Contributed by Mr Ivan Soh, Business Executive, SCAO Non-Ferrous Metal Dept

2 – 3 April 2024
Bintulu, Malaysia

In April 2024, Sumitomo Non-Ferrous Metal team (Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and Press Metal Sales & Marketing team participated in a two-day training at Press Metal Bintulu, an aluminium smelter located in Bintulu, Sarawak. The training aimed to enhance our knowledge and understanding of aluminium production, technical processes, and logistics.

The first day of the training covered three main topics:

1. Casthouse Operation and Value-added Products (VAP)
   How molten aluminium is cast into ingots, wire rods, and billets, and the measures taken to ensure product quality.
2. Aluminium Smelting Operation and Sustainability
   How Press Metal works on improving efficiency amidst the rising awareness of sustainability.
3. Logistics and Supply Chain Management
   Challenges at Samalaju port and the process in line to boost loading and unloading efficiency.

The second day of the training involved visits to the smelting facility, casthouse, and port. We were able to observe the actual operations and processes of aluminium production, including:

• Ensuring a stable electricity supply around the clock with a central monitoring system.
• Transferring alumina powder from the vessel to the silo containers on-site using a 3.5 km-long  conveyor belt and 3 PSUs (pneumatic ship unloaders).

It was eye-opening to learn about the background of building the 960,000MT capacity aluminium smelter in Bintulu, Sarawak. Understanding the difficulties and setbacks behind the major achievements also helped us rethink and relook at the aluminium value chain from a refreshed perspective. Overall, the training was a valuable and enriching experience that provided us with a deeper understanding from the manufacturer’s point of view.