Ducab Aluminium Company (DAC), a factory that manufactures aluminum rod and overhead conductors, was officially inaugurated in the Khalifa Industrial Zone of Abu Dhabi (KIZAD). The AED 220 million (US$60 million) project is a joint venture between Ducab, a UAE manufacturer of high-quality cables and cabling products, and Senaat, one of the largest holding companies in the UAE’s industrial sector. The company will manufacture 50,000 tonnes of high quality electrical grade aluminum rod and overhead conductor per annum once it reaches its full capacity supplying to both local and international customers.
“The launch of Ducab Aluminium Company extends the UAE’s industrial capabilities and addresses the growing aluminum market globally,” said Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri, chairman of Ducab and CEO of Senaat, who has assumed the role of chairman of DAC. The new facility manufactures electrical conductive (EC) grade aluminum and aluminum alloy rods, wires, and bare overhead conductors. The activities at DAC will complement Ducab’s existing portfolio, which includes a total of five manufacturing facilities in the UAE with the capabilities to develop, design, manufacture, and distribute copper and aluminum wire and cable products. Ducab’s products are currently used in the energy, general construction, oil and gas, industrial, defense, transport, marine, mining, and other specialty industries. “The new company will substitute substantial imports of aluminum rods and overhead lines into the UAE, and help build a competitive edge for ‘Made-in-UAE’ industrial products,” said Al Dhaheri.
The new DAC facility has been built in KIZAD close to Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the fifth largest aluminum producer in the world, which will provide a reliable and sustainable source of high-quality ISO9001 certified aluminum. Al Dhaheri explained, “DAC has signed a long-term partnership with its neighbour EGA for the supply of molten aluminum to the facility along KIZAD’s ‘Hot Metal Road.’ With this special partnership with EGA, we are now positioned to offer tailored products for the electrical supply chain, optimizing local resources in line with the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030.”
The proximity of DAC to the EGA plant provides an ideal supply chain link for the company, with molten aluminum being delivered directly from EGA’s smelter. The dedicated, state-of-the-art Liquid Metal Transfer facility, developed by EGA, is capable of 24-hour operations. The facility transfers molten metal via an overhead crane to preheated 14.5 tonne crucibles, which can keep the metal liquid for up to 18 hours at temperatures of around 780°C. The crucibles are mounted on highly secured trailers and driven to downstream companies in KIZAD’s aluminum cluster, including DAC. Receiving aluminum as molten metal saves on both costs and environmental emissions, as it eliminates the need for DAC to use high energy to remelt the metal before use. This saves on both costs and environmental emissions, thus increasing the competitiveness of the facility.
“The aluminum industry with EGA at its heart has long played an important role in the economic diversification of the UAE, creating jobs and economic opportunity,” said Abdulla Kalban, EGA’s managing director and CEO. “We welcome the official inauguration of DAC, and look forward to reliably supplying them with the metal they need to make their products in the years to come.”
The opening of the new DAC facility was attended by ministers and other senior leaders and executives, including Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court, as well as customers. Sheikh Al Nahyan stressed that industry has become a significant pillar of the UAE national economy, highlighting that economic diversification is essential to maintain the pace of comprehensive development and ensure strong growth in the future. DAC will aim to strengthen the UAE’s industrial supply chain, in line with the national strategy to enhance industrial investment opportunities across the country.
“Ducab Aluminium Company marks an important milestone in the UAE aluminum sector and adds to a growing number of downstream ventures in aluminum being developed in KIZAD as part of the UAE’s ambitions to further diversify the national economy,” adds Dr. Ahmad Bin Hassan Al Shaikh, vice chairman of Ducab and DAC board member. “Proximity to Port Khalifa is a real advantage for this export orientated business. DAC has already signed rod supply contracts to service customers across the GCC, India, Lebanon, North America and select markets in Africa. Further expansions are also being planned for Latin America and Europe, as DAC targets export sales of over AED 300 million in 2018.”