X-ECO

X-ECO is the circular aluminium from E-MAX. Produced from 80 to 97% recycled post-consumer scrap in our own foundry in Kerkrade. The carbon footprint is 2.03 tCO₂e per tonne of aluminium, independently verified by DNV, 4x lower than the European average for primary aluminium production.

The same mechanical and surface properties as primary aluminium. No compromise on quality. Proven by more than ten years of scientific research by Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

Since 2008 we have been bringing alloys to market under the X-ECO brand, following years of intensive research and practical testing with recycled aluminium. Since then, demand for circular, low carbon aluminium has only grown.

X-ECO IN FIGURES

For E-MAX, “low carbon aluminium” is a number: 2.03 tCO₂e per tonne, calculated in accordance with ISO 14064-1 on a cradle-to-gate basis and verified by DNV. So that you as a procurement professional know exactly what you are buying and can demonstrate that to your own customers, auditors and permit authorities.

Customers in a wide range of sectors choose X-ECO because quality and verifiable sustainability go hand in hand.

The facts about X-ECO at a glance:

VIEW CERTIFICATES AND EPDs

Property	X-ECO
Carbon footprint	2.03 tCO₂e/t (DNV verified, ISO 14064-1)
Recycled content	80–97% post-consumer scrap
Verification scope	Cradle-to-gate
EPD available	X-ECO 6060 and X-ECO 6063
Quality standards	ISO 9001, IATF 16949
EN standards	EN-486, EN-515, EN-573, EN-602, EN-755, EN-12020, EN-15088
Scientific research	VUB, more than 10 years

Groepsfoto kopsekant van de verschillende profielen

ALUMINIUM PROFILES

E-MAX offers both hollow and solid profiles with extensive geometric possibilities. You can choose from standard profiles or have them…

Rijen met ronde metalen cilinders met een oranje streep van verf er doorheen

BILLETS

E-MAX has its own recycling facility (foundry) with a capacity of 80,000 tonnes of billets per year. Within the foundry,…

SUSTAINABILITY

Operating and producing in a sustainable manner are becoming increasingly important, and this is a development that E-MAX welcomes. Sustainability…

ALLOYS

E-MAX sells aluminium profiles and billets in various alloys. E-MAX billets and profiles are produced with a maximum input of…

Grote berg met oud metaal klaar om naar de shredder te brengen

RECYCLED ALUMINIUM

The production of primary aluminium requires a lot of energy and therefore has a huge environmental impact. E-MAX has deliberately…

CO₂ REDUCTION PLAN

Operating and producing in a sustainable manner are becoming increasingly important, and this is a development that E-MAX welcomes. Sustainability…

INFOGRAPHICS

We have condensed all of this information into a convenient summary. See the result and the effect on X-ECO premium circular aluminium at a glance.

DOWNLOAD INFOGRAPHIC

Why choose profiles with X-ECO alloy?

Extremely high quality

The name X-ECO conveys an important property of the product: equivalence. Because the properties of our sustainable, low carbon aluminium alloys are equivalent to those of primary aluminium.

Reducing CO2 emissions and energy consumption

Recycling of aluminium produces 60 to 80% less CO₂than the production of primary aluminium. Moreover, the resmelting of aluminium requires only 5% of the energy required for the production of primary aluminium.

Compliant with European standards

The properties of the X-ECO alloy are fully compliant with the following European standards: EN 486, EN 515, EN 573, EN 602, EN 755, EN 12020, and EN 15088.

Maximum percentage recycled aluminium

80% to 97% of the aluminium used to produce X-ECO has been recycled. The remaining amount is the primary aluminium. This is necessary in some cases to achieve the exact alloy composition.

Specific types available for building and construction applications

We recommend specific alloy types depending on your objectives. In addition, you always choose from a wide range of geometric profile cross-sections.

Local production, and therefore eco-friendly

The central location of our production sites offers benefits during processing and transport. Among other things, this means less environmental burden and lower transport costs.

Careful handling of the basic material and scrap

The recycled raw materials are carefully sampled and checked to achieve maximum reuse in the production process. This is done based on chemical composition and appearance. The advantage of this is that the correct chemical composition and recycling are always in balance, an approach that allows us to incorporate the highest possible percentage of recycled material.

Extremely accurate homogenization

In order to use billets optimally during the extrusion process, they are homogenized during the post-treatment. This is done in batch furnaces, where the variation in temperature never exceeds 5 °C. This process is monitored and regulated by temperature controllers.

Main process data are continuously measured, recorded, and archived

In accordance with the ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 quality standards, all individual process steps are continuously measured, recorded, and archived. That way, traceability is always guaranteed. You can rest assured that you will receive the best quality.

Mechanical properties

Due to the use of recycled material, X-ECO alloys are richer in alloy elements. The advantage is that a number of mechanical properties are more favourable than for primary aluminium. As a result, the same alloy can be used for multiple applications.

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH INTO THE QUALITY OF CIRCULAR ALUMINIUM

In collaboration with Vrije Universiteit Brussel, more than ten years of scientific research have been conducted into the quality of circular aluminium. This research confirms the performance of X-ECO in three areas:

A smooth, matt surface structure after etching. Given the right alloy composition and process parameters, a smooth, matt surface structure can be achieved.
Little colour variation after anodization. Good control over the etching process prevents colour differences.
Good resistance against filiform corrosion after powder coating. Good control over process parameters, coupled with the use of high-quality raw materials, leads to good resistance to filiform corrosion.

Aanzicht van een graafmachine wat scrap metaal in een smeltoven aan het kiepen is.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT X-ECO

What is the carbon footprint of X-ECO?
2.03 tCO₂e per tonne of aluminium, independently verified by DNV in accordance with ISO 14064-1 on a cradle-to-gate basis. That is 4x lower than the European average for primary aluminium production (8.0 tCO₂e/t, source: European Aluminium). EPDs are available for X-ECO 6060 and X-ECO 6063.

Is X-ECO as strong as primary aluminium?
Yes. The mechanical and surface properties are equivalent to those of primary aluminium, confirmed by more than ten years of scientific research by Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Due to the higher content of alloying elements, some mechanical properties are even more favourable than in primary aluminium.

How much recycled material does X-ECO contain?
80 to 97% recycled post-consumer scrap, depending on the alloy and product specification. The remaining portion consists of primary aluminium to achieve the exact alloy composition.

Is X-ECO CBAM compliant?
Yes. X-ECO is produced in Europe with full CO₂ documentation in accordance with CBAM requirements.

Which quality standards apply to X-ECO?
X-ECO complies with ISO 9001 and IATF 16949. All process steps are continuously measured, recorded and archived. Traceability per batch is always guaranteed.

Are EPDs available?
Yes. EPDs are available for X-ECO 6060 and X-ECO 6063. Download them via our certificates page.

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