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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The American Chamber of Commerce in Bahrain (AmCham Bahrain) members were hosted for a tour of the Gulf Aluminum Rolling Mill Company (GARMCO) plant in northern Sitra. Mr. Mohamed Essa Ebrahim, GARMCO Acting Chief Executive Officer, provided an overview of GARMCO, its growth, future plans, and how the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (FTA) opened the U.S. market. Mr. Ebrahim stated “GARMCO is pleased to showcase our plant and its contribution to Bahrain’s economy and US-Bahrain bilateral trade. Our new soon to be fully operational re-melt plant will increase our production while saving us energy and resources.” Mr. Ebrahim continued “The U.S. is an important market for GARMCO and we are pleased to have AmCham members representing a wide range of sectors with us today to learn about...
In absence of inventory support, which has been increasing of late and rising aluminium exports from China, LME aluminium failed to stay above the US2,000 per tonne mark. After rising to US$2,004 per tonne on Tuesday, December 12, the light metal contract again dropped to US$1,997 per tonne on Wednesday, December 13. Technical trend analysis suggests that the downward pressure will persist on LME aluminium in the medium term, and the contract will trade range-bound within US$2,000-2,025 per tonne on Thursday, December 14. As on December 13, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$1,996.50 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$1,997 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,015 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,015.50 per tonne, Dec1 Bid...
In a significant step towards Make in India initiative, the BrahMos missile team has used five different grades of specialty aluminium alloy developed in India to construct various critical parts of the world's first and only supersonic cruise missile. They have used five different grades of wrought aluminium alloys in eight semi-product forms, which are developed in nine different heat treatment conditions. The state-own Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) locally developed the alloy that was earlier imported from Russia. The move is also significant towards the development and capacity enhancement of the BhraMos missile, since the use of locally developed alloy in the construction of the fuel tank and airframe of the missile will save substantial costs for the...
European Aluminium, the voice of the entire aluminium value chain, has welcomed the decision made by European Union, Japan and the United States to tackle excess production capacity in key sectors. EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom, Japanese Trade Minister Hiroshige Seko and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer yesterday agreed to strengthen trilateral cooperation in the WTO and other forums to battle unfair trade. Gerd Götz, Director General of European Aluminium, said: “The issue of severe excess capacity in key sectors exacerbated by government support was highlighted by important trade authorities. This recognition is great news for our industry as aluminium is one of the sectors affected by government-supported capacity expansion and unfair competitive conditions caused...
Valspar has designed a special Acrylicoat acrylic coating for extruded-aluminium architectural products in order to deliver a smooth, glass-like, extremely hard finish. Valspar Corp.’s Acrylicoat acrylic coating features a propriety resin system developed by Sherwin-Williams Coil and Extrusion Coatings, which can give extra tough finish to architectural aluminium extrusions. The company further says the coating is well-suited for high-traffic areas such as window and door frames, metal panels, column covers and other aluminium extrusions. The coating is suitable for both interior and exterior applications. The hard surface resists scratches, and meets or exceeds the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) 2603-17 industry standard for high-performance coatings. The acrylic...
Alufluoride, one of the few manufacturers of specialty chemical aluminium fluoride in India, a raw material for aluminium is leveraging on the uptrend in its end market – aluminium, as the raw material industry is experiencing supply tightness and improved pricing. After struggling due to low aluminium and raw material prices weak pricing environment for the last few years, Alufluoride has witnessed a good traction in its earnings supported by a healthy balance sheet, along with a niche production. Aluminum fluoride is used in electrolytic processing of aluminium from alumina as it lowers the consumption of electricity required in the smelting process and thereby helps in the reduction of production costs of aluminium. A few players like – Tanfac Industries, Alufluoride, SPIC (Southern...
Guinea will be allowed $650 million in non-concessional borrowing under a new three-year International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, allowing it to boost spending on infrastructure projects, the finance minister said on Tuesday. The IMF is itself lending Guinea - Africa’s top producer of the aluminium ore bauxite - around $170 million at zero percent interest under its Extended Credit Facility. The IMF said in October the package, agreed by the lenders board on Monday, would support Guinea’s National Social and Economic Development Plan. “It’s historic because it includes a package of $650 million in non-concessional loans complementing other financing,” Maladho Kaba told reporters. Low global commodities prices have hit Guinea’s economy hard and hindered development of Guinea’s iron ore...
Hungary purchased US$91.4 billion worth of products in 2016. The country’s imports of commodities increased at an annualized rate of 1.44%, from US$96.3 billion in 2011 to $91.4 billion in 2016. Hungary witnessed a fall in aluminium tubes and pipes fittings imports in 2016. The country’s export of this commodity is projected to increase this year. International trade data shows that Hungary imported about 1131 tonnes of aluminium tubes and pipes fittings in 2016, down from 1549 tonnes a year ago. In 2017, the total aluminium tubes and pipes fittings import volume is expected to increase noticeably to 2329 tonnes. The cost of the total aluminium tubes and pipes fittings import stood at USD 16 million and USD 11 million in 2015 and 2016 respectively. The cost of import is estimated to...
Nonferrous metals trading on the SHFE was supported by bullish news yesterday and the upward momentum in the morning continued in the afternoon. After constantly falling since the winter cut started in November, A00 ingot prices in China started showing some upward movements in the first few days of December to fall again by the end of the first week. Average A00 ingot price remains unchanged today at RMB 13,920/t. As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, the primary ingot prices registered some increase in the domestic markets. The price is expected to range within RMB 13910 – 13950 per tonne. The positive movement in A00 Aluminum prices have continued in all other individual markets in China. The below table shows the price increase in major Chinese markets: The existing surplus market...
LME aluminium is resisting the downward trend trying to settle over USD 2000. After trending downwards for the last week, the light metal finally crossed USD 2000 level and closed at USD 2004 per tonne on Tuesday December 13. According to SMM, LME aluminium is expected to stay volatile at a low level between $2,000-2,300/t today. Technical analysis suggests that LME aluminium may break the five-day moving average and trade in the range of US$2,015-2,045 per tonne. As on December 12, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$ 2003per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$ 2004 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,026 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,026.50 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$2,073 per tonne, and Dec1 Offer Price is US$2,078 per...
Alliance Miniere Responsable (AMR), Paris-based company developing bauxite project in the Boké region of Guinea, announced on Tuesday that the company began production at its Guinean bauxite mine. AMR is expected to increase bauxite production to 10 million tonnes per annum in the next two years. According to Reuter’s report, the mine’s production will all be sold to Societe Miniere de Boke (SMB).SMB is a joint venture by Singaporean maritime logistics firm Winning Shipping, specialist French transport firm United Mining Supply (UMS) and Chinese aluminium producer Shandong Weiqiao. AMR CEO and Co-Founder Romain Girbal told Reuters that “It’s all going to China.” By next year the company should be producing about 8 million tonnes, but by the following year it should have exceeded the 10...
Emirates Global Aluminium has sent 13 female UAE National engineers to Ma’aden’s alumina refinery in Saudi Arabia as part of preparation work for the start-up of its Al Taweelah alumina refinery in Abu Dhabi. The new group are the first women to participate in the programme. Eleven of the women are graduate trainees who will fill mechanical and process engineering roles in the new alumina refinery. They were joined by a safety superintendent and a lean engineer who have transferred to the alumina refinery from EGA’s smelters. Zaher Abdulla Al Habtari, Senior Vice President Refinery Operations at EGA, said: “Almost 500 people are working on preparations to run Al Taweelah alumina refinery, including many experienced engineers we have recruited from alumina refineries around the world. As...
Hospital acquired infections or healthcare-associated infections are the most frequent adverse situations that arise in health-care delivery procedures worldwide. In low-to-middle income countries the frequency of HAI is almost always on the higher side. Researchers across disciplines have been trying to find a way to lower this frequency. Recently, a team of researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, was successful in coming up with a solution using etched aluminium surfaces. Source: www.biospectrumindia.com The scientists used etched aluminium to kill bacteria of both the drug-sensitive and drug-resistant varieties. They used sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide of different concentrations to etch the aluminium alloy for different time periods. The etched...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the Bahrain-based aluminium smelter, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with International Bechtel Co. (Bechtel) to explore further opportunities of growth with Line 6 Expansion Project, which will result in Alba becoming the world’s largest single-site aluminium smelter. His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister attended the MoU signing ceremony between Alba and Bechtel, which was held during the reception organised by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) in collaboration with American Chamber of Commerce and the U.S.-Bahrain Business Council on 30 November 2017 in Washington DC. Other cross-sector trade agreements were also signed between Bahrain and...
According to the latest report from Aluminum Association, imports of aluminium ingot, scrap and mill products into the U.S. and Canada in October up 31.9% to 748 million pounds in October 2017, up 31.9% over the October 2016 total of 568 million pounds. Including scrap, which accounted for roughly 56.8% of reported aluminium exports in October, total exports stood at 617 million pounds, up 17.0% YoY. Excluding scrap, exports totalled 266 million pounds, registering an increase of 3.2% over last year. Exports of scrap increased 30.3% year-over year. Through October 2017, imports were up 25.6% to 8,206 million pounds, while exports were up 4.8% to 5,371 million pounds. Aluminium scraps played a significant role in North America’s total export. The Association’s “Index of Net New Orders of...
The export of aluminium containers for compressed gas from India is inching towards a major drop in 2017. From 967.67 tonnes in 2016, the export of this major commercial category of aluminium packaging is projected to reach 695.4 tonnes by December end. Imposition of Goods and Services Tax (GST) at the rate of 18 per cent is thought have impacted upon the outbound trade of the commodity. However, the post-GST effect is expected to fade out soon putting export industry in India back on the fast track. India’s export of aluminium containers for compressed gas has been increasing steadily on a yearly basis since 2015. From 249 tonnes in 2014 it surged to reach 972.6 tonnes in 2015. In 2016, the export remained nearly flat at 968 tonnes. Source: www.exporttrust.com Global trade data suggests...
Hong Kong-based investment holding company Man Yue Technology Holdings Limited won “The Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Innovative Technology Achievement Award - Innovative Technology" by The Hong Kong Federation of Innovative Technologies and Manufacturing Industries (FITMI). The company manufactures and distributes aluminium electrolytic capacitors, conductive polymer aluminium solid capacitors and other electronic components. It operates state-of-the-art aluminium electrolytic capacitors manufacturing facilities in Dongguan, Wuxi and Jiangxi of Mainland China. Mr. Chan Yu Ching Eugene, Managing Director of Man Yue Technology said, "We are honoured that our decade-long effort in R&D and production gained recognition from FITMI. Since 2004, Man Yue Technology has long been committed...
According to the latest SMM production survey on China’s base metal market, the preliminary output data for November 2017 shows alumina output dropped to 5.6 million tonnes from 6 million tonnes in October. Though the output drops month on month, it registered an increase of 8.6% YoY. YTD production output for alumina through November stood at 62.8 million tonnes, up 18.1% YoY. December output is estimated to be about 5.69 million tonnes. Pricewise, spot alumina is on a downward trend in China through November continuing in December, following the downtrend in aluminium. As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, average spot alumina price in China has dropped from RMB 3141 per tonne on December 11 to RMB 3062 per tonne on December 12. Domestic spot alumina prices have also dropped to RMB...
