HYCAST AS

Innovative Casthouse Solutions that Perform

Hycast AS Industriveien 49 / P.O. Box 225 N-6600 Sunndalsøra, NORWAY Phone: +47 71 69 38 00 Fax: +47 71 69 00 65 E-mail: hycast@hydro.com 50 Web: www.hycast.no

HYCAST PROFILE In 1990 Hycast AS was established

by Hydro to be a commercial manufacturer and market organisation for cast house technology developed inhouse at Hydro’s R&D centre at Sunndalsøra. The first product was an inline degasser but shortly casting technology for extrusion billets, and stations for pot line metal fluxing followed. Most of the Hycast products have been captive during these two decades but late in 2009 it was decided that the whole portfolio of proven cast house technologies was open for sale in the external (non-Hydro) market. Hycast is a 100% subsidiary of Hydro Aluminium AS. Today the Hycast product portfolio covers the whole casting centre and includes; 1) Pot line metal fluxing (alkaline metal and carbide removal) 2) In-line melt refining (Hydrogen and inclusion removal) 3) Launder systems and rod feeder 4) Casting tables for sheet ingot and extrusion ingot 5) Vertical DC casting machines 6) Control systems including automation and human/ machine interface.

The business model of Hycast is to be an engineering company for Aluminium cast house projects.

Manufacturing is done by a limited number of qualified suppliers.

Innovation is a highly prioritized task and new product development is done in close collaboration with the Hydro’s R&D and production systems, technology partners, customers and suppliers.

The core competence of Hycast is actually multi-disciplinary.

Aluminium metallurgy knowledge is the basis for all our products and services but process understanding,

mechanical and electrical engineering, automation and project execution is equally important competences at Hycast.

Over the years a substantial number of small and large projects have been completed in most corners of the world. The largest project so far is Qatalum, a 50MUSD project for Hycast. Here vertical DC casting machines, inline filters, launders, casting tables for extrusion ingot, automation systems and more were delivered.

The reference list of Hycast is long and includes: >40 crucible fluxing stations for pot line metal >60 in-line metal treatment units >100 extrusion casting tables

working globally. To meet this challenge Hycast is staffed with highly skilled, experienced and mobile service engineers. In addition, in many cases customer assistance may be done from the Hycast office by accessing the cast house computers for investigations and trouble-shooting. Hycast is working continuously to secure supply and the best possible quality and price of spare parts.

Contact: Managing Director Roar Ørsund Phone: +47 917 40 129 e-mail: roar.orsund@hydro.com or hycast@hydro.com

In addition to this several vertical casting machines, casting tables for sheet ingot, launder systems, rod feeders and automations systems are delivered around the globe.

HES have been the back-bone of Hycast from day one. Since the start in 1990 no Hycast employee has been injured at work! No fatality related to the operation of Hycast equipment has ever been reported. Hycast was the first to deliver a technology portfolio that eliminated the need for Chlorine in the cast house. This was made possible by combining the AlF3 pot line fluxing (RAM) with the I-60 SIR in-line unit. The casting processes delivered by Hycast are highly automated and minimizes the need for operators being close to the casting pit during all phases of the cast.

The Hycast Safety Philosophy is embedded in the automation system, including hardwiring of all emergency functions.

Service is a challenge when

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