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 holding company of Noranda has completed the buyout of the La Bâthie operation of ARC Fused Alumina from its owner Imerys, industry sources reported. The US based bauxite and alumina supplier bought the assets from Imerys, which purchased it from its erstwhile owner Alteo in 2016. The ARC Fused Alumina refining site in La Bâthie (Savoie - France) was one of the two major alumina plants that French industrial group Alteo has been operating near Albertville, France (100km from Geneva). Sources have it that the plant will keep producing the specialty mineral at La Bâthie even after the change of hands. In October 2016, the European Commission had cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Alteo ARC by Imerys of France. The clearance was conditional on the...
After the deep plunge yesterday, average prices of A00 aluminium ingot have seen some rise across all markets today on November 3. The price volatility is mostly attributed to slow downstream demand and growing stocks despite the winter capacity cut programme. Average A00 aluminium ingot price has climbed up to RMB 15,980/t today from RMB 15910/t. The A00 ingot prices are expected to rise above RMB 16,000/t mark again. The rise in aluminium A00 Aluminum prices have continued in all other individual markets in China. A00 ingot prices have registered a drop from RMB 50/t to RMB 80/t across all markets. In the spot market aluminium is trading at a discount of RMB 120-80 /tonne. As observed by Shanghai Metals Market, weak downstream consumption and uncertain production limit policy of Lvliang...
Novelis, the world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, today reported net income of $307 million for the second quarter of fiscal year 2018, compared to a net loss of $89 million in the prior year period. Excluding tax-affected special items in both years, the company reported net income of $78 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2018, up from $60 million reported in the second quarter of fiscal 2017. The increase in net income, excluding special items, is mainly due to a 12 percent increase in Adjusted EBITDA to a record high $302 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2018. The year-over-year improvement in Adjusted EBITDA is primarily a result of higher shipments, favorable metal costs and operational efficiencies, partially offset by lower beverage can pricing. Adjusted...
Vedanta Limited announced its unaudited consolidated results for the second quarter ended 30 September 2017. The company reported quarterly aluminium production of 401 thousand tonnes. Vedanta registered strong exit production run rate of 1.6 million tonnes per annum. The net profit (PAT) and revenues stood at INR 2,036 crore and INR 21,520 crore respectively for the quarter ended September, 2017. The company’s EBITDA increased 24 per cent year-on-year to INR 5, 776 crore during the second quarter. The company’s net debt/EBITDA at 0.6x stands among the lowest across in Indian and global peers. Vedanta said its gross debt reduced by INR 11,466 crore since March 31, 2017. Mr. Kuldip Kaura, Chief Executive Officer, Vedanta Ltd, said: “PAT for the quarter was up 41% and EBITDA was up 24%...
LME aluminium remained essentially flat during Thursday’s day trading weighed upon by the supply concerns arising from China’s looming production cuts. After night trading, the light metal contract came down to close at US$2,152 per tonne, from the earlier close of US$2,188 per tonne on Wednesday, November 1. It is expected to pick up momentum not before next week. In the immediate term, LME aluminium is likely to trade in a neutral range. As on November 2, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,151.50 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,152 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,166 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,157 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$2,213 per tonne, and Dec1 Offer Price is US$2,218 per tonne. LME aluminium...
Metallica Minerals Limited notes that the Queensland State Government has called for an election to occur on 25 November 2017. As a consequence Caretaker Government protocols now apply. The Company has received advice that it remains possible for the Urquhart Bauxite Mining Lease to be granted under these protocols. Nevertheless it now appears prudent for the Company to factor in an administrative delay linked to these protocols and a new Government being sworn in following the election outcome. Whilst Metallica is disappointed with the length of time taken to finalise the administrative processes and to grant the Mining Lease, the Company will continue working towards a grant of the Mining Lease in the shortest possible timeframe under either scenario. The Urquhart Bauxite project...
Leading manufacturer of high-quality capacitors Cornell Dubilier Electronics, Inc. (CDE) has announced a new development in aluminium electrolytic technology. The company’s THA Series Thinpack capacitors and THAS Series are available in the market with 85 °C and 105 °C respectively. “THA and THAS Series Thinpack capacitors offer the highest-energy density available in low-profile aluminium electrolytic technology,” the company claims. “This is comparable in height to V-chip electrolytics, tantalums and board-mounted axials, yet offer much higher bulk-storage energy density. A single THA/THAS capacitor can replace an array of SMT, axial or radial aluminum electrolytic or solid tantalum capacitance arrays.” “THA/THAS capacitor has a sealed, laser welded aluminum case that eliminates the...
Boeing, the world's largest aerospace company, announced an investment in Gamma Alloys. This represents the first Boeing HorizonX investment in advanced materials and machining development and applications. Steve Nordlund, Vice President of Boeing HorizonX, said: "The wear, strength, durability and machining characteristics of Gamma's materials have the opportunity to further reduce the weight of our products." "The traction that Gamma Alloys has gained in automotive, energy and aerospace reinforces our confidence that Gamma has a unique set of materials." Valencia, California-based Gamma Alloys develops nano-reinforced aluminium alloys, where the aluminium is reinforced with microscopic particles, or nanoparticles. Gamma Alloys CEO Mark Sommer commented: "With funding from Boeing, we...
Iran is seeking $50 billion in investment for its mining industries out to 2022 and has signed agreements with several European and Asian banks in the past few months, the country’s deputy mining minister said on Wednesday. “We are in need of $50 billion for investment in the mining and mining industries of Iran,” Mehdi Karbasian told Reuters, speaking on the sidelines of the Imarc mining conference in Melbourne. “In the past two months we have had agreements with South Korea, with Austria, with Denmark and it’s on the way for other countries like Germany,” Karbasian said, without identifying investors. He said the plan was to attract capital across five years, but declined to say how much Iran had raised so far. Karbasian said that the country was also looking for partnerships with...
New Zealand’s exports of aluminium scrap decreased in 2016. The country is estimated to witness a jump in exports of aluminium scraps this year. India and China are the top importers of aluminium scrap. China imported 1965 tonnes of aluminium scrap during January- September 2017. {newsStudioGallery} In 2016, India imported an estimated 12236 tonnes of aluminium scrap. New Zealand exported an estimated 8118 tonnes and 1970 tonnes of aluminium scrap to South Korea and China respectively. According to the recent estimate, in the year 2015, the total aluminium scrap export by New Zealand was 31057 tonnes. In 2016, the export is estimated to stand at 29459 tonnes. The total estimated value of aluminium scrap export was USD 48 million and USD 39 million respectively. The aluminium scrap export...
As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, average Prices of A00 aluminium ingot have plunged significantly across all markets today on November 2 after yesterday’s rise. The price drop is mostly attributed to slow downstream demand and growing stocks despite the winter capacity cut programme. Average A00 aluminium ingot price has dropped RMB 230/t from RMB 16,140/t on November 1 and stood at RMB 15910/t today. After a long time A00 ingot prices have plunged below RMB 16,000/t mark. The drop in aluminium A00 Aluminum prices has continued in all other individual markets in China. A00 ingot prices have registered a drop from RMB 170/t to RMB 220/t across all markets. In the spot market aluminium is trading at a discount of RMB 130-90 /tonne. According to SMM SHFE Aluminium slipped by around half...
UC RUSAL, a leading global aluminium producer, launched a new low carbon aluminium brand that has a low carbon footprint. The company said that “ALLOW will provide consumers and manufacturers alike with confidence that the aluminium used in their products has one of the lowest carbon footprints in the industry.” Vladislav Soloviev, CEO of RUSAL, commented: “The launch of our new low carbon aluminium brand, ALLOW, represents a watershed moment for RUSAL in terms of sales strategy development and work with our customers.” “ALLOW’s carbon footprint is lower than 4t CO2/t Al, while the world average is currently approximately 12t CO2/t Al (scope 1 and 2 at the smelter).” The total expenditure by the company on implementing environmental actions totalled USD119.9 million in 2016. Since 1990,...
LME aluminium has been holding strong and climbed beyond it support level from US$2,140 per tonne on Tuesday, October 31 to US$2,188 per tonne on Wednesday, November1. A break below this level could cause a loss to US$2,125 per tonne in the near term. Positive developments in the LME week are giving support to LME aluminium currently. As per voting results of present participants in LME Week aluminium earned 20 per cent of the votes as the most promising metal in 2018, SMM reported. As on October 31, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,187 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,188 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,196.50 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,197 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$2,238 per tonne, and Dec1 Offer...
First Bauxite Corporation, a Canadian natural resources company engaged in the exploration and development of bauxite deposits in Guyana, South America, has been granted an extension to commence construction work on its Bonasika Project. The construction commencement date has now been extended to January 31, 2019. The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC)has approved the 12-month extension under the Bonasika Mining Licence. The company has received formal notification from GGMC. “The company had earlier received an extension through January 31, 2018, which also provided for an additional year to be granted if the GGMC considered the Company to have made sufficient progress to merit the additional extension,” according to company’s press release. “In addition, the Company has also...
New Zealand's abundant renewable electricity may be the saviour of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter, attract energy-intensive industries to New Zealand and eventually see electricity exported across the Tasman Sea to Australia, the chair of the Electricity Authority, Brent Layton, says. In a speech to a stakeholder function in Wellington yesterday, Layton said his personal belief is that the Rio Tinto-controlled aluminium smelter would not close "provided the transmission pricing methodology is changed so the smelter pays for the services it receives and the costs of providing those services". The smelter has routinely claimed over the years that its viability is threatened by rising New Zealand power prices and, more recently, by the possible rejection of electricity transmission reform...
Sparkling fruit wine drink Ibiza Ice has been relaunched into the on-trade with a new look, aiming to tap into a burgeoning market for fruit wine in Britain. Made with all-natural ingredients, Ibiza Ice is a blend of Austrian mountain spring water and fruit wine made from apples and pears, with ABV of 5.5%. Originally launched in 2009, it was repackaged for relaunch at the start of this year and is now available to the on-trade through suppliers Venus, HT & Co Drinks and HB Clark. The names of the two variants in the range remain the same: White Isle with lychee, lime and watermelon and Sunset with pomegranate. With a revamped design, the two variants come in sustainable 330ml aluminium bottles that are 100% recyclable and shatter-proof, with a ring-pull cap. Ibiza Ice is made 100% with...
Trimet Aluminium is seeking a partner for its automobile aluminium products business. The automobile parts business has an annual production of about 13 million. Executive board member Thomas Reuther told Reuters that the company has annual sales of about 200 million euros ($232 million). “We are currently seeking a partner for this business,” Reuther said. “The problem is that automobile producers want platform suppliers with a global organisation, especially with a presence in North America or China.” “We are a family-owned company in Europe and we do not have the capability to do this alone. A partner is now being sought who will accompany us in this sector.” “The automobile industry in Europe is currently focussing intently on electro-mobility and autonomous driving,” he said. “We are...
China Zhongwang, world’s leading aluminium extrusions product manufacturer, yesterday announced its third quarter results. The company posted an increase in profit and revenues during the third quarter of 2017. The increase was due to the higher aluminium prices. China Zhongwang’s revenues in Q3 2017 stood at 5.39 billion yuan, up 12.5 per cent from 4.791 billion yuan last year, according to Reuters report. The company reported net income of 1.08 billion yuan ($163 million) for the third quarter of 2017, up from 1.07 billion yuan last year. The company’s total sales were reported at 204,170 tonnes for the mentioned period, down 6.9 per cent.
