Riyadh, Sha'ban 26, 1435, Jun 24, 2014, SPA -- The Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) and Alcoa Inc. announced today the start of production of highly industrial quality Aluminum panels in Ma'aden factory for Rolling Mill, a project which is considered as one of the joint venture between Ma'aden and Alcoa Company for Aluminum Production. The announcement came on the sidelines of a ceremony held on the occasion by Ma'aden to brief senior commercial customers and manufactures on its products of Aluminum Ma'aden rolling mill complex at Ras Al Khair is the most technologically advanced in the region and the first in the Middle East capable of producing food grade can sheet, as well as sheet for automotive and building and construction applications. The milestone marks the first production-grade packaging coil that will be shipped to customers for qualification. The state of art is that the mill is equipped with the latest in rolling mill technology, including fully automated coil and scrap transport and storage facilities, which feature driverless guided vehicles and cranes to optimize efficiency. President and CEO of Ma’aden, Khalid Mudaifer said that "Our mission is to build a minerals and metals industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that contributes to sustainable economic diversification and shares value and shareholders' interests, while providing high value job opportunities for Saudis and a reliable supply of quality products to our global customers." Ma’aden rolling mill complex also features a state of the art recycling facility, capable of processing every used beverage that can be generated within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the neighboring Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Arab countries. The Ma’aden Aluminum can reclamation facility has the capacity to recycle 120,000 mtpy of primarily used beverage cans and it will foster the beginning of a new recycling industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. --SPA 15:39 LOCAL TIME 12:39 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w