RUSAL & SMS to collaborate on aluminium wire rod producing equipment using former’s technology

Leading aluminium producer UC RUSAL has announced the signing of a cooperation agreement with plants, machinery and services provider, SMS group, Germany.

The agreement entails coming together of both the companies to develop innovative continuous casting equipment  for aluminium wire rod production based on RUSAL’s proprietary technology of continuous casting, rolling and extrusion.

RUSAL’s technology produces special grades of aluminium wire rods in a novel manner that ensures high quality against all industry benchmarks.

According to the agreement, SMS group and UC RUSAL will develop a pilot equipment line already installed and field-tested at IrkAZ smelter. They will then proceed to sell the equipment commercially using SMS group’s network.

RUSAL’s technical director Victor Mann said, “Partnership with one of the largest industrial concerns in Europe is an important step for the development of the engineering and technological potential of both UC RUSAL and Russian intellectual developments in general. I am sure that cooperation with SMS group will become a powerful incentive for the popularization of Russian technologies abroad.”

“Intellectual leadership has long been a guarantee of competitiveness and business efficiency, so today’s event is aimed at strengthening the company’s position in the global market. Developing its own technologies, SMS group is always focused on providing its customers with the most unique developments, including in cooperation with our partners,” Head of Sales, SMS group, Patrick Schneider added.