Press Releases

BALCO implements Smart Technologies to optimize oil consumption

Balconagar, Korba; 19^th January, 2023: Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), India’s iconic aluminium producer, is actively exploring and expanding the adoption of smart technologies within its manufacturing systems. From smart analytics for decision making at strategic business unit (SBU) level to real-time equipment monitoring at shopfloors, the company has deployed a slew of high-end digital solutions for ensuring business excellence. Recently, the company retrofitted its oil monitoring process with state-of-the-art Business Intelligence tools to track oil consumption and recovery at equipment and SBU level. This will help BALCO optimize and reduce oil consumption in technical vehicles and heavy machinery across its operations.

The deployment of business intelligence tools like System Applications & Products and Material Return Voucher will help strategic business units optimize the fresh oil consumption, recover and refine used oil with better planning and greater efficiency, resulting in significant cost savings and waste reduction. It will bolster the company’s vision of zero waste, while enhancing productivity and efficiency. This is in line with the company’s commitment towards sustainable manufacturing practices, which includes judicious usage of raw materials, transition to low-carbon fuels and decarbonization of plant operations.

Speaking about BALCO’s approach to technological transformation of its operations, Mr. Abhijit Pati, CEO and Director, BALCO, said, “We, at BALCO, are committed to achieving excellence across all our areas of operations, using new-age technology, sustainable practices, and disruptive innovation. Our technological interventions serve to bolster safety, productivity, and efficiency. An inhouse innovation such as oil balancing with digital technologies, will help us improve operational efficiency, reduce costs and decrease carbon footprint. Deployment of such smart solutions across all levels at this unprecedented scale will help us create a future-ready organization that caters to India’s aluminium needs and contribute to the expeditious development of the region and nation at large.”

In addition, BALCO has been leveraging emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) to bolster power plant efficiency, Robotic Process Automation across various sales and marketing activities, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to monitor movement of liquid aluminium-carrying vehicles inside plant premises, and a highly sophisticated security system for people and assets. Testimony to its technology-first approach, BALCO has received numerous coveted awards, including the prestigious ‘Manufacturing Today – Reinventing the Future’ Award. BALCO has also been declared ‘Platinum Winner’ at the 5^th CII National Safety Practices Competition for its ‘Suraksha Sankalp Kutumbh’ project on safety digitalization.

Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO) is India’s iconic aluminium producer. It is owned 49% by the Government of India and 51% by Vedanta Limited. BALCO is part of Vedanta’s Aluminium Business, a division of Vedanta Limited, which is India’s largest manufacturer of aluminium. BALCO operates a 0.57 million Tonne per annum Aluminium smelter in Korba, Chhattisgarh. It is also a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. With its world-class smelter and power plants, the company fulfills its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow.