Norwegian aluminum producer Norsk Hydro has initiated its first US university research collaboration, committing US$2.5 million over five years to the University of Michigan to set up the Center for Recycling, Extrusion and Aluminum Technology (CREATe).

The project will strengthen the US aluminum supply chain by advancing recycling methods and extrusion alloy development. Research will concentrate on creating alloys that maintain strength through multiple recycling cycles and tackle impurities such as iron.

This initiative adds to Hydro’s investment of more than US$1 billion in manufacturing within the US., including a new recycling plant and R&D center in Cassopolis, Michigan, and an extrusion press with better recycling capacity in Cressona, Pennsylvania.