“Our commitment is to serve our customers by delivering optimal technological solutions tailored to their specific needs within our areas of expertise,” Associated Industrial Furnaces (P) Ltd. (AIFL)

Headquartered in Kolkata, Associated Industrial Furnaces (P) Ltd. (AIFL) operates from its central project office, strategically extending its presence nationwide through a robust network of regional and branch offices. Complemented by dedicated representatives strategically positioned in major metropolitan areas and key locations across India, AIFL ensures comprehensive coverage and accessibility throughout the country.

AL Circle: Can you provide an overview of your company's history and role in the aluminium casthouse equipment sector?

AIFL: Since its inception in 1988, Associated Industrial Furnaces (P) Ltd. (AIFL) has emerged as India's foremost furnace and ancillary equipment manufacturer, catering to both ferrous and non-ferrous industries. Bolstered by the technological expertise of Mechatherm International Limited, UK, renowned for their groundbreaking work in aluminium casthouse and recycling technology, and further strengthened by our exceptional in-house design, engineering, and project management capabilities, AIFL proudly holds its position as the undisputed leader in the Indian market.

AL Circle: Please highlight the key equipment and solutions that your company provides for aluminium casthouses.

AIFL: We develop creative, comprehensive, and sustainable engineering solutions for a future where society can thrive.

AIFL, in collaboration with Mechatherm, offers a wide array of equipment for both primary and secondary smelters. Our offerings encompass melting and holding furnaces, charging machines, degassing units, launder and filtration systems, DC casting machines, and related ancillary equipment, covering the entire value chain within the aluminium cast-house.

AIFL/Mechatherm specialises in furnaces designed to melt various clean and contaminated scraps/dross materials for secondary smelting. Our range includes:

• Dry-hearth de-ironing multi-chamber furnaces.
• Sidewall furnaces.
• Tilting and fixed-axis rotary melting furnaces.

AL Circle: What makes your casthouse equipment stand out in the market? How do they improve the efficiency and productivity of aluminium casting processes at smelters?

AIFL: Our rugged and time-tested furnace designs are meticulously tailored to meet each customer’s specific needs, ensuring optimal performance even under the most challenging and demanding operating conditions.

• Robust casing construction engineered to withstand mechanical and thermal stresses.
• Innovative door lifting system – Hydraulic or Electro-mechanical.
• Pneumatic door clamping for a secure seal, minimising heat leakage.
• Fume extraction hood above the door, ensuring an environmentally clean plant operation.
• Proven refractory lining tailored to suit the specific metal conditions, be it monolithic, brick, or precast blocks.
• Heating systems adaptable to the customer’s energy preference, including fuel oil (HFO, LDO, & LSHS), gas, or specialised radiant tube electrical heaters.
• Automatic Mass-flow-based Fuel/Air Ratio control or thyristor-controlled Electrical heating system for enhanced energy efficiency.
• Automatic furnace pressure control utilises a specially designed damper for improved heat transfer and minimal heat loss.
• Molten metal receiving is well equipped with a hot metal crucible tilting mechanism.
• Choice of manual or automatic control for molten metal transfer to the caster.
• Tailored PC/PLC-based SCADA control system featuring an intuitive HMI interface

AIFL has the capability to manufacture larger size/capacity of furnaces, which relates to high productivity of smelters.

AL Circle: What safety features do you incorporate into your equipment to ensure a secure working environment in casthouses?

AIFL: Associated Industrial Furnaces (P) Ltd. (AIFL) makes furnaces and other equipment, which are running through latest generation plc and automation system with state-of-the-art safety features to ensure safe and operators’ friendly operation.

AL Circle: What trends do you foresee in the development of aluminium casthouse equipment in the coming years?

AIFL: Customers are planning to enhance their manufacturing capabilities to produce high-quality products tailored to export markets. This includes producing specialised materials such as electric vehicle batteries, solar shells, and lightweight structures designed for automotive, mass transit, and railway applications.