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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According to the latest import-export data published by China General Customs, China’s imports of alumina totalled 275,385 tonnes in September 2017, up 93 per cent year-on year. The country imported 2.23 million tonnes of alumina between January and September, an increase of 2.96 per cent year-on year. Australia exported 130,447 tonnes of alumina in September and one million tonnes during January-September, down 24.71 per cent year-on-year. The other top countries which supplied alumina to China are Indonesia, Vietnam, France, India, Japan and Germany. China’s exports of alumina decreased 83 per cent YoY to 4,676 tonnes in September 2017. The country exported 42,219 tonnes of alumina during the first nine months of this year, down 48 per cent YoY. Japan imported a major chunk of alumina...
According to an SMM update, inventories of aluminium on the SHFE in the week ending Oct. 27 stand at 636,270 tonnes, up 20,900 tonnes from last week. A stronger dollar weighed down base metals on last Friday’s night trading and base metals are expected to trade in a wider range in the short term. Average A00 aluminium ingot price dropped from RMB 16,190/t to stand at RMB 16,120/t on October 30 today. A00 aluminium ingot prices across all individual markets have also dropped consequently. In China, on Monday, the most active SHFE aluminium 1711 opened at RMB 16,120/t after closing at RMB 16,195/t on Friday. SHFE aluminium is expected to move within a range of RMB 16,350-16,550/tonne today. SMM also predicts that despite production controls, aluminium market will face no deficit in 2018....
The Emirates Environmental Group (EEG)-organized 21st annual edition of the Can Collection Drive which was held on Saturday, October 28 witnessed unprecedented community involvement. More than 200 UAE entities including hotels, academic institutions, corporations, and households participated and collected more than 5.5 tonnes of aluminium cans for recycling. www.gulfnews.com EEG has collected over 17.6 tonnes of aluminium cans for recycling so far this year. The scrap volume collected constitutes 63 per cent of the annual target of 28 tonnes set by the environmental group. As per chairperson of EEG, Habiba Al Marashi’s update EEG has collected more than 300 tonnes of aluminium cans for recycling till date. Besides aluminium cans, EEG also encourages collection of used paper and plastic...
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced on Friday 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 cent to 162.24 per cent on Chinese aluminium foil. Commerce will announce its final anti-dumping determination on February 23, 2018. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will collect cash deposits from importers of aluminium foil based on the preliminary rates. In 2016 aluminium foil imports from China were valued at an estimated $389 million. U.S. aluminium foil producers filed a petition with the U.S. government accusing China of dumping foils in...
LME aluminium prices slid on Friday, October 27, reversing the uptrend the light metal has been following, as dollar strengthened towards the end of the week. The greenback hit three-month highs after rallying sharply over the last few weeks. LME aluminium closed at US$2,119 per tonne after Friday’s night trading, down from its earlier close at US$2,175 per tonne on October 26. As on October 27, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,118 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,119 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,141 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,142 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$2,185 per tonne, and Dec1 Offer Price is US$2,190 per tonne. LME aluminium Opening Stock or the LME aluminium inventory level stands at 1196600...
Ford recently announced its third quarter 2017 results which were primary driven by its all-aluminium F-150 Pickups sale. The company reported a profit of $1.6 billion, an increase of 63% YoY. On a per share basis, the Dearborn automaker earned of 39 cents per share, beating the 33 cents per share average, based on a Wall Street analysis and up from 26 cents per share last year. The better-than expected results were driven by higher revenue from sales in North America, especially in the truck and SUV segment, led by CEO Jim Hackett. The company has experienced higher profits generated by its F-Series pickups in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The average F-Series truck that was sold for $23,000 more than a year ago or at $45,400 in September has been generating huge revenue for the company....
Sohar Aluminium, the host and organizers of the 2017 Arab International Aluminium Conference (ARABAL), is offering the event’s delegates an opportunity to discover ‘Destination Oman’. In preparation for the industry event, Sohar Aluminium has developed a range of tailored tours, workshops and activities designed to introduce visitors to a destination that is rapidly climbing the ranks in touristic appeal globally. Set to take place each day of the ARABAL conference, the comprehensive range of tours organized by Sohar Aluminium will depart from the Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, national monuments, and the pristine coasts of Oman. The conference delegate spouses are welcome to join the Dolphin Watching & City Tour on November 7th, the Mystical Muscat Tour on...
Dell announced the launch of its new notebook XPS 15 in India. The laptop comes with company’s Infinity Edge display. XPS 15 notebook is made from single block of aluminium. According to the company, Dell XPS 15 offers a number of industry-firsts, making it the most anticipated 15-inch laptop in the world. Alen Joe Jose, Product Marketing Director, Consumer and Small Business, Dell, India said, “We are thrilled to introduce the 15-inch device in Dell’s award-winning flagship XPS line for Indian PC users.” “Designed and built to perfection with premium materials and best-in-class features, and complete with comprehensive support with premium support plus, Dell is proud to unveil the most durable, stylish laptop in the market.” It is powered by a 7th Generation Intel Core i7-7700HQ...
One of Guinea's largest bauxite mines will begin producing five-million tonnes per year in 2019, the mines ministry said on Thursday, boosting the West African country's efforts to treble output by 2020. Guinea has about a third of the world's bauxite reserves, which are refined and smelted to make aluminium, but annual output has lingered below 20-million tonnes for years, largely due to political instability. Australia-based Alliance Mining Commodities will invest $670-million over the first five years of production at its mine in northwestern Guinea, Saadou Nimaga, secretary general of the mines ministry, told Reuters. Nimaga said production could eventually reach ten-million tonnes per year. The mine's reserves are estimated at 300-million tonnes. Guinea expects bauxite output to...
Century Aluminum Company reported net income of $20.8 million for Q3 2017 in comparison to net income of $7.1 million for Q2 2017. Adjusted net income for Q3 2017 was $14.4 million compared to adjusted net income of $0.8 million for Q2 2017. Results were favourably driven by a $5.5 million non-cash gain and gain relating to LME forward sales. Century reported adjusted EBITDA of $47.9 million, up $13.9 million from the second quarter of 2017 primarily attributable to increased volume, favourable sales mix and lower raw material costs. Total sales value stood at $400.6 million compared with $388.8 million for Q2 2017. Shipments of primary aluminum for the third quarter of 2017 were 184,974 tonnes compared with 182,829 tonnes shipped in the second quarter of 2017. Operating activities...
Chinese aluminium giant Chalco announced an increase in net profit and revenue in the first nine months of 2017. The company’s net profit jumped more than tenfold year-on-year on higher aluminium prices. According to news published by Reuters, Chalco posted 1.36 billion yuan ($205 million) in profit during January- September, from 124.27 million yuan a year earlier. The company said in a filing to the Shanghai stock exchange that its revenue rose 52.5 per cent in the mentioned period. Chalco generated revenue of 139.9 billion in January- September. The company also announced its plans to add 16 billion yuan of investment into five of its subsidiaries. “At present, the company is implementing the relevant decision-making procedures and has not yet entered into any formal agreement with...
According to the latest USGS release on Bauxite and Alumina in the Second Quarter 2017 , imports of alumina by the U.S. in the second quarter of 2017 were 307,000 tonnes, essentially unchanged from the amount imported in the first quarter of 2017 and in the second quarter of 2016. Imports of alumina during Q2 2016 were 305,000 metric tonnes, 23% less than those in the second quarter of 2015. Since there have been no recent capacity addition in the U.S. smelters, the imported amount remains unchanged. However, if we compare between the amount imported in Q2 2015 and Q2 2017, we see a 22% drop. The leading sources of imported alumina in the second quarter of 2017 were Brazil (40%), Australia (31%), and Jamaica (11%). Suriname was an important exporter of alumina to the US in 2016. A number...
TOR Minerals International, Inc. producer of high performance specialty minerals published its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017. The company’s sales decreased 5 percent to $9.5 million in Q3 2017. The decrease in revenue was primarily due to a 23 percent decrease in specialty alumina sales. “The decrease in Specialty Alumina sales was primarily related to a decrease in volume from a significant U.S. customer. The decrease in sales to this customer was partially offset by 37 percent growth of specialty alumina sales in Europe and growth of OPTILOAD to both existing and new customers,” it said. The company’s revenue of specialty aluminas stood at $4.4 million in the third quarter as compared to $5.8 million in the same period of 2016. Gross margin decreased...
Global ratings agency Crisil estimated that India needs to spend at least INR 50 lakh crore (close to INR 3000 crore a day) over a period of five years between fiscal 2018 and 2022 to develop and expand its infrastructure sustainably. Primary aluminium, its alloys, and secondary aluminium which in a combined manner shares a growing percentage of the total materials market for power, construction, transport, and infrastructure can expect to benefit from the investments. CRISIL has launched the CRISIL InfraInvex, India's first investability index that tracks, measures and assesses the development, maturity and investment attractiveness of the country’s infrastructure sectors against various parameters. The CRISIL Infrastructure Yearbook 2017, a first-of-its-kind annual publication which was...
As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, average Prices of A00 aluminium ingot have dropped significantly across all markets after rising steadily all through the week. Average A00 aluminium ingot price dropped from RMB 16,270/t to stand at RMB 16,190/t today on October 27. A00 aluminium ingot prices across all individual markets have also dropped consequently. The fall in aluminium A00 Aluminum prices across the various markets in China today are presented in the table below: In China, on Thursday, the most active SHFE aluminium 1711 opened at RMB 16,185/t, went as high as 16,450/t and finally closed at RMB 16,400/t. On Friday, SHFE 1711 aluminium opened at RMB 16,370/t. Mainstream traded prices were RMB 16,160-16,180 /tonne in Shanghai, discounts of RMB140-130 /tonne over SHFE 1711...
Australian mineral exploration company Lindian Resources has identified and mapped three new bauxite deposits in the vicinity of its Lushoto bauxite project in Tanzania. The deposits spanning area sizes 2800m by 700m, 2300m by 600m and 2000m by 350m have been named as Lukozi deposit, Malibwi deposit and Mbwei deposit respectively. With these new findings, the total number of bauxite deposits explored by Lindian comes to six within the Lushoto bauxite project area. The first batch of aluminium ore samples collected from these deposits is currently being shipped to Brisbane for further analysis. “The identification of an additional three mineralised deposits has surpassed all of the board’s expectations when first assessing the Lushoto project,” Lindian chairman Asimwe Kabunga said. “We...
Chassix, Inc., a manufacturer of aluminium and iron cast and machined chassis, powertrain and subframe automotive components, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire BENTELER Automotive Farsund’s lightweight aluminium low pressure automotive casting business. President and CEO of Chassix Doug DelGrosso said, “The acquisition of BENTELER Automotive Farsund’s casting business accelerates our vertical integration in Europe, provides customer and product diversification, and further enhances our technical capabilities in our core business.” BENTELER Automotive Farsund’s casting business consists of a highly automated aluminium foundry in Farsund, Norway. It designs and produces lightweight aluminium structural castings. Laurent Favre, CEO BENTELER Automotive,...
Altech Chemicals Limited has received commitments to raise $17.2 million in a placement for its high purity alumina (HPA) project in Malaysia. The company has received a US$4.0 million (A$5.1 million) commitment from German engineering firm SMS group GmbH (SMS), and an A$3.0 million commitment from Melewar Group. Altech managing director Mr Iggy Tan said, “The Company very much welcomes the direct investment by SMS in Altech; it strongly demonstrates their commitment and confidence as EPC contractor to the project. “The ongoing support of Melewar Group is equally important; the group has supported the Company since 2015 and is a strong believer of our HPA project and the construction of the high purity alumina plant in Malaysia. The Placement leaves us well capitalised to complete the...
