Secat

SECAT - the South East Center for Aluminum Technology - is the primary research facility for the aluminium industry, based in Kentucky, USA (the center of the USA's aluminium industry with 142 aluminium facilities)Secat homepage About, overview Accessed 14/05/10. Its activities cover materials testing, business analysis, new product design and environmental/ecological analysis of aluminium.
Secat has been key in providing the evidence behind the aluminium industry's claims to be a 'sustainable metal' that is part of the solution to climate change, not part of the problem. Secat homepage Accessed 14/05/10
==Dominating the environmental discourse on aluminium==
Secat publish its research through the Department of Energy, Light Metals magazine (with whom it is affiliated) and other academic journals such as Minerals, Metals & Materials Society.Secat homepage Aluminium Answers, Resources Accessed 14/05/10 
As well as industrial research into the properties and applications of the metal, increasing importance has been placed on creating a green image for aluminium which will allow the industry to grow despite climate change legislation which should necessitate cuts in this energy intensive and polluting metal.
For this reason Secat, along with the European Aluminium Association and other international aluminium bodies have headed up research into Life Cycle Assessment for metals, attempting to show that aluminium can be used to save carbon in vehicles and other applications due to its light weight compared to steel. The most prominent author in this area is Subodh Das, ex-Secat president, and previously researcher for ARCO Aluminium and Alcoa.Secat homepage Aluminium Answers, Resources Accessed 14/05/10
However, the 'light car' technology is not as foolproof as Secat has attempted to present, as Mercedez Benzspokeswoman Edith Meissner notes when asked about lighter aluminium cars:
:"It [aluminium] is very complex to produce and difficult to process." "In the current environmental discussion, it should not be forgotten that it takes a lot of energy to produce aluminium."Jens Meiners, 2007. 'New CO2 rules to help aluminium makers; Study credits big cut in greenhouse gas to increased use of metal', Automotive News Europe, February 19, 2007
A critique of aluminium Life Cycle Assessment promoted by Secat can be found at the European Aluminium Association page.
==History==
==Affiliations==
===National Laboratories===
To boost its resources and reputation, Secat works with the Department of Energy National Laboratories "to bring these national intellectual treasures to U.S. aluminium companies, enabling them to compete in the global market."Secat homepage Affiliates, national laboratories Accessed 14/05/10
Secat has 'Memoranda of Understanding and Work for Others' agreements in place with several USA National Laboratories, covering intellectual property and business arrangements. These laboratories have been identified as having specific equipment and staff expertise of value to the aluminium industry.Secat homepage Affiliates, national laboratories Accessed 14/05/10 
*Albany Research Center 
*Argonne National Laboratory 
*Oak Ridge National Laboratory
*Pacific Northwest National LaboratorySecat homepage Affiliates, national laboratories Accessed 14/05/10
===Government bodies===
*U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory 
*U.S. Department of Energy which is also steward of US nuclear weapons.
*Industrial Technologies Program partnership between Dept of Energy and US industry
*Industrial Technologies Program: Aluminium Energy Dept and aluminium industry working together as part of the Industry of the Future partnership programme. Helping the aluminium industry to achieve economic, energy and environmental gains.
*Industrial Technologies Program: Hydrogen partnership for Hydrogen cell car research.
*Asia-Pacific Partnership 'clean' energy promotion body. 37% of world energy producers are members.
*Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development
*Kentucky Division of EnergySecat homepage Affiliates, Government bodies Accessed 14/05/10 
===Universities/research bodies===
*University of Kentucky through their colleges of Engineering and Manufacturing, and also their
*Center for Aluminium Technology (est 1999)
*Gatton College of Business and Economics hosted by the University of Kentucky 
*Sloan Industry Center for a Sustainable Aluminum Industry 
*Illinois Institute of Technology 
*Lehigh University Institute for Metal Forming led by Prof. Wojciech Misiolek 
*University of Michigan 
*University of Missouri-Rolla previously Missouri School of Mines
*University of Tennessee
*University of Alabama
*Tennesee Technological UniversitySecat homepage Affiliates, Universities Accessed 14/05/10 
===Organisations===
*The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation 
*Sloan Industry Center for a Sustainable Aluminium Industry
*The Aluminium Association
*Aluminium Extruders Council
*ASM International 
*Associated Industries of Kentucky 
*ESI Group
*Edison Welding Institute
*Granta Design
*IMR Test Labs
*Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium
*Kentucky Chamber of Commerce 
*Kentucky Manufacturing Assistance Center 
*Korea Institute of Materials Science
*Lexington Chamber of Commerce 
*Light Metal Age (magazine)
*Louisville Chamber of Commerce 
*McConnell Technology & Training Center 
*Six Sigma and Advanced Controls 
*The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society 
*Westmoreland Mechanical Testing & Research, Inc. Secat homepage Affiliates, Organisations Accessed 14/05/10
==Principle Customers==
Clients are some of the major companies from the aluminium industry as well as oil, coolants, construction, chemicals, automotive, consulting and electrical industries.
They include:
*Mitsubishi Electric
*Norsk Hydro
*Gerson Lehrman Group
*General Motors
*ExxonMobil Chemical
*Dubai Aluminium Company
*Century Aluminium
*Caterpillar
*British Petroleum
*ARCO Aluminium 
*Alcoa
*Alcan
*Alba (Aluminium Bahrain)Secat homepage Customers Accessed 14/05/10
==People==
===Board of Directors in May 2010===
*Denis Ray President & CEO (previously Alcoa and Reynolds Aluminium)
*Mike HarrisBoard Chairman 2006-2009. Retired President/CEO Logan Aluminium, Inc.
*Dr Thomas W. Lester Board Vice-Chairman. Dean, College of Engineering, University of Kentucky. 
*Matt Aboud Managing Director Hydro Aluminium Casthouse Products.
*Tom Brackmann President Nichols Aluminum.
*Donald Ray Carey President Ohio Valley Aluminium Company, LLC.
*Luther Deaton, Jr. President & CEO Central Bank & Trust Co.
*Alan Dick Sr. Vice President Aleris International
*Patrick Franc President ARCO Aluminium, Inc
*Scott Goodrich Vice President, Technology Alcan Rolled Products 
*Len Heller Vice President UK Office for Comm. & Econ. Dev
*Fred Mudge Chairman R.J. Corman Railroad Group
*Matt Powell Plant Manager Century Aluminium
*Randy Schumaker Chief Management Officer Logan Aluminium
*J. Phil Tays Executive Vice President of Mfg Operations Wise AlloysSecat homepage Board of Directors Accessed 14/05/10
*Dr Subodh Das ex President and most published academic of Secat.Secat homepage Aluminium Answers, Resources Accessed 14/05/10
===Board of Directors in Feb 2012===
*Patrick M. Franc Board Chairman 2011. President ARCO Aluminum, Inc
*Dr Thomas W.Lester Board Vice-Chairman. Dean, Univ. of KY College of Engineering
*Alan Dick Board Vice-Chairman. Sr. Vice President Aleris International
*Dan DeVeau President & CEO. Secat, Inc.
*Tom Brackmann President Nichols Aluminum
*Luther Deaton, Jr. President & CEO Central Bank & Trust Co.
*C. Mike Harris Retired President/CEO Logan Aluminum, Inc.
*Len Heller Vice President UK Office for Comm. & Econ. Dev.
*Todd Johnson VP of Technical Serv. Alexin, LLC
*Wesley Oberholzer Exec VP/COO Wise Metals Group
*Randy Schumaker Chief Management Officer Logan AluminumSecat website, About Secat Board Accessed 08/02/2012
===Staff===
*Todd Boggess Business Manager
*Shridas Ningileri Director, Center for Aluminium Technology
*Dr Chenghe Xiao
*Dr Xiyu Wen
*Randall Bowers
*Yufu Wang
*Dr Yansheng Liu
*Dr Lirong Tong
*Dr Xiaoxuan Li
*Sherri Hackworth Secat homepage Staff Accessed 08/02/2012
==Funding==
==Clients==
==Publications==
==Contact==
1505 Bull Lea Road
Lexington, KY 40511
*TEL: (859) 514-4989
*FAX: (859) 514-4988
*info@secat.net
==Resources==
==Notes==
Category:Climate
Category:Aluminium Industry
Category:Mining and Metals Category:Mining and Metals: Industry-Friendly Experts