Ma’aden-Alcoa JV first production-grade coil

The Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) and Alcoa announced Tuesday at a customer event that the rolling mill at their joint venture aluminum complex in Saudi Arabia has successfully produced its first production-grade coil. The mill at Ras Al Khair is the most technologically advanced in the region and the first in the Middle East capable of producing food grade can sheet, as well as sheet for automotive and building and construction applications.

The milestone marks the first production-grade packaging coil that will be shipped to customers for qualification. The state of art the mill is equipped with the latest in rolling mill technology, including fully automated coil and scrap transport and storage facilities, which feature driverless guided vehicles and cranes to optimize efficiency.

“Our mission is to build a minerals and metals industry in Saudi Arabia that contributes to sustainable economic diversification and shareholder value, while providing high value job opportunities for Saudis and a reliable supply of quality products to our global customers. We took a big step forward today,” said Khalid Mudaifer, President and CEO of Ma’aden. The mill complex also features a state of the art recycling facility, capable of processing every used beverage can generated within Saudi Arabia and the neighboring Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The Ma’aden Aluminum can reclamation facility has the capacity to recycle 120,000 mtpy of primarily used beverage cans and it will foster the beginning of a new recycling industry in Saudi Arabia.

The first production-grade coil marks another important step in bringing the fully integrated industrial complex to completion. — SG