Dubai: Dubai Aluminium (Dubal) will increase production to over one million metric tonnes by the end of this year, a top company official said yesterday.
During a meeting of the Systemanalyse und Programmentwicklung ("System Analysis & Program development (SAP) Executive Advisory Council for Metals in Dubai, Ahmad Al Mulla, Vice President of Information Technology at Dubal, said: "Dubal has the capacity to produce more than one million metric tonnes of high quality primary aluminium products this year."
Dubal, a key contributor to Dubai's economy, is one of the largest aluminium smelters in the world and its full production capacity is made to order and shipped to more than 280 customers in 44 countries. It's key markets are in the Far East and Mediterranean regions, and North America.
Dubal's smelting capacity has grown from 135,000 metric tonnes per annum when it started in 1979 to a current one million metric tonnes.
"The capacity of our casting operations has expanded in parallel: from an initial 490 metric tonnes per annum it has grown 159.39 per cent to a current 1,271,000 metric tonnes per annum, which makes it the largest in the world," he said.
Target
Dubal is looking forward to producing more than 2.5 million tonnes of aluminium per year by 2015, making it one of the top five aluminium producers in the world.
Dubal manufactures high quality aluminium products in three categories at Jebel Ali: foundry alloy for automotive applications; extrusion billet for construction, industrial and transportation purposes; and high purity aluminium for the electronics and aerospace industries.
The company's product portfolio also includes bus bars for the primary aluminium industry (used in-house and sold to other smelter complexes). More than 112 products are manufactured, a majority of them customised to customer specifications.
Al Mulla said the company's development and growth has been supported by its stakeholders — the government, non-government organisations, joint venture partners, employees, customers, suppliers and business associates.
He attributed the company's success and continuous growth to a commitment to technological innovation as it implemented the SAP Business Suite, resource planning solution, to enhance operational efficiency. Dubal is one of the few smelters worldwide to have its entire smelter operation, power and desalination plants and engineering services accredited to international quality standards.
The application of the SAP not only automated Dubal's business processes but also assisted in its financial operation, supply chain and production planning and customer relationship management.
Al Mulla said: "The company's orientation to a more customer-centric approach was very helpful in reducing costs and improving profitability."
Best practices
Dubal is a member of the SAP Executive Advisory Council for Metal which has established a forum for the metal industry where best practices in the use of SAP software are shared.
"The UAE was chosen as the location for the council's meeting due to the strategic importance within the industry as a commercial hub for manufacturing," said Sergio Maccotta, managing director of SAP Middle East and North Africa.
"To become leaders in the increasingly competitive manufacturing environment, metal companies are looking beyond standard practices for new business strategies that deliver results. The SAP Executive Advisory Council for Metal represents an ideal platform for industry communication and innovation," Maccotta added.
