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...
Grow with
AL Circle
China’s aluminium semi-finished product export is fairly back on track. After registering decline for two consecutive months, export increased by 2.6 per cent reaching 310,000 tonnes in October 2017, revealed data released by the General Administration of Customs of China. The country exported 360,000 tonnes and 320,000 tonnes of aluminium semi-finished products in August and September respectively. The monthly export growth rate dropped in August with respect to 390,000 tonnes in July 2017. Of all the categories of aluminium semis exported by China, aluminium bar, rod, and profile has registered a month-over-month drop in export for the past three months. In October, aluminium bar, rod, and profile export by China totalled 63,167 tonnes, down 18.66 per cent from September this year...
Exton Cubic Group Limited’s application launched at the High Court for judicial review has been postponed to February 2018. The company wishes a renewal of bauxite mining license which was revoked by the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry. The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources John Peter Amewu announced the cancellation of the bauxite mining lease in September 2017. Exton Cubic Limited filed a suit at the High Court for revoking company’s Nyinahini mining lease to undertake prospecting of bauxite in the Ashanti Region. Exton Cubic’s Public Relations Officer, Samuel Gyamfi earlier stated that they intend to establish an aluminium industry that would further create employment opportunities. He added: “We have not done anything untoward. We are pursuing our objective of ensuring...
The slow-paced uptrend in LME aluminium is continuing. The light metal contract having risen from the monthly low of US$2,062 per tonne on November 21, neared US$2,110 per tonne yesterday. It closed at US$2,109.50 per tonne after night trading on Monday, November 27. Current price scenario, raw material price trends, and weak US dollar index suggest that LME aluminium will keep volatile within a narrow range in the short term. In the mid-term, it may again stage a reversal and move downward below US$2,100 per tonne mark. As on November 27, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,109 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,109.50 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,123 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,124 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price...
Rio Tinto has further strengthened its partnership with China’s Tsinghua University, extending the tenure of the Tsinghua-Rio Tinto Joint Research Centre for Resources, Energy and Sustainable Development. Rio Tinto and Tsinghua University established the Joint Research Centre in 2012 to bring together leading experts from China and around the world to study, generate and share ideas and best practice for sustainable development. Rio Tinto chief executive J-S Jacques and Tsinghua University president Qiu Yong witnessed the signing of the agreement to extend the partnership at a ceremony today in Beijing. Rio Tinto Corporate Relations Group executive Simone Niven and Tsinghua University vice president Xue Qikun signed the agreement. Rio Tinto chief executive J-S Jacques said “Continuation...
Government of Ghana has put on table an extensive Stimulus Package for financially distressed, but economically viable and promising businesses. Establishment of the Integrated Bauxite and Aluminum Development Authority by law is one of the plans in the blueprint. The government is determined to exploit the strategic natural resources that the country has in bauxite and other ore deposits to put its economic growth on fast track. “To this end, an Integrated Bauxite and Aluminum Development Authority is to be established by law, in this meeting of Parliament, to spearhead the exploitation along the full value chain of our consumable bauxite resources,” President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said at a recent Chamber of Commerce event. According to him, exploitation of the...
China’s imports of alumina increased 21 per cent year-on year to 277,674 tonnes in October. For the ten months from January to October 2017, imports were up at 2.51 million tonnes, according to the latest import-export data published by China General Customs. In October, Australia and Vietnam were the top exporters of alumina to China. Australia and Vietnam exported 94,877 tonnes and 80,650 tonnes of alumina respectively. During January-October, Australia’s exports of alumina reduced 22.74 per cent year-on-year to one million tonnes. Other top countries which supplied alumina to China were Indonesia, India, Germany, France and Japan. China’s exports of alumina declined 75.64 per cent YoY to 4,698 tonnes in October 2017. China exported 46,797 tonnes of alumina during the first ten months...
Alumina spot prices in China domestic market are extending their declines. The average alumina spot price dropped by RMB 19 per tonne to stand at RMB 3496 per tonne, as on November 27. As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, average spot prices of one of aluminium’s key raw materials registered drop by RMB 15-20 per tonne on Monday to range at RMB 3460-3500 per tonne. The spot alumina prices in the domestic market as on November 27 are as follows: Unit: RMB per tonne Chalco average alumina price, however, remains unchanged at RMB 3770 per tonne. Imported alumina price also flat at RMB 3700 per tonne as on November 27. After production limit for heating season was implemented on November 15, alumina plants in China major regions have practiced the policy. As per SMM update, actual limited...
APWORKS and TOYAL have announced a partnership for the further development, production and distribution of Scalmalloy, an aluminium-magnesium-scandium alloy. TOYAL will create and distribute aluminium alloy Scalmalloy through its distribution network. Sven Lauxmann, Head of Sales and Marketing at APWORKS, commented: “We are convinced that TOYAL is a cooperation partner with whom we can ensure a continuous development of the material composition and the production process of our unique material for our customers.” Scalmalloy, developed and patented by APWORKS, is the world’s first material specifically developed for additive manufacturing. The material is best suited for aerospace, transportation and defence applications, among many others. “The close collaboration creates an excellent...
LME aluminium has edged further up after the marginal gains last week. Buoyed by a declining dollar index, the light metal contract rose from US$2,090 per tonne on Thursday, November 24 to US$2,104 per tonne on Friday, November 27. However, since aluminium raw material prices are trending low (alumina spot and bauxite prices dropped by 12-20 yuan per tonne in China major markets), volatility will continue in the near term. Any rise in LME aluminium this week will be limited. As on November 24, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,103 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,104 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,119 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,120 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$2,167 per tonne, and Dec1 Offer Price is...
In the forthcoming Winter Olympics which will be held in February 2018 in South Korea, the U.S. snowboarding team athletes will take to the field in lightweight “retro-futuristic” outfit coated with aluminium. Source: www.stowetoday.com The jackets resembling spacesuits will have hand-drawn patches on them with motifs of the American flag and “USA.” The design is inspired by the rich history of the American Space programme and aims to pay homage to the spirit of those who have actually made it into space. The aluminium coating will give the outfits the metallic sheen of spacesuits. According to reports, fabric of the suits was custom created by Burton exclusively for the 2018 Winter Olympics team by infusing an extremely lightweight aluminium coating into weather-resistant materials. It...
IronRidge Resources Limited announced that they have discovered high-grade bauxite at its wholly owned Monogorilby bauxite project in Queensland, Australia. Vincent Mascolo, CEO of IronRidge, said: "We are very pleased with the results of the Company's ongoing mapping and sampling activity at Monogorilby and May Queen projects. Discovering additional bauxite mineralisation adjacent to the Monogorilby Resource adds to the value of the project. The high alumina grades returned, coupled with low reactive silica results across the Koko targets, are encouraging.” Following are the highlights from the press release: High-grade bauxite mineralisation discovered in rock chip sampling at the Koko target area, approximately 25km north-west of the Monogorilby JORC compliant Inferred mineral resource...
Alcoa Corp and the United Steelworkers have agreed to resume contract talks with a government-appointed conciliator, the union said on Thursday, averting a potential strike at the Becancour, Quebec aluminum smelter. The collective agreement for 1,030 unionized workers expired late Wednesday night, putting workers in a legal strike position. A majority of workers had earlier voted to reject the company’s contract offer and give their union a strike mandate. The contract included a two-tier pension plan that is less favorable to new workers and demanded concessions on seniority rights, the union said. Becancour produces 430,000 metric tonnes of aluminum annually, Alcoa said. Combined with the company’s Deschambault and Baie-Comeau smelters in Quebec, total annual production capacity is...
Advanced light-weighting technology developer Impression Technologies secured funding to develop and validate HFQ Technology. The project value is £ 9.5 million, with £ 4.8 million in funding through the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK Ltd (APC). Jonathan Watkins, Impression Technologies’ CEO said: “We are delighted that APC has chosen to back our HFQ Technology. We look forward to working together with Gestamp and the other consortium members in collaboration with our OEM and aluminium partners to further develop the HFQ Technology for mass production and to establish the technology as a global industry standard.” The company will lead the RACEForm Project with a World class consortium including Gestamp Washington UK Limited, Innoval Technology Limited, Imperial College London and Brunel...
Burger Boat Company recently delivered their 32-meter ocean-going yacht having lightweight aluminium superstructure to her owner. Christened as Northland, the yacht will cruise past the US east coast straight onto the Atlantic on her maiden voyage. The Wisconsin-based custom luxury yacht builder structured Northland at the historic shipyard of Manitowoc. The ABS standards compliant yacht is Burger's first in over 50 years’ motor yacht having a steel hull. Burger has paired the hull with lightweight aluminium superstructure, which has added up to 270-GT volume. The super modern yacht boasts a contemporary exterior and interior designed by Luiz de Basto. Thanks to its lightweight aluminium superstructure, Northland is capable of cruising at 12 knots and can reach a maximum speed of 12.4...
Sweden exported $135 billion worth of goods around the world in 2016. The country is the 26th largest export economy in the world and the 62nd most complex economy according to the Economic Complexity Index (ECI). Germany imports the largest volume of aluminium scrap from the country. In 2016, Germany imported an estimated 42060 tonnes from the country. Other top destinations of aluminium scraps are China, France and Norway. As our data shows, Sweden’s aluminium scrap export reached 110576 tonnes in 2016, rising from 90091 tonnes in 2015. In 2017, estimated aluminium scrap export by the country is likely to reach 114488 tonnes. Value of aluminium scrap export by Sweden was US$128 million in 2016, up from US$121 million in 2015. In 2017, value of aluminium scrap export can reach an...
Bauxite prices in four of China’s major market slid by RMB 10 per tonne on Monday, November 20 after remaining unchanged for almost a month. The average bauxite (6.0≤Al/Si＜7.0) price dropped from RMB 400 per tonne as on November 13 to RMB 390 per tonne on November 20. The declining price trends of bauxite and alumina- the key raw materials of aluminium have impacted upon aluminium A00 ingot prices in China. Main contract of SHFE Aluminium is estimated to range at RMB 14,900-15,000 per tonne in the short term. There is a supporting effect at RMB 15,000 per tonne. Source: www.metal.com Currently, Bauxite (6.0≤Al/Si＜7.0) Shanxi price is ranging at RMB 410-460 per tonne, Bauxite (4.5≤Al/Si＜5.5) Shanxi is within RMB 300-380 per tonne, Bauxite (4.5≤Al/Si＜5.5) Henan is ranging at RMB 340-440 per...
Jiuquan Iron and Steel Company (JISCO) exported 35,000 tonnes of alumina from the Alpart Refinery for the first time on Thursday, November 23. The cargo is estimated to arrive in China by the end of the year. The company will spend around US$3 billion over a period of three years for upgrading the 1.65-million tonnes per annum plant which it opened in June this year. They are planning to construct a second alumina plant with a capacity of 2 million tonnes per year. JISCO also signed a MoU to build 230 megawatt LNG power plant at its Alpart refinery at a cost of US$500 million. JISCO purchased the Alpart alumina refinery from Russian Mining company Rusal for $299 million.
S-FORM, a manufacturer and supplier of aluminium formwork system in South Korea, has inaugurated its first overseas facility named S-Form System Formwork (M) Sdn Bhd for the production of aluminium formwork system in Malaysia. The plant, situated in Bandar Sri Sendayan, will cater to the demand of the ASEAN market. The company expects the production of its plant to roll out from early next year. "This formwork fabrication plant will enable us to provide high quality, prompt delivery, accurate after sales service to Malaysian market as well as to establish a production base for export to South East Asian countries such as Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand.” "Companies such as IJM Land, Mah Sing and other developers are registering strong growth in Malaysia and S-Form would...
