Vedanta Aluminium has named Luca Zipponi CEO of Rolled Products. Zipponi will be in charge of the group’s growth and operations in this capacity. Among other industries, the product category finds use in the automotive, electrical, packaging, power projects, and insulation sectors.
Zipponi brings more than 30 years of experience to the role. She has held executive positions in Europe and Asia, including those of Group Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director UK at Reflexallen Group.
The rolled products facility of Vedanta Aluminium’s Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO) operation in Korba, Chhattisgarh, has a capacity of 0.72 lakh tons annually. Hot rolling mills, cold rolled mills, casting stations, and continuous casters are all part of the complex.
Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, produces more than half of India’s aluminium, manufacturing 2.37 million tonnes in FY24. The company is recognized for its sustainable development practices, ranking first in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 world rankings for the aluminium industry.
Rolled aluminum sheets and coils are used extensively for body panels, including hoods, doors, fenders, and trunk lids. These components benefit from aluminum’s excellent formability, allowing for complex shapes and designs to be achieved during the stamping process. Additionally, aluminum’s corrosion resistance helps extend the lifespan of these parts, particularly in harsh environmental conditions.
The automotive industry also leverages rolled aluminum for heat exchangers, such as radiators and air conditioning condensers. Aluminum’s superior thermal conductivity makes it an ideal material for these components, enhancing overall vehicle cooling efficiency.
Despite its advantages, the use of rolled aluminum products in the automotive industry faces challenges such as higher material costs compared to steel and the need for specialized joining techniques. However, ongoing advancements in aluminum alloy development and manufacturing processes continue to address these issues, further solidifying aluminum’s role in the future of automotive design and production.