The ARMENAL plant has started full-scale production of 7-micron foil. The ARMENAL press service reports that most of the funds invested in the modernization in 2007-2009, U.S. $6m, were spent on the up-to-date technology.

The plan has dispatched the first batches for customers. The foil meets the quality standards set by the Russian Standard Committee, ISEGA Company (Germany) and other international authorities.

A U.S. $70m comprehensive modernization program implemented at the plant has enabled it to start full-scale production of unltrathin foil.

This January-August, the output reached 14,000 tons – an annual increase of 85%. The plan exports its products to Europe, Near East and the USA.

The European Union recently imposed five-year tariffs on aluminum foil from China, Brazil and Armenia to help EU producers including Poland’s Grupa Kety SA compete against cheaper imports.

The tariffs are 17.6% on Companhia Brasileira de Aluminio and any other Brazilian exporters, 13.4% on Armenia’s Rusal-Armenal and any fellow exporters and as much as 30% on Chinese manufacturers. The EU accepted an offer by Companhia Brasileira de Aluminio to sell at a minimum price in return for an exemption from the anti-dumping duty while rejecting a similar proposal by Rusal-Armenal.

Founded in Yerevan in May 2000 using the facilities of the Kanaker aluminum plant, ARMENAL is one of the largest industrial enterprises in Armenia and only producer of aluminum foil in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

The plant formed part of RUSAL in 2000. Along with SAYANAL, Ural Foil and Saytan Foil, the plan forms the Packaging Department of the company.