Evening star., 1934-06-17
Scrap Aluminium Code
Important to Industry
BY HARDEN COLFAX.

The agreement upon a code of fair
competition for the scrap aluminium
industry, Just concluded, while the
primary producers Of that metal have
not yet been able to come to an un-
derstanding, is regarded as of con-
siderable significance to the American
manufacturers who are finding this
reclaimed metal increasingly useful.
Scrap" or secondary metals, are
those which, in the langus ge Of the
trade, have lost their original iden-
tity as to sources" and which are re-
covered almost literally from the dust
heaps of industry. The distinction
between primary and secondary met
ais, of course, does not imply that
those known as secondary are of an
inferior quality.
The reason for the delay in agree
ing upon a code for the producers of
the primary metal aluminium is not
far to seek The one large American
company which dominates the field
owns 80 per cent Of the available re-
sources of bauxite (from which pure
alumina is made) and also the other
important bauXite mines in British
Guiana and Surinam.
The Aluminium Company of Amer
lea has no competitors in the domes-
tic field and, in conjunction with its
foreign partner, owns or controls
more than half OF the worlds output
Of virgin aluminium metal. Com
petitors in the field of manufactured
aluminium articles, it is pointed out,
must either buy their primary metal
from this practical monopoly or i'm
port part of it from sources which
also may be controlled by the same
corporation-or they must buy alum
mum scrap.
aluminium, we are reminded, is used
for a variety of purposes in our in
dustrial life. Both the primary and
secondary metal are of importance in
the steel and chemical industries. in
the production of castings and foun-
dries, in many varied ways in the
automotive industry, in building con-
struction and in the ever-increasing
number of household utilities-from
telephone instruments, parts for vac
uum sweepers, refrigerators and wash
ing machines to innumerable kitchen
utensils. The scrap aluminium indus
try became commercially important
about Is years ago and there has been
a large and steady growth ever since.
It was pointed out this week by
Government experts that the reuse
of discarded aluminium substantially
prolongs the life of the metal and
thus, naturally, reacts on the produc-
ton of the primary metal. Here, 1t
was pointed out. is one of the methods,
and an important one, for conserving
our natural resources. Recently the
Bureau of Mines published statistics
showing the relation Of the produc-
ton of scrap aluminium to that from
primary sources. In 1882 this rela-
tionship was more than 46 per cent.
Since, moreover, the different grades
of scrap aluminium correspond fairly
closely to those of the primary metal,
and the cost of production of scrap is
less, it would follow that there always
would be what the manufacturers call
a differential in price in favor of the
secondary metal.
A number of associations of indus
trial interests such as the Non-ferrous
mgot Metal Institute, the National
Association Of WtSJe Material Dealers,
and the American Association Of En-
gineers, in addition to the manufac-
turers of aluminium products, are very
much interested in the development
Of this industry. Some time ago, a
survey of scrap industries was under
taken by these organizations in CO.
operation with the Department Of
Commerce and the result Of their
efforts showed the Importance Of SAL