OREANDA-NEWS. February 29, 2012. ZAO Alcoa SMZ had an official ceremony dedicated to the launching of the new EBNER furnace for preheating and homogenization of aluminum ingots for can stock production.

Putting new high-capacity EBNER furnace into operation is another stage of the extended modernization program that Alcoa has been implementing at its Russian plants since 2005. The Investment in EBNER furnace installation is estimated at USD 14 000 000.

The equipment was designed and supplied by the Austrian company EBNER, a recognized leader in heat treating complexes for semi-finished products treatment in ferrous, aluminum and non-ferrous metallurgy.

‘Alcoa Russia facilities manufacture products that meet the world’s highest quality standards’, - noted Andrey Donets, Alcoa Global Packaging Group President. – ‘The new investment project implemented at Alcoa SMZ, will help us meet the growing expectations of our customers on quality and output volumes of the products that we supply to them and to improve production efficiency’.

Vladislav Kapustin, Samara region government deputy chairman – Minister for economic development, investments and trade of Samara region: It’s a pleasure to realize that Samara region is a worthy platform for the implementation of such ambitious projects in the sphere of manufacturing facilities modernization that Alcoa demonstrates today. I am convinced that technological development and modernization of Samara region industrial complex ensures sustainable and long-term development of the region and improvement of living standards of our people. The successful experience of Alcoa is a good example for other large investors who consider the opportunity of investment projects implementation on the territory of Samara region’.