With QIC support, a full-cycle plant producing aluminum and bimetallic radiators opens in the Karaganda Region

On October 21, a plant operated by Silumin of Qazaqstan LLP, manufacturing aluminum and bimetallic heating radiators under the Norq brand, was inaugurated on the territory of the Saryarka Special Economic Zone in the Karaganda Region. The project was implemented with the support of Qazaqstan Investment Corporation JSC (QIC) and Industrial Development Fund JSC (IDF), both part of the Baiterek National Investment Holding JSC group: QIC participated in the project through an equity financing instrument, while IDF provided support by financing the acquisition of the necessary modern equipment under a leasing arrangement. Gabbas Yerzhanov, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of QIC, attended the opening ceremony.

Total investment in the project exceeded KZT 23.4 billion, of which KZT 5 billion was provided by QIC. Construction began in 2024, and the first phase has been fully completed. The plant is designed to produce 5 million radiator sections per year. The enterprise has created 200 jobs, with plans to increase the workforce to 250 people in the future.

Production is organized on a full-cycle basis at a single site, from processing aluminum scrap and dross into alloys to a finished radiator in branded packaging. The cycle comprises five stages: melting, high-pressure die casting of sections, machining with assembly and leak testing, priming with powder coating, and packaging.

The plant is equipped with machinery from Bühler (Switzerland), SAIP, Marconi and IMEL (Italy), as well as Ceotherm (Türkiye). Casting is carried out by six robotic Bühler cells, each capable of producing up to 4,000 sections per day. Every radiator undergoes leak testing, and the conveyor of the painting line is 400 meters long.

The project was designed from the outset in line with ESG (environmental, social and governance) principles. Production is based on waste-free melting of secondary raw materials: according to the company, the plant processes 97% of the aluminum dross generated during melting, a solution unique in the CIS. Melting is carried out in accordance with international environmental standards, and under the “Taza Kazakhstan” (Clean Kazakhstan) concept, the company plans to develop a system for collecting and processing dross, aluminum cans and other materials. Production is highly automated: operators are responsible for setup and quality control, which reduces the risk of injury. This approach is in line with the government’s policy of processing secondary metals within the country: since 1 May 2026, Kazakhstan has had another ban in place on exports of non-ferrous scrap, including aluminum.

The plant is entering a market that depends heavily on imports. In 2024, Kazakhstan accounted for almost a quarter of Russia’s radiator exports (24.9%). To develop domestic production, the national standard ST RK 4025-2025 “Heating Appliances. Test Methods” was approved in 2025, and the plant’s products comply with it. Demand is supported by housing construction: in 2025, Kazakhstan commissioned a record 20.1 million square meters of housing. At the same time, the project is also export-oriented: more than half of its output is planned for supply to CIS countries, and from 2027 the company intends to enter the markets of Russia and other countries.

Norq radiators are produced in aluminum and bimetallic versions. The heat output of a single section is 180–200 W, the service life exceeds 25 years, and the warranty is 15 years from the date of sale. The products comply with GOST 31311-2022, TR RK 435 and ST RK 4025.

The project is of particular importance for the Karaganda Region. The plant will become the core of a regional aluminum cluster, which will develop on the basis of the Center for Aluminum Technologies and Engineering and bring together business, government and science. Karaganda universities are expected to be involved in introducing new technologies and training personnel. The company positions the plant as the first center for aluminum technologies and processing and, by its own assessment, ranks among the top three in Kazakhstan’s aluminum processing industry in terms of technology. The equipment makes it possible to expand the product range to include designer radiators, consumer goods, solar panel components and mechanical engineering products. Its location in the Saryarka SEZ provides the enterprise with tax incentives and ready-made infrastructure.

“Silumin of Qazaqstan shows how long-term capital turns secondary raw materials into high value-added products. The plant will replace imports on the domestic market and enter export markets, it creates jobs in the region and is building a new production chain in the aluminum industry. For QIC, it is important to support exactly this kind of non-resource manufacturing,” said Gabbas Yerzhanov, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of QIC. 

For reference:
Qazaqstan Investment Corporation JSC is a private equity fund of funds established in 2007. Its main mission is to promote Kazakhstan’s sustainable economic growth by attracting direct investment and supporting projects that contribute to the modernization and competitiveness of key industries. It is a subsidiary of Baiterek National Investment Holding JSC. More information is available at https://qic.kz/ 

Industrial Development Fund JSC is a development financial institution established in 2020. Its primary mission is to enhance national well-being through the development of industry and infrastructure. The Fund is part of Baiterek National Investment Holding JSC. 

Silumin of Qazaqstan LLP is a Kazakhstan-based manufacturer of aluminum and bimetallic heating radiators under the Norq brand. The company was registered in 2021, and its plant is located in the Bukhar-Zhyrau District of the Karaganda Region in the Saryarka SEZ. The enterprise operates on a full-cycle basis, from processing aluminum scrap and dross into alloys to producing finished goods, with a capacity of 5 million radiator sections per year.