CBA RELIES ON VIRTUAL REALITY TO BOOST MAINTENANCE TRAINING

The Brazilian aluminum company will invest R$ 95,000 in technology applied to virtual reality in order to enhance training in maintenance of the transformed business in the municipalities of Alumínio (SP) and Itapissuma (PE).

This investment is part of the R$27.3 million capital earmarked for digital transformation projects in Brazil. A digital project that will focus on the empowerment in the use of virtual reality glasses. The company will also expand the scope of training to around 200 employees, thereby significantly reducing training operating costs.

In the last four years, the company has invested R$ 32 million in initiatives aimed at Industry 4.0, including the use of artificial intelligence applied to smelting and refinery processes and products, implementation of a process control room to increase operational efficiency and product quality, increased process and industrial equipment sensing, among others.

On the other hand, the company already foresees other different applications for virtual reality technology in the coming years, among them the reduction in the displacement of employees between plants, the expansion of synergies between the Alumínio (SP) and Itapissuma (PE) plants, in addition to adding new knowledge to the teams.

Last January, the company already carried out some tests, such as the annual scheduled maintenance of the roughing mill at the Alumínio (SP) plant, which was performed remotely and simultaneously. A professional from the unit carried out the process guided by a specialist in London.

The rolling mill is used by the industry to reduce the thickness of the metal, costs around 200 million reais and requires investments for maintenance in the order of 200 thousand reais per year. Currently, CBA has 16 such units in the São Paulo unit.