A breakthrough came in 1924 with Norwegian engineer Carl Wilhelm Söderberg’s invention of the continuous self-baking anode. This innovation enabled larger cells and higher currents, dominating the industry until the 1950s. However, the resurgence of prebaked anodes—driven by advancements in vibration molding and automation—marked a turning point. By the 1980s, prebaked anode cells supported currents of 280–350kA, with modern systems now reaching 500kA.