The UK secondary aluminium industry was shocked last week after FE Mottram (Non-Ferrous) Congleton was put into voluntary liquidation with immediate effect on June 22. “It’s not because of inefficiency; you can’t get any money, it’s cash flow and the withdrawal of credit insurance and no government support,” ceo Andy Smith told MB. The sector has been severely affected by the economic downturn as demand plummeted from its key consumer, the automotive industry. “The devastating effects of the economic conditions have been and will continue to be treacherous,” Smith told MB. The majority of the 60 staff at the 25,000 tpy plant were laid off at the close of business while a skeleton staff remain to wind down operations, according to Smith. “We will operate the plant into an orderly shutdown,” Smith said. The company, founded in 1973 by Frank Elliot Mottram and Peter...