ASSA ABLOY has agreed to acquire Brazilian aluminium solutions manufacturer Rometal, strengthening its manufacturing presence in Latin America while expanding its portfolio of door systems, furniture fittings and aluminium products. Announced on November 12, 2026, the proposed acquisition would bring an established Brazilian business with approximately 500 employees into the Swedish group's Americas Division. Rometal recorded sales of approximately BRL 332 million (USD 59 million) in 2025, equivalent to approximately SEK 580 million (USD 57.57 million) in ASSA ABLOY's announcement. The purchase price has not been disclosed. ASSA ABLOY described the company's EBIT margin in 2025 as strong and expects the transaction to be accretive to earnings per share from the start. Rometal acquisition...
Finland-based renewable heat technology developer Coolbrook has joined Australia’s Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre (HILT CRC) as an affiliate partner, bringing its electrified heating technology into research aimed at decarbonising alumina refining and the wider aluminium industry. The collaboration would explore how high-temperature electric heating can support next-generation alumina refineries, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Coolbrook would work alongside major alumina and aluminium producers, including Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), Alcoa, Rio Tinto, South32 and Hydro, as well as research organisations of CSIRO and Adelaide University. Initially, it would focus on HILT CRC’s Alumina Refineries’ Next-Generation Transition (AlumiNEXT) project,...
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Researchers from Purdue University have created a high-strength aluminium alloy coatings that may change some manufacturing processes for the aerospace and automobile industries. The Purdue team, led by Xinghang Zhang, a professor in Purdue’s School of Materials Engineering, developed the superstrong materials. Image Source: Purdue University Zhang said: “We have created a very durable and lightweight aluminium alloy that is just as strong as, and possibly stronger than, stainless steel. Our aluminium alloy is lightweight and provides flexibility that stainless steel does not in many applications.” Another member of the Purdue team, Yifan Zhang, said the aluminium alloy could be used for manufacturing wear- and corrosion-resistant automobile parts such as engines and coatings for optical...
The Alufoil Trophy, organised annually by the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA), provides practitioners from across the European foil and closure sectors with the most prestigious and widely recognised stage to showcase their products and concepts, rewarding both excellence and innovation. The call for entries for the 2019 competition is now open until 23rd November 2018. Each year these groundbreaking developments are scrutinised by a leading panel of experts before the award of Alufoil Trophies across five categories. Winning entries are recognised as major advances in the ’state-of-the-art’ for aluminium foil and closures and offer insights into the latest trends and new market opportunities. The competition is open to packaging designers, brand owners, foil rollers, foil...
When owners and operators from the shipping industry are largely looking for effective measures to reduce the increasing cost pressure, DNV GL has developed the first type approval scheme for the use of ship aluminium cables and connectors. The use of aluminium cables were under evaluation for the past three years in a multi-purpose offshore support vessel. Recently, DNV GL experts, together with representatives from the cable manufacturer Amo Specialkabel AB, checked those cables with a thermographic camera for more than 11,000 operating hours and then granted the approval. Traditionally, copper used to be the key metal for power cables for marine use. But of late, aluminium is replacing the use of copper, owing to its ability to reduce one-third of electricity consumption. Moreover, the...
Spain bought US$350 billion worth of goods from around the globe in 2017. The country’s alumina imports also increased to 44875 tonnes in 2017, up from 33407 tonnes in 2016. Spain imports substantial amount of alumina from France to meet the country’s domestic demand. According to recent estimates, in 2017, the top alumina exporting countries to Spain were France (25093 tonnes), Germany (11585 tonnes), Greece (2600 tonnes) and Hungary (1107 tonnes). In 2018, it is estimated that Spain will continue to import huge amount of alumina from France. As per global import-export data, Spain is estimated to import 22986 tonnes of alumina in the half of 2018, up from 20606 tonnes of alumina in the same period previous year. The import volume is estimated to increase to 25397 tonnes in the second...
Canada will announce an aid package worth between C$500 million and C$800 million to steel and aluminium companies affected by the U.S. metal tariffs, according to news published by Reuters. Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland will make the announcement in Hamilton on Friday, 29 June 2018. Chrystia Freeland will also reveal a list of the U.S. - made products that the country intends to subject to retaliatory tariffs, said a source familiar with the matter. These measures are a response to the tariffs Donald Trump imposed on Canadian aluminium and steel imports. Companies like Evraz Plc, Rio Tinto Plc, Algoma Acquisition Corp [ALGMA.UL], Essar Steel Algoma Inc [ESSRGE.UL], ArcelorMittal SA and Alcoa Corporation have operations in Canada, Reuters reported. The Canadian province of Quebec...
In a communication to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), India expressed its willingness to join Norway as a third party member in WTO dispute consultations over US’ decision to impose higher tariffs on aluminium and steel products imports. India had dragged the United States earlier as well to the World Trade Organisation for dispute settlement mechanism over the imposition of higher customs duties. "India hereby notifies its desire to join the consultations requested by the Government of Norway...with respect to certain measures imposed by the US to adjust imports of steel and aluminium into the US...and exempting certain selected WTO members from the measures," the WTO said. An official from India further clarified that the country, being a notable steel and aluminium products...
On the face of widened spot discounts on Thursday, June 28, traders in the east China aluminium market showed keen interests in purchasing cargoes, according to Shanghai Metals Market. Such high buying interests also spurred trading liquidity. Producers in east China showed interests to offload cargoes for repaying loan interest towards the mid-year while downstream consumption was relatively weak. This widened the spot discounts. In Shanghai, the transactions were done at RMB 14010 per tonne to RMB 14040 per tonne, with spot discounts settled at RMB 90 per tonne to RMB 80 per tonne against the SHFE 1807 contract. The discounts were about RMB 80 to RMB 70 per tonne a day earlier. Transactions in Wuxi and Hangzhou, on the other hand, were heard at RMB 14010 per tonne to RMB 14040 per tonne...
Base metals and LME aluminium fell overnight on growing worries over global trade wars. LME aluminium fell to a low of US$ 2,142 per tonne with open interests up 2,702 lots to 672,000 lots. The metal closed lower at US$ 2173 per tonne on Thursday, June 28, from US$ 2204.5 per tonne on Wednesday June 27. Shanghai Metals Market expects it to trade at US$ 2,140-2,170 per tonne today. As on June 28, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 2172.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 2173 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 2153 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 2155 per tonne; Dec 19 bid price stands at US$ 2275 per tonne, and Dec 19 offer price stands at US$ 2180 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock dropped to 1112025 tonnes. Live Warrants totalled...
More than 60 American companies representing dairy farmers and cheesemakers in a letter have asked US President Donald Trump to suspend high steel and aluminium tariffs on Mexico until renegotiations over a regional free trade treaty are completed. Calling Mexico the "largest and most reliable market" for American dairy products, the letter said on Tuesday said that Mexico's retaliatory tariffs -- some of which are expected to be as high as 25 per cent in July -- on American-made cheeses, among other products will "diminish demand for high-quality dairy products produced across the US". "Worse yet, our competitors in the European Union will use this opportunity in the wake of their recently concluded Free Trade Agreement with Mexico to gain market share," the letter cited by Efe news...
Coca-Cola Turkey has reportedly obtained thermochromic ink technology from one of the renowned packaging product suppliers called Crown for designing its new aluminium beverage can. For the first time, the company is using thermochromic ink technology as a decorative tool, which is otherwise known for using one or two thermochromic inks to communicate its temperature changes. Using four different thermochromic inks, Coca-Cola Turkey is creating bright designs for its new cans. The designs although colourless at ambient temperature display colourful patterns when the cans are chilled or drinks are ready for consumption. The designs for Coke Red and Coke Zero beverage cans feature summer themes ranging from ice cubes and palm trees to sandals and sailing boats. These new aluminium-made...
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved $24 million for Guinea to support the economy of the bauxite-producing West African nation, the Finance Ministry said on Wednesday. Guinea, whose economy has been hit by low global commodities prices, reached a deal with the IMF in December giving it access to $650 million in non-concessional borrowing under a three-year Extended Credit Facility, running from 2017 to 2020. The IMF programme aims to help Guinea, Africa’s top producer of the aluminium ore bauxite, boost spending on infrastructure projects. Finance Minister Mamadi Camara said in a statement the $24 million would enable Guinea to secure other budgetary support from partners including $50 million from the World Bank and 20 million euros ($23.16 million) from the European Union.
The Indo-Italian MetalHub event, to be held in Milan on July 2, is expected to mark a new definition of cooperation between the intellectual inquiry and industrial districts of Italy and India as it is going to witness a significant moment of interaction between the two countries in the field of metals and materials engineering. The initiative is dedicated to the industrial and cultural resources of India and features a special focus on the State of Odisha in Eastern India, where a large part of India’s mineral and metallurgical resources are concentrated. The event will be hosted at the Belvedere of Palazzo Lombardia, in the Panoramic Room on the 39th floor of the Regione Lombardia Headquarters in Milan: Italy’s highest conference room. It will be a day of dealing with crucial issues,...
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday, June 27, that the country plans to launch counter tariffs against the US’ decision of 10 per cent tariff on imported aluminium and 25 per cent on imported steel, TASS reported. Dmitry Medvedev said the U.S. decisions are discriminatory in nature and cannot remain without consequences. The Ministry of Economic Development will make a list of the U.S. made products within a few days. He said: "The countries of the European Union, China have already taken reciprocal steps. We also need to think about introducing retaliatory measures, I ask the Economic Development Ministry to prepare relevant proposals." Earlier this month, Russian Economic Development Minister Maksim Oreshkin announced the measures will only affect products that have...
Aggreko Australia Pacific has completed the project of upgradation of 20MW power station at Rio Tinto’s Amrun bauxite project in Far North Queensland. Aggreko had received $100 million contract to build and operate a power station at the company’s project in June las year. The new power station has 22 diesel generators and four transformers. Amrun Project General Manager Marcia Hanrahan said: “We are delighted with the expertise and efficiency Aggreko has brought to the delivery of our $100 million Amrun power station. Switching on power at the facility is another important step forward for the Amrun project.” Aggreko has been operating in Australia since 1980. The company has grown in experience and expertise in power generation to become the world leader and go-to provider for critical...
The incessant price fall of primary aluminium in China and increasing consumption among downstream consumers, as a result, led to the further decline of primary aluminium inventory over this week ended June 28, 2018, according to Shanghai Metals Market. Limited arrivals to the warehouses also contributed to this plunge. As of Thursday, June 28, inventories of primary aluminium, including SHFE warrants, across eight major Chinese markets dropped from 1.87 million tonnes, as of Monday, June 25, to 1.84 million tonnes. Compared to the last Thursday, June 21 when the inventory was at 1.88 million tonnes, the inventory today shrank 40,000 tonnes, as SMM data showed. The inventory in Wuxi and Jiangsu dropped to 777,000 tonnes, while in Shanghai, the inventory dipped to 429,000 tonnes. Nanhai...
Most base metals and LME aluminium rebounded overnight on Tuesday and continued to trade higher as the US softened its approach to investment restrictions on China. LME aluminium surged over 2% recovering all the losses this week and rebounded to between the five- and 10-day moving averages. The contract closed higher at US$ 2204.5 per tonne yesterday, June 27. However, Shanghai Metals Market expects its weak trading pattern to continue trading at US$2,160-2,200 per tonne today. As on June 27, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 2204 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 2204.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 2196 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 2198 per tonne; Dec 19 bid price stands at US$ 2215 per tonne, and Dec 19 offer price stands at US$...
According to the presentation made by the Aluminium Association of India (AAI) and reviewed by Business Standard, the Indian aluminium industry has been suffering over the years because of the unfavourable Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) that allowed China to dump a huge amount of aluminium in India. Hence, as per the Business Standard report, the Indian aluminium companies, including Hindalco and Vedanta have asked the government to place restrictions on aluminium imports from China. Recently, executives from companies had met Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) Secretary Ramesh Abhishek and requested for quantitative restrictions on aluminium imports, which shot up over the past two years, a commerce ministry official said. The AAI sought in the presentation “the...
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), which is building $1.4 billion bauxite mine in Guinea, announced that it has completed 50 per cent work on the project. EGA is currently developing a bauxite mine and associated export facilities in the Republic of Guinea, West Africa. First bauxite exports from company’s Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC) project is expected during the second half of 2019. The mine will produce some 12 million tonnes of bauxite per year once full ramp-up is achieved. The GAC is one of the largest greenfield investments in Guinea in the past 40 years and will be a new global source of bauxite supply. Guinea has about seven billion tonnes of bauxite resources, over a quarter of the world's total. EGA said extracted bauxite will be transported by rail to Kamsar port using...
