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Informist, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025

 

--Hindalco source: Able to make alumina grades on particle size forecast model

--Hindalco source: Alumina particle size forecast tech giving good results

 

By Rajesh Gajra

 

NEW DELHI – Aluminium major Hindalco Industries Ltd. is getting good results in its specialty alumina manufacturing process from the technology-driven model for predicting the particle size distribution, according to a senior official of the company. The company has been using this technology-based prediction model "for about a year... (and) it is giving us good results," the official told Informist.

 

Hindalco had implemented a machine learning-based predictive model for alumina particle size analysis, enabling the advanced prediction of intermediate fines, according to its annual report for 2025-26 (April-March). With the ability to predict, the company can make "the necessary process corrections so that the particle size becomes more uniform as per what we want," the Hindalco official said.

 

If the particle size "is off, then the smelting efficiency reduces", and the company ends up incurring high energy costs and low quality output, he said. This makes it "important to control the particle size in the refinery itself... (and) that is what we are able to predict," the official said.

 

Hindalco is able to produce grades of specialty alumina because it can predict the particle sizes, he said. The company segregates alumina with particle sizes that are not optimal, even if only slightly, and sends it for other uses or applications. "The ones falling in (the desired) range then go to our smelters," he said. The company said in its latest annual report that the specialty alumina conversion increased to 57% in FY25, and the company added two new alumina grades.

 

Hindalco operates in the aluminium, specialty alumina, and copper segments. The specialty alumina segment caters to customers in ceramics, refractories, polishing, flame retardants, coarse alumina hydrate, fine alumina hydrate, and other businesses.

 

Regular alumina production is a part of the aluminium segment of Hindalco. In specialty alumina, the company currently has an annual production capacity of over 560,000 tonnes with plans to increase it to 1 million tonnes in three years, according to its FY25 annual report. Hindalco is considered one of the top three global players in specialty alumina, catering to niche businesses.

 

Hindalco manufactures specialty alumina at its two manufacturing units, located at Belagavi in Karnataka and Muri in Jharkhand. It sells specialty alumina in India and around 40 other countries.

 

At Muri, apart from particle size prediction in specialty alumina, the company has implemented technology projects such as the last washer soda prescription model, evaporation steam economy prediction model, and thick liquor concentration prediction model, in regular and specialty manufacturing.

 

In FY25, Hindalco "accelerated its digital transformation journey, embedding advanced technologies across the value chain to drive operational excellence, sustainability, and customer-centricity," the company said in its latest annual report. The company implemented digital initiatives leveraging artificial intelligence, machine learning, "Digital Twins", blockchain, and augmented reality, it said in the annual report.

 

On Monday, shares of Hindalco closed at INR 719.60, up 2.2%, on the National Stock Exchange.  End

 

Edited by Saji George Titus

 

 

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