Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) has placed an order for a fleet of 20 customised personnel carriers for its pot lines as part of its on-going modernisation of its equipment.

Ranked as one of the largest aluminium smelters in the world, Alba said this initiative has been guided by the company’s commitment to safety, reliability and the environment while also providing the key incentive behind the upgrade.

The modernisation drive was begun last year with the aim of replacing high maintenance equipment with those that are more efficient, safer, reliable and environmentally friendly, , said a statement from Alba.

The all-aluminium personnel carriers will be used for light maintenance work, taking employees from one end to the other, it stated.

Commenting on the new fleet, Alba chief executive, Laurent Schmitt said: "Alba is in the process of upgrading its equipments and has already mapped-out a detailed programme to achieve this goal across various departments. The aim of this programme is to bring about greater efficiency, strengthen safety, boost the environment, enhance reliability, and of course, further enrich the work experience for our employees."

The all-aluminium personnel carriers are battery operated, and thus greatly minimise environmental degradation since they do not require fossil fuel to power the vehicle, he explained.

Customised for use in aluminium smelters, these personnel carriers, said Schmitt, are sturdy, ergonomically sound, durable and productivity oriented.

"The new personnel carriers at the pot lines have not only been built for use in smelters but have also been customised for Alba, and are expected to be the sole method of transportation in the pot lines. We look forward to seeing them," he added.-TradeArabia News Service