Advancing the digital transformation: EGA and Microsoft cooperate for Industry 4.0

(c) EGA 

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Microsoft will collaborate in the areas of digital transformation and industry 4.0 in the future. The two companies aim to jointly develop global best practices for the aluminium industry while improving sustainability.

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), one of the largest industrial companies in the United Arab Emirates outside the oil and gas industry, and Microsoft UAE will collaborate in the areas of digital transformation and industry 4.0 in the future. The goal of the collaboration is to develop global best practices for the aluminium industry while improving the sustainability of EGA's computing operations. Under the new agreement, the two companies will develop new advanced digital capabilities and a hybrid cloud platform for the aluminium industry. The aim is to jointly drive EGA's digital roadmap, which is already transforming operations through digital capabilities such as artificial intelligence and Big Data.

Cloud computing for new digital solutions

EGA and Microsoft will leverage the power of cloud computing to accelerate and scale the development of new digital solutions by moving one-third of EGA's server infrastructure and applications to the Microsoft Azure cloud. EGA will also develop a private Microsoft Azure Cloud at its sites and move another third of its computing to that system. This will open up opportunities for the deployment of data-intensive and time-critical artificial intelligence and automation solutions within the company's industrial operations.

EGA is already transforming its operations, business and employee experience through industry 4.0 and broad-based digital transformation. The collaboration with Microsoft is expected to further accelerate and scale this and establish the work as a digital beacon for the region and the industry. In addition, EGA will help Microsoft innovate and improve the technology company's products and services, while Microsoft will train EGA employees on relevant Microsoft technologies to facilitate adoption across the aluminium group's operations.

Significant energy savings

Through digital transformation and increased efficiency, Microsoft's cloud will enable EGA to achieve significant energy savings: Estimated reductions of up to 65 percent in energy consumption across computing operations and more than 80 percent in CO₂ emissions.

EGA has been developing technologies in the UAE for more than 25 years, focusing on improving the efficiency of the aluminium smelting process. In the coming decades, the company aims to serve as a technology pioneer for the aluminium industry, expanding its position as a technology supplier and creating a thriving ecosystem for manufacturing innovation in the UAE.

The two companies are also members of the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology's Industry 4.0 Champions Network, which aims to accelerate the adoption of industry 4.0 across UAE industry.