Norton Aluminium

Norton Aluminium is a secondary aluminium producer located in Staffordshire. The plant produces primary and secondary foundry alloys, master alloys, aerospace alloys (for 'defence'/arms applications) and sand castings, is active in the buying and selling of scrap metal both nationally and internationally, and has a net worth in excess of £3 million ($4.4 million)Barbara O'Donovan, Metal Bulletin Daily Alerts. December 23, 2008 Tuesday. [Norton Aluminium faces legal action from angry residents] Accessed 17/05/10.
==Aluminium for arms production==
According to their website:
:Norton produces the lion's share of the UK's requirements for aluminium aerospace and Formula 1 foundry alloys, to purity levels of 0.001% Fe.Norton website Products Accessed 17/05/10
Norton names some of its customers as 
:BOC Edwards, BAE Systems, MSI Defence, VT Engine Controls, VA Tech Reyrolle, Perkins Engines, GEC Alstom, JCB and ThermoElectronNorton website Castings Accessed 17/05/10. 
==Norton faces legal action from local residents==
Local residents at Norton's Staffordshire plant have repeatedly complained about disturbing odour, dust and noise, which they claim has forced them to keep doors and windows closed, while they also lose sleep and cannot use their gardensBarbara O'Donovan, Metal Bulletin Daily Alerts. December 23, 2008 Tuesday. [Norton Aluminium faces legal action from angry residents] Accessed 17/05/10.
In response Norton Aluminium's managing director Henry Dickinson revealed his unwillingness to concede to the residents, as it may set a difficult precedent for other dirty industries:
:We've been on site for 56 years and before us there was a coal mine. I would guess that we pre-date 90% of the houses....It's sabre-rattling by the lawyers to try and force our insurance company to settle out of court, which we don't want to do... it would be counter-productive for the industry as a whole...If these people are successful, then they can complain about anything... which would be hugely damaging to UK manufacturingBarbara O'Donovan, Metal Bulletin Daily Alerts. December 23, 2008 Tuesday. [Norton Aluminium faces legal action from angry residents] Accessed 17/05/10.
==Fined for failing to prevent odour==
According to Metal Bulletin, Dec 23rd 2008:
:The company was found guilty and fined a total of £10,000 ($17,800) on three charges of failing to maintain a filter system at its plant in Staffordshire in February 2006. Stafford Magistrates' Court ruled that the company had failed to maintain an activated carbon filter system used to filter odour at the plant, to train staff in the use of the filter and to provide written instructions for its use. The case was brought to court by the EA. The company was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay £4,000 in costsBarbara O'Donovan, Metal Bulletin Daily Alerts. December 23, 2008 Tuesday. [Norton Aluminium faces legal action from angry residents] Accessed 17/05/10.
==Claims of sustainability==
Norton's website claims:
:Our process [recycling] is inherently environmentally friendly and uses 5% of the energy required to make new aluminiumNorton website Environment Accessed 17/05/10. 
While this is true, recycling aluminium still uses the same energy as producing new steelDas, S. and Padel, F. 2010,'Out of this earth: East India Adivasis and the aluminium cartel' Orient Blackswan.
:Aluminium is infinitely recyclable without loss of properties and will save 7 times the energy required in its initial production when used in vehicles as a substitute for steel, due to the fuel saving of lighter vehicles.Norton website Environment Accessed 17/05/10
These figures are heavily influenced by the aluminium industry's own research on light carsEAA Press release 'Aluminum Industry Continues to Add Value to a Greener Europe' June 25, 2009 Accessed 30/04/10, and do not include much of the emissions from primary aluminium production, which is the most energy intensive industrial process in the world, producing some of the most potent greenhouse gases (perfluorocarbons)Das S. and Padel F. 2010,'Out of this earth: East India Adivasis and the aluminium cartel' Orient Blackswan.
:In food applications, aluminium provides an impermeable barrier to micro-organisms and extends shelf life, thus reducing waste and product costsNorton website Environment Accessed 17/05/10.
Suggesting that foil packaging has decreased the level of food wastage is unrealistic as studies show that levels of food waste have increased progressively in recent years Hall KD, Guo J, Dore M, Chow CC (2009)The Progressive Increase of Food Waste in America and Its Environmental Impact Institute of Preventive Medicine. Furthermore, Norton don't claim to deal with the food industry, so this statement is not relevant to their activities.
:In a global context there is approximately 400 million tonnes of aluminium in use, providing a stockpile for use and re-use by future generationsNorton website Environment Accessed 17/05/10. 
Despite this the aluminium industry themselves admit that there is no intention to slow down primary extraction (and therefore impact), negating the reduction in resource use and pollution suggested in this claim. The European Aluminium Association's document "Life Cycle Assessment and Aluminium: What you need to know" (developed with the UK aluminium industry) states:
:Nevertheless, whether aluminium is produced from bauxite or from scrap, these operations are not in competition with each other. They are both integrated and necessary parts of the aluminium material cycle.European Aluminium Association, 2002 Life Cycle Assessment and Aluminium: What you need to know Accessed 13/05/10
==History==
==Affiliations==
==Clients==
Norton names some of its customers as: 
:BOC Edwards, BAE Systems, MSI Defence, VT Engine Controls, VA Tech Reyrolle, Perkins Engines, GEC Alstom, JCB and ThermoElectronNorton website Castings Accessed 17/05/10.
==Publications==
==Contact==
:NORTON ALUMINIUM PRODUCTS LTD
:Norton Green Lane
:Norton Canes
:Cannock
:Staffs WS11 9PS
:Tel: 01543 279329
:Fax: 01543 275855 
==Resources==
WikiSpooks profile of Norton Aluminium
==Notes==
Category:Climate
Category:Aluminium Industry
Category:Arms Industry
Category:Mining and Metals: Arms Industry
Category:Mining and Metals