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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XINFA Aurum Exploration Fiji Ltd has said that they are continuing with bauxite mining at the Naibulu bauxite mine site, despite the halt in shipment. Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources permanent secretary Malakai Finau said mining was progressing well in the area. He added that the company was trying to stockpile as much bauxite as it could during the dry weather. As reported only one shipment of 58,709.60 tonnes of bauxite has left Bua shores in March for the Chinese market so far in 2017 and earned $2.8 million in revenue. This brings total earnings to about $52.2m since mining started at Nawailevu in Bua in 2010. Company director Derek Qiu earlier said bauxite shipment was halted because of a drop in global market price and the drop in quality of bauxite. Director Mineral...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, there have been no recent upturn in consumption of aluminium products during September and October. Due to poor consumption during “Golden September and Silver October” no new substantial orders have been reported in early November. According to SMM the latest average price of Aluminum Alloys (ADC12) stands at RMB 16,500/t today and expected to move within a range of RMB 16400 – 16600 per tonne. The drop in average ADC12 aluminium alloy prices can be seen in the following graph. Recent steady drop in aluminium ingot prices due to poor consumption and increasing stock is prompting downstream aluminium producers to reduce price of value added products. Guangdong ADC12 aluminium alloy ingot has reported the maximum drop in prices. It is learnt that...
ALTEK, a technology based company with expertise and experience in aluminium dross and scrap processing systems, signed funding agreement with Santander Corporate & Commercial. Alan Peel, Managing Director of ALTEK Europe, said: “We’ve been leading the way with new technologies for the aluminium manufacturing sector for decades and are excited that we can now start to commercialise our latest innovation, the ALUSALT technology.” Santander Corporate & Commercial will invest £2.65m to help the commercialisation of ALUSALT technology across Europe. Full commercialisation of the technology will start next year. “With increased focus on CO2 minimisation and the development of closed loop recycling technologies to eliminate waste and landfill, we are hopeful that this process will not only have...
LME aluminium is extending its swing within a narrow range. The light metal contract which edged higher on November 3 to US$2,165 per tonne from US$2,152 per tonne on November 2, has retraced back to the same level. Reuters’ technical analysis suggests that LME aluminium is biased to test a support at US$2,148 per tonne. A break below this level may drag the contract down to US$2,103-US$2,125 range. A break above US$2,196 per tonne, on the other hand, could lead to a gain to US$2,218 per tonne in the near term. As on November 6, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,151 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,152 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,172 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,172.50 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$2,215...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the Bahrain-based international aluminium smelter, announced a major safety milestone as its Casthouse successfully achieved 5 million hours without Lost Time Injury (LTI) on 05 November 2017. A celebration was held on the same day to appreciate the Cathouse employees, which was attended by Alba’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) Ali Al Baqali, Chief Power Officer Amin Sultan, Chief Administration Officer Waleed Tamimi, Director of Casthouse Abdul Rasool Ahmed Abdul Rasool, Manager Legal Stephanus Grobler and other officials. Applauding the employees’ safety efforts, Alba’s Chief Executive Officer, Tim Murray, said: “At Alba, we believe that all work-related injuries and illnesses are preventable. This is a significant accomplishment for us and...
Toyota Motor Corp today released a second statement stating that its vehicles' quality and performance satisfy its internal standards.The company has been investigating the impact on its vehicles following the Kobe Steel admission that it had falsified data regarding aluminium and copper products. Toyota said in a statement. "we have confirmed that our vehicles' quality and performance satisfy our own internal standards.” Last month, Toyota announced that they found no safety issues with the aluminium parts supplied by Kobe Steel. Also, Honda Motor Co, Nissan Motor Co and Mazda Motor Co said that the exterior parts in their cars which used aluminium supplied by them were safe. Subaru and other Japanese carmakers said they were still investigating the issue.
China’s Ministry of Commerce has asked the World Trade Organization (WTO) for consultations on a recent U.S. move to impose antidumping duties on imports of Chinese aluminum foil. The ministry, which accused Washington of breaking world trade rules after the United States on Oct. 27 imposed duties of up to 162 percent on Chinese foil imports, said late on Friday it had submitted the request for supplementary consultations under the WTO dispute resolution mechanism on Nov. 3. The move comes as U.S. President Donald Trump, who in April ordered a probe into the impact of U.S. aluminum imports on national security, prepares to visit China from Nov. 8-10. Beijing complains that the United States uses a now expired clause in China’s 2001 WTO accession deal that for years allowed other WTO...
Montenegro’s exports of commodities increased during the last three years. Bauxite is among the top export commodities of the country. Rudnici Boksita Niksic is a large mine located in the Central - Western part of Montenegro. {newsStudioGallery} The mine represents the largest bauxite reserve, having estimated reserves of 135.2 million tonnes. Bauxite production is expected to stand at 200,000 in 2017. According to recent statistics, Montenegro’s estimated bauxite export reached 417910 tonnes in 2016, rising from 185970 tonnes in 2015. In 2017, estimated bauxite export by the country is likely to reach 583374 tonnes. Value of bauxite export by Montenegro was US$29 million last year, up from US$12 million in 2015. In 2017, value of bauxite export by Montenegro can reach an estimated total...
We learnt on October 31 that prebaked anode sales price in Shandong for November delivery may rise up to RMB 150 /tonne. Carbon plants and Weiqiao Group have been so far under negotiation over prebaked anode prices in November. Today, the average price of prebaked anode price in the Central China market has increased RMB 145 /tonne to stand at RMB 4365 /tonne from a stagnant RMB 4220 /tonne. In the Northwest China market the average price has increased RMB 150 /tonne to stand at RMB 4750 /tonne from RMB 4600/tonne. It was expected prebaked anode supply will be tight during winter heating season. Environmental checks have driven the rise in calcined coke prices which sent ripple effects to prebaked anode prices. SHFE Base Metals including keeps differentiated and volatile, with mixed...
LME aluminium is heading towards a consolidation in the range of US$2,174-US$2,218 per tonne, suggests price analysis by Reuters. The light metal which traded within a neutral range last week closed at US$2,165 per tonne on Friday, November 3, up from its previous close at US$2,152 per tonne on November 2. There is a support at US$2,218 per tonne. A break above the mark could take the metal to the next target at US$2,260 per tonne; while a break below US$2,174 per tonne may indicate a drop, price trend analysis suggests. As on November 3, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,163 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,165 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,183 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,183.50 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is...
Ball Corporation, a leading beverage can maker with production facilities around the globe, announced that the company won a 2017 British Aerosol Manufacturing Association (BAMA) Aerosol Packaging Award for its Tactile can. An aluminium aerosol can is designed and produced by the company. “Tactile is an ink that provides texture on the can for a unique consumer interaction with the package. Ball is able to apply the ink around 360 degrees of the can. Enough of the tactile ink is "laid" on the can so it provides grip for the consumer,” it said. According to the judges, "The standard of the entries was extremely high, which not only made the experience hugely enjoyable, but also reminded us why the UK aerosol industry is so successful. Our congratulations go to all the entrants, and...
Argentina is seeking new markets for its aluminum exports as the United States probes the national security implications of imports of the metal, an executive at Aluar Aluminio Argentino, the country’s leading producer, told Reuters. Aluar commercial director Miroslavo Puches said the company was planning to boost shipments to Brazil to 100,000 tonnes per year by 2019 from 60,000 currently, as the neighboring country’s economy recovers. It is also hoping to expand exports to Asia from the current 60,000 tonnes per year, he said. “We are going to balance out the volumes a little more,” Puches said. Aluar, about 10 percent state-owned, is the sole producer of primary aluminum in Latin America’s No. 3 economy. It ships an average of 170,000 tonnes-per-year to the United States, representing...
Corporates and Professionals are still in time to register for the 21st Arab International Aluminium Conference & Exhibition (ARABAL) using the website www.arabal.com. Sohar Aluminium, host and organizers of the most sought after industry event in the region, will open the conference under the patronage of His Highness Sayyid Harib bin Thuwaini bin Shihab Al Said, Assistant Secretary General of the Council of Ministers for Conferences, at the Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa from November 7th-9th 2017. The conference will see the participation of key regional and global players in the aluminium industry including 500 attending delegates from 30 countries and 66 speakers from the international industry leaders. Engineer Said Al Masoudi, CEO of Sohar Aluminium, said, “The program...
Hindalco Industries announced that the alumina production fell 2 per cent to 712 thousand tonnes in the quarter ended 30th September, 2017. Aditya, Mahan and Utkal alumina continued to operate at their designed capacities. Hindalco's Utkal Alumina refinery produced 380 thousand tonnes of alumina during the quarter, an increase of one per cent. “Utkal Alumina continues to be amongst the lowest cost producers globally,” the company said. For Q2 FY2018, the company reported 18 per cent increase in EBITDA at INR 201 crore on the back of higher international alumina prices partly offset by higher input costs. “Prepaid project debt of INR 5,686 crore at Hindalco standalone and INR 2,280 crore at Utkal - Till date total prepayment INR 7,966 crore in FY18,” Hindalco said.
Hindalco Industries Ltd., a subsidiary of the Aditya Birla Group, published its standalone unaudited financial results for the quarter ended 30th September, 2017. Hindalco’s aluminium production stood at 326 thousand tonnes in Q2 FY2018. Aluminium wire production was down 2 per cent at 119 thousand tonnes due to subdued demand The company’s net profit for Q2 FY2018 declined to INR 393 crore from INR 440 crore in the previous year, due to exceptional provision of INR 106 crore in Q2 FY18. Hindalco’s revenues during the quarter stood at INR 10,308 crore driven by higher aluminium volumes and realisation. EBITDA was INR 1,577 crore, an increase of 6 per cent compared to the previous year, on account of higher aluminium volumes and supportive macro factors, partly offset by higher input costs...
The current state of talks to update the NAFTA trade pact is creating uncertainty among businesses and could hurt investments and growth, Rio Tinto Aluminium chief executive Alf Barrios said on Wednesday. Canada and Mexico say several U.S. proposals for modernizing the North American Free Trade Agreement are unacceptable, prompting increasing concern that Washington could walk away from the trilateral deal. Rio Tinto exports 75 percent of the aluminium produced at its Canadian plants to the United States and supplies 30 percent of that market’s needs, Barrios told an evening conference organized by the Canadian-American Business Council. “The negotiation process has created some uncertainty among business on both sides of the border and I think this puts at risk to a certain degree...
Bharat Forge Limited has shown interest in buying Amtek Auto. The company announced that it has participated in the process of acquiring Amtek Auto. Amtek Auto manufactures auto components through a casting machining phases of manufacturing process. The company has the expertise in manufacturing aluminium die casting. Amit B Kalyani, Executive Director of Bharat Forge, told FE that “We are definitely looking at the company. However, we have not yet submitted any bid.” Commenting on the acquisition, Bharat Forge stated, “We would like to clarify that, from time to time, the company explores various opportunities on an ongoing basis. As regards Amtek Auto, there is currently a process being run under the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), in which Bharat Forge has also participated in...
Solomon Islands has a great potential of bauxite. The country’s production volume is estimated to reach three million tonnes in 2017. {newsStudioGallery} The country’s export of bauxite represents 90 per cent of the total exports. The top export destination of the Solomon Islands is China. China imported 163,113 tonnes of bauxite from the country in September, up 54 % YOY. During January- September, Solomon Islands exported one million tonnes of bauxite. Solomon Islands exported 278399 tonnes of bauxite globally in 2015. The total revenue from bauxite export amounts to about US$ 19 million. Compared to 2015, in 2016, Solomon Islands exported an estimated 232978 tonnes of bauxite. The total revenue from the export stood at US$ 11 million. In 2017, Solomon Islands is estimated to export...
