“The opportunities in Asia are still tremendous if one compares the aluminium consumption per capita of different countries and regions,” Dr-Ing. Oliver Moos, Managing Director, CETAG – Casthouse Engineering and Technology AG

Oliver started his professional life as a mechanical draftsman at a leading supplier of casthouse equipment in 1985. He worked in various technical and commercial positions for the same company after further education at the University of Applied Sciences in Konstanz, Germany, and the University of Brasov in Romania.

Oliver became the Managing Director of CETAG in 2016. With its small but dedicated workforce, CETAG provides consulting services, project management, site services, and equipment to the aluminium industry worldwide.

AL Circle: Please brief us about your services and solutions to the aluminium casthouse. How do you help casthouse enhance production while reducing carbon emissions?

Dr-Ing. Oliver Moos: CETAG of Switzerland is an expert adviser in aluminium casthouse technology, offering its services worldwide to the aluminium industry. Cooperating with an outstanding network of specialists, in combination with CETAG’s in-house knowledge, allows understanding, analysis and evaluation of our customers’ needs, resulting in state-of-the-art solutions.

The main objective of an aluminium casthouse is manufacturing products of the highest standards in a safe and environmentally friendly way. This must be accomplished in the most cost-efficient way to allow for a sustainable production process. Capital investment, cost of labour, equipment operation, energy consumption, maintenance, and other factors must be closely evaluated, constantly monitored, and improved wherever possible. CETAG, together with its customers, is proud to be part of this process, resulting in long-term relationships.

We have realised over the years, that there are tremendous opportunities to reduce carbon emissions by simply assuring proper equipment set up and operation (for example having a combustion system set up properly …). Sometimes, this can be achieved with minimal investments compared to the benefits on production and environment.

AL Circle:What technologies and systems do you use for casthouse management and supervision?  Are the technologies integrated with artificial intelligence to reduce human intervention and ensure safety?

Dr-Ing. Oliver Moos: Over the years, we have been involved with a number of customers who already had a considerable set-up of sensors/software tools available to collect data and use them for the evaluation of their processes and efficiency. However, it become obvious to CETAG in recent years that casthouse operators and the management might not always be in a position to properly interpret the information collected correctly. That is where we bring in our expertise. Sometimes proper training and bench marking already helps to improve the situation. In a number of cases, new, state-of-the-art control systems/software had to be implemented for customers.

AL Circle: As you serve the aluminium casthouse globally, what growth opportunity do you foresee for the Asian industry in 2024 and beyond?

Dr-Ing. Oliver Moos: The opportunities in Asia are still tremendous if one compares the aluminium consumption per capita of different countries and regions. However, Asia will also see a consolidation of the overall aluminium consumption (China had a consumption per capita of approximately 6.6 kg in 2006 and is expected to reach approximately 28.7 kg in 2025). We expect, in fact, we already see a shift to produce higher quality products in Asia. Hence, the opportunities might not be so much found in the overall production of aluminium in Asia but might be more related to producing aluminium meeting higher / the highest standards. This is already the case in the P.R. China, which strategically developed the aluminium industry to be in a position to supply material for the C919 airplane (the first passenger plane developed in the P.R. China).

AL Circle: How do you plan to expand your business in the Asian market? Are you considering developing new technologies or solutions, particularly for the region?

Dr-Ing. Oliver Moos: We are presently supporting several customers in Asia with our casthouse expertise. Our support might be restricted to improving existing equipment or established processes. However, we are also supporting customers also in the management of new projects (establishing requirements, writing specifications / RFQs, …). Our expertise is more in the evaluation of technologies presently under development or on the market.

AL Circle: How much growth do you anticipate in the global aluminium casting industry in 2024?

Dr-Ing. Oliver Moos: We expect the aluminium industry to further grow during the coming years. E.g. the requirements of the transportation industry and personal mobility will create continued demand for this our industry.