TRIMET invested 2.8 million euros in the project. The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region supported the modernization with 193,000 euros from the Relocation Pack program. The impact of the new technology was presented on January 23 during a visit by Emilie Bonnivard, member of parliament and regional councilor, accompanied by local elected officials.

"This investment is an important step toward achieving maximum efficiency in aluminum production," says Loïc Maenner, plant manager of TRIMET Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne. "With regenerative burner technology, we combine industrial innovation with the energy transition while strengthening the competitiveness of our site in the Savoie Alps."

Regenerative burners work on the principle of heat recovery: instead of venting hot exhaust gases unused, their thermal energy is stored in a heat exchanger and then used to preheat the combustion air. This significantly reduces the energy requirements of the gas burners and substantially lowers natural gas consumption as well as the foundry's CO2 emissions.

At the Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne site, around 600 employees produce 145,000 tons of electrolytic aluminum annually and cast 155,000 tons of aluminum products. The plant has been part of the TRIMET Group since 2014 and specializes in high-quality aluminum wire for the energy and automotive industries. Through measures to increase energy efficiency and expand recycling, TRIMET is pursuing the goal of producing aluminum in a climate-neutral manner by 2045 at the latest.