Alba’s new alloy targets construction industry

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com     

Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), one of the world’s largest aluminium smelters, has introduced a new alloy ‘6060.HE’ as part of its AA6060 alloy family that is aimed at the Company’s extruder customers.

Produced in a billet form with a wide range of applications in the construction sector, this new alloy has a faster extrusion rate that will improve the process efficiency and productivity for its users.

Alba’s new 6060.HE alloy has been developed in collaboration with the University of Bahrain in terms of enhancing the scientific research studies associated with this alloy production and Bahrain Aluminium Extrusion Company (BALEXCO), being one of the leading aluminium extrusion producers in the Region and Alba’s long-standing customer which provided extensive support in developing the 6060. HE alloy by way of field trials, visits, and technical feedback.

Commenting on this occasion, Alba’s Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali said, “We are pleased to be adding a new alloy to our range of products, a quality product that will enhance the performance and productivity of our customers as well as their competitiveness.

Proudly produced in Bahrain by lead national capabilities, we aim to advance with this new developed product our presence in new markets and boost it in the existing ones.

It has taken lots of efforts and hard work to get to where we are -- the 6060.HE alloy is the successful outcome of the collaboration between three leading Bahraini entities -- Alba, the University of Bahrain and BALEXCO -- which underlines the fifth priority of Alba’s ESG Roadmap ‘Collaboration and Partnerships’.”

Dr. Fouad Mohammed Al Ansari, the President of the University of Bahrain, said, “This collaboration resulted in the successful study that focussed on improving aluminium extrusion processes, and identifying new alloys that contribute to enhancing the quality and performance of manufactured extruded products.

The study relied on statistical experimental design methods to develop a model capable of predicting the ratios of additives to aluminium and provide optimal heat treatment.

He also emphasised that the results of this study will serve as a strong catalyst to enhance future scientific research in the aluminium industry.”

Adding further, BALEXCO’s Chairman Jassim Seyadi, said, “Alba has been our sole supplier of Aluminium Billets to be used for our extrusion presses and we are happy that we could partner with them and the University of Bahrain in the development and trials for the new 6060.HE alloy.”The newly developed billets have been tested at BALEXCO and the usage of these billets helps in improving the extrusion speed and overall production efficiency without compromising on the product quality. Alba’s team has been very supportive throughout the development and trials, and we look forward to further improve the billets, which would be useful to all extrusion clients of Alba.”