Beyond aluminium smelting capacity, we propose to incentivise emissions cuts to support wider decarbonisation: Ed Boyd, Mission Possible Partnership
As the European Council seeks political alignment on the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), the debate over how to accelerate aluminium decarbonisation in bringing emissions accounting and demand for low-carbon metal into focus. Against the backdrop of Mission Possible Partnership’s (MPP) open letter, AL Circle speaks with Ed Boyd, MPP’s Global Policy Lead, about the policies needed to support the European aluminium industry’s transition. Boyd argues that effective decarbonisation must account for emissions from alumina refining and track Scope 2 emissions associated with purchased electricity. On mandatory green procurement and lead-market thresholds of at least 50 per cent for aluminium, he says producers are ready to supply low-carbon metal at scale and considers the proposed threshold...
EU-India FTA, CBAM and carbon costs: Can Indian aluminium crack the European market?
A former Deputy Secretary General of the European Parliament and Director of the EPP Group, Paolo Licandro, has extensive experience in European policymaking, international relations, industry, energy and EU affairs. He is currently the Founder and CEO of eEuropa Belgium and Editor of eEuropa.Blog. He has worked with European prime ministers, ministers and EU commissioners and has held senior roles covering EU enlargement, Mediterranean and Middle East relations, and industry, research and energy. A nuclear engineer, he holds a master’s degree from Politecnico di Milano and has worked with ENI, ARS-Pragma and the EU Joint Research Centre. In this interview, Paolo Licandro shares his perspective on EU–India aluminium trade, CBAM and the opportunities for Indian producers in Europe. AL...
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“Our equipment has state-of-the-art technology, from high-efficiency melting systems to energy recuperators that we sometimes use to heat and clean scrap.” Julio Quintero, Business Development Manager at HORMESA, Hornos y Metales S.A.
AlCircle: Please share your innovations and trendsetting case studies on nonferrous foundry equipment, especially aluminium. Julio Quintero : Our studies on the current economy and trends in the aluminium industry are directly focused on three aspects. Increased aluminium recovery efficiencies reaching up to 98% melting efficiency with our current technologies Management and treatment of scrap. We believe that good practices are the basis of good efficiency. Energy recovery systems to make processes and companies more efficient. Our goal is to put our customer forefront of the future economy AlCircle: What is the reason you think your turnkey projects are highly specialized? In your opinion, what was their USP? Julio Quintero: Our approach to the market and our customers is totally...
“In sustainability solution digital transformation helps to predict potential environmental consequences by analyzing more and more data through ML and AI tools”, Annanya Agarwal, Co-Founder & CEO of Runaya
Annanya leads the sustainability practice, where he aims to create technologically advanced and sustainable solutions for the resources and material sciences sector. Annanya understands the need to make collective efforts toward the earth with an eye for sustainability and overall societal growth. Under his leadership at Runaya Refining, the company has achieved various milestones in less than five years of its operations. During this time, he has been extensively involved in the project of Restora and has also been undertaking many Greenfield projects. Annanya strongly believes that with Runaya, he can solve the biggest resource sector issue and build a greener tomorrow. Annanya comes with a rich global experience across varied fields in renowned companies, including Boston Consulting...
“Industries like alumina are challenging to decarbonize because alumina refineries require huge quantities of heat 24/7, often at high temperatures.” Jeremy Keller, SVP of Business Development at Rondo Energy
Jeremy brings to Rondo Energy a high level of expertise in taking energy projects from ideation through deployment, including evaluation of facility energy data, financial modelling and technical scope development. Before joining Rondo, Jeremy spent ten years with the leading renewable energy and energy efficiency company Ameresco, where he developed and delivered hundreds of projects for commercial and industrial businesses. He is a licensed mechanical engineer in the State of Washington with expertise in the design and technical applications of energy storage, solar photovoltaics, microgrids, renewable natural gas and HVAC systems. Jeremy earned an MBA from Oregon State University and bachelor’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Physics from the University of Washington. AlCircle:...
“At Innoval, we believe innovation is a key in positioning aluminium as the material of choice in the circular economy,” Professor Michael (Mike) Cinch, Senior Consultant & Materials Group Leader at Innoval
Professor Michael (Mike) Cinch is a Senior Consultant & Materials Group Leader at Innoval. He attained a PhD in Materials Engineering and Materials Design at the University of Nottingham after receiving an Industrial Fellowship from the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851. In addition to his background in applied materials research, product development and process engineering, Mike has extensive experience in strategic planning, technology road mapping and innovation management from his time in senior leadership positions in business units in the US and Europe. Mike is also a Visiting Professor of Materials Innovation and Sustainability at Loughborough University and is a passionate advocate of collaboration and partnerships to drive the development and commercialisation of new...
“Aludium’s transition into a leader in sustainability began in 2015 with the decision to invest significantly in internal aluminium scrap recycling activities to reduce the amount of primary metal input.” Sam Kinsman, Vice President, Strategy & Transformation at Aludium
Sam Kinsman leads Strategy & Transformation at Aludium. He is a member of the Executive Committee and is responsible for the company-wide “ONE Aludium” program focused on Commercial Excellence, Operational Productivity, and Sustainability. Prior to Aludium, Sam held several transformations, sales, finance, and operational leadership positions at Iconex, a global paper & label converting business. Previously he worked in M&A investment banking at Goldman Sachs in New York and transaction advisory at PWC in São Paulo. Sam is a U.S. citizen and is based in Alicante, Spain. AlCircle: Please share the innovative journey of Aludium in the global aluminium sector. What are the contributions of Aludium regarding a sustainable future? Sam Kinsman: Aludium has more than 65-year history in the...
“We are defining the industry’s service standard for the monitoring & analytics of all types of industrial machines through our leading energy efficiency & health analytics platform for industrial assets.” - Nanoprecise
Nanoprecise solutions strive to create 360-degree integrated systems that can predict the remaining useful life of any asset and empower users with the right data across several industries. We implement cutting-edge technology to bring to our clients accurate prognostic and diagnostic solutions that can predict the remaining useful life of any asset with up to 99% accuracy. AlCircle: Can you please introduce Nanoprecise to our readers? Nanoprecise: Nanoprecise Sci Corp is an automated AI-based predictive maintenance solution provider that facilitates early detection of even small changes in machine operations before they impact production or cause downtime. Nanoprecise specializes in implementing Artificial Intelligence and IIoT technology for predictive asset maintenance and reducing the...
“We have also been able to produce aluminium foils up to 5.35 microns in the shortest amount of time which is the thinnest foil produced in this segment till now in India. This will become a new trend-setting fact in the aluminium foil packing arena.” Anil Vitankar Business Head at LSKB Aluminium Foils Pvt Ltd
AlCircle: Founded in 2018, than Covid pandemic impacted global business. What is your secret to remaining confident of becoming the leading aluminium foil/foil-based comprehensive packaging solutions provider? LSKB: Aluminium foil being admitted as the gold standard for packaging, especially in the pharmaceutical industry, for its excellent barrier properties offered the most logical solution to some of the needs in the post Covid era. When the Pandemic hit in March 2020, the food & beverages segment nosedived and simultaneously, the pharmaceutical industry bailed out the aluminium foil industry. Given its excellent barrier properties and being admitted as the gold standard for packaging, the Pharmaceutical Industry lapped up aluminium foils giving it exponential growth. This demand for...
“Nowadays, not only does the equipment have to do its tasks, but it also needs to communicate with the plant and eventually make decisions with more AI.” Éloïse Harvey, CEO at EPIQ Machinery
AlCircle: Please share EPIQ Machinery's innovative equipment solutions, which are on trend to improve an aluminium smelter's handling and process flow. Éloïse Harvey: Under the MECFOR brand, we have the Molten Metal Transfer by Pressurization (MMTP) that gains in popularity every year. Our customers see a true benefit in their output and the quality of metal produced. Also, the brand will soon deliver new casthouse dedicated equipment: Mecfor Furnace Vehicle (MFV10). With its unique design, the SmartConnect feature and MECFORLink, this equipment is an excellent addition to our Smart Casthouse Solutions. The vehicle will show great manoeuvrability with a high-loading capacity. The operator cab can be lifted to ensure good vision for the operator. As for AD, the brand is increasing the...
“The fluctuation in European aluminium prices resulted in a spike of 40% in our import cost”, Mohammad Abdullatif Ismail General Manager Napco National
Mohammad Abdullatif Ismail, a detail-oriented General Manager with a proven history of workforce optimization through morale-boosting and process automation. He is passionate and results-oriented carrying more than 18 years of experience boosting the performance of sales, supply chain, procurement and manufacturing operations. Furthermore, he is strategic and innovative with an eagerness for driving flexible packing products development, realization and commercialization with an emphasis on aluminium, paper and plastic-based products. AlCircle: How the fluctuation in European aluminium price has impacted your import cost of aluminium foil from the region? Md Abdullatif Ismail: Basically, the fluctuation in European aluminium prices resulted in a spike of 40% in our import cost....
''In 2022 we are focusing more on increasing the competence of employees, marketing, optimizing production and operating costs''. Kamran Gulamov, CEO at AKFA Group Holding
Kamran Gulamov is the CEO of AKFA Group Holding, the largest aluminium extrusion manufacturer in Uzbekistan. The top executive began his career in 2012 with a job in the company's warehouse and then engaged in procurement. Since 2015, he led the construction of the BENKAM plant for the production of aluminium profiles. Following the launch of the site, he started managing the enterprise. In 2020, Kamran Gulamov was appointed as Chief Executive of AKFA Group Holding and is responsible for the company's development strategy. AlCircle: As the largest aluminium extrusion company in Uzbekistan, how would you rate your performance for 2021? Kamran Gulamov: 2021 was a record year for AKFA Group in terms of production and sales. The reasons for such indicators are related to COVID-19 and the...
“In supporting sustainability, digitalization not only supports efficiency and growth but also helps our sustainability agenda. It also assists us with systems and tools to monitor our progress with increased accuracy through primary data and improved calculations”, Saint Francis Tohlang, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Director at Nestle East and Southern Africa (ESAR)
Saint-Francis Tohlang is the Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Director for Nestlé East & Southern Africa Region, which comprises 23 countries. At 33, Tohlang is the youngest member of the Executive Committee of Nestlé East & Southern Africa Region. He holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences Honours degree from Rhodes University and a Master of Arts from the University of Cape Town. His career spans different fields such as communications, innovation management, trend analysis and professional services, specialising in go-to-market strategy. AlCircle: Can you tell us what more Nestle is going to do in the coming days when it comes to digital transformation? Saint Francis Tohlang: Our industry is transforming into one that is driven and shaped by data and technology. We are focusing...
“Our FSW welding head for CNC and FSW spindle for robot technology is fully integrated with the digital transformation of the aluminium industry”, Laurent Dubourg, Co-founder & CEO of Stirweld
Laurent Dubourg the co-founder and the CEO of Stirweld, a deep-tech created in 2017 with the aim to democratize Friction Stir Welding all around the world. He worked as an R&D engineer at IREPA Laser for five years in developing laser cladding and additive manufacturing processes for automotive applications. Then Laurent did a PhD thesis on 'Laser cladding of aluminium substrate and the development of the associated metallurgical coatings' at the National Research Council of Canada. At the CNRC, he was responsible for Friction Stir Welding – FSW Program development and laser welding applications. AlCircle: Stirweld was founded in 2017 based on Friction Stir Welding (FSW). What has been your journey to success in the world of technology? Laurent Dubourg: Indeed, Stirweld was created in...
“The shift is happening in India, but globally aluminium is the standard for high-speed, semi-high speed and metro coaches”, Prithish Chowdhary, CMO, Titagarh Group
AlCircle had the opportunity to interview Mr Prithish Chowdhary, Chief Marketing Officer of Titagarh Group, and the discussion centered on manufacturing aluminium train coaches. AlCircle: Can you tell us about Titagarh's journey with its state-of-the-art manufacturing of aluminium coaches, which are used globally? Prithish Chowdhary: In order to properly answer the question, we need to tell a bit about the background, of where Titagarh actually started. So, when we started as a wagon manufacturer in 1997, our capacity was very minor, something about half a wagon per day at then and since then we managed to establish ourselves as the largest wagon manufacturer in the country. Because of these changes in the wagon industry in about 2007-2008 we acquired a factory in Hind Motor Complex,...
“A digital transformation and partnership with aluminium end-users is the only way the aluminium industry can be fully transparent along the entire value chain. To help meet this imperative, we created START—the first digital sustainability label for the aluminium industry”, Paramita Das, Head of Metals and Minerals, Marketing and ESG at Rio Tinto
Paramita Das is a global executive with extensive experience in the commodities sector (metal, oil, and gas). She leads market development for aluminium globally and the establishment of a more customer-centric approach in the Americas. Before her work in the aluminium marketing and development space, Paramita was the Chief of Staff to the CEO of Rio Tinto and Chief Transformation Officer for the Atlantic Operations for the Aluminium segment with Rio Tinto. Paramita joined Rio Tinto in 2015, before which she worked with companies including Sumitomo Corporation and BP. She is a passionate advocate for ESG and inclusion. AlCircle: Why digital transformation is the key to sustainability? What is Rio Tinto's aluminium business doing to make progress towards this? Paramita Das: Aluminium...
“We offer holistic digitalisation solutions, enhancing safety, productivity, availability and efficiency not only for a particular equipment or system but for the overall plants,” Alexis Fredrich, Digital Business Leader of REEL International
AlCircle: How is Digital Transformation taking place at REEL International? Alexis Fredrich : At REEL, we always try to integrate the latest innovations in order to improve our equipment and enhance our customer’s satisfaction with evolving systems and services. We work every day to preserve our leadership on the markets, and the 4th industrial revolution is a challenge we are considering seriously and proactively. For a few years already, we have been delivering digital solutions: Connected equipment, Remote monitoring systems, Assisted reality helmet for instantaneous remote support, Tracking Solutions, Video analysis, virtual reality, Digital commissioning system, etc. are part of our portfolio. As example, the REEL AMS (Anode Management System) provided by REEL NKM Noell is a solution...
“Digitalisation is vital in increasing the efficiency of aluminium extrusion production,” Christian Ferman, Senior Electrical Engineer and project manager of Granco Clark
Christian Ferman is a Senior Electrical Engineer and project manager with 12 years’ experience in the design of control systems, embedded systems, and safety systems for Granco Clark. He is also a certified Safety Engineer with a CMSE accreditation. He graduated from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Let us here from him his opinion on digital transformation in the aluminium industry. AlCircle: How do you incorporate digitalisation in every stage of developing aluminium extrusions equipment? Christian Ferman : Digitalisation is a vital part of Graco Clark’s software development process. Our company has spent thousands of hours of intensive testing and data collection, to produce the most cutting-edge software in the industry...
“Digitization is an essential tool for utilizing data streams which make the process more efficient, reduce energy consumption and contribute to our sustainability objectives”, Geir Sandnes, Head of Digital Production Support, Technology & Operational Support at Hydro Aluminium Metal
Geir Sandnes heads Hydro Aluminium Metal's Digital Production Support, Technology, and Operational Support department. Before starting this role, he was part of the management team in Hydro Corporate IT with responsibility for the Digital Center of Excellence and Digital Plant Products across the business areas in Hydro. Digital Production Support is responsible and guarantor for several digital products in the production area at Hydro Aluminium Metal. The products range from control systems and sensors on the factory floor via production follow-up systems to data analysis platforms and information portals in the cloud. Products are mainly developed in-house at Hydro. The department has expertise in cybernetics, robotics, automation and software engineering. AlCircle: Could you tell us...
“We have seamlessly integrated several smart automations in our plant operations to improve efficiency, increase safety and reduce manual intervention. Our digital dashboards make use of smart analytics for real-time data and trend monitoring of various business operations using thermal image processing”, Abhijit Pati, CEO & Director at BALCO
Abhijit Pati is the Chief Executive Officer & Whole Time Director of Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (Balco). Abhijit Pati has been a name to reckon with the Aluminium industry for the past three decades. He joins Balco after an appreciable stint as Chief Executive Officer of Vedanta Limited, Jharsuguda. He comes with a rich experience and an illustrious career spanning over 30 years in the Aluminium Industry. An Alumni of Calcutta University, Abhijit Pati started his career as an engineer with Indian Aluminium Company (a subsidiary of ALCAN, a major Canadian aluminium Producer) in 1989. Later joined INDAL/HINDALCO, Hirakud, under the flagship of Aditya Birla Group of Industries and established himself as a frontline leader. As a young and budding professional in his early career, he was...
