Interviews
Pascal Mausset, Fives Services Europe Manager for Fives Aluminium Division, has been associated with the organisation for 22 years, including 15 years in the primary aluminium industry. In an interview with AL Circle for its e-magazine ‘Aluminium Industry: Focus Europe’, he discusses the decline in European production, each smelter’s responsibility to tackle the current circumstance and the importance of digital tools in process improvement.
AL Circle: As a leading process equipment and production lines supplier with headquarters in France, how have you contributed to the recent growth in European aluminium production with your advanced machinery and technology?
Mr Pascal Mausset: Production in Europe has been declining for several years, sometimes gradually with reduced output and sometimes more drastically with site closures. The recent signs of a restart present a complex challenge for our clients, who must address technical issues, such as restarting installations that have been idle for a long time, human resources challenges in recruiting and training a significant number of personnel in a tight labour market, as well as logistical and organisational hurdles.
This cycle of shutdowns and restarts, or at least these production reduction and increase phases, has been more prevalent in Europe than elsewhere in the world for years, requiring a specific response for each smelter. That’s why, at Fives, we decided in 2018 to create the entity I manage, a front office dedicated to European customers, with a team of specialists who maintain continuous contact with their clients.
For instance, one of our clients decided to take advantage of the energy crisis by shutting down an entire production line for a while and using the opportunity to modernise it with our teams. Today, this line is operational with equipment meeting the latest standards.
Another example is the development of a compact simulator to train operators on our Pot Tending Machines (PTM), reducing their training time and minimising the risks associated with direct training on the machine. This compact Simulator is perfectly suited for cases where there is a need to recruit many operators in a short period.
Developing digital tools in smelters is also a major challenge for us in making our clients more flexible when facing such events. We have developed and commissioned the SMARTCrane solution at several clients’ sites, which allows better control of pot operations performed by the PTM, optimising maintenance, and this on any machine as long as it is equipped with a PLC.
AL Circle: How do you envision the integration of digital technologies in equipment and machinery used in aluminium production in 2025 and beyond?
Mr Pascal Mausset: Fives is recognised by its customers as a leader in digital solutions tailored to their needs. For over 20 years, we have been convinced that digital technology is one of the answers to the challenges facing the industries of the future, by:
For instance, we have developed various digital Solutions: the Amelios suite for monitoring the anode process, SOFIA for anode inspection, MIREA for anode resistivity measurement, and our Smart tools (SMARTCrane, SMARTVibro...). They enable us to constantly optimise production processes. We are also working on Anode Tracking Systems (ATS), from the green anode to its correct position on the pot and finally to the return of the butt for analysis, an essential topic for our customers.
With this approach, Fives offers cutting-edge technologies that meet the current and future challenges of aluminium producers seeking higher-capacity, more flexible facilities while promoting more sustainable and responsible production.
To explore the full interview and gain deeper insights into the global aluminium market and how Quaker Houghton is contributing to its growth, click here.
