Through Alumotion, Storvik and Charl-Pol aim to provide Canadian smelters with robotised anode assembly solutions. [Photo/ Aluminium Today]
Combining Automation Expertise with Local Manufacturing
Storvik has more than a century of experience in the process industry, with capabilities spanning engineering, machine building, maintenance and automation. Its work in aluminium smelting includes robotic handling and welding, vision systems and condition monitoring.
Charl-Pol brings complementary expertise in large-scale industrial fabrication, metallurgy, welding, equipment repair and project execution. The company operates manufacturing facilities across Canada and has established relationships with major aluminium producers, including Rio Tinto, Alcoa and Aluminerie Alouette.
Through Alumotion, the partners aim to support Canadian smelters throughout the equipment lifecycle—from engineering and project development through manufacturing, installation and commissioning to operation, maintenance and continuous improvement.
The emphasis is therefore not simply on supplying robotic equipment, but on making advanced automation practical to deploy and support within existing industrial operations.
Building on Proven Smelter Experience
The new venture draws on technology and experience already developed by its partners.
One example is Storvik's robotic anode hanger and yoke refurbishment work at Alcoa Mosjøen in Norway. In a project documented by the company, Storvik deployed an automated refurbishment line incorporating robotic welding, automated handling, vision systems and condition monitoring. The project involved the conversion of 8,600 anode yokes over 20 weeks, while allowing the smelter's existing operations to continue.
This is an example of Storvik's previous experience, rather than a project delivered by Alumotion. Nevertheless, it illustrates the type of application the new partnership aims to bring to Canadian customers: automation designed around demanding production environments, where equipment reliability, maintenance efficiency and operational continuity are important considerations.
Charl-Pol has also been investing in automation for aluminium smelter equipment maintenance. Its Alunov process, for example, is designed to improve the efficiency of electrolytic pot shell repairs, while the company's wider modernisation programme has included robotic equipment and improvements to its internal manufacturing systems.
Why Canada Is a Relevant Market
Canada is one of the world's major primary aluminium producers, with approximately 3.3 million tonnes of production in 2024. Its smelting industry also benefits from extensive access to hydroelectricity, which contributes to the relatively low carbon footprint of Canadian primary aluminium.
At the same time, the industry continues to invest in modernisation. In May 2026, Rio Tinto began commissioning its AP60 smelter expansion at Complexe Arvida in Quebec, a project expected to add approximately 160,000 tonnes of annual primary aluminium capacity once fully operational. This separate development illustrates the continuing investment in Canadian smelting technology and production infrastructure.
For established smelters, modernisation is not limited to new production capacity. Maintenance systems, equipment handling, process reliability and workforce safety are also important areas for improvement. Automation can help address these requirements, particularly where repetitive or physically demanding tasks can be performed through appropriately designed robotic systems.
A Practical Model for Industrial Modernisation
The Storvik–Charl-Pol partnership highlights the value of combining specialised engineering knowledge with local manufacturing and service capacity.
For aluminium producers, the potential benefits of robotic maintenance and automated handling include more consistent operations, improved equipment availability and reduced exposure to certain hazardous or repetitive tasks. The scale of these benefits, however, depends on the specific application, plant conditions and implementation.
Automation may also contribute to more efficient use of energy and materials, but the new venture has not yet published independently verified operating or carbon-reduction results. Its significance at this stage lies in the combination of proven partner capabilities and a local delivery model, rather than in any claimed performance outcome from the newly established company.
As aluminium producers continue to modernise their operations, partnerships of this kind offer one approach to bringing advanced technology into established industrial facilities. The next step will be demonstrating how these capabilities translate into measurable results for Canadian smelters and their customers.
For the wider aluminium industry, the development reinforces an important trend: industrial competitiveness increasingly depends on how effectively engineering, automation and operational expertise can be integrated into real production environments.
These themes are also relevant to ALUMINIUM CHINA 2027, which will bring together materials, processing equipment, advanced manufacturing technologies and industry applications across the aluminium value chain. The next edition will take place from 7–9 July 2027 at Halls E1–E7, Shanghai New International Expo Centre.
Sources:
Aluminium International Today
Storvik
Charl-Pol
Natural Resources Canada
Aluminium Association of Canada
