Emirates Global Aluminum (EGA), the UAE’s largest industrial company outside of oil and gas, and Microsoft UAE will partner to advance Industry 4.0 and wider digital transformation. The collaboration aims to develop global best practice for the aluminum industry while improving the sustainability of EGA’s computing business.
Both Microsoft and EGA are 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 industries.
Under the new agreement, the two companies will jointly advance EGA’s digital roadmap, which has already transformed EGA’s operations through digital capabilities such as artificial intelligence and big data.
cloud power
EGA and Microsoft will harness the power of cloud computing to accelerate and scale the development of new digital solutions, moving one-third of EGA’s server infrastructure and applications to the Microsoft Azure Cloud.
Through digital transformation and increased efficiency, Microsoft’s cloud will enable EGA to achieve significant energy savings. EGA estimates that its overall computing operations can reduce energy consumption by up to 65 percent and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 80 percent.
EGA will also develop a private Microsoft Azure cloud on its site, offloading another third of its computing to the system, creating a new environment for deploying data-intensive and time-sensitive artificial intelligence and automation solutions in the company’s industrial operations. Programs create opportunities.
Virtual desktop cloud computer
EGA will use virtual desktop cloud computers to create a more efficient, flexible and secure workplace computing experience for employees.
Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer, Emirates Global Aluminum, said: “We are already transforming EGA’s operations, business and employee experience through Industry 4.0 and wider digital transformation. Our partnership with Microsoft will enable us to further accelerate, scale and sustain this work to be a digital beacon for the region and our industry.”
Carlo K Nizam, Chief Digital Officer, Emirates Global Aluminum, said: “Combining the talent, strength and technology of EGA and Microsoft will allow us to develop the most advanced digital capabilities and hybrid cloud platform in the aluminum industry. Environmental sustainability of computing infrastructure and benefit from seamless security and operation of our public and private cloud assets.”
further cooperation
Naim Yazbeck, General Manager, Microsoft UAE, said: “We are proud to partner with EGA, the world’s largest producer of ‘premium aluminum’, to accelerate their Industry 4.0 transformation, while also spearheading further improvements to Microsoft’s own manufacturing services cloud. I look forward to the future of EGA Further collaboration with Microsoft locally and globally.”
EGA will provide Microsoft with input on innovations and improvements to the technology company’s products and services. Microsoft will help EGA employees upskill relevant Microsoft technologies to accelerate adoption in the aluminum giant’s operations. — trade arab news agency