(MENAFN - The Peninsula) With the new certification (ISO/TS 16949) that Qatalum has recently achieved, it will be supplying primary aluminium to the world automotive industry as well as meet the domestic requirements of the metal to host the FIFA World Cup, said a senior official of the company in a press conference yesterday.
The ISO/TS 16949:2009 certification is a global standard for quality, awarded by the International Automotive Task Force (IATF). Qatalum is the first company to achieve this certification in Qatar announced by the certification body, Det Norske Veritas (DNV).
It allows for Qatalum to supply the global automotive industry with high-quality aluminium and fulfils another step of Qatalum's strategic objective of industrial diversification as part of Qatar's National Vision 2030.
Qatalum CEO Tom Petter Johansen, while describing the importance of this quality certification for the company, said: "What this means to Qatalum is that we can continue our policy of economic diversification, allowing local business to tap into our high quality resource, to build value-added components in Qatar for export and local consumption, therefore furthering the downstream industrial base and increasing employment."
"The standard reflected in this certification is practiced on a day-to-day basis through our high standard of operations, but the recognition is for the knowledge-based industry that Qatalum would like to share locally and within the region", Johansen said.
The post-2008 economic downturn has hit many international smelters hard, especially with reduced demand for car production. But with this certification, argues Johansen, Qatalum's products can go a long way in supplementing orders to automotive customers who may otherwise fall short of primary aluminium product.
Khalid Mohamed Laram, Qatalum's Deputy CEO, added: "This is a golden opportunity for downstream industries in Qatar to take advantage of aluminium produced at Qatalum, especially those related to the construction industry. The quality of Qatalum's metal is world class and is exported globally, including to downstream industries in the GCC.
"We are a catalyst for growth in the aluminium industry in Qatar with a mission parallel to the industrial diversification strategy of Qatar's Vision 2030. Furthermore, our knowledge based industry can help and encourage individuals and companies with their own downstream plans resulting in long-term economic and employment benefits to Qatar."
