Moscow, February 20, 2018, – UC RUSAL (SEHK: 486, Euronext: RUSAL/RUAL, Moscow Exchange: RUAL), a leading global aluminium producer, is pleased to announce the signing of a cooperation agreement with SMS group, Germany.

The agreement foresees the companies’ cooperation in the area of construction of innovative continuous casting equipment to produce wire rods based on RUSAL’s proprietary technology of the continuous casting, rolling and extrusion.

The abovementioned technology allows to produce special grades of wire rods in a new manner ensuring high quality of designated products.

According to the agreement, a pilot equipment line installed and field-tested at IrkAZ smelter will be developed by the parties with subsequent commercial sales of the equipment through SMS group’s network.

‘Partnership with one of the largest industrial concerns in Europe is an important step for the development of the engineering and technological potential of both UC RUSAL and Russian intellectual developments in general. I am sure that cooperation with SMS group will become a powerful incentive for the popularization of Russian technologies abroad,’ commented RUSAL’s technical director Victor Mann.

‘Intellectual leadership has long been a guarantee of competitiveness and business efficiency, so today’s event is aimed at strengthening the company’s position in the global market. Developing its own technologies, SMS group is always focused on providing its customers with the most unique developments, including in cooperation with our partners,’ said Patrick Schneider - Head of Sales, SMS group.