(19)

(11)

EP 1 971 457 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 24.09.2008 Bulletin 2008/39 (21) Application number: 07702582.3 (22) Date of filing: 04.01.2007

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  B23K 1/00(2006.01) B23K 35/36(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/EP2007/000039 (87) International publication number: WO 2007/080068 (19.07.2007 Gazette 2007/29)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR (30) Priority: 11.01.2006 EP 06075068 (71) Applicants: Aleris Aluminum Koblenz GmbH 56070 Koblenz (DE) Aleris Aluminum Canada LP Cap-de-la-Madeleine, QC G8T 7W9 (CA)	(72) Inventor: WITTEBROOD, Adrianus, Jacobus NL-1991 HB Velserbroek (NL) (74) Representative: Müller, Frank Peter et al Müller Schupfner & Partner Patentanwälte Bavariaring 11 80336 München 80336 München (DE)