Inside a Heneken factory. Photo by Heneken Group
Heneken Group, has had a busy year in 2023, and since becoming a member of the MMTA. The Slovakian company has grown from its roots as a trader and master alloys producer into an international metals recycler and refiner,
In the Q4 alone if expanded its business through acquisitions to the African and North America as it seeks to move its production closer to customers, having earlier launched a 36,000 t/yr secondary aluminium smelter in Turkey.
In October, Hekenen bought the GfE MIR Alloys & Metals factory in South Africa, which produces aluminium powder, granules and briquettes and also refines chromium and manganese metals. The new acquisition has since been incorporated under a new name Heneken Alloys & Metals.
And in November a magnesium recycling plant in Quebec, Canada, was incorporated into the Heneken business under its name MTR – Magnesium Technologies Recycles.
The MMTA caught up with the company to find out more about how the new acquisitions fit into its increasingly international and manufacturing-focused business.
What are the capacities and capabilities of HenekenAlloys & Minerals?
Capabilities
Manufacturing production in the Republic of South Africa can be defined mainly as the production of various ferrous and non-ferrous metals and various mineral products. There are five production lines on its premises, which are aimed at:
- Production of aluminium granules and powder
The process of producing small particles or powder from aluminium materials.
- Briquetting operations facilities
Production includes activities associated with the briquetting process, which means pressing the powdered material into a solid briquette form, often for the purpose practical use of fine powders that cannot be used in the current form.
- Aluminothermic plant for the production of manganese and chromium alloys
In this facility, an aluminothermic reaction is used to produce manganese and chromium by reduction with metal oxides of Manganese and Chrome oxide using metallic aluminium at high temperature.
- Calcining plant
Calcination is the process of heating a material to a high temperature in order to remove impurities, moisture or other undesirable components.
- Milling operation plant (Mill)
The grinding operation is used to adjust the materials to the desired size or shape according to the customer’s requirements.
Capacities
The plant operates with with more than 200 employees and a capacity of more than 120,000 metric tonnes of produced material per year.
On what products and markets will this business focus?
Heneken Alloys & Minerals‘ production in Republic of South Africa can be defined mainly as the production of various ferrous non-ferrous and ferrous materials and minerals.
Its process results in products that are used, for example:
- as a reducing agent in the production of aluminothermic ferroalloys and metals,
- for steel deoxidation,
- in the production of aluminium cans,
- for the production of steel and other smelting processes as an agent for reducing electricity consumption,
- in the production of steel, stainless steel and ferroalloys
- and in the glass industry as a colourant, in the ceramic industry and in some refractory materials.
Products list:
Aluminium Granules and Powders
Fluorspar High Grade Briquettes
Fluorspar Met Grade Briquettes
Chrome Oxide 45 micron
Manganese Oxide 45 micron
Low Carbon Ferro Manganese
Manganese Oxide 45 micron
Manganese Tri-Oxide CALMAN Z
Slag Con CALAL
Ultra Low Carbon Silicon Manganese
HEB (High Energy briquettes)
Ulra Low Carbon Ferro Manganese
By acquiring production facilities in South Africa, we can be closer to markets such as Australasia, Korea, India, Europe, USA, Scandinavia, Middle East, and Africa through a network of agents and partners.
How will the new factory fit into the Heneken Group ?
Heneken Alloys & Minerals, formerly known as GfE MIR Alloys & Minerals, produces materials that are suitable for our subsidiary, Heneken Ferro Alloys. This is a trading company that focuses solely on the ferroalloys market, making them a great partner for our long-term customers. The synergy comes from Heneken Ferro Alloys’ extensive trading experience and Alloys & Minerals’ production know-how and wide product range which will enrich our offerings.
How will MTR fit into the Heneken portfolio?
While bought as a distressed asset, it has significant potential. We plan to leverage our technical expertise, management system, and trading know-how to rebuild the production plant and maximize its potential. The plant had previously targeted production of 10,000t/yr of magnesium products.
The new member of the Heneken Group brings the necessary know-how in the magnesium scrap recycling process, which was preceded by 15 years of research. The acquisition will help the group strengthen its position in the market serving suppliers to the aerospace and defence industries in Canada and the United States of America.
What are your target areas for further expansion?
Over the past few years, we have taken advantage of the opportunities that have arisen in the market. In six years, we acquired four production plants and established aluminium production in the Izmir industrial zone in Turkey under the name HENEKEN Metalurji Döküm A.Ş. We aim to build on our past years‘ success with a focus on metallurgy.
All our activities are aimed at supplying our business partners with a wide range of high-quality products and services. We remain committed to the field of metallurgy and constantly strive to deepen our knowledge and expertise in this sector. One of the ways we see opportunities to grow is by expanding our sales team, which we are continuously doing. However, ultimately, all our actions aim to ensure the healthy and stable growth of the group.
