Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), an international aluminium smelter, recently commissioned the state-of-the-art batch homogeniser from Hertwich Engineering, a company of the SMS group, in Casthouse 3 for specialised billet requirements.

This new generation batch homogeniser is the best-suited technology for the heat treatment of various 6xxx, 1xxx and 3xxx billet alloys for special applications such as automotive and precision tubing, said a statement.

The advanced technology of reverse air circulation, fully automated controls for step heating and controlled cooling enhances the existing capabilities of Alba’s Casthouse 3 to achieve outstanding metallurgical aspects in its products as well as improved productivity of billets, it said.

Alba’s chief executive officer Tim Murray said: “We are pleased to partner, once again, with Hertwich with whom we share a long-standing relation spanning over two decades.”

“The commissioning of the new batch homogeniser underlines our commitment to sustainability and higher product quality whilst meeting the customers’ demands in the worldwide automotive segments especially as we secured the IATF 16949:2016 Automotive Quality Certification,” he said.

Alba Casthouse 3 Batch Homogenising Extension Project, which took place from February 2017 to May 2018, achieved 120,000 hours without any lost time injury, it stated.

DEAL HONOUR

The company was the recipient of ‘TXF Middle-Eastern ECA Finance Deal of 2017’ at the TXF Prague Conference which was held earlier last month in Czech Republic.

Categorised as one of the perfect 10 TXF ECA finance deals of the year, the award recognised Alba’s efforts to raise around $700 million for Euler Hermes and SERV-covered facilities in July 2017 to finance the construction of 1.8 GW combined-cycle power plant and the power distribution system for its Line 6 Expansion project, it said .

Shaikh Daij Bin Salman Bin Daij Al Khalifa, chairman of Alba’s board of directors, said: “To be recognised as a winner in the Perfect 10 TXF ECA finance deals of the year, for securing first tranche of ECA-covered facilities, is a another accomplishment for us.”

The mandated lead arrangers on this deal consist of Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Citibank NA, Commerzbank AG, JP Morgan Chase Bank NA and Standard Chartered Bank (HK) Ltd. Commerzbank AG acted as the facility agent for both SERV and Euler Hermes covered facilities, it said.

The facilities are made-up of a dual tranche of $310.4 million and €314.3 million SERV Guaranteed Export Credit and €50 million Euler Hermes Guaranteed Export Credit.

The SERV-backed facility will fund the company’s power station 5 (PS 5) wherein General Electric (GE), being the EPC contractor, will provide three 9HA gas turbines, three steam turbines and three Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSGs).

This facility will have a 15-year tenor and the principal amount will be repaid over 12-year period.

The Hermes-backed facility will finance the power distribution systems (PDS) where Siemens will construct and commission high voltage electrical network and provide gas insulated switchgear (GIS) up to 220kV.

This facility will have a 14-year tenor and the principal amount will be repaid over 12-year period, it stated.

SAFETY CAMPAIGN

The company also launched its main safety campaign for this year titled ‘Safety Selfie’.

The ‘Safety Selfie’ Campaign will highlight various aspects of safety, health and environment in the workplace, at home and on the road, through a number of activities, including safety visits by management members to operational areas, awareness sessions for the employees as well as safety competitions.

Murray added: “We are proud to be a leader in employee safety and health.”

“The campaign is in line with our expectations for 2018, which serves our ultimate goal of ‘Safety First, Safety Always’. Capitalising on using the social media platforms for direct communication means that our safety messages are boundless,” he added.