Emirates Global Aluminium PJSC (EGA) announced over the weekend its receipt of certification for IATF 16949:2016, the automotive industry’s latest and greatest supply chain standard certification.
The new standard, which replaces ISO/TS 16949, is the brainchild of the International Automotive Task Force, which is a group of automotive trade associations as well as several prominent global automakers. It is intended to reduce losses to the industry by lowering the incidence of metal defects in materials sourced to the industry by promoting continuous improvement, emphasizing defect prevention, and encouraging waste reduction.
Abdulla Kalban, EGA’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, lauded the new certification as a win for both his company and the clients it serves.
“Through our customers in the automotive supply chain, our aluminium is ultimately used in cars and other vehicles people drive all over the world. Drivers expect their vehicles to be safe, high quality, and made responsibly. As a major supplier of metal to the automotive industry, we welcomed the development of this new standard which aims to ensure quality throughout the supply chain and we are pleased that EGA is now certified.”
Automotive aluminium is the second-biggest source of sales for EGA, which is a market the firm has served for decades. It was only one of a handful of primary aluminium producers to acquire the previous standard, ISO/TS 16949.
Based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Emirates Global Aluminium is an aluminium conglomerate created by the merger between Dubai Aluminium (DUBAL) and Emirates Aluminium (EMAL) in 2013. EGA had an estimated enterprise value of US$15 billion at the time the merger took place. The firm is owned equally by Mubadala Development Company of Abu Dhabi and Investment Corporation of Dubai. Emirates Global Aluminium holds interests in bauxite/alumina and primary aluminium smelting. The firm produces around 2.6 million metric tons per year of cast aluminium, placing it at the third largest ex-China smelter.