
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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With speculations rife on dwindling aluminium and its raw material supplies from China, LME aluminium kept surging higher on Thursday, October 26, and closed at US$2,175 per tonne, up from its previous close at US$2,149.50 per tonne on Wednesday, October 25. The biasness towards and upside was so strong that even a stronger dollar could not weigh on it. To note, the U.S. Dollar Index DXY, +0.14 per cent which tracks the currency’s performance against six major currencies, was one per cent higher at 94.683, hitting its loftiest level since mid-July, MartketWatch reported. Price trend suggests that LME aluminium will continue to trade at highs in the near term. As on October 26, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,174 per tonne, cash seller & settlement...

Kobe Steel Ltd said on Thursday 88 of its customers had yet to confirm its products were safe in the light of widespread tampering of specifications, but it has not received any requests for recalls. Twenty-six of these customers were overseas companies, Kobe Steel’s CEO Hiroya Kawasaki told a news conference. He did not name any of the companies. “The scope of the wrongdoing found is far beyond what I had imagined at the start of the probe,” he said. Japan’s third-largest steelmaker, which supplies manufacturers of cars, planes, trains and other products across the world, said earlier this month that about 500 of its customers received products in which specifications were falsified, one of the biggest industrial scandals in Japan. Kawasaki updated the total number of affected customers...

The city of Houston is resuming its curbside recycling program in November that was suspended more than two months. The city's Solid Waste Management Department announced the resumption will commence starting November 13. The recyclable materials include paper, cardboard, clean food cartons, plastic containers numbers one through five and seven, aluminium cans and bimetal cans. Glass will not be accepted in the curbside recycling program. The recycling service will begin from November 13 for “B Week” residents and November 20 for “A Week” residents. Houston suspended the recycling service program on August 30 due to Hurricane Harvey. Last month, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced that they would start picking up the green bins in the month of November, hopefully the first week.

According to a new study by Resource Recycling Systems (RRS) that was commissioned by the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), Beverage Can Makers Europe (BCME) and Abralatas in Brazil, aluminium beverage cans are the most recycled drinks package in the world. The study drew the conclusion using global recycling data and validating the global recyclability rates of aluminium, PET and glass beverage containers. The study established a global weighted average recycling rate for aluminium at 69%, PET at 43% and glass at 46%. The study verified and validated the data for 82% of the aluminium can global market (representing 21 countries), 79% of the PET bottle global market (representing 23 countries), and 79% of the glass bottle global market (representing 22 countries). As found by the study,...

Constellium today reported results for third quarter ended September 30, 2017.The company generated revenue of €1.3 billion in Q3, up 7% compared to the third quarter of 2016 Q3 2016 due to higher aluminium prices. Constellium reported net income of €21 million improved from €15 million in the third quarter of 2016. The company posted an adjusted EBITDA of €111 million for the third quarter of 2017, up 15% from Q3 2016. The company posted total shipments of 374k metric tons, down 1% compared to the third quarter of 2016 on lower shipments of packaging and automotive rolled products. Packaging & Automotive Rolled Products division achieved adjusted EBITDA of €60 million for the third quarter of 2017.In Q3, shipments of 258k metric tons declined 3% from Q3 2016 due to lower Packaging rolled...

In china, supply of aluminium continues shrinking due to the strict reforms. Chinese aluminium industry is bent on seeing a blue sky over Shanghai and all other provinces during this winter. The inventories are declining and effect of production reduction is slowly taking shape. SHFE Base Metals mostly opened high yesterday and retraced during noon. In the afternoon most of the metals kept volatile. All base metals including aluminium dropped during closure. Average Prices of A00 aluminium ingot have registered a rise from RMB 16,210/t to stand at RMB 16,270/t today October 26. A00 aluminium ingot prices across all individual markets have also increased consequently. South China market has registered the highest rise at RMB 95/t. Aluminum Alloy (ADC12) prices also have registered a rise...

After putting up a somewhat muted show for two consecutive months- July and August, Australia's bauxite exports to China grew in September 2017. The volume increased by 63 per cent year-on-year to reach 2.83 million tonnes, higher by 369,303 tonnes from Guinea’s bauxite exports to China (2.46 million tonnes). Bauxite imports from Brazil dropped by 15 per cent to reach 369,223 tonnes in the month under review. China’s total bauxite import in the month of September increased by 47.28 per cent from the same period previous year to reach 6.54 million tonnes (up from 6.52 million tonnes in August 2017). The first nine-month cumulative bauxite import also grew by 35.8 per cent year-over-year to reach 51.15 million tonnes by the end of September 2017. This is in contrast with primary aluminium...

China Zhongwang, the world’s second largest and Asia’s largest aluminium extrusions producer announced the acquisition of aluminium superyacht manufacturer Silver Yachts Ltd for an undisclosed amount. According to a report published by Reuters, China Zhongwang aims to expand the application of aluminium in the marine sector. China Zhongwang said that the acquisition of Silver Yachts was “a significant step to advance the company’s aluminium deep-processing strategy to the marine sector.” Perth-based Silver Yachts is a builder of custom, high-performance aluminium vessels ranging from 73 to 100 metres. China Zhongwang had purchased Germany’s Aluminiumwerk Unna in August 2017. Aluminiumwerk Unna AG is a leading manufacturer of seamless extruded aluminium tubes as well as tubular profiles.

The Aluminum Association, in cooperation with the Aluminium Association of Canada, reported primary aluminium production in North America (U.S. and Canada) for the month of September. Production rate for the month of September was at an annual rate of 3,942,596 tonnes during September 2017. Month on month, it was down 17,783 tpy (-0.4%) from the August 2017 rate of 3,960,380 tonnes. The production rate in the U.S. declined eight-tenths of one per cent m/m, while the Canadian rate fell four tenths of one per cent. This drop can be considered as remaining flat for analysis. Compared to a year ago, the North American annual rate was down six-tenths of one per cent from the September 2016 rate of 3,968,038 tonnes. Actual aluminium production through the first three quarters of 2017 stood at...

LME aluminium rallied on Wednesday, October 25, surging to its highest since March 2012. The light metal contract surged amid speculations of dwindling supply from China due to winter capacity cuts, and a weaker dollar before closing down at US$2,149.50 per tonne (up from US$2,144 per tonne on Tuesday, October 24). After a lull of a few weeks, LME aluminium seems to be finally finding a direction. Reuters’ technical analysis suggests that London aluminium price may break above US$2,175 per tonne level triggering another bull run in the near term. As on October 25, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,149 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,149.50 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,158 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,159...

Hydro yesterday announced results for the third quarter of 2017. The company’s underlying earnings before financial items and tax decreased to NOK 2,446 million in the third quarter. Hydro President & CEO, Svein Richard Brandtzæg said, “"We have lifted our global demand estimate for 2017 to 5-6%, indicating a continued strong demand for aluminium. There is a positive market sentiment for aluminium, mainly driven by curtailments of primary production in China, which have supported the market balance in the quarter." "This quarter marks a new chapter in our history, adding Extruded Solutions as a fifth business area in Hydro. We are now 35,000-people strong, with 150 sites all over the world and 30,000 customers throughout the entire value chain of aluminium. We have a global reach as well...

Dudley's Aluminium, a manufacturer of aluminium curtain-walling, windows, shop-fronts, automatic and revolving doors, has secured £1million to support the construction of the apartment building in Cardiff Marina. The company will install the Kawneer curtain walling façade and state-of-the-art windows and doors. Managing Director Colin Shorney said: “Bayscape at Cardiff Marina is a fantastic project, and we are delighted to have secured the contract and to be working with BECT Building Contractors again. “After the successful completion of One Canal Parade, we are excited to work with BECT and be part of the construction of the apartment building. Bayscape is a great addition to the up and coming development of Cardiff Marina and the surrounding area and we are pleased to be part of the...

Indian aluminium major National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) launched a mobile App ‘NAGINAA’ (NALCO Grahak Information and Networking App for All) on Monday, October 23, in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. With this, the Navaratna PSU has taken customer satisfaction to its next level- customer delight, in perfect alignment with the government’s Digital India vision. NAGINAA was launched by Shri Arun Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Govt of India, in presence of NALCO CMD Dr. Tapan Kumar Chand, Shri Subhash Chandra, Jt. Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Dr. N.K. Singh, Jt. Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Shri S. Samantray, General Manager (Marketing) and other officials of NALCO. Developed to enhance customer convenience, the mobile app shall provide details about NALCO, its products,...

Iran has aluminium production capacity of 457,000 ton/year, of which about 437,000 ton/year is operational. According to the latest figures from the customs office, the country produced 128,679 tonnes of aluminium in the first five months of the current Iranian year (ending Aug. 22). Iran’s export of aluminium is estimated to jump in 2017. Top importing countries are Turkey, Taiwan, China, South Korea and India. As shown by our data, in the year 2015, the total aluminium export by Iran was 77236 tons. In 2016, the estimated export was 99023 tons. For 2017, the aluminium export by Iran is estimated to be about 120868 tons. The revenue from aluminium export was US$ 139 million and US$ 164 million respectively for the years 2015 and 2016. The revenue from export is estimated to be about US$...

Emirates Global Aluminium, the largest industrial project in the United Arab Emirates outside oil and gas, has completed a three-year, $300 million project to replace older production lines at its Jebel Ali aluminium smelter with the company’s own UAE-developed technology, boosting production capacity and reducing costs and environmental emissions. The 520 reduction cells at Potline 1 and Potline 3 at EGA Jebel Ali were the company’s oldest and were originally built from 1979. All EGA’s 2,777 reduction cells, the swimming-pool sized tanks in which aluminium is smelted, now run on home-grown technology. EGA produces one tonne in every 25 tonnes of aluminium made worldwide and makes the UAE the world’s fifth biggest aluminium producing nation. Aluminium is the largest made-in-the-UAE export...

The Taiwanese electronics technology brand Acer launched the brand new gaming laptop Acer Predator Triton 700 in India on Tuesday, October 24. The laptop with a suave aluminium chassis comes with a price tag of INR 2,99,999, and is available at exclusive Acer stores and authorized online shopping portals across the country. The new addition in the Acer Predator Triton gaming laptop series features a 15.6-inch full HD IPS display coupled with Dolby Atoms and Acer TrueHarmony that delivers immersive audio from its two front-facing speakers and a subwoofer. Further, the Predator Triton 700 is “the world’s thinnest, fastest, and quietest gaming laptop”, Acer claims, with 18.9 mm-thin (0.74 inches) aluminium chassis. The Acer Predator Triton 700 is powered by the latest 7th generation Intel...

With the introduction of reduction plan for alumina and aluminium during heating season and tightness in coal market because of supply-side reforms, China’s aluminium price is getting strong support in the market. SMM is of the view that in the short term, with recovered consumption and production limit of aluminium ahead of schedule, inventories will drop, which will continue supporting aluminium price. The amount of rise will depend on impetus of capital. A00 ingot price is steadily moving on an upward curve on expectation of supply shortage. Average Prices of A00 aluminium ingot have registered a slight rise from RMB 16,150/t to stand at RMB 16,210/t today October 25. A00 aluminium ingot prices across all individual markets have also increased consequently. Today’s aluminium A00...

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) yesterday said that the state government did not cancel the GO no. 97 on bauxite mining. CPM district secretary K. Lokanadham condemned the announcement of AP Minister for Mines and Geology Sujay Krishna Ranga Rao for stating GOs relating to bauxite mining. Sujay Krishna Ranga Rao on Monday announced that the GOs on bauxite mining were cancelled, but chose not to speak on the GO No 97. K. Lokanadham said, “He should explain why the GO no. 97 on bauxite mining was not scrapped yet. The CAG had faulted the previous agreements reached on mining. Environmentalists are worried that bauxite mining would spell disaster to tribals and the entire north Andhra. Bauxite is poisonous and its mining would contaminate drinking water and causes health hazards.” The...