Vedanta Aluminium, a major contributor to India’s aluminum production, recently conducted its third technical masterclass, focusing on advancing innovation and efficiency within the extrusion industry. Titled ‘The Metallurgy of Extrusion,’ the session drew nearly 200 participants from around the globe, including the USA, UK, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Qatar, UAE, Greece, Portugal, Belgium, and India.
Led by Mr. Jonathan Pangborn, a globally acclaimed extrusion expert and Technical Advisor on Billet Extrusion for Vedanta Aluminium, the masterclass is part of the company’s comprehensive offerings, encompassing new product development, application innovation, market expansion, technical knowledge sharing, and more. Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, stands as India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing over half of the country’s aluminium, totaling 2.29 million tonnes in FY23. The company is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Recognized for its sustainable development practices, Vedanta Aluminium ranks 2nd in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) 2022 world rankings for the aluminium industry. With world-class aluminium smelters, an alumina refinery, and power plants in India, Vedanta Aluminium continues to fulfill its mission of advancing emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow.
Recognized as India’s leading producer and exporter of high-quality billets, Vedanta Aluminium, specializes in offering a diverse range of choices, including the 1xxx, 3xxx, and 6xxx alloy series, tailored to the specific needs of the global extrusion industry. With an annual production capacity of 580 kt, the company’s billets are crafted using cutting-edge technology from Wagstaff, Inc. (US) and Hertwich Engineering GmbH (Austria). Notably, Vedanta Aluminium’s products are the first in India to be verified as environmentally sustainable by the Environment Product Declaration (EPD) International and certified for quality by the Bureau of Indian Standards. The company’s commitment to sustainability is further underscored by its aluminium smelter and captive power plant in Jharsuguda, which has received certification against the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) Performance Standard.
Extrusion plays a pivotal role in shaping aluminium into various forms with uniform cross-sections, serving as a crucial step in aluminium’s journey towards powering diverse applications in today’s world. The masterclass acts as an informational cornerstone for Vedanta Aluminium’s customers, offering insights into the intricate process of extrusion. By delving into alloy chemistry, temperature control design, process enhancements, and more, the session equips participants with crucial knowledge about extrusion, enabling them to leverage aluminium extrusion more effectively. This technical expertise empowers customers to enhance product quality and operational efficiency, fostering innovation tailored to their specific industry needs and positioning them at the forefront of advancements in the extrusion industry.
Mr. John Slaven, CEO of Vedanta Aluminium, emphasized the company’s commitment to customer delight, stating, “Catering to our customers’ dynamic needs is at the core of Vedanta Aluminium’s business approach. Our pursuit of excellence in aluminium production is matched by our dedication to delivering unparalleled value to our customers. In addition to continuous product improvement, high-quality manufacturing, and customer empowerment, we also strive to elevate industry standards through technical partnerships, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning opportunities.”
Reflecting on the universal applications of aluminium, Mr. Jonathan Pangborn, Technical Advisor – Extrusion, Vedanta Aluminium, highlighted the significance of sharing knowledge to support ongoing decarbonization initiatives across various industries. Aluminium, being the world’s second-most crucial metal, boasts exceptional properties like a high strength-to-weight ratio, remarkable design flexibility, corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity, and perpetual recyclability. The flexibility of aluminium, combined with the adaptability of the extrusion process, improves product quality and boosts productivity, making it an optimal material for applications in aviation, automobiles, building & construction, infrastructure, and more.