Moscow, 27 May 2025 – RUSAL, one of the largest global aluminium producer, is expanding its thin gauge foil capacity for food packaging applications. By upgrading the С-3/2 finishing foil mill, SAYANAL foil plant will be able to increase its thin gauge output by 10-12%, whereas Ural Foil plant, for the first time in its history, is starting to embark on this advanced production.

The largest foil mill in Russia and the CIS countries, SAYANAL plant is about to restart its С-3/2 finishing foil mill after the upgrade; the project, worth 500 million roubles, will make the mill automation controls more advanced, and will add 10-12% to the plant’s output of thin gauge foils (less than 9 micron thick). Thin gauges are used for sophisticated packaging in the food industry – confectionery, aseptic and laminated packaging.

‘In developed economies, quality food packaging is essential for a country’s food security. The packaging sector is substituting for imports and developing fast, and RUSAL synchronizes its foil projects with the sectoral trends. In addition to the upgrade of С-3/2 finishing mill, we are planning further investment in the production of thin gauge foil at SAYANAL. Also, for the first time in its history, Ural Foil plant is starting to embark on this advanced production’, said Alexey Agafonov, head of RUSAL Foil block.

Using thin gauge foils for packaging applications helps reduce the all-in cost and weight of packaging, optimize the cost of the finished product, and improve quality for consumers. The thinnest foil produced by SAYANAL has a thickness of 6 microns (0,006 mm), enough to offer benefits of high barrier properties of aluminium – protection of food from light, air, and odour.