Line 5’s Casthouse Team proudly rejoiced over the production of the First Billet Cast by Direct Chill Casting Machine (DC9), in the plant’s new Casthouse 3 facility. The production of the First Cast which marks a significant milestone in the commissioning progress of the new Casthouse plant, was commemorated with an on-site celebration attended by Bruce Hall, Alba’s CEO, the Line 5 Casthouse Operations Team and other members of Alba’s Executive team.
“I would like to commend the efforts of the Casthouse Operations Team as well as Casthouse Maintenance and Line 5 Project Team in successfully producing the First Cast at its full fledged length and with the highest quality standards as per the specifications of the market” commented Hameed Najem, Line 5 Casthouse Operations Manager.
At 7.4 meters in length, the First Billet Cast was produced at the straightness, bow, diameter and chemical specifications required by the customers. Casthouse 3 is specialized in the production of billets and is designed to produce an average billet output of 300,000 metric tones per year.
“The Casthouse Team, in cooperation with Wagstaff, Solios and Hertwhich commissioning engineers, is now working to bring the DC9 machine to its rated capacity of 100,000 metric tones of billet production per annum, a third of Casthouse 3’s expected yearly billet output” continued Najem. “Machines DC10 and DC11 are soon to be energized as well”.
The efforts of the Casthouse Team supported by Maintenance team in bringing DC9 to its optimal capacity support the ‘100 Day Safe Startup’ activities by ensuring that the Casthouse operations can process all the metal produced throughout the 100 timeframe.
