UAE- Emal unveils new product for automotive industry 

(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) Emirates Aluminium, or Emal, has launched foundry aluminium, a new value-added product that is mainly used in the automotive sector.

The addition of foundry to Emal's portfolio is part of its long-term vision of producing more value-added products as it develops into one of the world's largest single-site aluminium smelters. Total annual production at the Al Taweelah will rise to 1.3 million metric tonnes once the second phase of its expansion is completed in 2014.

Emal president and chief executive Saeed Fadhel Al Mazrooei said as a world-leading company operating in a global market, it is important that Emal is flexible to changing demand.

He said the automobile sector is an important and growing segment in the aluminium market, and Emal is being able to respond to customer demand. By 2013, Emal's total annual sales is forecasted to increase by five per cent. Currently, Asia - excluding China - is Emal's biggest regional market with 50 per cent of total sales based on 2011 sales figures.

Sales in Europe are projected to grow from 23 per cent in 2011 to 35 per cent by 2013. Overall sales growth will be achieved by concentrating on growing countries such as Japan and Germany, with strong automotive markets.

On the development of foundry products at Emal, Al Mazrooei said: "It is another important step forward as it will expand our customer base and help grow the business for the future prosperity of the country."

Emal currently supplies over 200 customers around the globe with high quality ISO:9000 certified aluminium which is available as sow, standard ingots, sheet ingots and extrusion billets. Sow and standard ingots are traded on the London Metals Exchange.