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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China has accused the United States and the European Union of breaking promises that they made when China joined the World Trade Organization, according to testimony published by China’s Commerce Ministry in an unusual step. China’s WTO ambassador, Zhang Xiangchen, told a WTO hearing that the high-stakes legal dispute boiled down to one principle: “Agreements must be kept”. “We are deeply concerned about the systemic implications this will have for the rules-based multilateral trading system,” Zhang said at the start of dispute hearings on Dec. 6. China took the legal action against the EU because it says that, under China’s 2001 WTO membership terms, it must be recognised as a “market economy” after 15 years. That means other countries have to take Chinese prices at face value. “China...
Hazlemere Commercial, one of the largest suppliers of architectural aluminium products in the South East of England, has secured contract to supply all the new aluminium windows, doors and curtain walling. Kier Construction has awarded contract for their new build project at Green Ridge Primary Academy in Aylesbury, Bucks. The company will manufacture and install all the fenestration required for this new high quality teaching space. Locally based on Cressex Business Park in High Wycombe, Hazlemere will be fabricating all the aluminium double glazed products within their 38,000 square foot factory in South Bucks. The thermally broken double glazing products specified by Kier Construction on the Green Ridge Primary Academy project are Sapa Elegance 52 aluminium curtain walling, Sapa...
Romania’s imports of commodities increased during the last five years. The country bought US$ 74.4 billion worth of goods around the world in 2016, making it the 32nd largest importer in the world. Bauxite represents 1.4 per cent of the total imports of the country. Looking at the previous year, Romania’s bauxite imports were higher than what they were in 2015, but in 2017, Romania is estimated to import less bauxite. International trade data shows that Romania imported about 1386109 tonnes of bauxite in 2016, up from 1367887 tonnes a year ago. The total bauxite import volume is estimated to decrease to 1339990 tonnes in 2017. The cost from import was US$ 64 million and US$ 62 respectively for the years 2015 and 2016. The cost of import of bauxite by Romania is estimated to be about US$...
Bauxite Resources said that they set aside $10.7-million of its cash to reward shareholders with a capital return of 5c a share. This came as a counter move to thwart a takeover bid from Mercantile Investment Company. In November, Mercantile has announced an off-market takeover bid for Bauxite Resource of 9c a share for every two shares it did not already own. The company promised a 6c-a-share repayment to shareholders if the takeover bid is accepted. The bidder has announced its plan to terminate a joint venture between Bauxite Resources and HD Mining & Investment in Western Australia and stop all activities and sale all fixed assets. Bauxite Resources responded that it had A$16.2-million in cash and cash equivalent, in addition to its real estate and mining project assets to compensate...
Major development projects are being flagged off across Malaysia driving the demand for building materials sector. AmInvestment Bank Bhd in their recent market study held an ‘overweight’ view of the sector which includes aluminium building materials. According to the investment bank, key catalysts are visible and the order books are full for construction industry players in the country. Buying of building materials such as steel, cement and aluminium has increased lifting higher-than-expected average selling prices of these commodities. “Key catalysts that potentially boost greater demand for building materials are the infrastructure development projects earmarked under Budget 2018, in which the government is committed to spending on roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, public housing,...
Spot alumina prices were on a downward trend in China through November continuing in December, following the downtrend in aluminium. The prices are showing some restraint and stand unchanged today. As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, average spot alumina price in China remains unchanged at RMB 2997 per tonne on December 15. Domestic spot alumina prices also remains stable at RMB 3000/t. Domestic prices are expected range within RMB 2930 – 3070 per tonne today. Spot alumina prices in all other domestic markets also remain unchanged today. Chalco alumina prices and imported alumina prices remain unchanged at RMB 3320 and RMB 3600 per tonne despite the recent drops in domestic prices. As for other raw material prices are concerned, bauxite prices and prebaked anode prices remain unchanged...
Hind Aluminium Industries, manufacturer of aluminium alloy and electrical grade wire rods, reported financial results for the quarter and half year ended 30th September 2017. The company’s net profit registered INR 2.87 crore for the quarter ended September 30, from INR 1.06 crores for the period ended September 30, 2016. Hind Aluminium’s net sales increased to INR 156.40 crore for the second quarter ended September 30, from INR 96.55 crore for the period ended September 30, 2016. For the six months ended September 30 , Hind Aluminium reported net profit and net sales of INR 5.39 crore and INR 298.36 crore respectively. The company’s net profit and net sales were INR 4.47 crore and INR 257.24 crore respectively during the six months period ended September 30, 2016.
A team of researchers at the University of York has developed a novel solution for capturing atmospheric, undesirable carbon dioxide using sea water from Whitby in North Yorkshire and aluminium scrap. The technology could help capture 850 million tonnes of the greenhouse gas responsible for global warming. While creating the technology solution, the researchers first filled an aluminium reactor with sea water and waste aluminium collected in the form of used aluminium foils. Carbon dioxide was then passed through the sea water inside the reactor. Electricity captured from solar panels was then conveyed through it which resulted in the activation of waste aluminium. The activated aluminium then reacted with the dissolved CO2 turning it into dawsonite mineral. Unlike in other CO2 treatment...
A falling US dollar index and China’s November aluminium output data lifted LME aluminium prices above the US$2,000 per tonne mark on Thursday, December 14. Despite higher inventory level, the light metal contract rose from US$1,997 per tonne on Wednesday, December 13, to close at US$2,017 after night trading yesterday. Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) analysis suggests LME aluminium will continue to be range-bound at the 10-day moving average at US$2,028-2,065 per tonne on Friday, December 15. As on December 14, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,015 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,017 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,033 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,033.50 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$2,078 per tonne, and Dec1...
Constellium N.V. was a recipient of the 2017 Defense Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) Achievement Award in the category of Enhancing Military Capability, for its contributions as part of the U.S. Army’s Affordable Protection from Objective Threats (APOT) ManTech program. This prestigious award recognizes individuals from government and the private sector whose ManTech projects result in system enhancements to improve military performance. Dr. Bryan Cheeseman, Team Leader, Material Manufacturing and Technology Branch of the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) nominated Constellium for its efforts in development and maturation of the industrial scale processing of aluminum armor plate for forming single piece combat vehicle hulls. A collaborative team consisting of BAE Systems Land &...
STAS INC, the global leader in the supply of refining technologies for aluminium casthouses and crucibles and siphons, has entered into a new commercialization partnership with the Netherlands based HENCON. From now, the Canadian equipment supplier will promote and sell HENCON’s entire range of products for the light metal industry in Canada. STAS, known for its expertise in providing innovative technology solutions to the primary aluminium smelters, is the right entity to enhance HENCON’s market presence in Canada. The company will ensure a 24/7 service to all of HENCON’s customers. Leveraging on the combined customer base of HENCON and STAS is also a key objective of this new partnership. Outside Canada, the two companies will act as partners in a complementary way to their own global...
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China’s primary aluminium production dropped for a fifth consecutive month in November. Total primary aluminium production stood at 2.35 million tonnes, down 7.8 per cent from 2.55 million tonnes in October and down 16.8 percent year on year. During January- November, China churned out 29.54 million tonnes of aluminium, up 1.7 per cent from the same period last year. The statistics bureau said that the country’s non-ferrous metals production stood at 4.32 million tonnes in November, down 6.9 per cent from the same month last year. During January- November, overall nonferrous production stood at 49.34 million tonnes, up 2.5 per cent from a year ago. In 2016, China’s nonferrous production was 52.8 million tonnes.
The alumina price index (API) used for individual price discovery of alumina spot has been quite volatile this year. In October, the API surged to record highs driven by supply corners over curtailments in Chinese alumina refineries. The higher alumina prices, however, were not backed by a commensurate rise in aluminium prices. As a result many primary aluminium producers across the globe have felt the pangs of rising cost of production. Hindalco remains an exception among them. The integrated aluminium company, headquartered in India, continues to post strong earnings growth amid this volatility thanks to its diversified portfolio and Novelis’ value-added product business. Till September this year, spot alumina prices continued to trade higher in major markets of China in tandem with...
Mercantile OFM Pty Limited, a Melbourne based investment company has announced that further to the bidding announcements made in November 2017 by them for Bauxite Resources Ltd, they have completed sending its bidder’s statement, offers and supplementary bidder’s statement to shareholders of Bauxite Resources Limited in relation to its off-market takeover bid for the shares in BAU. Mercantile OFM Pty Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mercantile Investment Company Limited, Australia. The Bidder’s statement explains the off-market takeover offer to the BAU shareholders to acquire 50% or less of the issued ordinary shares in Bauxite Resources Limited. The Bidder's Statement was lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission yesterday. In November, the chairman of...
Norsk Hydro today announced that it will reopen and upgrade the second production line at Hydro Husnes, Norway. The company will introduce new technology elements that will give better results. The production line is expected to begin operations in the first half of 2020. Hydro will make total investment of NOK 1.3 billion (in 2017 terms). Final build decision is expected in Q3 2018. Hydro Husnes today produces about 95,000 tonnes of primary aluminium per year. With the re-start, the plant will produce around 190,000 tonnes of aluminium annually. Hilde Merete Aasheim, Head of Primary Aluminium in Hydro, said: "We have great faith in continued aluminium production in Norway. We are making use of new technology elements in this re-start, and building up a robust and future-oriented plant at...
The import of aluminium scrap covered by ISRI code Tablet: Tabloid, Taboo, Taint/Tabor, Take, Talap, Talcred, Taldack, Taldon, and TA- by India totalled 540,242.44 kilogram during April-September 2017. The value of import is estimated at US$940.91 million by the Export-Import Data Bank of India’s Department of Commerce. During financial year 2016-2017, India imported 929,861.38 Kgs of aluminium scrap. The value of aluminium scrap import accounts for 0.42 per cent of India’s total import worth US$220,500.48 million during April-September 2017, higher in comparison to the whole year aluminium scrap import contribution of 2016-2017. During the last financial year, India imported aluminium scrap worth US$1,400.03 million, which accounted for 0.36 per cent of the total import of US$384,355.56...
Liberty House, an industrial and metals company controlled by Sanjeev Gupta, is looking at making a bid for Rio Tinto’s aluminium smelter in northern France. Three sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters that the aluminium smelter, which valued at around 200 million euros ($234.44 million), would add to the Gupta Family Group (GFG) conglomerate. The Dunkirk aluminium smelter is currently Europe’s number one producer of aluminium in particular aluminium slab. The smelter has an annual capacity of 270,000 tonnes and is powered by nuclear energy supplied by EDF. Earlier reports suggested that Rio was considering the sale of its Dunkirk aluminium smelter. The company was planning to sell its aluminium smelting operations that are “not powered by hydroelectricity” to stay...
Primary ingot prices in China are hovering at a level close to RMB 14000 after falling drastically by the end of the first week of December. Average A00 ingot price has increased to stand at RMB 13,980/t today from RMB 13,920/t yesterday. 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 13960 – 14000 per tonne. The positive movement in A00 Aluminum prices have continued in all other individual markets in China. Average price of A00 ingot is trending the highest in the South China market at RMB 14,040/t. The below table shows the price increase in the other major Chinese markets: The increasing aluminium stock in China as well in the LME warehouses despite production cut remains a...
