Getting a clean, smooth finish while removing material quickly is not always easy when machining high-strength aluminium alloys. A new study on AA7075-T6 aluminium alloy has explored this challenge, identifying two different sets of drilling conditions to improve surface quality and maximise machining productivity. The research examined how cutting speed, feed rate and drill depth influence conventional drilling performance. Using response surface methodology and a central composite design, the researchers developed predictive models to determine how changes in these parameters affect the machining process. The models showed a strong level of accuracy, with coefficients of determination (R²) reaching 0.9731 for surface roughness and 0.9359 for material removal rate. Further confirmation...
Cleaner aluminium depends on three things going right at once: scrap collection, melting it in a furnace without much carbon, and the electricity behind the whole chain not being coal-powered. Developments across North America, the UK, the European Union (EU), Egypt, Thailand, Malaysia and India depict how unevenly those pieces are falling into place. While some markets are losing recoverable metal at the sorting line, others are redirecting cargoes or writing scrap into industrial policy, and a few are lining up green projects to hold primary aluminium production together. Aluminium scrap trade: North America leads, Thailand bans, EU retains The international aluminium scrap market is facing a combination of changing trade flows and growing pressure to secure cleaner, more consistent...
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LME aluminium is climbing higher at a moderate pace. The light metal contract which closed at US$2,047 per tonne on Monday, December 18, rose by 0.6 per cent to close at US$2,061 per tonne on Tuesday, December 19. Technical trend analysis suggests that LME will test the resistance at the 40-day moving average and range at US$2,090-US$2,115 per tonne on Wednesday, December 20. As on December 19, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,060.50 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,061 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,080 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,082 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$2,125 per tonne, and Dec1 Offer Price is US$2,130 per tonne. LME aluminium Opening Stock or the LME aluminium inventory level stands at 1105875...
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has signed a supply agreement with Shaheen Chem Investments LLC which paves the way for the construction by Shaheen of a chemical complex in Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi. Upon completion, Shaheen’s ethylene dichloride and caustic soda plant will supply caustic soda output to EGA’s Al Taweelah alumina refinery for a period of 15 years. Abdulla Kalban said: “The construction of a caustic soda plant next to our alumina refinery guarantees our supply of this vital raw material at competitive prices for years to come. I am pleased that EGA’s demand for caustic soda is creating further industrial expansion in Abu Dhabi, continuing EGA’s long-standing contribution to the diversification of our economy as we grow our own business.” Ethylene dichloride and...
After the launch of three successful industry reports, AlCircle is now coming up with a comprehensive Aluminium Industry Recap 2017. While we are wrapping up a positive and eventful year for the global aluminium industry; it also gives us an opportunity to look back at the significant developments that shaped the industry value chain. This edition of Aluminium Industry Recap 2017 aims to touch upon the major developments in each vertical, which influenced each other driving growth or counter growth. The developments are not only analysed chronologically but also analytically so that we can draw a conclusion on how the entire value chain moved together to bring about a turnaround in the market. China continues to draw a good amount of attention due to its capacity cut moves and its effect...
Alumina prices have seen another drop today continuing the trend that started in November second week after the starting of winter capacity cut. From RMB 3730/t in the beginning of November spot average alumina price has dropped to RMB 2918/t, registering a drop of about 22%. The price drop was mostly driven by slow demand from the aluminium smelters due to capacity reduction. The price drop has been huge compared to November and is slightly lower than the price on the same day one year ago, which was RMB2967/t. The price drop in the individual markets in China are shown in the table below: Imported alumina prices also have dropped to RMB 3450/t (USD 522/t) today after remaining strong at USD 3600/t since the first week of December. Domestic alumina prices have retracted to RMB 2915/t...
Chinese electric auto maker Nio has launched sales of its first vehicle three years after the company was founded, undercutting the price of a rival model from Tesla. Electric motors mounted on each axle give the ES8 a 0-62mph time of 4.4 seconds, which is similar to a Model X 90D. The launch could put pressure on Tesla in the world's largest electric vehicle market because the USA company isn't expected to manufacture its Model X into China until 2020, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said recently. However, because of import duties that are levied, the all-electric crossover is quite expensive. These companies want to rival Tesla with smart electric vehicles that feature internet connectivity and new technologies, and by leveraging their understanding of Chinese consumers. The competing SUV is more...
According to the Product Complexity Index (PCI), aluminium bars are the 177th most traded product and the 741st most complex product. Aluminium bars represents 4.2 per cent of total imports of Vietnam. In 2016, the import of aluminium bar rods and profiles increased both volume and value-wise when compared to 2015 data. Vietnam’s import of aluminium bar rods and profiles is estimated to decline in 2017. According to available data, Vietnam imported 1286793 tonnes of aluminium bar rods and profiles in 2016. The total import was valued at US$3.4 billion. In 2015, the country had imported 498169 tonnes with total value estimated at US$2 billion. In 2017, Vietnam is estimated to import around 1059303 tonnes of aluminium bar rods and profiles. The value of import is projected to reach US$3.7...
LME aluminium has resumed its uptrend. The light metal contract having risen from US$2,036 per tonne on Friday, December 15, closed at US$2,047 on Monday, December 18 amid positive market fundamentals. Current price trend analysis suggests that LME aluminium will rise further. It is expected to range at US$2,060-2,090 per tonne on Tuesday, December 19. As on December 18, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,046.50 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,047.50 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,066 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,068 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$2,110 per tonne, and Dec1 Offer Price is US$2,115 per tonne. LME aluminium Opening Stock or the LME aluminium inventory level stands at 1105900 tonnes, total Live...
Diversified metals & mining conglomerate Vedanta Ltd is aiming at zero alumina imports by 2020. By then, the company is looking to reach its full nameplate capacity of six million tonnes per annum (mtpa) at its Lanjigarh alumina refinery in Odisha. The Lanjigarh refinery's present de-bottlenecked capacity is 1.7-2 mtpa. Vedanta's ramp up to six mtpa is subject to approvals by the Odisha government and clearances from the Union ministry of environment, forest & climate change (MoEF&CC). "We feel we should be able to reach our full design capacity at Lanjigarh by 2020. Once the refinery produces six million tonnes of alumina each year, the whole of it would be converted into aluminium. By 2020, Vedanta's aluminium production capacity is expected to reach three mtpa. All our aluminium...
Altech Chemicals Limited, one of the world’s promising high purity alumina producers, announced that German government has agreed to a credit cover for its high purity alumina project. Altech Managing Director Iggy Tan, said: “news of the IMC decision for offer of cover is an outstanding milestone for the Company’s high purity alumina (HPA) project, the culmination of many years of hard work by Altech staff, consultants, EPC contractor SMS group GmbH, KfW IPEX-Bank and many others associated with the project”. “Complete details of the offer of cover are expected to be received in the coming days and will be announced in due course.” Altech Chemicals is aiming to become one of the world's leading suppliers of 99.99% (4N) high purity alumina (HPA). The company has completed a Final...
Bauxite Resources Limited advises that it has today lodged its Target’s Statement in relation to the Bidder’s Statement for the Off Market Cash Offer from Mercantile OFM Pty Ltd. Mercantile OFM has made an offer of 9 cents per share for 50% of your shares in BRL. The Company’s directors engaged BDO Corporate Finance (WA) Pty Ltd to provide an Independent Expert’s Report which included technical valuations of the Company’s assets. BDO have concluded that the Offer of 9 cents per share is NEITHER FAIR NOR REASONABLE to BRL shareholders that are not associated with Mercantile OFM and have put a preferred valuation of 12.1 cents (being 34% higher than the Offer price), with a range from 11 cents to 13.3 cents per share. BRL’s directors recommend that you REJECT THE OFFER for the following...
Crown Asia Pacific, a division of Crown Holdings, has inaugurated its new aluminium beverage can manufacturing plant in Jakarta, Indonesia. The new facility is Crown’s first beverage can plant in Indonesia and 16th in the Asia Pacific region. The plant has an initial annual capacity of 650 million cans. Robert Bourque, President of Crown Asia Pacific, commented: “There is great potential for the beverage can in Indonesia thanks to strong economic growth and a sizable population, which ranks as the fourth largest in the world.” The single-line facility will produce standard 330ml two-piece aluminium beverage cans and a range of specialty sizes. The facility has been designed to be able to accommodate a second can line with similar capacity and a beverage end production line, allowing Crown...
Austria imported US$157.6 billion worth of goods in 2016. 84 per cent of the total import value was bought from other European countries. Austria’s aluminium scrap, a significant resource to be used as raw material to produce secondary aluminium and subsequently new aluminium products, accounts for 2.7 per cent of total imports. In 2017, the country is estimated to buy less alumina from the international market. The above graph shows Austria imported 282443 tonnes of aluminium scrap in 2015. The country’s import volume increased to 306821 tonnes in 2016. Austria is estimated to import 303145 tonnes of aluminium scrap by the end of December. Austria’s total aluminium scraps import was valued at US$427 million in 2015, which declined to reach US$417 million in 2016. The value is estimated...
The price of A00 ingot in China is on recovery mode after continuous fall through November and December. The change could be seen after the country's National Bureau of Statistics reported that China’s primary aluminium output dropped 16.8% year on year to 2.35 million tonne in November. Though total output from January to November was up 1.7% to 29.54 million tonnes, month over month, it shows a substantial decline. Average A00 ingot price has increased to stand at RMB 14,170/t today from RMB 14,050/t on December 15 Friday. As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, the primary ingot prices registered some increase in the domestic markets too. The price is expected to range within RMB 14150 – 14,190 per tonne. SHFE contracts look set to hit the 20-day moving averages trading at RMB...
LME aluminium prices continued to rise during morning trading hours on Monday, December 18, amid fairly positive market sentiment. The light metal which stopped dropping last week closed at US$2,036 per tonne on Friday, December 15, up from US$2,017 on Thursday, December 14. Current price trend analysis suggests that LME aluminium will likely hit the 20-day moving averages to trade in the range of US$2,050-2,080 per tonne on Monday. As on December 15, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,035.50 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,036 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,050 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,051 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$2,095 per tonne, and Dec1 Offer Price is US$2,100 per tonne. LME aluminium Opening...
Emirates Global Aluminium, the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside oil and gas, has signed a three-year alumina supply agreement with Vinacomin, a Vietnamese state-owned firm. Under the agreement, Vinacomin will supply EGA with up to 300,000 tonnes of alumina per year. Alumina is the feedstock for aluminium smelters. The deal is the first long-term agreement to supply Vietnamese alumina to the UAE and significantly boosts the bilateral trading relationship between the two countries. The agreement was signed in Hanoi by EGA’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Abdulla Kalban and Vinacom’s President and Chief Executive Officer Dang Thanh Hai, and was witnessed by the UAE Ambassador to Vietnam His Excellency Khalid Alqahtani. Abdulla Kalban said: “This...
TRIMET Aluminium SE announced it has signed a joint venture agreement with Bohai Automotive Systems Co., Ltd (Bohai) for the materials specialist’s Automotive Division. Bohai Automotive will hold the TRIMET Automotive Holding GmbH, which along with its subsidiaries at the plants in Harzgerode and Sömmerda manufactures die-casting components for vehicle construction. “The goal of the joint venture with Bohai is to strengthen the international orientation of the Automotive Division as a system supplier for the globally operating automobile manufacturers, for whom China is a particularly important growth market. With the joint venture TRIMET is effectively strengthening its automotive plants in Harzgerode and Sömmerda, making the jobs there future-proof,” according to company’s press...
Fiji National University has launched a Certificate IV in Geology, Mining and Quarrying Programme. The programme would meet the needs of the mining and quarrying industry in Fiji. While addressing the graduates of Fiji National University's College of Engineering, Science and Technology, Faiyaz Koya, Minister for Land and Mineral Resources, said "With the recent developments and interests in the bauxite mining in Bua and the exploration of minerals in Namosi and Naitasiri, the demand for more research and education in this field has enormously increased.” He further stated: "Thus the need to sustainably develop our industrial mineral resources. Given that our mining and quarrying industry has been a major source of employment for most Fijians living in rural areas, it is extremely...
The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) announced the launch of new certification program for the aluminium value chain, focused on responsible production, sourcing and stewardship of the metal. The new program will cover all stages of the value chain for aluminium, including bauxite mining, alumina refining, aluminium smelting, semi-fabrication, product design and manufacturing, and recycling. Dr Fiona Solomon, ASI Chief Executive Officer, said: “Supply-chain certification programs like ASI are becoming increasingly important for customers and stakeholders, who seek assurance that companies’ sustainability practices are genuine” “We are excited about the next steps as member companies work towards achieving the first ASI Certifications in 2018.” The ASI’s Performance Standard covers...
