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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As the United States Geological Survey found, Canada’s aluminium scrap imports from the US extended growth in February by 4.03 per cent month-on-month. In January 2020, Canada imported 6,950 tonnes of aluminium scrap from the US, which in February increased to 7,230 tonnes, according to the data released by the USGS. The imports in January had grown by 9.11 per cent from 6,370 tonnes in December 2019. In November, Canada’s aluminium scrap imports from the US were 7,550 tonnes, meaning the imports in December were down by 15.63 per cent. Year-on-year, Canada’s aluminium scrap imports from the US in February 2020 were almost flat compared to 7,270 tonnes of imports during the same period last year. Canada’s total aluminium scrap imports from the US during January-February 2020 were 14,200...
According to a recent report, Rusal, a leading global aluminium producer, will invest approximately $190 million in modernising the production of electrodes at its Sayanogorsk Aluminium Smelter (SAZ) between 2020 and 2023. This modernization programme is expected to help Rusal reduce the smelter’s environmental impact, besides bringing in a positive economic effect. Three anode-baking furnaces at SAZ will be reconstructed in line with the best eco-friendly technologies using equipment supplied by a German company Riedhammer GmbH. On the completion of this project, the quality of the anodes is expected to be significantly improved. The anode baking area will be equipped with new digital systems that will enable the transmission of the information on operations of three furnaces to a...
Australians have massively supported the Australian Workers’ Union campaign to champion Australian made products in huge numbers. An astonishing 88% of people admitted that Australia should be making more essential products, although just over eight out of ten people said state and federal governments should be using more Australian products for infrastructure projects, even if they are highly-priced. The COVID-19 epidemic has catered as a caution light as per YouGov poll that Australia needs to be less dependent on import from other countries, targeting China as a prime. That figure rises to an incredible 98% for those aged over 65, whilst even 77% of 18-34-year-olds also support the view. 82% believe that when the government builds infrastructure it should use Australian-made products...
St Andrews Beach Brewery is reportedly launching a new alcoholic seltzer range – Tidal Artesian Seltzer in aluminium cans with coastal-inspired design. According to the report, the brewery has teamed up with The Edison Agency for creating a brand story and packaging design to lend the Tidal range an independent identity in St Andrews Beach Brewery’s established beer portfolio. Orora Beverage has supplied recyclable aluminium cans, which feature a crisp white finish and an all-over matt varnish on pack. The Edison Agency design director Brian Rodrigo Llagas said the colour palette of the design for Andrews’ new cans represents the signature coastal narrative of the brand while creating a distinct identity. “Inspired by the beautiful coastal environment of St Andrews Beach and endless sunny...
Vetroplas, a provider of a full range of high quality packaging solutions designed for the UK cosmetics and personal care markets, announced the addition of aluminium bottles to its expanding range of packaging. The company specialises in premium glass, plastic and aluminium bottles, jars, airless containers and flexible tubes with a firm focus on quality and sustainability. These aluminium bottles are produced in Spain by Envases Group. Vetroplas has added more aluminium bottles due in rise in demand for aluminium in both personal care and household products. Aluminium has the added benefit of being recyclable and lightweight. The bottles with a taller, slim neck profile with either crown cork caps or pilfer-proof screw caps is offered through a wide variety of sizes (330ml, 375ml and...
Garner Aluminium Extrusions, also known as Garnalex, has reportedly acknowledged the supply of extrusion line by SMS group by giving them the final acceptance certificate. Together with OMAV SpA, SMS group had installed an integrated extrusion line with HybrEx 35 as the core machine at Garnalex. OMAV Spa had supplied a billet heating system with billet furnace and billet saw, a run out system including an intensive profile cooling station, a profile stretcher, and a finishing saw. The new HybrEx 35 will help Garner Aluminium Extrusions boost its productivity by up to 20 per cent. It will also enable the company to continue manufacturing higher-quality products for its customers in an environmentally-friendly and resource-efficient way. Thanks to the new technology’s significantly lower...
Constellium announced that the company will present at the Deutsche Bank 11th Annual Global Industrials & Materials Summit. Jean-Marc Germain, Chief Executive Officer, and Peter Matt, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will participate in the virtual Deutsche Bank Global Industrials & Materials Summit on Tuesday, June 9, 2020 at approximately 8:15 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time). Constellium manufactures innovative and high value-added aluminium products and solutions for aerospace, automotive and packaging markets. On Wednesday, June 3, the company signed a multi-year contract with Airbus for the supply of a broad range of advanced aluminium rolled and extruded products, including wing skin panels, sheets for fuselage panels, and rectangular and pre-machined plates for...
South Africa has a mixed economy in which there is a variety of private freedom, combined with centralized economic planning and government regulation. South Africa is a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The country’s GDP grew at an estimated 0.7% in 2019, down from 0.8% in 2018, and is projected to rise to 1.1% in 2020 and 1.8% in 2021 amid domestic and global downside risks. A contraction in agriculture and mining drove slow growth in 2019. Among the key sectors that keep South Africa's economic engine running are manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, financial services, transport, mining, agriculture and tourism. The aluminium foil export volume of South Africa has been dwindling as recorded during 2017-19, as the total export quantity stood at 12,387...
The euro jumped to a 12-week high against the US dollar on Thursday. The dollar index, which gauges the greenback against a basket of major currencies, fell for a eighth straight day and plumbed the lowest since March 12 at 96.5774. Three-month LME aluminium fluctuated to close a tad lower at US$1,564.5 per tonne on Thursday. As of Thursday June 4, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 1535 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1535 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1560.50 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1560.50 per tonne; Dec 21 bid price stands at US$ 1672.50 per tonne, and Dec 21 offer price stands at US$ 1672.50 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock stood at 1526250 tonnes. Live Warrants totalled 1324400 tonnes, and Cancelled Warrants...
On the weak consumption of domestic primary aluminium in China that led to a slower decline in inventories on June 4, the A00 aluminium ingot price has recorded a drop of RMB 20 per tonne to stand at RMB 13,480 per tonne on Friday, June 5, found Shanghai Metals Market. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 13,460 per tonne and RMB 13,500 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a premium price of RMB 90-130 per tonne. Among all the major Chinese markets, Wuxi has seen the highest decline in A00 aluminium ingot price of RMB 40 per tonne to stand at 13,460 per tonne on Friday, June 5. In Foshan, Chongqing, and Linyi, the A00 aluminium ingot price has plunged by RMB 30 per tonne to RMB 13,470 per tonne and RMB 13,510 per tonne, respectively. In Gongyi, the price has...
The London Metal Exchange desires to launch a platform to trade ‘low-carbon’ aluminium mostly manufactured with renewable energy. This will mark as an inceptive in the exchange’s 143-year history a metal will be traded deployed on its environmental footprint. Matt Chamberlain, CEO, LME said: “The spot trading platform will go live next year, connecting buyers and sellers of aluminium that meets certain low-carbon criteria.” The move reveals eagerness among companies and investors for disclosure of environmental, social and governance data. It comes after pressure from En+, owner of Russian producer Rusal, for the LME to influence suppliers of the lightweight metal to divulge their carbon footprint on the exchange. Mr Chamberlain added: “We have now moved on to the next great emerging...
Rio Tinto is on its way to slash aluminium production by 8000 tonnes at the Jonquière complex. At this time, less than 20 pots have been closed for maintenance and did not get restarted. The plan is not to restart pots that need maintenance up to a maximum of approximately 100 pots at Arvida. Rio Tinto management confirms that the current situation has led them to make this decision. Rio Tinto has stated that the depressing market conditions in the aluminium sector have made Rio Tinto impose certain measures to maintain its competitive position. Among other measures aimed at improving competitiveness and adapting to market demand in North America, Rio Tinto Aluminum will continue the non-restart of tanks at the Arvida plant, gradually reducing its production this year. As per the...
Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad, the largest Aluminium smelter in South East Asia announced its financial results for the three months ended 31 March 2020. Revenue decreased by 15.7% year-on-year to RM1.83 billion in 1Q20. The group’s profit after tax and minority interest dropped by 10.9% to RM102.57 million in 1QFY20 on lower realised aluminium prices. Group Chief Executive Officer Tan Sri Paul Koon stated: “We were faced with a challenging start to the year due to the escalation of Covid-19 which became a pandemic, affecting all countries. Majority of the world economy was halted or severely disrupted by enforced quarantines, lock downs and travel restrictions. With reduced economic activities and shutdowns in industries, both the aluminium demand and prices were impacted....
Luxembourg based aluminium frames and metal constructions company Aluzare S.A. has been announced as bankrupt. The aluminium frame company with its head office in Ehlerange, in the South-West of Luxembourg, has been in operations for more than 25 years in the field of aluminium joinery. The Christian trade union confederation said in a statement that: “The jobs of around 30 employees cannot be saved.” The trade union confederation added: “The employees will soon receive further details about potential compensation packages shortly. They will reportedly also receive assistance to find a new job.” Aluzare was mainly specialised in the production of metal doors and windows
Thwaites Aluminium Limited observes 30 years of operations after opening its doors in September 1989, and many of the staff had been working for more than 10 years. Managing director Alvin Thwaites said: “He had been lucky enough to pick up good staff.” The Invercargill businessman proudly stated that the secret to continued growth is treating the right staff well. Thwaites said: "I wouldn't be where I am today without them. It cost a lot to be training new staff all the time.” Tom Irvine joined Thwaites in that first month of business, and said he was proud to see that it grow during the decades.” He said the key had been good management, and staffs respect each other. “The manufacturing industry seemed strong at the moment, but time would tell how much of an impact the Covid-19 pandemic...
After two consecutive cuts this month, Hindalco has increased the prices of its aluminium ingots, billets, and wire rods by over 1 per cent, with effect from June 4, 2020. With the latest price hike, Hindalco’s aluminium ingot price has jumped to INR 133,250 per tonne, 1.33 per cent higher from INR 131,500 per tonne on June 3. The prices of Hindalco’s aluminium wire rods and billets are now at INR 144,350 per tonne and INR 140,350, respectively, after rising by 1.23 per cent and 1.26 per cent from the previous day. On June 3, Hindalco’s aluminium wire rods and billets prices were INR 142,500 per tonne and INR 138,600 per tonne, respectively. The Indian aluminium producers generally link prices of its products to the three-month futures of aluminium on London Metal Exchange. The...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the inventories of aluminium billets have slowed their decline this week ending Thursday, June 4, as arrivals increased versus lower shipments from warehouses. SMM data shows the 6063 aluminium billet stocks have declined by 4,000 tonnes across five major consumption areas to stand at 73,100 tonnes, as of June 4, following the decline of 15,600 tonnes to 77,100 tonnes last week dated May 28. The chart below indicates the current status of aluminium billet inventories across China in more details: In Foshan, the inventories have recorded a decline of 2,900 tonnes to hover at 40,300 tonnes. In Nanchang, the billet stocks have plunged by 1,200 tonnes to 4,100 tonnes, while that in Huzhou and Changzhou have dropped by 1,000 tonnes and 330 tonnes to come in...
As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, declined slower this week. Inventories stood at 847,000 tonnes in the week ended June 4, down 46,000 tonnes from previous week. The chart below shows the current status of the primary aluminium inventories across China in more details: Primary aluminium stocks in Wuxi, Shanghai, and Nanhai decreased by 28,000 tonnes, 6,000 tonnes and 2,000 tonnes from May 28 to stand at 326,000 tonnes, 117,000 tonnes and 178,000 tonnes on Thursday, 04 June 2020. But the inventories in Linyi increased by 1,000 tonnes to stand at 9,000 tonnes. The inventories of primary aluminium in Hangzhou, Gongyi and Tianjin stood at 106,000 tonnes, 45,000 tonnes and 57,000...
