CIAC to highlight opportunities for aluminium in transportation

If the demand for aluminium is surging, that is because important markets are in full expansion. The entire spectrum of transportation is the most promising and leads all sectors. To respond to the needs for energy efficiency and to meet the strictest environmental norms of the day, the newest generation of vehicles and equipment necessitates the use of a lighter, more durable and resistant material like aluminium. That explains the orientation of the upcoming Canadian International Aluminium Conference (CIAC) in Montreal June 2-4 at which all of these questions will be discussed in depth.

Three expert panels will examine the contribution of aluminium in road transportation, public transit and aerospace. The expertise of these participants will come from varied sources including Bombardier, Alstom, Héroux-Devtek; Sonaca; Marcon; Alcoa; All Raw Materials Consulting; la Société de gestion et d'acquisition de véhicules et systèmes de transport (AVT – company management and acquisition of vehicles and transport systems), National Research Council Canada (NRCC) ; SA2GE (Smart Affordable Green Efficient, The Coalition for Greener Aircraft) as well as Severstal who will compare aluminium with the use of steel products in these areas.

“A large number of automotive manufacturers, including those producing cars, public transit vehicles and aircraft, have gravitated to aluminium whose expanded usage is becoming universal. A few months ago, Ford announced that it would use aluminium to lower the weight of its iconic F150 by some 300 kilograms. A few weeks later, spokespersons for GM and Chrysler expressed a similar interest. This is definitely a new era for the aluminium industry, similar to that of the production of the first aluminium can in the 1950s,” said Jean Simard, President and General-Manager of the Aluminium Association of Canada.

Conference participants will have the privilege of seeing up close and even test-driving the SORA, the first all-electric, 100 per cent Quebec produced motorcycle. The attendees will also be privileged to attend a special presentation that could revolutionize future generations of batteries for electric automobiles. Dr. Raymond J. Kilmer, Executive Vice President and Head of Technologies with Alcoa, and Aviv Tzidon, President and Founder of Israeli company, Phinergy, will conduct the joint presentation.

The Canadian International Aluminium Conference (CIAC) – an initiative of the Aluminium Association of Canada (AAC) in collaboration with its partners Alcoa, Rio Tinto Alcan and Aluminerie Alouette, takes place in Montreal June 2-4 and will bring together top global experts to discuss all matters aluminium. This conference will discuss best practices, innovation, sustainable development and other strategic topics which will interest the decision-makers, hiring contractors, operators and suppliers in the industry, as well as industrial users.