Ma'aden Alcoa Aluminum Joint Venture utilizing Quintiq to manage its scheduling processes

‘s-Hertogenbosch, 31 July, 2012 – The Ma'aden Alcoa Aluminum Joint Venture – a fully integrated mine to rolled product joint venture in Saudi Arabia under construction by the Saudi Arabian Mining company and Alcoa, a world leader of primary aluminum production – is deploying Quintiq to manage the scheduling process for its smelter. The Greenfield smelter,  which  has  an  initial  aluminum  smelting  capacity  of  740,000  metric   tons  per  year, will begin commercial production in 2013.

The Quintiq scheduling solution will support the operational planning processes of the plant and   will   give   the   Ma'aden   Alcoa   Aluminum   Joint   Venture   the   ability   to   react   instantly   to unforeseen production disturbances. It will enable the Ma'aden Alcoa Aluminum Joint Venture to improve delivery performance, throughput, secondary metal utilization and pot line production flow. Keops, a Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) provider in Montreal, Canada, will provide the Greenfield in Saudi Arabia with the MES solution. Alcoa assigned a team   of   specialists   to   work   with   Ma’aden   on   the   project.   The   team   is   working   in   Saudi Arabia to support the set up and launch of the entire operation.

“We are very pleased with the collaborative approach of all of the companies involved in this project to make the scheduling solution at Ma'aden Alcoa Aluminum Joint Venture a success. Especially  in  complex  production  situations,  across   the  aluminum  industry,  more  and  more companies are using Quintiq. We look forward to utilizing our extensive aluminum-industry knowledge to help the Ma'aden Alcoa Aluminum Joint Venture commence operations and achieve optimal smelter productivity,” commented Francois Eijgelshoven, Business Unit Director Metals at Quintiq.

The Ma’aden Alcoa Aluminum Joint Venture

In its initial phases, the joint venture will develop a fully integrated industrial complex which will become the world's preeminent and lowest-cost supplier of primary aluminum, alumina and aluminum products, with access to the growing markets of the Middle East and beyond. The complex comprises: A bauxite mine with an initial capacity of 4,000,000 metric tons per year, an alumina refinery with an initial capacity of 1,800,000 metric tons per year; an aluminum smelter with an initial capacity of 740,000 metric tons per year; a rolling mill, with initial capacity of 380,000 metric tons per year. The mill will be the first of its kind in the Middle East and will be one of the most technically advanced mills in the world.

First commercial production from smelter and mill is scheduled for 2013, followed by first commercial production of alumina from the mine and refinery complex, scheduled for 2014. Alcoa will supply alumina to the smelter in the interim period.

Ma’aden

Ma'aden was established as a Saudi Arabian joint stock company in March 1997 to facilitate the development of Saudi Arabia’s non-petroleum mineral resources and to diversify the Kingdom’s economy away from the petroleum and petrochemical sectors. Ma’aden is engaged in the development, advancement and improvement of all aspects of the mineral industry, mineral products and by-products and related industries in Saudi Arabia. In July 2008, Ma’aden offered 50% of the company’s shares for subscription in a successful SR 9.25 billion IPO. Ma’aden has progressed towards realizing its vision of building a world class
mineral enterprise and its mission of being a profitable, publicly owned, international mining company, while maintaining the utmost concern for human resources, health and safety, environmental and social issues. The company is committed to the best international and local environmental standards and values its role as a good corporate citizen.

Alcoa

Alcoa   is   the   world’s   leading   producer   of   primary   aluminum,   fabricated   aluminum   and alumina. In addition to inventing the modern-day aluminum industry, Alcoa innovation has been behind major milestones in the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation, consumer electronics and industrial markets over the  past  120  years.  Among   the  solutions  Alcoa  markets  are   flat-rolled  products,  hard  alloy extrusions,   and   forgings,   as   well   as   Alcoa®   wheels,   fastening   systems,   precision   and investment castings, and building systems in addition to its expertise in other light metals such  as   titanium  and  nickel-based  super  alloys.  Sustainability  is  an  integral  part  of  Alcoa’s operating practices and the product design and engineering it provides to customers. Alcoa has been a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for ten consecutive years and approximately  75  percent  of  all  of   the  aluminum  produced  since  1888  is  still  in  active  use today.  Alcoa  employs  approximately  61,000  people  in  31  countries  across   the  world.  More information can be found at www.alcoa.com.

Keops

Today   a  leading   expert  in  industrial   IT,  Keops  was   founded  in  1982  with   the   strong  belief that Information Technology had something to offer to manufacturing operations. It has since been focused on the development, integration, and deployment of MES that enhance operational efficiency.

Quintiq

Quintiq provides advanced planning, scheduling and supply chain optimization software solutions. This fast-growing company, established in 1997, offers and implements software for planning and optimizing complex business processes throughout the enterprise. The company’s dual headquarters are located in the Netherlands and the USA with subsidiaries in Australia, Switzerland, China, Finland, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, and the UK. Quintiq systems are implemented in 77 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.quintiq.com or follow Quintiq on Twitter: www.twitter.com/quintiq

Based on Quintiq information