Mr Klaus Kleinfeld president and CEO of Alcoa and Mr Anatoly Chubais CEO of RUSNANO have signed MoU to explore opportunities for applying nanotechnology in the aluminum industry.
The 2 companies have identified several promising technical and commercial fields to begin pursuing together. These include off shore oil and gas drilling systems, high efficiency power transmission, next generation lighting, energy efficient buildings and transportation systems and green packaging.
The signing took place during a visit by a RUSNANO delegation to Alcoa’s New York headquarters and the Alcoa Technical Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Mr Klaus Kleinfeld said that “This partnership with RUSNANO offers great promise for Alcoa and the entire aluminum industry. Building on our existing investment and presence in Russia, we are proud to be a partner of the leading Russian nanotechnology institution.”
Mr Anatoly Chubais stated that “Having been established in 2007, our Corporation has occupied a very active position in working with the world’s leading companies and scientific institutions on developing and localizing the nanotechnologies in Russia. We work in cooperation with the most renowned Russian scientists and experts to identify and commercialize the innovative technologies that will take the Russian economy to the next level of development. I am confident that the MoU that we signed with Alcoa, one of the global leaders in the production of aluminum and aluminum products, is a first step on the road to a very beneficial joint cooperation that will heavily rely on both parties’ expansive knowledge and expertise. With Alcoa, we are looking forward to the implementation of the concrete projects of bringing nanotechnologies’ advantage for the creation of the new generation aluminum products for the Russian and export markets.”
Alcoa has been present in Russia since 1993. In 2005, the company purchased 2 leading aluminum fabricating facilities Alcoa SMZ and Alcoa Metallurg Rus. Alcoa has modernized the facilities, investing more than USD 750 million in upgrades. Together with RUSNANO, Alcoa continues that modernization with the new development of cutting edge, advanced technologies for aluminum production in Russia. The Company anticipates the partnership will not only contribute to the increase in the aluminum products consumption in the country but will also assist in diversifying and innovating the Russian economy.
