AluChem to commission a low-soda alumina plant in 2015

In 2015, AluChem will launch a new line of low and ultra-low-soda aluminas focused toward ceramics and investment casting applications. This new high-purity alumina product portfolio will utilize proprietary purification technology in the production of low and ultra-low-soda calcined, reactive and tabular aluminas, which will complement AluChem’s already-established low-soda AC99 tabular alumina products.

The new low-soda operation will further enhance the company’s soda reduction capability by allowing soda removal on a large production-scale basis to levels below 0.05%. This feedstock will be used to produce low-soda calcined, reactive and tabular aluminas, which will expand AluChem’s product portfolio for the technical ceramics and investment casting industries.

AluChem’s low-soda alumina plant is an integral part of the company’s long-term strategy of investment in infrastructure, expansion and growth. Major projects in this plan include:

1. 2009 – AluChem commissioned an alumina calcining plant in Little Rock, AR.

2. 2011-2012 – AluChem built and commenced production of its second AC99 tabular alumina shaft kiln in Jackson, OH.

3. 2015 – AluChem will start up a new high-tech screening operation at its Cincinnati, OH location, focusing primarily on the precision screening of low-soda/low-iron, de-dusted products with tightly controlled particle size distributions.

4. 2015 – AluChem will begin operation of a world-class proprietary-technology low-soda alumina plant in Little Rock, AR.

Since inception in 1978, AluChem has established itself as a leading supplier of specialty aluminas to the ceramics industry. It operates three plants in the USA for the manufacture and supply of high-purity specialty alumina products into the ceramic, investment casting, refractory and polishing industries. AluChem’s dedication to the supply fundamentals of quality and service, coupled with the company’s innovative new products and processes, has positioned it as a mainstay for the future.