Samara, October 10. Developing and establishing domestic high-tech casting facilities for the Russian automotive industry can increase the domestic aluminium consumption by more than 50 ktpy. Such forecasts were announced at the ceremony of execution of the cooperation agreement between the Aluminium Association and the Russian Association of Casters (RAC). The purpose of the agreement is to extend the cooperation of the parties in improving casting technologies in the aluminium industry.
The signing ceremony took place at the 8th scientific and technical conference on casting held in Samara. On the part of the Association, the document was signed by the Chairman Valentin Trishchenko and on the part of the Association of Casters - the President Ivan Diborov.
Casting is an important area of the production process that allows producing a wide range of demanded products almost for all industries: from ingots to high-tech castings of parts for the automotive industry (engine building, vehicle wheels, etc.), shipbuilding, aviation, space, robotics, power, construction, rail transport, and consumer goods (cookware). A significant share of products is further used by mechanical engineering production facilities.
One of the most promising development areas is the automotive industry, where the share of imported aluminium semis is around 60%. The total need of the automotive industry for aluminium is forecasted to reach 254 kt in 2018, including 58% (149 kt) of imported products and 42% (106 kt) of automotive components made in Russia.
Cast components (excluding light-alloy wheels) account for almost 120 ktpy of aluminium, but just less than 60% of this demand is covered by the domestic production. For example, over 80% of new engine costs accrue to imported components and the share of casting in them is 50%.
First of all, the interaction with RAC, which comprises 48 regional branches and 16 R&D Committees for all areas of the casting production, will be focused on creating and implementing advanced materials, technologies and equipment in the industry, as well as increasing the professionalism and qualification of producers of aluminium parts and components in such areas as attestation, control, certification, professional training, and quality assessment in the casting production.
To accomplish these tasks, the parties agreed to develop joint proposals on the application and improvement of casting processes applied in the production of aluminium components. Besides, the agreement provides for the cooperation of the parties in developing the regulatory framework for the application of aluminium casting processes and technologies, as well as information communication.
During this work, Mr Trishchenko delivered his report on promising development areas of the Russian aluminium industry.
'To bring the aluminium industry to a principally new level, we should develop competitive and highly-efficient casting facilities, create favourable conditions to produce high-tech, innovative products and production facilities, and enhance the intersectoral cooperation. The aluminium casting plays an important role in the mechanical engineering, automotive industry, aviation, transport engineering, consumer goods, and other branches, so developing the domestic market we can do domestic goods both more affordable in terms of price and more competitive in overseas markets. The most important thing is the fact that new advanced facilities in Russia mean new jobs for thousands of specialists,' said Valentin Trishchenko, the Head of the Aluminium Association.
He also visited the Casting and Highly-Efficient Technologies Chair of the Samara State Technical University, where he inspected laboratories and production shops.