Aluminum casthouses are facing a growing operational challenge of increasing the use of recycled metal without compromising melt quality, recovery rates or production efficiency. As manufacturers look to incorporate more post-consumer recycled (PCR) aluminum, processing lightweight scrap, machining chips and other low-density materials has become increasingly important. Such materials are difficult to introduce into conventional melting furnaces, making efficient scrap feeding and submergence essential to improving recycling performance. The challenge extends beyond scrap preparation. Maintaining consistent temperature and chemical composition throughout the molten metal bath is critical to producing specification-compliant aluminum. Equipment used for circulation and stirring must...
ClearFlow Metalworks plans to invest $28 million in a new aluminum manufacturing facility in Russellville, Kentucky, marking an expansion of secondary aluminum production in the United States. The project is expected to create 50 full-time jobs, with its first phase designed to deliver an estimated annual production capacity of approximately 100,000 tons. The company, which focuses on sustainable aluminum recycling and production, will develop the facility in phases. Phase I will feature a secondary aluminum billet casting operation, processing recycled aluminum materials into billets for extrusion and other downstream manufacturing applications. The project will establish ClearFlow's manufacturing presence in the U.S. and support domestic demand for aluminum products while expanding...
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AluK has collaborated with AIS Windows for the supply of AluK’s aluminium window and door systems. AIS Windows will manufacture and distribute these products in Indian market. Vikram Khanna, COO (consumer glass business), CMO, CIO, AIS, said, “AIS Windows has been delivering high quality window and door solutions to customers since 2011. The recent collaboration with AluK for aluminium window and door systems will enable us to enhance our aluminium product portfolio. It will further our solutions offering through optimal glass selection and configuration in combination with the aluminium window system.” Subhendu Ganguly, MD of AluK India, said: “AluK and AIS will have perfect synergy like aluminium and glass in any fenestration and façade systems. This collaboration will bring the highest...
Japan imported 4,600 tonnes of aluminium semi-finished products from the US in the first three months of 2020, from 4,780 tonnes imported in the first three months of 2019. That was down 3.77% or 180 tonnes year-on-year, according to the latest Mineral Industry Survey report from the US Geological Survey. Imports of these products from the US increased 30% year-on-year to 2,000 tonnes in March 2020. On a month-on-month comparison, aluminium semi-finished imports jumped 55% from 1,290 tonnes. On the export side, Japan’s exports of aluminium semi-finished products (plates, sheets, bars, etc.) to the US stood at 1,190 tonnes in the first three months of 2020, representing a decrease of 88% or 9,110 tonnes from 10,300 tonnes in the first three months of 2019. Exports of these products to the...
Sino-China tension, in addition to the on-going economic disruption due to the COVID-19 crisis, may cause a further delay in Chinese automaker Haima Automobile’s entry in India. Earlier this year, Haima New Energy (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Haima Automobile Group) had entered into a technical collaboration with north India based Bird Group to launch an electric hatchback, likely to be named Bird Electric EV1, in the price range of INR 10 lakh upwards. The vehicle was initially scheduled to be unveiled in the first week of February 2020. But because of the coronavirus outbreak in China, senior contingent from Haima were unable to travel for the show, delaying the formalisation of the venture by a few weeks. This is the second attempt of Bird Group to set foot in the space of electric...
ALRO S.A., one of the largest vertically integrated aluminium producers in Europe, is reportedly celebrating its 55th anniversary by being committed to the employees, partners, and clients for over the last five decades and standing as one of the strong pillars for the Romanian economy all through the years. ALRO started operating in 1965 and now has two divisions – primary and processed aluminium. After constantly advancing its technologies, ALRO has reached a production capacity of 265,000 tonnes of electrolytic aluminium per annum, while its cast-house capacity has reached 325,000 tonnes per annum. In a year, the company produces 100,000 tonnes of flat-rolled aluminium. ALRO has invested more than US$ 7000 million since privatization in technology and environmental protection. 'The...
The non-alloyed aluminium ingot export of Azerbaijan has been reflecting with a very strong rise during 2017-19, as the total export volume stands at 68,848 tonnes and revenue earning posted was $135.30 million. The estimated export volume for 2020 has been analysed at 20,876 tonnes and the revenue earning to remain at $32.50 million. When the analysed export volume and earning gets summed up with the previous three years it displays 98,248 tonnes and $167.80 million. Azerbaijan’s export of non-alloyed aluminium ingot in 2017 remained at 16,179 tonnes and expenditure stood at $33.55 million, whereas in 2018 the country’s non-alloyed aluminium saw growth by 29.03%, as the export jumped to 20,876 tonnes and the foreign revenue earnings also rose to $47.30 million. In 2019 the export of the...
Huaxing alumina refinery, located in Shanxi province of northern China, has temporarily closed one of its production lines following an equipment accident, reported several sources on Monday, June 29. According to market estimates, the alumina production line could take 20 to 30 days to return to full operation. Until then, it may remove around 50,000 to 80,000 tonnes of alumina supply from the Chinese domestic market. Huaxing alumina refinery was co-founded by Aluminum Corp of China (Chalco) and China Resources (Holdings) Co in 2010. It has a full alumina production capacity of 2.2 million tonnes per year. But until the beginning of June when the refinery resumed its idled 1.2 million tonnes per year to bring to full capacity, it was operating at 1 million tonnes per year. However, the...
Ball Corporation, a supplier of innovative, sustainable aluminium packaging solutions for beverage, personal care and others, has teamed up with Blue Ocean Innovative Solutions, a leading omnichannel solutions provider, for retail launch of the Ball Aluminium Cup at Walmart and Sam's Club locations across the U.S. "We are thrilled about this new relationship with Blue Ocean Innovative Solutions," said Daniel W. Fisher, senior vice president and chief operating officer, Global Beverage Packaging. "Our research shows that consumers are hungry for a more sustainable cup solution and Blue Ocean's expertise in this industry will enable us to bring the Ball Aluminium Cup directly to them." Ball launched the U.S. pilot of its infinitely recyclable Ball Aluminium Cups™ in September 2019. The...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C (Alba), the world’s largest aluminium smelter ex-China, announced a historical milestone as its smelter achieved 23 million working-hours without any Lost Time Injury (LTI) on Monday 29 June 2020. Alba’s Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali said: “A strong Safety culture is built over time; it is never given. Our pro-active commitment and uncompromising approach toward Safety has helped us achieve 23 million working-hours without any Lost Time Injury (LTI) for the first time in our soon-to-be Golden Jubilee of operations. I thank our employees and our contractors for making this achievement possible. As we approach the hot summer months, we must be more Safety-Conscious to ensure the Safety and well-being of all our people.” The company received in 2020...
According to a recent report, India has started contemplating various measures to minimise the aluminium imports as metal shipments from China have marked a sharp hike. Ministry of Mines has formed an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) to examine ways to trim aluminium imports and prop up domestic smelters to substitute overseas supply. As per the report, the government departments in New Delhi are discussing possible measures to restrict cheap and low-quality Chinese products, in line with the rising border tensions between India and China. China accounts for 16 per cent of the metal imports to India. Other countries that supply the metal to India are the United States, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. According to a survey, more than 60 per cent of India’s...
As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, average spot alumina price in China has increased to RMB 2276 per tonne on June 30, after remaining flat at RMB 2261 since June 18. This marks an increase of RMB 15 per tonne. The prices of alumina in East, Central, and North China markets have risen by RMB 25 per tonne, RMB 20 per tonne and RMB 15 per tonne to stand at RMB 2250 per tonne, RMB 2280 per tonne, and RMB 2280 per tonne. Alumina-South remains unchanged at RMB 2520 per tonne. A00 aluminium ingot price on Tuesday, 30 June 2020 has extended rise by RMB 80 per tonne to stand at RMB 14170 per tonne. This marks the second consecutive increase in aluminium ingot prices. The price is expected to move within a range of RMB 14150 per tonne-14190 per tonne. Aluminium prices in Foshan, Wuxi, and...
The first measure commercial vehicles certainly take into account is the operational costs. Selection of tires has become one of the routes to save expenses and the way to save the tires, is by using aluminium rims. Aluminium rims in Indonesia, especially for commercial vehicles, are not yet widely used. At present, there are only inter-city inter-provincial buses (AKAP) that replace their standard rims with aluminium ones. The appearance of the aluminium rim is also stylish than the standard rim made of steel. Aluminium rim has a sleek appearance, which ideally enhances the appearance of the vehicle. Vehicle Test Manager of PT Gajah Tunggal Tbk, Zulpata Zainal said: “Using aluminium rims on commercial vehicles has a positive effect on weight, heat, and comfort.” "Using aluminium rim is...
The US dollar started the week on a negative footing and edged lower on Monday. Market sentiment was lifted as the European Union is preparing to open its borders to travellers from 14 countries after months of lockdown. Three-month LME aluminium closed higher for the second consecutive session, ending at US$ 1,613 per tonne, up 0.97 per cent on the day. As of Monday, June 29, LME aluminium cash (bid) price and LME official settlement price increased from US$ 1582 per tonne to US$ 1589 per tonne. 3-months bid price and 3-months offer price stood up by US$ 9.5 per tonne to US$ 1607 per tonne. Dec 21 bid price and Dec 21 offer price came in at US$ 1706.50 per tonne compared to US$ 1699 per tonne on Friday, June 26. The LME aluminium opening stock totalled 1648000 tonnes. Live Warrants stood...
Dutch aluminium producer Damco Aluminium Delfzijl Coöperatie U.A., Delfzijl, Aldel, has set foot in an agreement with the operator of a local solar farm which will intensify its capability to source energy completely from renewable sources. Ecorus developed its solar farm on an industrial site in Farmsum owned by local construction firm Gebroeders Borg. The agreement with Aldel will make the company taking the entire 4.5 MW peak output from the solar farm to execute its ten-year plan to shift entirely too renewable energy. Aldel, a major electricity consumer in its own right has a considerable role to play in supporting efforts by the Netherlands electricity grid to create a more dynamic, flexible and adaptable grid that can accommodate a more distributed model of energy supply. This is...
Taiwan’s imports of aluminium scrap from the US stood at 2,950 tonnes in March, with a month-on-month decline of 15% from 3,480 tonnes in February 2020. On a yearly basis, imports decreased by 51% from 5,990 tonnes in March 2019, as updated by the US Census Bureau. In the first quarter of 2020, Taiwan imported 9.980 tonnes of aluminium scrap from the US, from 20,500 tonnes imported in the first quarter of 2019. This marked a decrease of 51% year-on-year. Taiwan’s imports of total aluminium (semi-finished products, crude metals and alloy and scrap) from the US stood at 3,750 tonnes in March 2020, a drop of 46% from 6,920 tonnes in March 2019. Imports reduced by 9% from February’s imports of 4,100 tonnes. In Q1 2020, total imports came in at 12,000 tonnes, a decrease of 46.43% from 22,400...
Austal, an international shipbuilder based at Perth, announced today, June 29, that it delivered its twelfth Independence class littoral combat ship (LCS) made of aluminium to the US Navy. Built at the Austal’s shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, the USS Oakland (LCS-24) is a 127-metre long aluminium trimaran multi-purpose warship. Five other warships under LCS are undergoing various stages of construction at the same shipyard. According to the report, Austal has orders for 14 expeditionary fast transport vessels (EPF) from the US Navy, of which 11 have already been delivered. Sharing the joy on completing the warship LCS-24, Austal chief executive David Singleton said there was a great sense of pride in completing the project amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. “Austal USA has met the challenge to...
More than 15 CEOs and other senior executives representing the entire aluminium industry value chain in the United States sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on 25 th June’20, calling for continued quota-free Section 232 tariff exemptions for aluminium in North America. Last year, the Donald Trump administration wisely removed these tariffs amid U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) negotiations. The USMCA is slated to enter into force next week on 1 st July. The letter, whose signatories represent companies from the Aluminium Association's Board of Directors, comes after recent claims of a “surge” of primary aluminium imports from Canada into the U.S. The Aluminum Association previously released U.S. government data demonstrating that current import levels are...
According to a recent report, Alcoa has come up with its 2021 recruitment campaign for apprentices despite the COVID-19 crisis and weak economy. The company says that it plans to recruit 24 apprentices, who will join 101 other apprentices in Western Australia alumina refineries in January 2021. The apprenticeship programme is for four years, and upon completion the participants will earn a nationally recognised trade certificate in mechanical fitting, heavy duty plant mechanics, fabrication and welding or industrial electrical instrumentation. Alcoa also says that it is offering industry competitive remuneration and benefits to the apprentices so that they are able to live close to operations located in the Peel region and Perth. Alcoa human resources and employee relations director...
Hindalco Industries Ltd has raised its aluminium products price after cutting it by more than 1% on June 26. With effect from Saturday June 27, Hindalco aluminium ingots price now stands at INR 138,000 per tonne, an increase of 2.03% or INR 2,750 per tonne from INR 135,250 per tonne on June 26. The company is now selling its wire rods and billets at INR 149,100 per tonne and INR 145,100 per tonne with effect from Saturday, 27 June 2020, marking a growth of 1.88% and 1.93% from June 26. The Indian aluminium producers generally link prices of its products to the three-month futures of aluminium on London Metal Exchange. The three-month futures of aluminium declined by more than 14% so far in 2020 due to slower global demand following the coronavirus outbreak. Aluminium prices are expected...
