In conversation with CANEX Aluminium at Aluminium 2026: Championing women in the industry

CANEX Aluminium, an Egypt-based manufacturer of aluminium extrusions and die-cast components, won the Women With Metal – Champion Company award on 6 October 2026 at ALUMINIUM 2026 in Düsseldorf, Germany. The recognition came during the second edition of Women With Metal – The ALUMINIUM Awards, held at the Conference Theatre in Hall 7a on the opening day of the trade fair at Messe Düsseldorf.

The award recognises organisations demonstrating an outstanding commitment to empowering women and fostering a more inclusive and supportive industry. CANEX was shortlisted alongside Speira GmbH, ISOLPACK SPA, and Steel and Alloy Processing / Gonvarri Steel Services.

The recognition also highlighted the contribution of CANEX's QHSE Manager, Rasha Othman, who was a finalist in three individual categories: Role Model, Unseen Impact, and Women With Metal - Champion Individual.

During ALUMINIUM 2026, AL Circle team met with Mutassem Daaboul, Managing Director of CANEX Aluminium, and Rasha Othman to discuss the company's approach to women's empowerment, the changes it has introduced within its workforce, and its ambitions for a more inclusive aluminium industry.

To know the global production, demand and consumption forecasts of aluminium extrusions, explore our report "The World of Aluminium Extrusions to 2035"

Creating opportunities rather than barriers

For Daaboul, the award represents more than a moment of recognition. It reinforces the company's commitment to its values and the importance of providing women with opportunities to contribute and lead.

"We are very grateful to the organisers of the award for recognising CANEX as a recipient of this award," he said. He added that the recognition was a testament to the contribution of the company's people and a reassurance that CANEX was adhering to its values.

One of the company's notable workforce figures is that nearly 40 per cent of its positions are held by women, according to Daaboul. Their participation reflects an approach centred on giving women the opportunity to decide which roles they want to pursue, rather than making assumptions about their capabilities.

Recalling the company's early experiences with female applicants, Daaboul acknowledged that he initially questioned whether certain jobs were suitable for women. A conversation with the human resources team changed his perspective. "I just gave them opportunities. I didn’t block them," he explained.

The principle is straightforward: women should be able to assess the demands of a role and make their own decisions about whether to take it on. Whether the position involves physically demanding tasks or working night shifts, the decision should not be made for them based on gender.

"If they want to work in a night shift, they can work in a night shift. If they don't want to work in a night shift, it's upto them," he said.

For CANEX, creating an inclusive workplace begins with allowing women to compete for opportunities on fair terms, with the freedom to make decisions about their own careers.

Women in technical and leadership roles

An important part of CANEX's approach has been recognising women's capabilities through responsibility and measurable contributions. Daaboul pointed to the appointment of the company's first female quality manager as a significant milestone.

He described the appointment as a major initiative that helped demonstrate the impact women can make in technical positions. The quality manager's work in securing certifications that Daaboul said were unprecedented in the region also established a benchmark for other businesses.

According to him, competitors have since approached CANEX to learn from its experience, request presentations and understand how they could achieve similar results.

"We love healthy competition," he said, noting that the company welcomes opportunities to share its knowledge and experience with others in the industry.

This willingness to collaborate demonstrates how individual achievements can have a wider impact. When women succeed in technical and managerial roles, they help challenge existing perceptions and create examples that other companies can follow.

CANEX has also seen a change in women's representation at industry exhibitions. Daaboul recalled that, in 2024, only one Egyptian company participated in the company's first exhibition experience of this kind. By ALUMINIUM 2026, he had seen four additional Egyptian companies participate.

For CANEX, these changes are an opportunity to encourage more Egyptian women to become involved in the aluminium industry and to make their contributions more visible.

Building confidence through trust and autonomy

Providing opportunities is only one part of the equation. CANEX's approach also involves giving women the responsibility and autonomy to contribute to business decisions.

Discussing women's involvement across the organisation, Daaboul highlighted functions such as supply chain, human resources and upcoming projects. He emphasised that employees are free to raise questions and seek support, with the company's HR team playing an active role in facilitating participation. This approach reflects a broader belief that women should not simply be present in the workplace but should also have the freedom to influence how the business operates.

"We give them our trust. We give them autonomy to make decisions. And we are here today because of them," Daaboul said.

The company's award win, therefore, serves as an opportunity to demonstrate what can happen when women are trusted with meaningful responsibilities and supported in their professional development.

Read our latest magazine “ALuminium’s Frontline: OEM Edition 2026” and learn how OEMs are transforming critical aluminium applications across end-use sectors.

Changing perceptions of women in heavy industry

The aluminium industry involves physically demanding work, complex manufacturing processes and heavy machinery. These characteristics can reinforce assumptions about which roles are suitable for women. Daaboul believes that such perceptions need to change.

When asked what he would like to change about the way people view women working in this industry, he emphasised the importance of self-belief.

"They just have to believe in themselves," he said.

For CANEX, the answer is not to lower expectations or create separate standards for women. Instead, it is to ensure that women have access to opportunities, the confidence to pursue them and the support required to succeed.

Daaboul also stressed the importance of recognising the complementary qualities that men and women can bring to the workplace. Understanding these differences, he suggested, can help organisations make better use of the expertise and perspectives available within their teams.

Inspiring the next generation of women in aluminium

Looking ahead, Daaboul believes that the industry has an important role to play in encouraging more women to pursue technical education and careers in manufacturing.

Collaboration with schools and universities could help introduce young women to the opportunities available in aluminium and other industrial sectors. Talks, mentoring and exposure to successful professionals could help challenge misconceptions before they influence career choices.

He also shared an example of a woman in the company whose educational journey has been supported through her connection with CANEX. After receiving support to pursue her education and develop computer skills, she began working in an administrative role with the company. Her ambition is to pursue further studies and eventually become an engineer.

For Daaboul, her journey is a source of inspiration and an example of how access to education and opportunity can help people work towards their ambitions. He also spoke about his aspiration for “Engineer Rasha”, as Daaboul addresses her, to become CANEX's CEO one day, reflecting the importance of creating an environment where women can aspire to the highest levels of leadership.

Such ambitions highlight the value of looking beyond immediate employment opportunities towards long-term professional growth.

Recognition as a starting point

CANEX Aluminium's Women With Metal - Champion Company award is a recognition of its efforts to support women in a traditionally male-dominated industry. However, Daaboul sees the award as an opportunity to encourage broader change rather than as an endpoint.

He expressed gratitude to the organisers for recognising companies that believe in the contribution of female employees and leaders. He hopes that CANEX's experience will encourage other businesses to adopt similar practices.

For the wider aluminium industry, his message is clear: inclusion requires more than statements of intent. It depends on providing fair opportunities, trusting employees with responsibility, supporting their ambitions and making successful women visible as role models.

As the industry continues to evolve, companies that invest in their people and create opportunities for a broader range of talent can help build a more inclusive and capable workforce. CANEX's achievement at ALUMINIUM 2026 offers one example of how that commitment can translate into action - and how recognising women's contributions can inspire the next generation to see a future for themselves in aluminium.

Rasha Othman: The power of trust and opportunity

For Rasha Othman, CANEX Aluminium’s QHSE Manager, the Women With Metal recognition is a deeply personal milestone. A finalist in three individual categories - Role Model, Unseen Impact, and Women With Metal - Champion Individual - the award reflects years of work, support and professional growth.

"I can't explain how I feel because this award is a reflection of a long period of time. It's very, very, very good for me. I thank for the support, trust and inspiration from my manager," Othman said.

She emphasised that being given an opportunity and, more importantly, being trusted to deliver made a significant difference to her professional journey.

"As I told you, he gave me a chance when no one else did. He gave me the trust that I could do it. Based on this trust in me, I tried, and I did it. Without his support, I doubt I could have achieved the same results," she added.

Her words highlight an important aspect of women's advancement in the aluminium industry: creating opportunities is only the beginning. Trust, encouragement and the freedom to take responsibility are equally important in enabling women to demonstrate their capabilities and progress into leadership roles.

Othman's experience also reflects the approach described by Managing Director Mutassem Daaboul, who believes in allowing women to decide which roles they want to pursue rather than limiting their opportunities based on assumptions about their capabilities.

Together, their perspectives underline how organisational commitment and individual support can translate into meaningful professional opportunities for women in a traditionally male-dominated sector.