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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In the face of US sanctions against Russian aluminium company Rusal, bauxite sources in Jamaica are floating the idea that UC Rusal may have to be persuaded into giving up controlling interest in its local bauxite operations for avoiding the further consequences. Although the situation has now turned different earlier this week as the United States softened the sanctions on Rusal for next five months, yet the Jamaican Government expects Rusal, the owner of Windalco, to face problems in securing its raw materials for local output, as reported by Minister of Transport & Mining Robert Montague on Tuesday in an update to Parliament on the sanctions threat. Montague has sent a clear signal on Tuesday that the Government is ready to take over Windalco in the national interest, even while noting...
Constellium published results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018. The company reported revenue of €1.4 billion in Q1 2018, up 4% compared to the first quarter of last year due to higher shipments and aluminium prices, partially offset by foreign exchange translation. Adjusted EBITDA increased 26% to €117 million on improved performance by each of its segments. Constellium posted shipments of 388 thousand metric tons, up 4% compared to the first quarter of 2017 on higher shipments in each of its segments. Net loss of €24 million compares to net income of €13 million in the first quarter of 2017. Jean-Marc Germain, Constellium’s Chief Executive Officer said, “Constellium delivered strong results in the first quarter of 2018. Steady end market demand and solid operational...
After showing some gain and closing at US$2248 per tonne on Wednesday April 25 after three days of falling, LME aluminium closed down at US$ 2204 per tonne on Thursday April 26. The light metal contract then surged to a high of US$2,316 per tonne overnight after the news that Oleg Deripaska, Rusal’s major shareholder would continue to maintain control over Rusal. Shanghai Metals Market expects it to trade strongly rangebound at US$2,220-2,350 per tonne today. As on April 26, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 2,203 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 2,204 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 2205.5 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 2206 per tonne; Dec 19 bid price stands at US$ 2192 per tonne, and Dec 19 offer price stands at US$ 2197 per tonne....
The average A00 aluminium ingot price has risen up marginally on Shanghai Metal Market on 27 th of April, 2018, from RMB 14360 per tonne to RMB 14430 per tonne. The prices are expected to range between RMB 14410 per tonne and RMB 14450 per tonne, with spot discounts to settle at RMB 20 to RMB 60 per tonne. All the major Chinese markets have also seen a surge. While in East, including Wuxi city and Jiangsu, the price has increased from 14350 to 14415; in South and North, the prices have soared from RMB 14345 per tonne to RMB 14475 per tonne and RMB 14390 per tonne to RMB 14440 per tonne respectively. Average alumina spot price, on the other hand, according to Shanghai Metal Market, has been continuing to remain stable since 24 th of April to 27 th of April, 2018 to close at RMB 3135 per...
Industry 4.0 or the fourth industrial revolution is a name given to the current systems and technologies for automation and data exchange in the manufacturing sector. It includes cyber-physical systems, the Internet of things, cloud computing and cognitive computing. Industry experts and solution providers are working on building industry 4.0 architecture for the aluminium industry covering its production stages and full lifecycle supply chain management. The Future Aluminium Forum in Milan intends to discuss what industry 4.0 means to the future of the aluminium industry and how it can assist in its quest for greater efficiencies. The Future Aluminium Forum is scheduled to take place on 8-9 May, at Hotel Michelangelo, Milan, Italy. Delegates can join this debate; hear from experts and...
The European Union official journal reported on Thursday that EU has started monitoring imports of aluminium to determine whether the imported aluminium and steel tariffs imposed by the US have triggered a surge in metal shipments into the Europe or not. The European Union collects data on the quantity and value of incoming aluminium products in order to analyse if measures are needed to be taken to limit imports. The surveillance will apply to imports of aluminium exceeding 2.5 tonnes. The European Commission, which overseas trade policy in the 28-nation EU, believes that the 10 per cent tariff levied by the US on aluminium would increase the risk of more aluminium being diverted to Europe at depressed prices. According to the EU official journal data, the aluminium product imports have...
The Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) stands in support of the Aluminum Association’s position that the Trump Administration must not impose quotas on imported primary aluminum products. Considering the disruption of this vital supply chain because of the Russian sanctions, any additional restraint of imported aluminum into the U.S. aluminum supply chain will lead to work stoppages at extrusion plants and their customers. Extrusion buyers will be forced to source parts from foreign suppliers as an alternative source to maintain production. In this case, the country most likely to supply these parts will be China. The entire U.S. aluminum industry has made it clear to the Administration during the 232 Investigation that China IS THE THREAT to our industry. We are sure that President Trump...
Members of the Queensland Bauxite management team responsible for the development of the South Johnstone Bauxite Project are currently visiting several Chinese alumina refineries and aluminium smelters. The visit is a part of it current marketing strategy and a part of the operational plan under the existing granted Mineral Development Licence on South Johnstone. The team is headed by QBL's Chief Geoscientist Dr Robert Coenraads PhD. They are in talk with the company executives who have expressed interest in collaborating with South Johnstone Bauxite Project. A Hong Kong based metals marketing platforms who have offered to assist in the commodity trading with QBL is also among their list of meetings. The Aluminium, alumina and bauxite, Resources and Energy Quarterly, December 2017...
Turkey, which imports substantial amount of alumina to feed domestic smelters every year, is estimated to increase its alumina import in 2018. The country’s import of alumina dropped in volume in 2017 when compared to 2016 data. Germany is the top supplier of alumina to the country in 2017, according to recent statistics. Turkey imported an estimated 7883 tonnes of alumina from the country. Other exporting countries to Turkey are Bosnia Herzegovina, France, Netherlands, Spain, and China. According to the international trade data, Turkey imported 26511 tonnes of alumina in 2017, a 36 per cent down from its 2016 imports totalling 41611 tonnes. This year, the country is estimated to import 35026 tonnes of alumina, an increase of 8515 tonnes from last year. The cost of alumina import stood at...
Asia’s largest integrated aluminium complex, National Aluminium Company (Nalco) hopes to have a double EBITDA margin in FY19. According to Tapan Kumar Chand, CMD of Nalco, EBITDA margin is expected to increase from 20 per cent at the end of Q3 FY 19 to 40 per cent by the end of FY19 backed by the soaring demand and prices of both alumina and aluminium. “Prices of alumina and aluminium have been firming up, if this trend is maintained, then we expect our margins to double by the end of FY19,” Chand told on the sidelines of The People Management Conclave, organised by the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Aluminium prices, which were always on the uptrend since August 2017 owing to the global deficit in production, are continuing to grow even higher in the recent time on the back of...
Flexible packaging consumption in Europe grew by 2% to around €14bn in 2017, with about the same growth rates in both Western and Eastern Europe, according to research by PCI Wood Mackenzie. Total annual production exceeded €15bn, of which 75% was accounted for from Western Europe and the remaining 25% from Eastern Europe. This region remains the most significant exporter with approximately 10% of its production consumed outside Europe. Forecasts expect growth to continue, with sales achieving nearly €16bn in Europe and global consumption reaching US$107bn by 2022. Healthy growth for most of the end user markets, such as coffee, pet food and fresh foods has driven production higher, according to Flexible Packaging Europe (FPE). Smaller households need more single serve options and there...
After a three-day losing streak in the previous session, driven by the deadline extension to comply with U.S. sanctions on Rusal, LME aluminium contract finally saw some gain and closed at US$2248 per tonne on Wednesday April 25 from US$ 2222 per tonne on Tuesday April 24. The metal saw the seven-year high of $2,602.5 on April 19 in the wake of the sanctions, which left the market fearing a supply shortage. Three-month aluminium on the London Metal Exchange was down 1.3 per cent at $2,217 a tonne, as of 0219 GMT. LME aluminium slipped 1.3 per cent lower on Thursday morning. As seen by Shanghai Metals Market, LME aluminium would remain rangebound today with a trading range at $2,185-2,275/t. As on April 25, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 2,247 per tonne, LME official...
Saudi Arabia-based Abdul Latif Jameel has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Japanese company Kosei Aluminium to explore production of aluminium wheels and components. MoU will look at the feasibility of a joint venture to manufacture products in Saudi Arabia. The feasibility study is expected to complete by 2019. The agreement will see both companies study the potential of utilizing Saudi Arabia’s rich aluminium deposits and competitive energy costs through a joint venture. This would contribute to the development of the manufacturing industry in Saudi Arabia – a key priority of Saudi Vision 2030. Fady Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel, Deputy President & Vice Chairman, Abdul Latif Jameel International said: “This MoU has the potential to develop into an exciting joint...
After a decline of aluminium inventory on 23 rd of April 2018, from 2.248 million tonnes to 2.231 million tonnes, it witnessed a further plunge to 2.21 million tonnes on Thursday April 26, 2018, down 21,000 tonnes from 2.231 million tonnes on April 23 and RMB 38,000 tonnes from 2.248 million tonnes on April 19, according to Shanghai Metal Market. This decline of the aluminium inventory on Thursday was primarily due to the lowering of future price, as a large number of downstream consumers are now putting less money on the future contract and more on the spot price, therefore, resulting in forbidding stockpile for the time ahead. Transactions across the major Chinese cities also went down or remained unchanged, as SMM observed. More details are as follows: On the other hand, SMM updates...
Novelis Inc., the world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, has named Paul Banks as Plant Manager for the recently announced $300 million automotive aluminum sheet manufacturing facility in Guthrie, Kentucky. Banks assumes the role of Plant Manager after previously serving as Unit Manager at Logan Aluminum, a Novelis joint venture in nearby Logan, Kentucky. With more than 25 years of experience in the aluminum rolling industry, Banks will oversee the construction and development of the greenfield facility as Novelis prepares the site to safely ramp up production for automotive customers. As Plant Manager, Banks will be responsible for building a team of approximately 125 employees to operate the facility and establish important partnerships for Novelis with local business,...
Iran is rapidly progressing to launch a new aluminium smelter South Aluminium Company (Salco) in early 2019 in the Lamerd special economic zone in the south of the country near the Persian Gulf. The smelter is expected to boost the country’s aluminium production by 70 per cent and make it self-sufficient by taking advantage of rich natural gas reserves. Media Barbadian, deputy minister of industry, mining and trade told the CRU Aluminium conference in London on Tuesday, April 24, 2018, the construction of the smelter is underway and due to produce 300,000 tonnes per year in the first phase. Karbasian, the chairman of IMIRDO, the state-owned Iranian Mines and Mining, Industries, Development and Renovation Organisation, owns 49 per cent share of the smelter, while another 51 per cent is...
CMS Window Systems has secured a contract worth over £10m for the Atlantic Square development in Glasgow, which is being built by BAM Construction. The company will design, manufacture and install a range of aluminium windows, doors and façade elements for the mixed-use development. “Atlantic Square will be a landmark development in Glasgow city centre and we are really pleased to be working with BAM Construction to transform this prime site,” says David Ritchie. “The scale of the window, door, curtain walling and façade brief represents our largest ever single contract, but it is exactly the kind of project that our business is equipped to handle given the design expertise, product range and manufacturing and installation capabilities that our business has today.” The company’s aluminium...
India’s decision to impose safeguard duty on imported solar cells drew criticism both from the European Union and Japan on Monday, April 23, 2018, at the World Trade Organisation. The European Union representative slammed India for its casual analysis. According to the former, the injury analysis of imported solar cells was inconclusive as injury to other domestic producers was not properly analysed. Japan suggested that there were flaws in the investigation process, which involved reasonable public notice. At the WTO’s safeguards committee meeting, the EU even pointed out that safeguard measures were meant to be imposed under exceptional circumstances, especially if imports from any particular country cause problems. Indian officials, however, have countered the criticisms by saying that...
