Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) introduced a new aluminum alloy, 6060.HE, which is aimed for extrusion customers. Produced in a billet form with a wide range of applications in the construction sector, this new alloy provides a faster extrusion rate that will improve the process efficiency and productivity for its users.
“We are pleased to be adding a new alloy to our range of products, a quality product that will enhance the performance and productivity of our customers as well as their competitiveness.,” said Ali Al Baqali, chief executive officer of Alba. “Proudly produced in Bahrain by lead national capabilities, we aim to advance with this new developed product our presence in new markets and boost it in the existing ones.”
Alba’s new 6060.HE alloy was developed in collaboration with the University of Bahrain and Bahrain Aluminium Extrusion Company (BALEXCO), one of the leading aluminum extrusion producers in the Gulf region and Alba’s long-standing customer. The university enhanced the scientific research studies associated with the development, while BALEXCO provided extensive support through field trials, visits, and technical feedback.
“This collaboration resulted in the successful study that focussed on improving aluminum extrusion processes, and identifying new alloys that contribute to enhancing the quality and performance of manufactured extruded products,” said Dr. Fouad Mohammed Al Ansari, president of the University of Bahrain. “The study relied on statistical experimental design methods to develop a model capable of predicting the ratios of additives to aluminum and provide optimal heat treatment. He also emphasised that the results of this study will serve as a strong catalyst to enhance future scientific research in the aluminium industry.”
Jassim Seyadi, chairman of BALEXCO, added, “Alba has been our sole supplier of aluminum billet to be used for our extrusion presses, and we are happy that we could partner with them and the University of Bahrain in the development and trials for the new 6060.HE alloy. The newly developed billets have been tested at BALEXCO and the usage of these billets helps in improving the extrusion speed and overall production efficiency without compromising on the product quality. Alba’s team has been very supportive throughout the development and trials, and we look forward to further improve the billets, which would be useful to all extrusion clients of Alba.”
Al Baqali concluded, “It has taken lots of efforts and hard work to get to where we are. The 6060.HE alloy is the successful outcome of the collaboration between three leading Bahraini entities — Alba, the University of Bahrain, and BALEXCO — which underlines the fifth priority of Alba’s ESG Roadmap ‘Collaboration and Partnerships’.”
The development process of the 6060.HE alloy started in January 2022 and its commercial production commenced in October 2022, following extensive laboratory-scale, field-scale tests, and evaluations. Alba has already developed a customer base for this new product with 10 local and overseas customers spanning the globe.