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 has stopped declining. After trending downwards for the last four consecutive days, the light metal finally rose 0.5 per cent to touch US2,002 per tonne on Monday, December 11. However, after night trading, the contract dropped slightly to close at US$1,991.5 per tonne. Technical analysis suggests that LME aluminium may break the five-day moving average on Tuesday, December 12, to trade in the range of US$2,015-2,045 per tonne. As on December 11, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$1,990.50 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$1,991.50 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,005 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,006 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$2,055 per tonne, and Dec1 Offer Price is US$2,060 per tonne. LME...
Rio Tinto has launched a recruitment drive for more than 100 workers at its bauxite mines in Far North Queensland. The new roles available across Rio Tinto’s operations at Weipa including existing mines at Andoom and East Weipa and the new Amrun mine located south of the Embley River between Weipa and Aurukun. Rio Tinto Weipa Operations general manager Daniel van der Westhuizen said “We are excited to offer so many roles across our Weipa mines that will ultimately support our world-class operations. “It’s an exciting time for our people, business and community with Amrun becoming a part of a strong and sustainable future for the region.” Positions for electrical and instrumentation technicians, operators, plant fitters and maintenance personnel are on offer. Rio Tinto said that some roles...
LB Aluminium Bhd, the largest supplier of aluminium extrusion in Malaysia, announced its net profit and revenue for the second quarter ended October 31, 2017. The company’s revenue increased 7.3% to RM126.94 million compared to RM118.28 for the preceding year correspondence quarter due mainly to higher average selling prices. LB Aluminium Bhd’s net profit for the second quarter ended October 31, 2017 decreased 70.8% from RM5.78 million to RM1.67 million as a result of reduced margins owing to higher raw materials input costs. “Looking ahead, the Group has taken cognisance of the heightened supply-demand imbalances in the property market and highlighted by Bank Negara Malaysia recently, and is strategising to mitigate the potential adversity by focusing on the export market as well as...
Leading bauxite producer, Australian Bauxite Limited reported progress on the ALCORE project as per schedule announced to the Australian Stock Exchange on November 13, 2017. The project aims at developing bauxite beneficiation and refining technology that will be used to produce Aluminium Fluoride from bauxite. (Aluminium Fluoride is used in aluminium production and in lithium ion batteries). ALCORE will also produce Corethane- a hydrocarbon that can be used as a substitute for natural gas and can provide energy for the proposed ALCORE production plant. Currently ABx Group has an available cash of A$2.05 million. The company has unused lines of credit for working capital and has no immediate plans for capital raisings. Project Highlights: ABx has commissioned an engineering, design and...
Sunday was a proud day for Aboriginal people in Australia's Northern Territory, with the opening of a new bauxite mine. At a ceremony marking the official mine opening, Gumatj leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu poured a handful of bauxite into the hands of two Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) workers, Sky News reported on the weekend. The occasion was historic because it's the first mine in Australia that will be owned and operated by Aboriginals. The bauxite will be sold to Rio Tinto for export to domestic and international customers. "As the first indigenous bauxite mine, fully owned, all through the supply chain, this is world breaking," Rio Tinto Gove Operations general manager Linda Murry said in a news video on the opening. The mine, located at Gulkula in Northeast Arnhem Land, is expected to provide...
Indonesia Asahan Aluminium, the country’s only aluminium producer, is undergoing a major transformation. The company aims to double its aluminium production capacity to 500,000 tonnes per annum by 2020, and to one million tonnes by 2025. It further intends to take control of its supply chain thereby reducing dependence on imports of alumina. The projects in pipeline may cost the around US$3.5 billion. Inalum, as the wholly-owned government sector company is known, has been keen on scaling its production as it is now capable of meeting only one third of domestic aluminium demand, estimated at 800,000 tonnes per year. The construction of a second smelter, with a projected production capacity of 200,000 tonnes, will cost US$700 million approximately. Inalum plans to erect a hydro power plant...
Aluminium tubes and pipes demand maintained an upward from industries such as construction, building, transportation and others. It is projected the demand for this product will grow in foreseeable future because of continuous expenditure in these sectors. According to the Product Complexity Index (PCI), aluminium pipes are the 683rd most traded product and the 422nd most complex product. Spain purchased $299 billion of goods in 2016. The country’s imports have decreased at an annualized rate of -0.823%, from $352 billion in 2011 to $299 billion in 2016. Spain’s aluminium tubes and pipes imports have been declining for the past last three years. International trade data shows, Spain imported about 8963 tonnes of aluminium tubes and pipes in 2016, down from 12160 tonnes a year ago. In...
Alumina spot prices declined across China major markets thereby extending their month-long drop. The average alumina spot price dropped from RMB 3189 per tonne on December 8 to RMB 3141 per tonne on Monday, December 11. Since RMB 3701 on November 13 this year, alumina prices have declined by 15 per cent till date. The slide in alumina prices, however, has not impacted upon the prices of A00 aluminium ingot. The average primary aluminium ingot price in China has edged higher by RMB 60 per tonne to stand at RMB 13,980 per tonne today. Source: www.metal.com As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, average price of Alumina-East has fallen by RMB 50 per tonne to stand at RMB 3150 per tonne; Alumina-Central is down by RMB 40 per tonne at RMB 3180 per tonne; Alumina-North is down by RMB 60 per...
The African Development Bank (AfDB) is providing $100 million loan to support bauxite mine construction in northwest Guinea. AfDB said in a statement on Saturday that Guinea Alumina Corporation will operate the new bauxite mine with an annual production capacity of 12 million tonnes. Guinea Alumina Corporation is a subsidiary of Emirates Global Aluminium owned mining development company. According to a report from Reuters, the bank will also finance a new container terminal in the port city of Kamsar and the refurbishment of a 143-km (89-mile) railway to the port from the mine in the town of Boke. Guinea is planning to invest aggressively to meet strong demand for bauxite from China. The country aims to increase bauxite production to 60 million tonnes by 2020. The West African nation has...
LME aluminium closed below US$2,000 per tonne mark last week indicating at an obvious stretch of short-term volatility. The light metal contract ended at US$1,992 per tonne on Friday, December 8, down from US$1,994 per tonne a day before. Shanghai Metals Market holds a slightly different outlook though. According to SMM, LME aluminium will stop dropping temporarily today and rise slightly. It is likely to trade in the range of US$2,000-2,030 per tonne on Monday, December 11. As on December 8, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$1,991.50 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$1,992 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,011.50 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,012 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$2,060 per tonne, and Dec1 Offer Price is...
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the largest aluminium conglomerate in the Middle East has signed a long-term port facility agreement with Abu Dhabi Ports to import bauxite for its under-construction Al Taweelah alumina refinery. Khalifa Port sets to become the first port in the Middle East to handle some of the world’s largest ships after this agreement. EGA would be using using world’s largest bulk cargo ships, Capesize vessels for importing the bauxite. Abu Dhabi Ports would dig up and widen the existing channel to accomodate large vessels directly at Khalifa Port. The advanced port capabilities will boost Abu Dhabi’s profile as a trade and investment hub worldwide. EGA plans to use large dry bulk ships to import raw materials without the need to transfer all or some of the cargo to...
Hydro Extruded Solutions AS has agreed with Arconic to acquire its two extrusion plants in Brazil. The agreement will strengthen Hydro's downstream position in Brazil and create a solid platform for further growth. "We believe in the integrated business model and Brazil is the country where Hydro's entire value chain is present. From bauxite and alumina, via primary production to extruded solutions, this will strengthen our ability to serve our customers," says President and CEO Svein Richard Brandtzæg. The two extrusion plants in Utinga and Tubarão in southern Brazil have combined more than 600 employees, 1 cast house, 7 presses ranging from 7 to 14 inches and value-added capabilities. The transaction is in line with Hydro's strategy of selected growth within its business area Extruded...
China’s Henan Shenhuo Group announced on Thursday, December 8, that the company has started work on the aluminium foil project. The project worth 3.6 billion yuan ($544 million) will have an annual production capacity of 105,000 tonnes, according to news published by Reuters. The aluminium foil project will target the medical packaging sector. Most of the products manufactured in the plant will be supplied to the European and U.S. markets. In October this year, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Commerce Department issued affirmative preliminary antidumping duty determination on aluminium foil from China. It was found that exporters of aluminium foil sold their product at prices below cost. The U.S. Commerce Department would impose duties in the range of 96.81 per...
The global caps & closures market is growing at CAGR of 4.9%-5.9% rate annually and is projected to reach US$68.71 billion size by 2021. Aluminium caps and closures market, when studied in the context of this growth, can be seen slowing down moderately because of the rising demand of plastic caps & closures, corks, and a faster shift to PET-disposable bottles. Although aluminium still remains the most viable packaging material in terms of lightness, formability, effective barrier quality, and recyclability (read- environmental friendliness), rising competition from a number of new-age packaging materials is making it somewhat unattractive to the bottle makers. Nevertheless, there are silver linings- China’s beer packaging sector, for example, is shifting to aluminium cans. With one of the...
Kobe Steel today announced that the company’s Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) certification has been suspended at its Moka aluminium and aluminium alloy plant. The company is unable to sell concerned products displayed with the JIS mark. However, they can supply products that are equivalent to JIS in terms of performance. The company said that they will take corrective steps based on the findings of the certification body and work to restore its JIS certification as early as possible. “In regard to the improper conduct in the Kobe Steel Group, we underwent an examination by JIS certification bodies. As problems were found in the quality management system at Kobe Steel’s Moka Plant, Kobe Steel received today a suspension notice of its Japan Industrial Standards (JIS) certification for...
To stand out and make a difference is not every brand’s cup of tea. BMW did it and how! The luxury car maker set the green standard for all EV manufacturers by using in its newest launch BMW i3, aluminium recycled from 560 beverage cans! The new BMW B-class, high-roof hatchback with an electric powertrain features extensive body parts made of recycled aluminium sheet. Its dash and door panels are made from seagrass and unbleached eucalyptus wood, and the centre console is nothing but recycled plastic. The leather seats inside the electric car are tanned using an olive leaf extract and the passenger cell is made from carbon-fibre reinforced plastic. And that is not all! The German factory where the new BMW i3 electric cars are being manufactured runs on wind power. The use of aluminium and...
Bauxite exports from Jamaica is about to end the year 2017 in a drop. Totalling at 1.54 million tonnes during July-November (till date), the volume stands shrunk by 16 per cent from the year-ago period. This explains to a certain extent why the Jamaican government has stepped up its initiatives to rejig the domestic bauxite sector reforms. As per global export-import data, Jamaica exported 1.6 million tonnes of bauxite in the first half of 2017, down from 2.29 million tonnes in the same period previous year. In the second half of the year, the volume is projected to decline further. Value-wise too, bauxite export from Jamaica is estimated to drop from US$41.3 million in H1 2017 to US$38.8 million in H2 2017. The value is also 20 per cent lower from the value of bauxite exported in H2...
Tajikistan Aluminium Company (TALCO), the largest state-owned company in Tajikistan with the designed capacity of 500,000 tonnes of aluminium per year, produced 85,600 tonnes of aluminium in the first ten months of 2017. The company reduced its production by 23 per cent during that period. TALCO’s total aluminium production stood at 76,000 tonnes during January-September. The company recorded a downward trend in aluminium production this year. Earlier reports stated that the company had planned to increase the volume of aluminium production to 300,000 tonnes by 2020. TALCO official representative Igor Sattarov said the production will be brought to 168,800 tonnes in 2018, to 188,800 tonnes in 2019, and to 300,000 tonnes in 2020. In November, TALCO announced that China’s Yunnan...
