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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Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro) has reportedly signed a deal with Resource Efficient Data to have access to the Cardiff-based data start-up’s UK waste data platform. The platform houses open source data from Waste Data Flow, which is a web-based system for municipal waste data reporting used by local authorities. Rick Hindley, executive director of Alupro, said: “We immediately saw the benefit and ease of use of using Resource Efficient Data’s platform of UK waste data. It will help us to analyse and compare data even further, in particular with our MetalMatters programme we run with our local authority partners.” MetalMatters is an industry-funded programme aimed at increasing the capture rate of metal packaging collected for recycling at the kerbside. Mr Hindley also...
Aluminerie Alouette's Chairman of the owners' committee Darren Colwell has announced that Mr Michel Huot is appointed as the Acting President and CEO, hereinafter the exit of Patrice L’Huillier. Since 2018 he has led the aluminium company. The Quebec-Canada based aluminium smelter stated that the change has been addressed post discussion with Mr L’Huillier. The owners of the business have thanked him for his work accomplishment during his tenure. Colwell said: “We are pleased to welcome Michel to our team and are confident that he will be able to support Aluminerie Alouette during this period. The organisation will benefit from his wide experience. Mr Huot will facilitate the implementation of a strategy aimed at pursuing modernisation and long-term sustainability of the company.” The new...
The total aluminium foil shipments from Europe recorded a slight rise by 0.59 per cent in the first quarter of 2020 to 242,100 tonnes compared to 240,700 tonnes during the same period last year, found the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA). European deliveries rose by 3.4 per cent during the said period but were largely offset by a drop of 13.3 per cent in exports, showed the EAFA data. Restocking after the long Christmas holiday, driven by the strong demand for domestic uses, pre-packed foods, and takeaway services caused by the COVID-19 lockdown, is believed to have been a major factor for the increase in deliveries. Disrupted supply chains due to earlier lockdowns in the European market, on the other hand, accounted for the decline in exports. Production of thinner gauges,...
Hindalco Industries has raised the prices of its aluminium products for the third time in a row. With effect from June 9, Hindalco aluminium ingots price came in at INR 137,250 per tonne. This records an increase of 1.1% or INR 1,500 per tonne from INR 135,750 per tonne on June 6. The company is now selling its wire rods and billets at INR 148,350 per tonne and INR 144,350 per tonne with effect from Tuesday, 09 June 2020. The prices registered an increase of 1% or INR 1,500 per tonne and 1.05% or INR 1,500 per tonne from June 6. 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 are down nearly 14% so far in 2020 due to slower global demand following the coronavirus...
According to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), Retail sales of sedans, multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs), sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and mini buses stood at 1.64 million units in May, an increase of 1.9% year on year and 12.3% month on month. China's sales posted the first year-on-year increase over the past 11 months. The country witnessed an increase as the auto market rebounded from the coronavirus crisis. In the first five months of 2020, the sales decreased 26%, or 2.16 million units from the same period last year. Total retail sales stood at 6.05 million units due to the impact of an earlier-than-usual Chinese New Year holiday and the coronavirus outbreak, Shanghai Metals Market reported. Stimulus policies from local governments to prop up demand and support passenger car...
Slovenia, a country in Central Europe, is known for its mountains, ski resorts and lakes. The economy of Slovenia is developed and the country enjoys a high level of prosperity and stability as well as above-average GDP per capita by purchasing power parity at 83% of the EU28 average in 2015. FocusEconomics analysts project the economy to contract 7.2% in 2020, which is up 0.2 percentage points from last month's forecast. The major Slovene industries produce electrical equipment, electronics, trucks, chemicals, processed food, textiles, paper and paper products, and wood products. Ferrous metallurgy and rolling mill products, aluminium reduction and rolled products, and lead and zinc smelting are also developed. The bauxite importation of the Central European nation has been exhibited...
According to the data released by Shanghai Metals Market, China’s primary aluminium production in May grew nearly 1 per cent over the year to 3.07 million tonnes. Compared to the previous month, the output stood higher by 3.72 per cent. In April 2020, China’s primary aluminium production was 2.96 million tonnes. As of May-end, there were 36.58 million tonnes among 41.23 million tonnes per year of existing primary aluminium capacity in operation, up 700,000 tonnes from a month ago. Operating rates across the smelters increased as well by 0.2 percentage point to 88.7 per cent as new and resumed capacities in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Sichuan ramped up. During the first five months of 2020, China’s primary aluminium output totalled 15.01 million tonnes, an increase of more than 3 per...
Emirates Global Aluminium launched a Vital Industry COVID-19 Task Force with members including Bee’ah, DP World and Masdar to share best practices on the management of the global pandemic. The Task Force was launched via video conference with all participating executives. The founding members are EGA Executive Vice President of EHSSQ and Business Transformation, Salman Abdulla; Bee’ah CEO of Consultancy, Research and Innovation (CRI), Mohamed Al Hosani; DP World Group HSE Vice President, Jason Pratt; and Masdar Senior Manager of Investment Lifecycle Management, Sahil Thapa. The Task Force will discuss efforts to prevent the spread of the virus, protect industrial workers and support communities across the nation. EGA founding member, Salman Abdulla, said: “At EGA, we are doing everything...
Alcoa Corporation initiated the worker's lay-off diligently at its Smelter in Ferndale, Washington post they received an offer of assistance from the state governor. This is also a nod to end the production of the plant. On 4 th June’20, Alcoa began to pass out pink slips on to many of the plant’s 700-strong workforce, giving the first five dozen by 5 th June’20. The layoffs are anticipated to pursue this week, reaching up to 400 workers over the coming two weeks. Eventually, the company is assumed to retain around 30 people in August’20, and gradually take it to 50% that number over the following year. The Governor of Washington Jay Inslee wrote an open letter to Roy Harvey, CEO of Alcoa for volunteering to support broker deal between the organization and potentially engrossed parties...
China’s alumina production in May stood at 5.83 million tonnes, including 5.58 million tonnes of metallurgical-grade alumina, found Shanghai Metals Market. This was up by 3.19 per cent from 5.65 million tonnes in April, which included 5.4 million tonnes of metallurgical-grade alumina. China’s daily alumina output in May was calculated at 180,000 tonnes, an increase of only 0.1 per cent from 179,800 tonnes during the previous month. But when compared to the same period last year, it was down by 6.54 per cent, although a slower year-on-year decline than 8.61 per cent in the previous month. According to SMM data, the output of metallurgical-grade alumina in the first five months of 2020 totalled 27.14 million tonnes, down 8.19 per cent over the year. Capacity reduction in late-April,...
Hindalco Industries Ltd has continued to increase the price of its aluminium ingots, billets and wire rods by 2%. This marked the second consecutive hike in the price of the same products. With effect from June 6, Hindalco aluminium ingots price now stands at INR 135,750 per tonne, marking an increase of 1.88% or INR 2,500 per tonne from INR 133,250 per tonne on June 4. The company is now selling its wire rods and billets at INR 146,850 per tonne and INR 142,850 per tonne with effect from Saturday, 06 June 2020. The prices of the products are up by 1.73% or INR 2,500 per tonne and 1.78% or INR 2,500 per tonne from June 4. 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...
Hydro announced that The Swedish start-up company Elonroad has teamed up with the company to build a road that charges electric vehicles while they drive. Hydro will manufacture the critical aluminium-made electric loops for the project. “Elonroad, in collaboration with Sweden’s Lund University, has been commissioned to build 1,000 meters of road on Getingevägen, in the city center of Lund. EVolution Road is a three-year project that the Swedish Transport Administration intends to use as a demonstration site,” according to Hydro press release. The electric road will charge all types of electric vehicles when parked as well as when driving. The road will be in operation this June. Hydro said it will be the first electric road system to be placed in an urban environment. “It is very...
The US dollar slipped on Monday. LME and SHFE base metals closed higher across the board last night. LME aluminium added 0.82% and SHFE aluminium gained 1.54%. Three-month LME aluminium traded robustly and broke up US$1,600 per tonne overnight. It ended 0.82% higher on the day at US$1,605 per tonne. As of Monday June 8, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 1569.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1569.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1596 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1596 per tonne; Dec 21 bid price stands at US$ 1700 per tonne, and Dec 21 offer price stands at US$ 1700 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock stood at 1525650 tonnes. Live Warrants totalled 1314575 tonnes, and Cancelled Warrants were 211075 tonnes. LME aluminium...
The incessant downfall in Chinese primary aluminium stocks has resulted in further significant growth in A00 aluminium ingot price by RMB 150 per tonne to stand at RMB 13,850 per tonne, as of Tuesday, June 9, found Shanghai Metals Market. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 13,830 per tonne and RMB 13,870 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a discount price of RMB 60 per tonne to RMB 20 per tonne. The dip in spot contract could be attributed to the two consecutive significant rises in A00 aluminium ingot spot price resulting in slower purchasing sentiment and stock the metal for the future. Today, the aluminium ingot price in Shenyang has seen the highest growth of RMB 180 per tonne to come in at RMB 13,805 per tonne, followed by an increase of RMB 155 per tonne...
Carbon Trust an expert partner for businesses, governments and organisations around the world supporting them in realising ambitious plans for a sustainable, low carbon future stated on 8 th June’20 that: “Common standards and clear labelling should be agreed for so-called green aluminium so industrial users can identify low-carbon material amid competing claims by producers.” The aluminium downstream consumers such as the auto and packaging industries are intensifying and aiming to lower their carbon footprints and buy material produced with low carbon dioxide emissions. However, they are facing a range of “green” aluminium products from producers such as Rusal, Norsk Hydro and Rio Tinto. Hugh Jones, MD of UK-based non-profit organisation Carbon Trust has proposed new labelling system...
MG Motors India Pvt Ltd is reportedly eyeing the electric vehicles market in India. From 2022, the company plans to increase its investment in the EV space expecting the economy to return to normal in a couple of years and electric vehicles to be an attention puller in the domestic automobile market in the medium to long term, said a senior executive of MG Motors. According to the report, MG Motors will launch an affordable electric vehicle in the range of INR 12-15 lakh, which will qualify for the subsidy under the Indian government's FAME or Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles scheme. The company will also introduce the Indian automobile market to a new variant of ZS electric vehicles that will come with a 500-kilometre range. MG Motors, one of the new...
Iran's production of aluminium stood at 60,677 tonnes during the first two months of the current Iranian year (March 20-May19), from 41,367 tonnes in the same period last year. That was up 47% year-on-year, according to the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO). Aluminium ingot output came in at 30,647 tonnes in the second Iranian month (April 20-May 19) as compared to 20,862 tonnes in the same month last year. Iran has an estimated aluminium nameplate capacity of 457,000 tonnes per year. The country now aims at increasing its annual aluminium output to more than 800,000 tonnes by March 2022 and to 1.5 million tonnes by 2025.
Japan is likely to continue to see a sluggish primary aluminium demand between July and September, owing to slow aluminium products manufacturing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and increased imports from overseas. Discussions over the Japan aluminium premium for the September quarter started recently, with an offer made by a global producer of $85 per tonne over the LME cash price. For the current quarter, the premium is $82 per tonne, settled after extended talks over the anticipation of Japanese weak aluminium demand for the slowdown in the global and indigenous manufacturing sectors. The initial offers for the June quarter were around $100 per tonne. Major Japanese aluminium users had to lower their product output since April, attributing to the production cut at many domestic...
