Shenyang Aluminium & Magnesium Engineering & Research Institute (SAMI)

What Shenyang Aluminium & Magnesium Engineering & Research Institute (SAMI) does

Shenyang Aluminium & Magnesium Engineering & Research Institute (SAMI) is a Chinese state-owned engineering design institute founded in March 1951 and currently operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Aluminum Corporation Limited (CHINALCO), with its immediate parent being China Aluminum International Engineering Corporation Limited (CHALIECO, listed on Hong Kong and Shanghai exchanges). Headquartered in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, SAMI specializes in proprietary process technologies and integrated engineering services for the aluminum, alumina, magnesium, titanium, and carbon industries, serving large industrial enterprises and SOE clients across more than 40 countries. The company maintains a technical workforce of over 700 qualified engineers, including 8 national non-ferrous metal industry engineering masters and 22 State Council special allowance experts, and has completed over 6,000 engineering projects across 500+ plants globally.

SAMI's core technology portfolio centers on the SY series of aluminum reduction pots (ranging from SY300 to SY600 at 620kA — the only industrialized provider globally at 500kA and 620kA amperage), Bayer and combination process alumina refining (21+ million tons design capacity), second-generation Vertical Shaft Furnace (VSF) calcination technology for petroleum coke (90% China market share, ~8,000kt/a capacity), magnesium smelting via both electrolysis and Pidgeon processes, and an integrated environmental protection stack (GTC, FTC, CFT) including ultra-fine droplet horizontal desulfurization with 80%+ industry market share. The company holds 435 valid authorized patents plus approximately 120 international patents.

The business model operates across five revenue streams: (1) Engineering Design Services (FEED, basic, and detailed design across 30+ disciplines); (2) EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) general contracting under lump-sum turn-key or EP/EPCM modes; (3) Proprietary Technology Licensing for SY series pots, Bayer process variants, VSF, and environmental technologies; (4) Equipment Supply through subsidiaries Boyu Technology and Boyu Environmental Protection Research Institute; and (5) Technical Services and Consulting including supervision, commissioning, and operational training. Customer segments are enterprise and SOE-anchored — CHALCO, Xinfa, VINACOMIN, PT BAI, PT Inalum, PT KAI, Anovion, Midal Cables, Qinghai Salt Lake, and Sunstone represent named clients. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales driven by technical reputation, with international project delivery through CHALIECO consortium arrangements and direct EPC contracting.

Name

Shenyang Aluminium & Magnesium Engineering & Research Institute (SAMI)

Legal name

沈阳铝镁设计研究院有限公司 (Shenyang Aluminium & Magnesium Engineering & Research Institute Company Limited)

Website

https://sami.chinalco.com.cn

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Short description

SAMI is a Chinese state-owned engineering design institute under CHINALCO/CHALIECO, specializing in proprietary process technologies and integrated EPC services for the aluminum, alumina, magnesium, titanium, and carbon industries, serving large industrial enterprises and SOE clients across 40+ countries with a 700+ engineer workforce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-ferrous Metals Engineering & EPC Services

NAICS

Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing (33131), Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

akta.pro primary industry

Aluminum Project Development, Engineering & EPC (Smelters/Refineries) (IMAKACAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Alumina Refining (Bayer Process) (IMAKACAB), Aluminum Smelter/Refinery Technology, Equipment & Refractories (IMAKACAL), Project & Construction Management (EPCM, Owner’s Engineer, Scheduling/Controls) (IMAKAOAG)

Keywords

• Aluminum smelting engineering
• Alumina refining technology
• EPC project contracting
• Magnesium smelting processes
• Industrial emission treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Shenyang

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Engineering Design Services: Provides engineering design services across 30+ disciplines for alumina, aluminum, magnesium, titanium, carbon and non-ferrous metals industries. Covers front-end engineering (FEED), basic engineering, and detailed engineering design. Revenue is project-based, one-time per engagement.
2. EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) General Contracting: Full-scope EPC lump-sum turn-key project delivery integrating technology licensing, engineering, equipment supply, construction management, and commissioning. Also operates EP and EPCM modes. One of the primary high-value revenue streams.
3. Proprietary Technology Licensing: Licenses proprietary aluminum, alumina and carbon process technologies including SY series pot technology, Bayer process, VSF, GTC, FTC, CFT, and anode technologies to clients globally. Revenue from technology licensing fees and royalties.
4. Equipment Supply and Manufacturing: Supplies key equipment and engineered products including aluminum busbar systems, anode rod assemblies, and specialized industrial equipment. Operations through subsidiaries Boyu Technology and Boyu Technology Environmental Protection Research Institute.
5. Technical Services and Consulting: Provides supervision, management, guidance and training programs at project construction and operation stages. Includes operational support, technical consulting, and customized maintenance services for clients using SAMI's proprietary technologies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SAMI provides integrated engineering design, EPC project contracting, proprietary technology licensing, equipment supply, and consulting services for the aluminum, alumina, magnesium, titanium, carbon, and related non-ferrous metals industries. The company's offerings span the full project lifecycle from conceptual study, feasibility analysis, FEED and detailed engineering design through technology licensing, equipment supply, construction management, commissioning, and operational support. Its proprietary technologies include SY series aluminum reduction pots, VSF coke calcination, Bayer process variants, magnesium smelting systems, and emission treatment systems.

Product overview

SAMI is a comprehensive engineering company integrating R&D, engineering design, general contracting, and industrialization of scientific achievements for the aluminum, alumina, magnesium, titanium, and carbon industries. The company operates through four core business segments: (1) Proprietary Technology Licensing including SY series pot technology (SY600, SY500, SY400, SY300), Bayer and sintering alumina processes, Vertical Shaft Furnace calcining, and fume treatment systems (FTC, CFT); (2) Engineering Design covering process, mechanical, electrical, civil, and structural disciplines; (3) EPC Project Contracting under lump-sum turn-key or EP modes; and (4) Technology Commercialization through subsidiaries including Boyu Technology (environmental protection), Lvmei Technology (intelligent manufacturing), Huayu Tiankong (automation control), and the Light Metal journal publication. SAMI also provides project consultancy, technical services, and upgrading solutions for existing facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 《轻金属》杂志 (Light Metals Journal): A monthly Chinese-language scientific journal in the metallurgical field, established in 1964, published nationally and internationally, covering aluminum, magnesium, titanium, and related industries.
• 沈阳盛鑫建设工程项目管理有限公司 (formerly 沈阳铝镁设计研究院建设监理有限公司)

Products and services

• Proprietary Technology Licensing SAMI licenses its proprietary technologies for aluminum, alumina and carbon industries, including SY series pot technology (SY600, SY500, SY400, SY300), Bayer process, sintering process, anode technology, and green coke calcining technology to industrial enterprises globally.
• Engineering Design SAMI provides engineering design services covering process, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, civil, structural, architectural, piping, and firefighting disciplines for alumina, aluminum, magnesium, titanium, carbon and other non-ferrous metals projects.
• EPC Project Contracting SAMI delivers projects under EPC lump-sum turn-key or EP plus service modes, integrating technology, engineering design and project delivery expertise for seamless one-stop solutions for non-ferrous metals industrial facilities.
• Project Consultancy SAMI provides consultancy services for project development including conceptual study, pre-feasibility study, bankable feasibility study, CAPEX/OPEX estimation, and financial analysis for industrial projects.
• Technical Services SAMI offers supervision, management, guidance and training programs tailored for project construction and operation stages, including EPCM, construction management, commissioning, and customized operation and maintenance services for clients using SAMI's proprietary technologies.
• Upgrading Solutions for Existing Plants SAMI provides solutions for upgrading existing aluminum smelters and alumina refineries, including pot design modifications (lining and/or busbar upgrades) to increase amperage and save energy, with documented reductions of 600-800 kWh/MT Al across 7,500+ pots in 36 smelters.
• SY Series Aluminum Reduction Pot Technology SAMI's proprietary SY series aluminum reduction pot technology ranging from 160kA to 620kA, including SY600 (600kA) and SY500 (500kA) as the most industrialized pot technologies globally. SY600 pilot achieves DC power consumption of 12,136 kWh/t-Al.
• Alumina Refining Technology SAMI provides comprehensive alumina technologies including Bayer Process, Sintering Process, Combination Process, and various unit technologies for different bauxite sources (diaspore, boehmite, gibbsite), with total design capacity exceeding 21 million tons.
• Magnesium Smelting Technology SAMI offers electrolysis (no-partition pot, 90-165kA multi-pole) and Pidgeon/Thermal processes for metallic magnesium production, along with suspension calcination technology for light-burned magnesium oxide.
• Vertical Shaft Furnace (VSF) Calcination Technology SAMI's second-generation VSF (G2 VSF) technology for calcined petroleum coke (CPC) production, with total production capacity of about 8,000kt/a and 90% market share in China over the past 10 years.
• Gas Treatment Center (GTC) / Fume Treatment Center (FTC) SAMI's advanced emission treatment technology for aluminum reduction and anode baking processes, using high-temperature reduction, denitration, asphalt tar adsorption, and high-efficiency desulfurization to meet ultra-low emission standards (SO2 ≤30 mg/Nm3, NOx ≤50 mg/Nm3, Particles ≤5 mg/Nm3, Fluoride ≤0.8 mg/Nm3).
• Calcining Fume Emission Treatment (CFT) SAMI adopts efficient denitrification technology and waste heat desulfurization technology for green petroleum coke calcining in VSF, meeting ultra-low and ultra-clean emission standards.
• ARFS Carbon Baking Combustion Control System Joint brand ARFS (with Switzerland R&D Carbon) for carbon anode baking furnace automatic control. SAMI subsidiary Beijing Huayu Tiankong Technology specializes in aluminum carbon baking automatic control systems, providing R&D, equipment development, installation, and commissioning for industrial automation.
• Boyu Technology - Environmental Protection Equipment SAMI's wholly-owned subsidiary Shenyang Boyu Science & Technology Co., Ltd. focuses on environmental protection technology and equipment for the aluminum industry, providing professional services for energy conservation, environmental protection, and electrolysis fume dry purification systems.
• Lvmei Technology - Intelligent Manufacturing Equipment SAMI's wholly-owned subsidiary Shenyang Aluminium & Magnesium Technology Co., Ltd. specializes in intelligent manufacturing technology and equipment for the aluminum industry.
• Construction Supervision and Project Management Services SAMI's subsidiary Shenyang Shengxin Construction Engineering Project Management Co. (formerly Shenyang Aluminum Magnesium Design Research Institute Construction Supervision Co., renamed 2022) provides Class A construction supervision and project management services for housing construction and metallurgical projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• SY600 pot technology achieves DC power consumption of 12,136 kWh/t-Al in pilot operation
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (PT Inalum)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2023SAMI serves as EPC general contractor for PT Inalum's reduction upgrading EPC project, upgrading Indonesia's only aluminum smelter. The project increases pot amperage from 195kA to 235kA for 170 electrolytic pots across 8 districts. Production capacity will reach over 300kt/a. This is an Indonesian national strategic project and priority development project of Indonesia's Ministry of State-owned Enterprises.
• PT Kalimantan Aluminum Industry (KAI)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2022SAMI signed a contract with PT Kalimantan Aluminum Industry (KAI) in June 2022 to provide engineering design and service for the 1,000kt/a (two-phase, 500kt/a phase 1) Adaro North Kalimantan Aluminum Project in Indonesia. The project applies SAMI's advanced SY500 pot technology, marking SAMI's first export of SY500 technology to Indonesia.
• PT Borneo Alumina Indonesia (PT BAI)coreTechnology or Integration · 11 November 2019PT BAI, an Indonesian state-owned enterprise, engaged CHALIECO (with SAMI as technology provider and engineering contractor) to build a 1,000kt/a alumina refinery (expandable to 2,000kt/a) in Mempawah, West Kalimantan. The early work letter agreement was signed November 11, 2019, and the EPC contract was signed January 11, 2020. SAMI provides alumina technology licensing and engineering design services.
• R&D Carbon (Switzerland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2013SAMI entered a technology cooperation agreement with Switzerland-based R&D Carbon in April 2013 to jointly develop and share carbon baking related process and control technologies. The partnership resulted in the joint ARFS (Advanced Reduction Firing System) combustion control brand. This strategic collaboration combines SAMI's engineering capabilities with R&D Carbon's specialized carbon process expertise to deliver advanced carbon anode baking control systems globally.
• CHALIECO (China Aluminum International Engineering Corporation Limited)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAMI is a member company of CHALIECO, listed on both Shanghai and Hong Kong stock exchanges. CHALIECO integrates SAMI with Guiyang Aluminum Magnesium Design and Research Institute to form an international engineering conglomerate. SAMI relies on CHALIECO for consortium bidding on major international EPC projects, particularly in Southeast Asia.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hatch Ltd: Canadian engineering firm with a globally recognized aluminum smelter and alumina refinery EPC practice. Hatch competes with SAMI on international aluminum smelter design projects and shares the integrated engineering, proprietary technology licensing, and EPCM delivery model.
• Guiyang Aluminum Magnesium Design & Research Institute: Sister institute under CHALIECO with parallel scope in aluminum and magnesium engineering design, EPC, and technology R&D. Operates as SAMI's domestic counterpart within the same state-owned structure, offering directly overlapping services to similar industrial customers.
• China Aluminum International Engineering Corporation (CHALIECO): CHALIECO is SAMI's immediate parent and sister-institute (Guiyang Aluminum Magnesium Design Institute) owner. It bundles SAMI's capabilities with international EPC contracting, making it the most directly comparable entity operating in the same aluminum/alumina engineering EPC space under the same CHINALCO umbrella.
• China ENFI Engineering Corporation: State-owned Chinese engineering firm under MCC group providing EPC and design services for non-ferrous metals including aluminum, with comparable project-based revenue, proprietary process technologies, and overseas project execution in Belt-and-Road markets.

Broad incumbents

• RUSAL: World's largest aluminum producer outside China with proprietary reduction cell technology (RA-300/RA-550) and inert anode R&D. Competes with SAMI in the global pot technology race and represents the most internationally established rival in primary aluminum process innovation.
• Worley Limited: Australian-headquartered engineering services firm with significant energy and resources EPCM practice including aluminum and alumina. Competes with SAMI on international engineering design and project management mandates, particularly in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
• Norsk Hydro ASA: Global aluminum major that develops proprietary HAL series reduction cell technology and operates its own smelter engineering/design function. Comparable to SAMI as a developer of advanced pot technology, though primarily serves captive smelter needs rather than licensing broadly.
• Metso (Outotec legacy): Global minerals and metals processing technology supplier with alumina calcination and refining process technology comparable to SAMI's VSF and Bayer process offerings. Serves overlapping alumina refinery EPC customers internationally.

Others

• China Nonferrous Metal Mining (Group) Co., Ltd. (CNMC): SASAC-supervised state-owned conglomerate in non-ferrous metals including aluminum. While not a direct EPC competitor, CNMC represents the broader ecosystem of Chinese state-owned non-ferrous metals groups that share SAMI's customer base and policy environment, and occasionally partner or compete on integrated resource-to-metal projects.

Emerging players

• Elysis (Alcoa-Rio Tinto JV): JV developing carbon-free inert anode aluminum smelting technology. Represents a long-term disruptive competitor to SAMI's carbon-anode-based SY pot technology, particularly for greenfield smelter projects targeting zero direct emissions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shenyang Aluminium & Magnesium Engineering & Research Institute (SAMI)