UAE primary aluminum industry again promoted in Europe

The profile of the UAE's primary aluminum industry has again been successfully raised in the European market, this time through the joint participation of Dubai Aluminum Company Limited and Emirates Aluminium Company Limited at the 12th International Foundry Trade Fair and WFO Technical Forum which took place in Dusseldorf, Germany from June 28th to July 2nd 2011.

Aiming primarily to grow sales volumes in Europe, the combined DUBAL and EMAL exhibition stand at GIFA 2011 highlighted the world class primary aluminum produced in the UAE and shipped across the globe. Particular focus was also placed on DUBAL's proprietary, sector leading DX Reduction Technology that has been implemented on industrial scale at both DUBAL and EMAL Phase I.

An entirely state-owned enterprise, DUBAL operates 1 million tonne per annum primary aluminum smelter at Jebel Ali, Dubai one of the largest single site operations of its kind in the world and in 2010 produced 1,002,414 tonnes of hot metal. The company is renowned internationally for its premium purity high quality products and services as well as its commitment to sustainable development through conscious efforts to maximize the health and safety of people, reduce the impact of its operations on the environment and invest in the social and economic development of the community.

Dedicated programs support the Emiratization goals of the UAE including targeted recruitment, skills development, management training and strategic career planning. Approximately 92% of DUBAL's annual production is exported globally, the company's key markets being Asia, Europe, the Middle East North Africa region and North America.

A Greenfield development, EMAL is being built in two phases at Al Taweelah, Abu Dhabi and is owned jointly by DUBAL and Mubadala Development Company. Energizing of EMAL Phase I, which has a total capacity of 750,000 tonnes per annum took place between December 1st 2009 and December 31st 2010 with full production being reached four months ahead of schedule, yet within budget.

The company already enjoys a strong reputation for sound safety management, wellbeing programs for its employees and adopting global best practices to minimize its environmental footprint the latter entrenched through the implementation of DX Reduction Technology, which offers enhanced energy efficiency and productivity levels yet lower environmental emissions than comparative technologies. These attributes are complemented by initiatives to harness Emirati talent through job creation, engaging the community in corporate activities and celebrating the national and cultural heritage of the UAE.

Given the specialized focus of GIFA 2011 as a foundry exhibition, the event featured diverse new automotive applications, particularly in terms of aluminum usage and the associated increase in the volume of aluminum used in vehicle manufacture. For DUBAL being one of the worlds largest and leading suppliers of foundry alloys to automotive parts manufacturers, GIFA 2011 thus provided an excellent opportunity to meet customers and elevate the joint strength of DUBAL and EMAL as suppliers of re melt foundry products to key markets across the globe.

Having first sold metal into Europe in 1996, DUBAL has already established a good share of the aluminum market in the region over the past 15 years. In 2011 the DUBAL and EMAL Marketing and Sales team anticipates selling about 445,000 metric tonnes of primary aluminum into Europe approximately 40% more than the total 252,000 tonnes sold in 2010.

Mr Abdulla Kalban president & CEO of DUBAL and vice chairman of EMAL said that "This growth trend reflects both the opportunity inherent in the European Union's need to import approximately 60% of its primary aluminum requirements and a growing appreciation of the stringent operating standards to which the UAE smelters adhere. Many downstream industries are placing greater emphasis on sustainability within their supply chain, a move that is making primary aluminum produced by companies such as DUBAL and EMAL inherently more attractive."