Rusal and GAZ to develop new machinery for aluminium industry

GAZ engineering division specialists are developing a pot crust breaking machine, metal handling trucks, alumina loading machines, and a stud cleaning unit. This project is a part of the large-scale modernisation programme held at Rusal’s operations and provides for the utilisation of advanced machinery and equipment for the process automation and labour productivity improvement purposes. The implementation of the joint project will enable Rusal to upgrade the aluminium production process in terms of safety and efficiency. The new prototypes will be tested at the Novokuznetsk, Krasnoyarsk and Bratsk aluminium smelters.

Following the testing of the prototypes, the Company will consider buying the new machines for all of its smelters. One of the possible options is to launch the manufacturing of the machines directly at Rusal's sites.

«A dynamic business development is impossible without a special engineering base in place. Together with GAZ Group we are going to develop the best design solutions to manufacture the machinery required by our operations. Some production operations which do not add value will be automated, while some will be excluded from the process completely. The introduction of purpose-built machinery to Rusal’s production facilities will raise the Company's efficiency as a whole», said Vladislav Soloviev, UC Rusal First Deputy CEO.