Rusal invests $5.6 million to launch new type of wire rod

<p>RUSAL, the leading global aluminium producer has announced the commissioning of a complex of furnaces for the hardening of wire rods at the Kandalaksha Aluminium Smelter for pilot production. The total level of investment into the project was USD 5.6 mln.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/rusalsmelter.jpg" alt="News" width="517" height="226" /></p> <p>The project, launched in March 2016, will enable the production of 6800 tonnes of wire rods from the 6101-T4 alloy per year, whilst also expanding the client base and increasing the competitiveness of RUSAL&rsquo;s products. Consumers of the KAZ hardened wire rods are both domestic and foreign manufacturers of cable products.</p> <p>The new complex is equipped with four state-of-the-art convection furnaces for hardening, a loading and unloading table, a transborder and two drying chambers. The special feature of the complex is that the rods will be hardened in a basin with water, allowing for a natural aging process. For three days after hardening in the water and drying, the crystal lattice acquires the properties needed for further processing.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alcircle.com/primary_aluminium/newscircle/general/detail/28445/the-wait-is-over-alcircle-exclusive-report-on-potline-failure-now-available-for-purchase" target="_blank"><img style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/buynow.gif" alt="News" width="480" height="84" /></a></p> <p>Evgeny Nikitin, Head of Aluminium Division at RUSAL, commented: &lsquo;The launch of the furnaces at the Kandalaksha smelter to produce a new type of wire rod is part of RUSAL&rsquo;s strategic plan to increase the share of value-added products.&rsquo;</p> <p>In March 2017, the Properzi rolling mill was put into pilot operation at KAZ, which allowed for the launch of seven new sizes of wire rod with a range of diameters - 9.5, 12, 14, 15, 19, 23 and 25mm. Until then, the smelter had only produced products of one diameter size &ndash; 9mm. The new rolling mill will ensure an output of up to 50,000 tonnes of value-added products a year.</p>