Alcan Extrusions and Automotive Structures supplies 100 km of Energy Saving Aluminium Power Rail for the New Metro in Bangalore
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Delphine Dahan-KocherCorporate Communications U.S.
Alcan Extrusions and Automotive Structures, part of Alcan Engineered Products - a business unit of Rio Tinto - has been granted a contract to supply 100 km of aluminium power rail for a new metro project in the Indian metropolis Bangalore. Deliveries over a period of 24 months have started in June 2010
In addition to the production of the aluminium power rail system, Alcan will also provide an engineering and service package through the Railtech-Alu-Singen Joint-Venture. This Joint-Venture, founded by Alcan Singen GmbH and Railtech International in 2003, is a recognized global market leader in the segment of aluminium power rail solutions.
“The field for aluminium power rails is a growing market with a great potential. The global demand for means of transport is increasing and many cities are extending their existing subway net or planning new lines,” said Paul Warton, President of Alcan Extrusions and Automotive Structures, and added: “significant energy savings can be achieved by the use of the high electric conductivity of aluminium.”
Power rails (conductor rails) are used as contact line systems. The electrical power is transferred from substations to the rolling stock through a collector shoe located on the superstructure of the train vehicle. The power rail consists of an aluminium body for electrical conduction and a stainless steel inlet providing the required abrasion resistance. The two different materials are extruded together in a complex co-extrusion process, which is unique for this type of application. Aluminium provides a lower specific electrical resistance, an improved conductivity and a largely reduced weight compared to a soft iron solution only.
By 1000 km of aluminium power rails installed, compared with steel rails, about 700,000 tonnes of green-house gas will be saved during a life time of 30 years. One kg of aluminium used in rails saves about 37 kg of green-house gas and is afterwards recycled to new aluminium.
The City of Bangalore has decided to build this DC powered railway system to relieve the high level of traffic congestion currently experienced. This sub-urban train will consist of two completely new rail lines mainly to be built on stilts.
About Alcan Extrusions and Automotive Structures
Alcan Extrusions is a key player in the European market, focusing on specialty products. It supplies a variety of hard and soft alloy extrusions, including technically advanced products, to the automotive, industrial, energy, electrical and building industries, and to manufacturers of mass transport vehicles and shipbuilders It has production facilities in France, Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Automotive Structures serves major automotive and transportation manufacturers with advanced technology, develops and manufactures aluminum crash management systems, front-end components, cockpit carriers and body-in-white structural components. It serves customers in Europe, North America and China with innovative and cost-effective aluminum solutions.
About Alcan Engineered Products
Alcan Engineered Products is a global sector-leader strongly committed to developing innovative, value-added aluminium products for a broad scope of markets and applications, including aerospace, mass transportation, automotive, packaging, energy and building. With around 10,000 employees located in 26 countries and a commercial presence in more than 60 markets across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas and the Asia-Pacific region, Alcan Engineered Products is organised around businesses dedicated to performance materials in the areas of aluminium rolled products, extrusions and automotive structures, and international trade.
About Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.
Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and uranium), gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc) and iron ore. Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southern Africa.