ARMENAL SHOWS 12% IMPROVEMENT ON ITS NOMINAL DESIGN CAPACITY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
08.07.2009 12:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ UC RUSAL, the world’s largest aluminum and alumina
producer, announced a marked increase in output from its ARMENAL
foil mill, Armenia. In June, the foil mill produced nearly 2,500
tons of foil, a 12% improvement on its nominal design capacity,
taking ARMENAL’s half-year production to over 10,000 tons.

ARMENAL reported a 77% production increase from January to June 2009
compared to H1 2008 and said it expected to see its output double by
the end of this year.

ARMENAL, in parallel with the expansion of output, was making
improvements in practically every technical and economic indicator,
including a 60% reduction in production costs and minimization of
the rate of rejects due to production defects.

"The keys to success for ARMENAL’s workers were reduced material
consumption rates, firmer process discipline, and a comprehensive
program implemented to reduce costs and raise the yield ratio,"
said ARMENAL’s Managing Director Sergey Borovik. "The yield ratio
more than doubled in only twelve months to 72.4% and we are set to
improve that important performance indicator to 75%."

ARMENAL has enough orders on hand to keep the foil mill running until
the end of this year. Its products are mainly exported to the United
States with the Middle East becoming a rapidly growing market for them.

Founded in May 2000 as part of the Kanaker aluminum smelter, ARMENAL is
one of the largest industrial sites in Armenia and the only aluminum
foil mill in the Caucasus and Central Asia. After joining RUSAL in
2000 the foil mill became part of the Company’s Packaging Division,
which also includes SAYANA Foil, SAYANAL, and Urals Foil. ARMENAL
employs 670 people.

RUSAL is the global leader in the aluminum industry, accounting for
approximately 12% and 15% of global production of aluminum and alumina
respectively. RUSAL sells its products in 70 countries worldwide and
employs 90,000 people in 19 countries, across 5 continents.