
Aluminium production depends on high-temperature processes where furnace efficiency, thermal management and equipment durability are essential for maintaining operational performance. However, refractory materials used in melting, holding and casting operations face continuous exposure to extreme temperatures, thermal fluctuations, chemical corrosion and mechanical wear. These conditions can lead to premature furnace-lining failure, molten-metal penetration, corundum formation and heat loss, increasing maintenance requirements and operating costs. Addressing these challenges requires materials that can withstand demanding operating conditions while keeping equipment efficient and reliable. Alkegen, a supplier of high-temperature refractory and insulation materials, serves this requirement...
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has strengthened its profitability despite a challenging nine-month period marked by operational disruptions, constrained exports and reduced aluminium production. The UAE-based producer reported an improved adjusted EBITDA margin for the first nine months of 2026, supported by higher realised aluminium prices, a stronger value-added product mix and cost-control measures. Meanwhile, the company is progressing with the restoration of its Al Taweelah facilities, expanding its international recycling footprint and advancing its global smelting technology partnerships. EGA recorded adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of USD 1.572 billion (AED 5.773 billion) during January-September 2026, compared with USD 1.738 billion...
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Mexico’s aluminium industry has been growing steadily at a 13 per cent annual rate since the year 2011. The country produces 1.6 per cent of the world’s global production and depends highly on imports and recycling of aluminium products as it has limited resources of bauxite. For the same reason, there is no alumina refinery in the country either. Mexico’s aluminium value chain involves recycling of aluminium scrapped products and imports of aluminium secondary products, contributing about $7 billion to the country’s GDP and generating employment for over 120,000 workers and professionals. The industry grows following the trends of a number of industries like automotive, aerospace, electric, energy (photovoltaic) and appliance. According to the global export-import data, Mexico’s...

Ardagh Group will invest in its Valparaiso facility, in Indiana, USA to meet the increasing demand for innovative, eye-catching beverage can tabs and ends. The plant will increase production by approximately 10 percent. The new production will be available in the third quarter of 2019. Claude Marbach, CEO, Ardagh Metal – North America, said: “We’re very proud to increase Valparaiso’s production capabilities, further positioning the plant as a world-class source of innovative, eye-catching tabs and ends.” “We are providing leading beverage organisations the best in brand-building packaging, enabling differentiation on retail shelves with the inherent environmental benefits of aluminium cans.” The 135,000 square feet facility produces the end or “top” of the can as well as the tab, which...

Endurance Overseas Srl., Italy (EOSrl), a subsidiary of Endurance Technologies Ltd and the special purpose vehicle for strategic overseas investments, has acquired Fonpresmetal Gap SpA (Fonpresmetal) for 8.16 million euro. Fonpresmetal has been renamed as Endurance Castings SpA. Fonpresmetal has its manufacturing facility in Bione (Brescia, Italy) with a capacity of 6,500 Tons of which 50% is dedicated for supplies to the Endurance Group companies in Italy. Consequent to this acquisition, the Endurance Group in Europe now has nine manufacturing plants, of which six are in Italy and three in Germany. Fonpresmetal had been a preferred supplier for highly complex aluminum die casting parts to Endurance SpA (erstwhile Endurance FOA SpA), our operating step down subsidiary in Italy....

TETRA Pak (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd and Nestle Milo UHT came together to announce that the CAREton project 2019 consumer recycling campaign will be collaborating with the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ). The project expects to recycle 35 million drink packs in 2019. Inside of Tetra Pak aseptic cartons, a layer of aluminium eight times thinner than a human hair provides vital protection to perishable food from oxygen and light and keep them safe without refrigeration and preservatives for up to 12 months. It is to be noted that 75% of the Tetra Pak carton is made from paperboard, 20% of polyethylene and 5% of aluminium. Tetra Pak cartons are fully recyclable. The paperboard can be recycled into paper products and the remaining 25% polyethylene and the aluminium can be recycled into panel...

After rising back-to-back last two days, the A00 aluminium ingot price has recorded a plunge once again in China today, on January 8, 2019, Shanghai Metals Market found. The ingot price after rising in last two consecutive days had reached RMB 13,350 per tonne but today it dropped RMB 40 per tonne to RMB 13,310 per tonne. Since the beginning of the year 2019, the ingot price remained sluggish, as there had been a continued weakening of ingot demand and consumption among downstream buyers. Today, the average prices are expected to range between RMB 13,290 per tonne and RMB 13,330 per tonne, with spot discount to settle at RMB 40 per tonne. The average spot discount is estimated to be at RMB 20 per tonne, marking a growth of RMB 10 per tonne. In the east, Wuxi and Hangzhou, the prices have...

The US dollar index dipped to 95.63, the lowest since October 12, 2018, pressured by growing expectations the US Federal Reserve could stop its interest rate hike cycle. Slower-than-expected growth in the US services sector also weighed on the greenback. Base metals increased for the most part as LME aluminium went up 0.54%. SHFE aluminium edged down. LME aluminium contract closed Monday’s trading at US$ 1858 per tonne. Limited upward momentum ended LME aluminium at US$1,878 per tonne, after it rallied to a high of US$1,885 per tonne and consolidated above the daily moving average. It is likely to trade at US$1,855-1,888 per tonne today. As on January 7, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1857.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1858 per tonne; 3-months bid...

The Swiss packaging company Hoffmann Neopac AG will reportedly begin tube production with an investment of $30.8 million at its new production facility early this year. It already received a grant of $30,000 from the One North Carolina Fund, per the report, which looks to create economic growth and jobs to help with the project. The company will begin by producing two small diameter tubes - 1) tamper-evident nozzle tube and 2) Twist’n’use tube. Both of these tubes will utilise the firm’s patented Polyfoil materials blend. Polyfoil tubes use a combination of polyethylene and aluminium, and tubes requiring sterilisation use a polypropylene and aluminium combination. The multilayer tubes have an integrated aluminium barrier, according to the company. These extend shelf life compared to...

Shares of Bharat Forge (BFL) hit a 23-month low of INR 470 per share, down 4 per cent on the BSE in early morning trade in an otherwise firm market. This followed a after the domestic automobile companies reported bearish sales numbers during the month of December 2018, driven by adverse macroeconomic conditions. BFL is a leading global ‘Full Service Supplier’ of forged as well as machined engine and chassis components. BFL is India’s largest exporter of auto components and the world’s leading manufacturer of chassis components. The company manufactures a wide range of safety and critical components for passenger cars, SUVs, light, medium & heavy CVs, tractors and diesel engines. The company’s stocks have been trading at its lowest level since February 1, 2017 and in the last four months...

According to Shanghai Metals Market, social inventories of primary aluminium across eight major consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, stood at 1.299 million tonnes as of Monday January 7, down 3,000 tonnes from Wednesday January 2. This followed after a week-on-week increase of 6,000 tonnes on Thursday December 27. For the same period, stocks in Shanghai decreased by about 14,000 tonnes at stand at 302,000 tonnes while stocks in Nanhai increased by some 14,000 tonnes to stand at 161,000 tonnes. In Wuxi and Jiangsu, the inventory stood at 516,000 tonnes; in Gongyi, Henan and Hangzhou, Zhejiang, the inventory came in at 115,000 tonnes and 106,000 tonnes respectively.

Acer, a Taiwanese multinational hardware and electronics corporation with specialisation in advanced electronic technology, has reportedly introduced a new Swift 7 laptop that boasts even thinner and sleeker look than ever before. Made of magnesium-lithium and magnesium-aluminium alloys, which are two to four times stronger than traditional aluminium alloys but much lighter, the new 14-inch Acer Swift 7 weighs only 890 gram. It features 92 per cent screen to body ratio that helps the gadget rendering a super slim look. The thickness is below 1 centimetre. The display is Full HD (1920 x 1080) and touch-enabled. It is durable as well, as it is covered in Corning Gorilla Glass 6. Under the hood, you can find an 8th generation Intel Core i7-8500Y processor and up to 16GB of LPDDR3 RAM. The...

A new red corrugated aluminium extension has been added to a 1960s London library to give it a new lease of life. The striking red structure called “East Street Exchange” is designed to contrast with the existing building. Designed by We Made That, it is a part of the renovation project of the old library. East Street Exchange will be open for public and will be utilized as an affordable meeting space for community groups in the area. "The bright red extension pokes out into the street from the existing building and appears markedly different from its surroundings to suggest the new functions contained within," explained We Made That. The red facade of East Street Exchange was structured using anodised aluminium sheets. Anodisation is a chemical process that makes aluminium more durable....

According to the latest export-import data released by China's General Administration of Customs, total aluminium plate/sheet, strip exports by China stood at 242,300 tonnes in November 2018, an increase of 83934 tonnes or 53% from 158366 tonnes in November 2017. {newsStudioGallery} On month on month comparison, plates/sheet, strip exports rose 4% from the October export volume of 232970 tonnes. Chinese exports of aluminium foil in November 2018 stood at 114,200 tonnes, compared to 91874 tonnes in November 2017, which marked an increased by 24.3%. On month on month comparison, aluminium foil exports rose 8.8% from the October export volume of 104963 tonnes, according to data from China Customs. According to Shanghai Metals Market, higher value-added tax (VAT) rebates on aluminium products...

Shanghai Metals Market found downstream consumers across spot aluminium markets in east and south China held back from purchasing in morning on Monday, January 7, amidst growing futures prices. Spot discounts in Shanghai remained unchanged from Friday morning and thus, were heard at RMB 20 per tonne and RMB 10 per tonne against the SHFE 1901 contract. In Shanghai and Wuxi, most spot transactions were seen at RMB 13,350 per tonne and RMB 13,360 per tonne while that in Hangzhou at RMB 13,360 per tonne to RMB 13,370 per tonne. Prices rose close to RMB 40 per tonne from Friday, which sidelined downstream consumers in the east and south. In Guangdong, on the other hand, transactions occurred at RMB 13,450 per tonne to RMB 13,490 per tonne, with Guangdong-Shanghai spreads of RMB 110 per tonne,...

The US dollar weakened against the euro and lost all gains from a robust report about US jobs. Base metals increased across the board as a result and LME aluminium increased 1.05%. SHFE aluminium and tin grew slightly. LME aluminium registered a gain with dollar’s loss and closed trading at US$ 1879 per tonne on Friday. Then it surged further to a high of US$1,881 per tonne overnight and tested resistance at the 10-day moving average following China’s RRRs cuts. LME aluminium is expected to hover around the 10-day moving average and trading at US$1,855-1,885 per tonne today. As on January 4, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1878.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1879 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1861 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$...

The A00 aluminium ingot price in China has extended its growth today, on January 7, from RMB 13,300 per tonne to RMB 13,350 per tonne, found Shanghai Metals Market. Thus, the price today has marked a jump by RMB 50 per tonne against a growth of RMB 30 per tonne on the previous day, January 4, from RMB 13,270 per tonne to RMB 13,300 per tonne. That was the first price growth of aluminium ingot in China since the beginning of the New Year 2019. However, today the average prices are expected to range between RMB 13,330 per tonne and RMB 13,370 per tonne, with spot discounts to settle at RMB 50 per tonne to RMB 10 per tonne. The average spot discount is estimated to be at RMB 30 per tonne, marking a decline by RMB 10 per tonne. In the east, Wuxi and Hangzhou, the ingot prices have climbed RMB...

Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) announced thatit has achieved a breakthrough record by exceeding its 2018 production target of 1,000,000 tonnes per annum (mtpa) to mark 1,011,101 mtpa. The production volume is the highest-ever achieved in Alba’s history - up by 3% year-over-year compared to 2017’s volume of 981,016 mtpa. Chief Executive Officer Tim Murray said:“Exceeding 1 million metric tonnes for the 1st time in Alba’s history and making Bahrain proud is a testament to our dedicated workforce. This achievement could not have been accomplished without our unwavering commitment to Safety.” “We also look forward to successfully complete the commissioning of Line 6 in 2019, which will take our production capacity to 1,500,000 mtpa and make Alba the largest smelter in the world.” Alba said...

Vedanta Ltd cut prices of aluminium ingots for the fifth time in a row by more than 2% with effect from Thursday January 3, making the price of P1020 / EC High purity ingot fall to INR 146,500 per tonne. With Thursday’s cuts, rates of these products are now at their lowest levels in more than a year. Before that, Vedanta cut prices to INR 149,000 per tonne on December 29. Aluminium prices plunged after the US said it would lift sanctions on Rusal Plc, one of the largest producers of the metal globally, on whose products it put a punitive sanction in April. LME aluminium slumped to the lowest in two years after the holiday on January 3 as the US dollar strengthened along with the Rusal’s freedom from sanctions. 3-months offer price for LME aluminium stood at US$ 1820.50 per tonne on...

Feadship, a cooperative venture between Royal Van Lent Shipyard and Koninklijke De Vries Scheepsbouw, has reportedly launched a 58-metre superyacht M/Y Najiba, Feadship's second largest fully aluminium yacht and its first project of the year. Built as a family superyacht for experienced owners, the vessel has been specially designed to keep fuel consumption to a bare minimum. Vitruvius Yachts has designed this new superyacht’s lines upon the owner’s request. Claudio Cicconetti was responsible for developing the general arrangement and Guillaume Rolland of Studio Christian Liaigre was in charge of interior design, while Peter Wilson of MCM represented the owner for the duration of the build. The original layout of the yacht features two master staterooms and a particularly open plan...