winning-aluminium-profile-manufacturer-drives-the-green-transition\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":782,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/makelaalu.fi\\\/en\\\/news\\\/pioneering-energy-efficiency-from-finland-an-award-winning-aluminium-profile-manufacturer-drives-the-green-transition\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/makelaalu.fi\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/vastuullisuus-ymparisto-makela-alu-alumiiniprofiilit.jpeg\",\"articleSection\":[\"News\",\"Responsibility\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/makelaalu.fi\\\/en\\\/news\\\/pioneering-energy-efficiency-from-finland-an-award-winning-aluminium-profile-manufacturer-drives-the-green-transition\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/makelaalu.fi\\\/en\\\/news\\\/pioneering-energy-efficiency-from-finland-an-award-winning-aluminium-profile-manufacturer-drives-the-green-transition\\\/\",\"name\":\"Pioneering energy efficiency from finland: An award-winning aluminium profile manufacturer drives the green transition - M&auml;kel&auml; 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Alu Oy","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/en\/news\/pioneering-energy-efficiency-from-finland-an-award-winning-aluminium-profile-manufacturer-drives-the-green-transition\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Pioneering energy efficiency from finland: An award-winning aluminium profile manufacturer drives the green transition - M&auml;kel&auml; Alu Oy","og_description":"M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu has made significant investments in low-carbon solutions over recent years. With projects undertaken in 2023 and 2024 alone, the company will achieve an annual CO2 reduction of nearly 2,000 tonnes. Central to this progress is the abandonment of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as well as the adoption of modern electric furnace technology and heat recovery systems. M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu is a family-owned company with roots dating back to 1937. Over its long history, the company has weathered various economic cycles. For more than 30 years, it has specialised in aluminium profile extrusion. Sustainability has been a guiding principle for years, evidenced by substantial investments in modern technology. \u201cOur ambitious goal is to achieve carbon neutrality in our own production by the end of 2025. Producing aluminium profiles is energy-intensive, requiring extremely high temperatures. By making responsible decisions in our production processes, we reduce not only our environmental impact but also the carbon footprint of our customers when they use our products,\u201d says Petri M\u00e4kel\u00e4, Chairman of the Board and Co-Owner of M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu Oy. Award-winning energy efficiency At the end of last year, M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu received two significant awards for its energy efficiency upgrades in one of its production units. The heating and cooling system of the anodising plant was modernised by replacing the LPG-powered steam system with a heat pump and electric boilers. The heat pump recovers waste heat while simultaneously cooling the process. Additionally, drying operations were switched from steam to heated water and electric resistances. \u201cAs a result of this upgrade, we were awarded the Net-Zero Industries Award as the national winner in the Outstanding Projects category. The award ceremony took place at the UN Climate Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. In addition, we received the Energy Genius of the Year 2024 recognition, granted by the Energy Authority, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, and Motiva, for energy efficiency measures that promote responsible energy use in a distinctive way,\u201d says P\u00e4ivi Venesoja, M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu\u2019s EHSQ Manager. This modernisation reduced the company\u2019s CO2 emissions by over 700 tonnes last year. Read more about the rewarded solution: The energy system at our anodising plant awarded Energy Genius of the Year 2024 New technology for the extrusion press An even larger emission reduction project is currently underway. M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu operates three extrusion lines, one of which is now undergoing modernisation. \u201cIn this renewal, the old equipment is being replaced with modern, electricity-powered technology, reducing LPG consumption by approximately 320 tonnes per year and CO\u2082 emissions by 960 tonnes,\u201d says Development Director Tomi Pilbacka. The new equipment includes a combination of an electric resistance furnace and an induction furnace. The project also upgrades the billet table and billet saw. The commissioning of the new equipment is ongoing, and the emission reductions will be realised during 2025. &nbsp; Waste heat recovery in the foundry M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu operates its own foundry, where recycled aluminium billets are produced. When aluminium billets are cast, they are cooled with water. The cooling water and the energy it absorbs are collected in a basin. \u201cWe have also invested in heat recovery and heat pump systems in the foundry to capture waste heat from the cooling water. At present, we heat our powder coating plants using waste heat from the foundry,\u201d explains Tomi Pilbacka. These investments are just part of the energy efficiency projects implemented in recent years. The company launched a development programme exceeding \u20ac10 million in 2022 to achieve carbon neutrality. \u201cSustainability is about actions. For us, sustainability means setting our own ambitious goals when regulatory standards are not enough to achieve the best outcomes for people or the environment. At M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu, we have chosen to do more,\u201d summarises Petri M\u00e4kel\u00e4. &nbsp; AluPlanet\u00ae: a low-carbon aluminium profiles M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu has launched its environmentally friendly aluminium profile product family, AluPlanet\u00ae. \u201cThe product family is designed to meet sustainability requirements and support planetary durability. AluPlanet\u00ae products play a key role in combating climate change,\u201d says P\u00e4ivi Venesoja, M\u00e4kel\u00e4 Alu\u2019s EHSQ Manager. The emissions of the AluPlanet\u00ae product family are exceptionally low: only 2.04\u20132.59 t CO2e\/t, depending on the surface treatment. Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) measures the climate impact of greenhouse gases produced by humans. The unit (t CO2e\/t) represents how many tonnes of CO2 equivalents are produced for every thousand kilograms of the product manufactured. \u201cBy choosing AluPlanet\u00ae profiles for your production, you can significantly reduce the environmental impact of your own operations,\u201d adds P\u00e4ivi Venesoja. For comparison, the European average for primary aluminium production (raw material, not finished profiles) is 6.7 t CO2e\/t.","og_url":"https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/en\/news\/pioneering-energy-efficiency-from-finland-an-award-winning-aluminium-profile-manufacturer-drives-the-green-transition\/","og_site_name":"M&auml;kel&auml; Alu Oy","article_published_time":"2025-03-04T09:57:39+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":696,"url":"https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/vastuullisuus-ymparisto-makela-alu-alumiiniprofiilit-1024x696.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Susanna Korkiatupa","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Susanna Korkiatupa","Estimated reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/en\/news\/pioneering-energy-efficiency-from-finland-an-award-winning-aluminium-profile-manufacturer-drives-the-green-transition\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/en\/news\/pioneering-energy-efficiency-from-finland-an-award-winning-aluminium-profile-manufacturer-drives-the-green-transition\/"},"author":{"name":"Susanna Korkiatupa","@id":"https:\/\/dev.makelaalu.fi\/#\/schema\/person\/9a809b6cc4e323d49d85ca0a349b40af"},"headline":"Pioneering energy efficiency from finland: An award-winning aluminium profile manufacturer drives the green transition","datePublished":"2025-03-04T09:57:39+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/en\/news\/pioneering-energy-efficiency-from-finland-an-award-winning-aluminium-profile-manufacturer-drives-the-green-transition\/"},"wordCount":782,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/en\/news\/pioneering-energy-efficiency-from-finland-an-award-winning-aluminium-profile-manufacturer-drives-the-green-transition\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/vastuullisuus-ymparisto-makela-alu-alumiiniprofiilit.jpeg","articleSection":["News","Responsibility"],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/en\/news\/pioneering-energy-efficiency-from-finland-an-award-winning-aluminium-profile-manufacturer-drives-the-green-transition\/","url":"https:\/\/makelaalu.fi\/en\/news\/pioneering-energy-efficiency-from-finland-an-award-winning-aluminium-profile-manufacturer-drives-the-green-transition\/","name":"Pioneering energy efficiency from finland: An award-winning aluminium profile manufacturer drives the green transition - M&auml;kel&auml; 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