A new specialist alumina team has been established to market new products and services developed by Nalco Australia in alumina processing, as part of a company-wide program to overhaul its offering in an “increasingly competitive sector”.
The specialist team will consist of new national sales/key account manager, Grant Doberer and industry development manager, Sana Khan, and will be enlisted to “reflect the international importance of the alumina segment to the company,” according to Nalco.
Both long-term Nalco employees, each will bring nearly 20 years of practical experience in the Australian alumina industry to the team, said Nalco.
“These are key appointments for Nalco Australia,” said Nalco marketing manager — Asia-Pacific, Len Lawrence.
“The combination of Sana Khan and Grant Doberer — both of whom are exceptionally well-respected in the alumina processing sector — will provide the market link to new technology being developed by Dr John Kildea who heads up our research centre in Perth. This combination will give us a strong and formidable base from which to service the alumina industry.”
Product and service enhancements will come hand-in-hand with the new team, with a specific focus on process water management and environmental compliance programs.
The news comes in response to “recent changes in the alumina processing sector worldwide,” according to the company.
“During the past three to five years the alumina industry has arguably been one of the most dynamic of all areas of minerals processing,” said Lawrence.
“As a long-term supplier of process solutions to this sector we must continue to develop our product range and our personnel to support new processing technologies and challenges that this market faces in the future.”
This includes developing higher standards in both environmental management and water quality. According to Lawrence, availability of management programs that can integrate into existing processes, backed by experienced personnel, will give Nalco’s customer base a tangible advantage as the sector dynamics change to meet the global marketplace.
“The Australian alumina sector is one of the world’s most efficient and, from our perspective, is a global leader,” he said.
“The improvements we are developing and implementing will see this local advantage maintained and progressed as worldwide demand for aluminium expands.”
Nalco has been a worldwide supplier of solutions for the alumina, coal and base metal minerals processing markets for 30 years. The company’s chemical and engineering products and services, developed both in Australia and the US, are used by processors around the globe, says the company.
For more information, email Len Lawrence on llawrence@nalco.com or visit the company’s website.