Products functions in the rolled products industr

Alcoa of Australia functions in the mines, refineries and smelters, while its sister company Alcoa Australia Rolled Products functions in the rolled products industry. The process of manufacturing aluminium commences in Western Australia where the company has “Huntly and Willowdale bauxite mines in the Darling Range south of Perth. “ These bauxite mines sites provide the raw material for manufacturing aluminium, bauxite, to Kwinana, Pinjara, and Wagerup alumina refineries. Bauxite is composed of about 45-60% aluminium oxide, 12-30% water, and other contaminants (Metals Advisor, n.d, para.1). They refine bauxite to give yield to alumina (aluminum oxide) before it is turned into aluminum through the process of electrolysis. This involves incorporation of the Bayer Chemical process in the refineries. The alumina is extracted from the other impurities in bauxite in a solution of caustic soda that is then sieved to get rid of all insoluble components (European Aluminium Association, 2009). The alumina then precipitates from the soda solution, is cleaned in water and allowed to dry. Recycling of the caustic soda takes place. After calcination, a fine-grained white powder of alumina is formed.