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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Hindalco Industries Limited has planned to sell about two-thirds of its aluminium production overseas this year on lower local demand due to the coronavirus pandemic, Bloomberg reported. Managing Director Satish Pai said exports will increase by around 65% of total production compared with last year’s 50%. Hindalco expects to sell 75% to 80% of its total aluminium production to overseas in the April-June quarter. The demand for aluminium in India has decreased due to the coronavirus lockdown. “In the months of April and May, domestic demand was quite low due to the lockdown. This condition is currently mitigated by higher exports by domestic producers,” Pai said in an interview. “Hindalco has exported around 80%-90% of its output in the last two months.” Increased exports would add to...
The US dollar declined on Monday, June 15, amid mounting fears of a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, while on Tuesday it rose on the back of a record rise in US retail sales. On Wednesday, the dollar continued to move higher and further expanded on Thursday, June 18. Three-month LME aluminium regained losses from early session last night, as it rallied from a session low of US$ 1,564.5 per tonne and closed 0.73% higher on Monday, June 15, at US$ 1,587.5 per tonne. On June 16, it ended up 1.04% to stand at US$1,604 per tonne and further higher for the third consecutive day on June 17 to US$ 1,607.5 per tonne. On June 18, however, it ended the day 0.47% lower at US$1,600 per tonne. Both LME aluminium cash (bid) and LME aluminium official settlement price began the week on Monday,...
The alumina price in China continued to remain flat over the week. The price on Tuesday increased by RMB 12 per tonne to stand at RMB 2259 per tonne, after remaining flat on Monday. The price stood at RMB 2261 per tonne on June 18, up RMB 2 per tonne. The price did not show any movement on Friday. Other raw materials like Bauxite (6.5≤Al/Si＜7.5)Guangxi, Alumina (Imported), Australian Alumina FOB Price, Prebaked Anode Central, and Al Fluoride are hovering at RMB 265 per tonne, RMB 2225 per tonne, USD 260 per tonne, RMB 2730 per tonne and RMB 7550 per tonne as of Friday, 19 June 2020. A00 aluminium ingot price in China witnessed fluctuations over the week. The week started with an increase of RMB 20 per tonne from Friday to stand at RMB 13820 per tonne. The price continued to trend higher...
Adil Karaismailoğlu, Minister for Transport & Infrastructure, Turkey, on 15 th June during a visit to state-owned passenger rolling stock manufacturer Tüvasaş said: “National Train electric multiple-unit developed under a programme to increase the use of domestic technology and support the adoption of TSI standards has been completed and is expected to enter revenue service this year.” The 25 kV 50 Hz EMU is designed for 160 km/h operation but will be tested at up to 176 km/h. The Minister said work was continuing on the design of a 225 km/h train-set, but gave no indication when this might be ready to enter service. The National Train is incorporated with five aluminium-bodied coaches, including first-class and a buffet car, with a total of 324 seats, two spaces for disabled passengers,...
India’s imports of aluminium scrap from the US stood at 34,100 tonnes in March, with a month-on-month increase of 3.65%. India had imported 32,900 tonnes in February 2020. On a yearly basis, imports increased by 31% from 26,100 tonnes in March 2019, as updated by the US Census Bureau. In the first quarter of 2020, India imported 95,900 tonnes of aluminium scrap, from 61,700 tonnes imported in the first quarter of 2019. This marked an increase of 55.43% year-on-year. India’s imports of total aluminium (semi-finished products, crude metals and alloy and scrap) from the US stood at 34,300 tonnes in March 2020, a rise of 30.42% from 26,300 tonnes in March 2019. Imports increased by 3.94% from February’s imports of 33,000 tonnes. In Q1 2020, total imports came in at 96,300 tonnes, an increase...
The US Aluminium Association's Common Alloy Aluminium Sheet Trade Enforcement Working Group filed antidumping and countervailing duty petitions against 18 countries on 9 th March’20. This occurs just after 13 months the US Department of Commerce published AD and CVD orders on imports of common alloy sheet from China. The announcement stated: "The domestic industry's antidumping petitions allege that common alloy aluminium sheet from Bahrain, Brazil, Croatia, Egypt, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Italy, Oman, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, and Turkey was dumped in the United States at margins ranging from 15.90% to 151.00% of the value of the imported common alloy aluminium sheet. Domestic producers also filed countervailing duty petitions alleging...
Just when the Industry 4.0 was creating a buzz in the aluminium industry, inspiring smelters and plants to integrate digitalization in their operations management, the COVID-19, also known as the novel coronavirus, made its emergence on the earth causing a pandemic and slowing down lives and livelihoods. The virus has caused radical shifts in workflows all across the globe as millions are practising social distancing and/or complying with self-quarantine recommendations. But while downsizing many industries, the pandemic’s dramatic appearance is believed to have accelerated numerous trends on the other hand, such as Industry 4.0. Industry 4.0 is the current transformation of traditional manufacturing and industrial practices with the latest smart technology. This primarily focuses on the...
According to a recent report, Shandong Port Overseas, a unit of Shandong Port Group, has inked a Memorandum of Understanding with Rizhao Port to jointly develop international markets. As per the deal signed, Shandong Port Overseas will set up a joint venture with Rizhao Port - Shandong Port Overseas Development (Rizhao) Company Limited. The joint venture will provide production management, equipment operation, and maintenance service for bauxite port project at Boffa, Guinea, and coal terminal at port Qasim, Pakistan. The joint venture company will also promote overseas resources consolidation and expand ports connection. Shandong Port Group, established in 2019, participates in several overseas port projects, mainly in Italy, United Arab Emirates, Guinea, Pakistan and Myanmar.
Hydro has made a second round of donations to support communities near its operations in the state of Pará in northern Brazil. The company announced that it will donate about 11,000 food baskets, after delivering 25,000 food baskets to seven communities in April. The initiative is in support of the cities in the fight against COVID-19 The baskets contain food and hygiene materials such as liquid detergent, soap, and bleach. “In recent months, Hydro has donated 5,000 virus detection kits to local communities, as well as around 100,000 medical items destined for municipal hospitals, health units and field hospitals in Barcarena and Paragominas. Among the items are hospital beds, pulse oximeters, digital infrared thermometers, gloves, masks, aprons and biological protection overalls,” the...
Italy-based superyacht builder Baglietto has recently celebrated the formal launch of its fully-customised 40-metre aluminium superyacht known as Hull 10232 at its own facility in La Spezia, Italy. This marks the first superyacht launched by Baglietto in this year following the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy. Since the American owner of the yacht wanted a fully customised vessel, Baglietto developed the hull design from scratch. The yacht is 131 feet long and employs a semi-displacement hull form, with a bulbous bow for better seakeeping and efficiency. Interestingly, Baglietto, for the first time, has built a yacht with a vertical bow look. According to the report, Horacio Bozzo and Achille Salvagni have designed the sporty and elegant exterior of the yacht, which perfectly fits the lavish...
Oman is a free market economy, but the government is at present the most important factor in the economy, both as an employer and as a purchaser of goods and services. The Omani economy has been growing steadily over the last 25 years and considerable development has taken place. Sohar Aluminium is Oman’s first foray into Aluminium industry. The Gulf Nation’s aluminium ingot export during 2017-19 exhibited with dwindling image as the export volume during the phase remained at 583,038 tonnes and the revenue income stood at $708.51 million. The estimated export volume for 2020 has been analysed at 176,942 tonnes and the income to stretch at $233.47 million. However, when the estimated export volume and income have been summed up with the existing three years it stands to 759,980 tonnes and...
Alcomet, a Bulgaria-based company that is principally engaged in the production of aluminium rolled and extruded products, will supply electric car parts to Germany-based automobile manufacturer, SeeNews reported. The company will start producing parts this summer from its facility in Shumen, notheastern Bulgaria. But mass manufacturing will commence next year, Bulgarian public radio BNR quoted Alcomet owner and supervisory board chairman Fikret Ince as saying on Wednesday June 17. The company has planned to expand manufacturing capacity, creating employment opportunities for 50 people. Alcomet will provide components for the electric car's drivetrain and batteries. "We are talking about qualified workforce, that will manage special machines under computer control," Ince said. Alcomet...
British beverage company NICE has selected Ardagh’s new 187ml Wine Can for its range of three wines to expand into the on-trade channel. Jeremy May, Co-Founder of NICE, said: “As soon as we knew Ardagh’s 187ml can was on its way, we decided we wanted it, to launch it as a range to target the on-trade channel. We like to lead, not follow, so we’re proud to be early adopters of this uniquely sized and specialised can.” The technical specifications have been developed to protect the flavour and quality of wine and wine-based beverages. The new 187ml format is suitable for casual wine drinkers looking for a convenient single-serve option. Dirk Schwung, Sales Director at Ardagh Group’s European Metal Beverage division, said: “The 187ml format is the latest addition to our growing range of Wine...
Weldtite is pursuing “wage war on plastic” with the roll-out of reusable Pure Aluminium Refill Bottle. The R&D unit scouted a collection of ideas to functionally lessen the consumption of plastic and considered those refill strategies often place too much importance on the consumer returning with a plastic bottle or plastic pouches. The Pure Aluminium Refill Bottle behoved the desired choice after months of research. Sample reviews highlighting “excellent” cleaning properties as well as ease of use. At the initial stage, the aluminium bottle will be offered with a 200ml recyclable bottle of concentrated Pure Bike Wash which makes up to 2L of Bike Wash. The roll-out of the Pure Aluminium Refill Bottle is supported by a POS display which communicates the “Refill, Reuse, Reduce” concept to...
The US dollar extended its increase on Thursday. Overnight, LME aluminium fell 0.47% and SHFE aluminium shed 0.65%. Three-month LME aluminium tested support from the 10-day moving average as it fell from a session high of US$1,615.5 per tonne. It ended the day 0.47% lower at US$1,600 per tonne. LME aluminium is likely to trade at US$1,580-1,610 per tonne. As of Thursday June 18, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 1586.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1586.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1608 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1608 per tonne; Dec 21 bid price stands at US$ 1710 per tonne, and Dec 21 offer price stands at US$ 1710 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock stood at 1610300 tonnes. Live Warrants totalled 1403775 tonnes,...
According to a recent report, Valmec has completed the upgradation work on Australian Gas Infrastructures Group’s (AGIG) Alcoa Pinjarra Meter Stations, which supplies gas to Alcoa’s Pinjarra Alumina Refinery in Western Australia. Alcoa Pinjarra Refinery refines 4.2 million tonnes of alumina per annum. The news came after all the upgradation works were completed and Valmec declared the completion of the project removing the temporary bypass piping. The upgradation project included offsite fabrication, installation of temporary bypass piping to allow required isolations to take place without interrupting gas supply, upgrading metering runs one and two, valve replacements and pipe stool refurbishment. Besides Alcoa, AGIG’s Alcoa Pinjarra Meter Stations supplies gas to a range of industrial...
On 18 th June’20, Nitin Gadkari, Indian Union road transport minister communicated that he believes India will be a manufacturing hub for electric vehicles (EV) and too within the next five years. He added to his statement that multiple countries are folding there are folding their hands from China post-COVID-19 breakout. This can be a big-time opportunity for India. The minister has urged the Indian automotive companies to foster their EV technology and should also put efforts on discovering options to lithium-ion battery technology. This will be like a supporting pillar to make India the next global manufacturing hub for electric vehicles. Mr Gadkari said: “I am confident that in five years Indian will become the number one hub for manufacturing electric buses, cars and two-wheelers....
Following the two consecutive hikes, National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) has decreased its aluminium ingots and aluminium products prices by INR 2,600 per tonne or 1.8 per cent with effect from Wednesday, June 17. NALCO’s aluminium ingots price is thus, now hovering at INR 139050-142550 per tonne as compared to INR 141,650-145,150 per tonne as of June 11. With the latest cut, the prices of aluminium billets have come in at INR142,500-145,150 per tonne, while the prices of aluminium wire rods have pegged at INR 143,550 – 147,900 per tonne. Indian aluminium producers generally link the prices of its products to the three-month futures of aluminium on the London Metal Exchange. The three-month futures of aluminium are down by more than 10% so far in 2020 due to slower global demand...
