Taweelah Aluminium Extrusion Company (Talex), a highly automated and flexible aluminium extrusion plant, was inaugurated in Abu Dhabi yesterday. 

 

The project,  the first aluminium extrusion project to be established in Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad), was opened by Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, member of the Executive Council.

 

Talex was formed through a joint venture between General Holding Corporation (Senaat), one of the largest holding companies in the UAE’s industrial sector and privately-owned Gulf Extrusions under Al Ghurair Group. 

 

The new company is the result of a $240 million investment to strengthen the Middle East’s downstream capabilities to spur industrial growth and broaden the Emirate’s economic base, with growing demand for aluminium and its proprietary hard alloys in the global construction, automotive, locomotive and aerospace industries. 

 

Spread over almost 200,000 sq m, Talex has an estimated production capacity of 50,000 tonnes per annum of aluminium profiles and 45,000 tonnes of aluminium billets for regional and international markets. 

 

The opening ceremony was attended by ministers, key government officials, as well as senior executives representing existing and potential clientele.

 

Ali Murshed Al Marar, chairman of Talex, said: “The inauguration of Talex further strengthens the strategic pillars of Abu Dhabi’s focused industrial strategy in line with the economic diversification plan while building a competitive edge for ‘Made in UAE’ industrial products. Talex’s ability to apply innovative operating systems that add efficiency to the process of supplying aluminium products is a shining example of UAE’s increasing technological and industrial know-how. Our timing is also perfect, as worldwide demand for aluminium products is growing, which makes for an exciting future for this business.” 

 

The plant features state-of-the-art technologies and operating equipment offering an integrated aluminium cycle that starts with liquid metal, to casting, extrusion surface treatment and precision machining fabrication. Talex’s vertical integration and fully automated material handling and storing equipment guarantees the quality, traceability and shorter lead time of its products, the company said.

 

In addition, Talex's laboratories are equipped with the latest technology available to ensure continuous monitoring of its production processes to ensure that its products comply with the highest quality standards set by the most advanced markets around the world.

 

Talex is one of the projects on the Hot Metal Road to receive liquid metal from Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA). Molten aluminium is delivered in a crucible on a truck at 950 deg C, poured directly into Talex’s melting furnace. In this way, Talex saves the cost of re-melting aluminium ingots. 

 

Eng Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri, CEO, Senaat, said: “Talex demonstrates Senaat's commitment to developing industrial downstream projects in the emirate in full alignment with the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. In addition, the plant complements Abu Dhabi’s vision to establish integrated industrial plants, to be the cornerstone of the emirate’s industrial sector development. 

 

"Talex can respond quickly and cost-effectively to sophisticated customers' demands for precision engineered aluminium products locally, regionally and internationally. Combined with the buoyant growth predictions for the global aluminium extrusion market of an anticipated CAGR of more than 6 per cent by 2020, Talex has a great future ahead of it,” he said.   - TradeArabia News Service