Isabelle Gaudreau manages Marketing and Communication for EPIQ Machinery. She has managed all marketing-related activities since the merger between Mecfor and Advanced Dynamics. Isabelle's journey in the industry began in 2006 when she played a pivotal role in assisting the MECFOR sales team develop standards, marketing, promotional materials, and general sales activities. Her background in professional writing, creative design work, and administrative services offers a balanced mix of insights into the industry and observation of new trends and opportunities.
AL Circle: What is your perspective on the current state of the Asian aluminium industry? How do you see the demand for aluminium evolving in Asia over the next decade?
Isabelle Gaudreau: The Asian aluminium industry, despite facing challenges like environmental sustainability and energy consumption, is expected to become a critical player in the coming years.
Asian industry is gaining traction in aluminium production due to growing demand from many industries. Companies are focusing on sustainability and technology upgrades while also investing in producing ‘green aluminium’ using renewable energy sources.
EPIQ Machinery has strong local presence in Southeast Asia, India to be precise. Through its subsidiaries ADF Engineering, NOVIMEQ and STYMER, we are ready to support growth of our customers. We are also preparing ourselves to be able to take on the pivotal challenges of digitalization and greater automation of primary and secondary aluminium production.
AL Circle: What are the key challenges facing the aluminium industry in Asia, particularly regarding production, technology, and sustainability? How is EPIQ Machinery addressing these challenges through your innovative equipment and solutions?
Isabelle Gaudreau: The aluminium industry in Asia faces challenges such as modernising plants, adopting digital technologies, and increasing production costs.
At EPIQ, we now have the capability to bring a group of experts to the same table and offer global solution approaches to suit our clients’ needs. Strong Engineering and Designing competencies in all kinds of material handling equipment (fixed and mobile), automation (NOVIMEQ), digitalisation, auto-guided AMR/AGV equipment, product engineering and analysis (STYMER) are allowing us to offer added-value equipment solutions to overcome these challenges.
Every day, EPIQ looks to help producers achieve growth, technological advancement, and sustainability.
AL Circle: Can you share examples of how your equipment has helped aluminium smelters in Asia overcome specific operational challenges?
Isabelle Gaudreau: Our BROCHOT Casting line offers a great level of automation. We believe that greater integration with other type of equipment or systems will be required.
We’ve also delivered fully automated aluminium Foundry Ingot Stack Handling Systems. They considerably reduce the need for manual operators. Our robots with palletising tools quickly and efficiently stack the foundry ingot bundles. Once the bundles are formed it will then be weighed, strapped, and labeled. Facilities now have additional option with the integration of an AGV/AMR to move these bundles from the packaging area to a warehouse. With this addition to the overall system, it will reduce congestion and improve productivity.
AL Circle: In your view, why is aluminium considered the metal of the future? What role does EPIQ Machinery play in supporting the future growth and sustainability of the aluminium industry, particularly in Asia?
Isabelle Gaudreau: Simply because this material is infinitely recyclable.
Also, aluminium mixed with special alloy can shows extraordinary properties that can serve specific demanding industries such as aerospace, automotive, and construction.
AL Circle: How does your equipment contribute to improving the efficiency and environmental impact of aluminium smelters?
Isabelle Gaudreau: EPIQ Machinery is committed to the ongoing process of quality improvement, reliability, maintainability, and durability. We provide our customers with world-class technology, innovation, and added product value.
Robotisation, automation and digitalisation will form the main axes of development. This trend will lead Aluminium smelters to meet the requirements of optimised production in an environment with access to fewer human resources and an omnipresent focus on decarbonisation. EPIQ works closely with all our customers on a variety of improvements, from amperage creep to dust and fume mitigation and the introduction of electric industrialised mobile equipment.
By delivering long-lasting equipment, we have in place an Aftermarket service team that supports our equipment until the end of its useful life. The delivery of an equipment is the beginning of a journey whereas we offer a comprehensive suite of services and upgrade solutions designed to provide our customers with unprecedented value and cost savings throughout the life span of equipment.
AL Circle: How is EPIQ Machinery positioning itself to support the growth and technological advancements of the Asian aluminium industry?
Isabelle Gaudreau: On the verge of another industrial revolution oriented towards big data analysis and the integration of AI, EPIQ Machinery sees great opportunities for reshaping the Aluminium industry.
With an increase in information available, in real-time, and specialised software capable of using this information to communicate production orders to the various handling solutions, together we will be able to reinvent the industry. Ultimately, EPIQ wants to stand as leading player within this transforming industry.
AL Circle: Could you discuss any specific projects or partnerships EPIQ Machinery has undertaken in Asia that highlight your contribution to the region's aluminium industry?
Isabelle Gaudreau: Under ADF Engineering, EPIQ Machinery has three production facilities in Pune, India.
Also, in September 2023, the company acquired STYMER, a team of dedicated experts specialised in design engineering, finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). This group offers cutting-edge support in engineering, product development and analysis.
In June 2024, EPIQ has created a new division specialised in the offer of automation services of all kinds. The NOVIMEQ Automation team is able of meeting the needs of design, programming, simulation, technical support on-site, training and document management.
The combination of these capabilities allows us to provide complete industrial automation and digitalisation solutions, ensuring that control systems and processes reach new heights in terms of growth, reliability, sustainability, efficiency, quality, and safety.
AL Circle: What are some of the latest technological innovations EPIQ Machinery has introduced to the market, and how have these been received in Asia?
Isabelle Gaudreau: Being EPIQ means being determined to develop innovative solutions that will bring greater operational efficiency and better financial performance, ensuring the sustainability of our industrial ecosystem for all our business partners.
Since its beginnings, EPIQ has embraced the principles of automation. Whether by adding robots to AD handling equipment systems or by integrating the MecforLink system on mobile equipment, EPIQ significantly increases the value of its solutions.
However, the future demands more. This is why EPIQ is positioning itself to offer data capture and advanced information management tools directly linked to the needs of each plant in order to be able to rely on artificial intelligence (AI) and increase its efficiency.
AL Circle: What are your predictions for the future of aluminium production and consumption in Asia? How is EPIQ Machinery planning to evolve in response to future trends in the aluminium industry, particularly in Asia?
Isabelle Gaudreau: Our predictions stand in 5 words: Electrification. Decarbonisation. Automation. Robotisation. Digitalisation.
EPIQ sees itself as a vector of change, pursuing its ambition to design and manufacture equipment that will allow its customers to do what they have always done, but better, by providing them with tools for faster and more efficient decision-making.
