ALBA increasing aluminium smelter production by 50 per cent - Order for homogenizing equipment goes to Hertwich
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) is currently expanding its primary aluminium production capacity with Line 6 Expansion Project. Upon the full ramp-up of Potline 6 in 2019, the Company’s smelter capacity will be increased by more than 50 percent to 1.5 million tons a year. This investment will make Alba one of the largest aluminium smelters in the world.
Hertwich Engineering, a company of SMS group, has been awarded the contract for the necessary expansion of the homogenizing capacity. Alba has installed a total of six furnaces and ancillary equipment from Hertwich during the cooperation lasting more than two decades.
Now Hertwich received an order to supply a modern batch homogenizing plant for Potline 5, which started operation in 2005, to upgrade the existing continuous homogenizing plant. This plant now on order is designed for an annual production of 60,000 tons of logs with diameters in the range from 152 to 254 millimeters and lengths up to 8,100 millimeters. The furnace will be integrated into the material flow of the existing continuous homogenizing plant. The cooled logs will be de-stacked, separated and tested in an ultrasonic inspection station, which is also part of Hertwich’s current scope of supply. The existing saw and equipment for transport, stacking, strapping, etc. will be used for the new batch furnace as well.
For the new primary aluminium expansion project “Potline 6” the continuous and batch homogenizing furnace will be installed side by side so that the production program can be organized flexibly at this point. The main component is the continuous homogenizing plant with an annual capacity of 140,000 tons. It is designed for logs up to 9 meters length and diameters in the range from 152 to 410 millimeters. The batch homogenizing plant (charge weight: 85 tons) with separate cooling station will be installed next to the continuous homogenizing plant, so that both plants can operate in combination using the auxiliary equipment.
For the sawing, weighing and packaging operations Hertwich is to deliver transport and stacking / de-stacking equipment, a linear ultrasonic testing unit, two sawing units, two strapping and weighing stations and two briquetting presses for chips.
The inspected logs will be placed on the entry roller table of the circular saw. To ensure adequate removal of the relatively large quantity of chips, the saws will be equipped with chip exhaust systems and briquetting presses. The sawn billets will then be stacked according to the customer’s requirements and strapped at the subsequent station. Once the packages have been weighed and labelled, they are ready for shipment.
Hertwich Engineering, a company of the SMS group is renowned for its future-oriented, energy saving technologies and outstanding service in aluminium casthouse. The company is active worldwide with design, supply, construction and commissioning of special machinery and equipment for the Aluminium industry. Hertwich is competent for supplying complete Al-casthouse on a turnkey basis (one-stop-shopping). The product range comprises melting equipment for aluminium scrap, conti and batch homogenizing plants, sawing plants, horizontal and vertical casting machines and quality inspection stations, etc. To stay ahead Hertwich relies on its own R&D and proprietary know-how. For 50 years, the advanced technology has revolutionized the industry and the company maintains its worldwide lead.