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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A pioneering metallurgist has been presented with an award for his contribution to the global aluminium industry. The Aluminium Industry Award was presented to Prof. Scamans at the Aluminium Federation’s 2017 Dinner by Aluminium Federation President Giles Ashmead. The event, at Tortworth Court in Gloucestershire, was attended by more than 200 guests from across the aluminium sector. Chief scientific officer at Innoval Technology, Professor Scamans is also Professor of Metallurgy at Brunel University’s BCAST metals research facility. He started his research career in 1974 at Alcan International, initially as research scientist and later as principal scientist, a role he took with him when moving to Innoval Technology in 2003. Over the last 30 years he has initiated and managed a number of...
China’s imports of alumina increased in the month of August. The country’s imports of alumina totalled 287,138 tonnes in August 2017, up 123 per cent year-on year. During January-August, imports were down at 1.95 million tonnes, according to the latest import-export data published by China General Customs. Australia exported substantial amount of alumina to China. The country imported 146,210 tonnes of alumina in August and 870,372 tonnes during January-August, down 32.93 per cent year-on-year. The other top countries which supplied alumina to China are Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, India, Germany and France. China exported 7,093 tonnes of alumina in August 2017, up 69 per cent YoY. In January-August period, exports were down at 37,545 tonnes. South Korea imported a major chunk of alumina...
Mobile handset brand Xiaomi has announced the launch of its new bezel-less smartphone Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 in India on October 10. Mi Mix 2 will be the flagship device for India, which makes an entry after a long wait, confirmed Xiaomi's India head Manu Kumar Jain. The last flagship phone Xiaomi launched in India was the Mi 5. It was introduced in April last year. The regular range of Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 comes with a ceramic body framed in aluminium. Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 has 4 versions: The entry-level smartphone starts at RMB 3,299 or INR 32,000 in China for the 6GB RAM + 64GB storage. The 6GB RAM + 128GB version is priced at RMB 3,599 or INR 35,000 plus. The 256GB storage version costs RMB 3,999 or INR 39,000. There is also a Special Edition with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. It is priced at RMB 4699 or...
Triandria Lodge is continuing the tradition of recycling aluminium cans at the Morgan Township garage. Triandria is currently looking for public donations toward the purchase of a generator and to maintain its aging facility which would require an estimated expense of $10,500. The Ashtabula County Solid Waste Management District and Representative John Patterson have contributed but the lodge is still lagging behind. Proceeds from the crushed cans are used for educational scholarships Triandria Lodge distributes every year. The objective is to increase the amount of the scholarship from the current $500 to $1,000 for each school. Currently they crush the cans manually and acquiring a generator would allow more can intake and thereby add more towards the scholarship funds. The late Harvey...
According to a recent study by Grand View Research Inc., the global activated alumina market is projected to reach US$1.32 billion by 2025 growing at a CAGR of 5.4 per cent. Growing demand from key end-user industries such as, Water Treatment, Oil & Gas will drive the growth in the market. A robust growth of the North American healthcare industry will further fuel the demand of the mineral over the period under review. Activated alumina is a highly porous substance that exhibits a potentially large surface area. It is used as fluoride adsorbent in water treatment and as catalysts in the oil & gas industry. Other applications include catalyst, desiccant, and bio ceramics. The water treatment segment accounted for the largest share of industry revenues in 2016; it is expected to continue...
Taiwan’s government expects the country’s GDP to expand 1.9% in 2017. With the growth in GDP, aluminium consumption is expected to increase at a faster speed. The country ranks second in per capita aluminium consumption with a rate of about 33.3 kg. The island country has seen significant demand growth for aluminium alloy products in the domestic market. The country produces about 819,000 tonnes of aluminium domestically in four main categories: Secondary Aluminium Alloy, Casting, Rolling and Extrusion Industries. Taiwan imports substantial amount of aluminium alloys to make value added products. We are analysing Taiwan’s export and import data for Aluminium Plates, Sheets and Strips in 2016 and trying to figure out a trend in the current year below. As shown by the recent data, Taiwan...
The Government of India has set an auction target of INR 2 lakh crore worth of minerals in 2017-18. Out of this amount, only INR 48,000 crore worth of minerals including iron ore, bauxite, limestone, and manganese was auctioned in last six months. In the next six months, and another INR 1.50 lakh crore worth of minerals will be sold, said secretary of union ministry of mines Arun Kumar. From January 2015 till March 31, 2017, industrial minerals worth INR 1,08,000 were auctioned, revealed Kumar. Kumar was delivering the inaugural address at the 20th convention of Indian Geological Congress (IGC) 'Make in India — Challenges and Opportunities for mineral, mining and energy resources' in Nagpur, Maharashtra. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015 introduced...
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. announced through a press release that effective October 2, 2017; it acquired all of the common stock of Ferguson Perforating Company through its wholly-owned subsidiary Diamond Manufacturing Company. Ferguson manufactures perforated metal parts for numerous applications in domestic and international markets. Ferguson manufactures highly engineered and complex perforated metal for a number of industries like aerospace and automotive to industrial machinery, consumer electronics manufacturers, and sugar producers. The Company is headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island with an additional facility in New Castle, Pennsylvania. Ferguson’s net sales stood at about $31 million at the end of CY 2016. With the takeover, Ferguson’s current CEO will retire while...
An upscale shopping complex in the Waterfall City in South Africa has covered its conspicuous façade with Novelis ff2 pre-painted aluminium sheet. The mall which came up in 2016 as a part of the urban development plan of the 1.73mn sqm-township stands tall with its signature Tadmoormetallic shade of aluminium façade, a light metallic colour developed by Novelis, with a transparent protective layer on the other side of the metal sheet. The architectural agency MDS Architecture selected Novelis ff2 pre-painted aluminium sheet for its outstanding processing features and ready-to-use properties. While explaining the method of aluminium façade erection on the cladding of the integrated multi-story car park, MDS executive architect Tia Kanakakis said different sizes were cut from 1,437 x 3,880...
The Aluminum Association honored U.S. Reps. Larry Bucshon (R-IN-8) and Suzan DelBene (D-WA-1) with its Legislator of the Year awards for 2017. The members, who serve as co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Aluminum Caucus, received the recognition during a Monday night reception in conjunction with the association’s annual meeting – “Aluminum Moves America.” “It is an honor to receive The Aluminum Association’s Legislator of the Year award,” said Rep. DelBene. “As someone who represents aluminum workers, I know how much these people and their families appreciate our efforts. I look forward to continuing to work together to protect good-paying, middle-class jobs in the U.S. aluminum industry.” Rep. Buschon added: “The aluminum industry supports nearly 6,000 good-paying jobs in the...
National Aluminium Company (Nalco) and Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC) have decided not to go ahead with the aluminium smelter plant project in Gujrat. GMDC said that the company has initiated the process for repayment of the amount to Nalco without interest subject to approval of Government of Gujarat. Nalco had made up front payment of INR 151 crore for setting up the alumina refinery and smelter plant in Kutch district of Gujarat. “Land required for the project has been allocated by the state government and part possession has been taken. Process for obtaining possession of remaining portion of land also is under progress. DPR for 0.5 million TPA plant got prepared by Nalco and is not viable,” GMDC stated in its 54th annual report for 2016-17. “Hence they (Nalco) have...
Under the patronage of H.H. Sayyid Harib bin Thuwaini Al Said, Assistant Secretary General of the Council of Ministers for Conferences, Sohar Aluminium is gearing up to host the 2017 Arab International Aluminium Conference (ARABAL). Scheduled to take place in Muscat from November 7th – 9th 2017, the event will be attended by all of the region’s primary aluminium manufactures, in addition to top executives from a cross section of industries, VIPs and over 500 delegates from 30 countries. “The aim of ARABAL is to establish greater collaboration between the leaders and decision-makers in the aluminium industry in the region. The event has become one of the leading and specialized conferences in the aluminium sector, and as the organisers of ARABAL 2017, we are very delighted to have the...
LME aluminium reversed its temporary downtrend and edged higher to cross the US$2,000 per tonne mark. The light metal which retraced its September 18 lows of US$2,067 per tonne on Monday, October 2, increased to US$2,114 per tonne on Tuesday, October 3. A study of the recent price trend suggests that LME aluminium will continue to trade higher in the range of US$2,110-2,130 per tonne in the short term. The rise in the light metal contract price can be explained in the light of steady demand, low inventory level, and a falling crude oil. December U.S. Dollar Index futures though trading higher shortly before the regular session opening the market seems to have given up most of its earlier gains, suggesting the rally has run out of buyers, observed analyst James Hyerczyk, FX Empire (partner...
A high delegation from Line 6 EPCM contractor for Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C., International Bechtel Co. Ltd. (Bechtel), led by its President and Chief Operations Officer Jack Futcher and President for Mining & Metals Paige Wilson paid a visit to the office of Alba’s Board of Directors Chairman, Shaikh Daij Bin Salman Bin Daij Al Khalifa on Wednesday September 20, 2017. The delegates discussed about the progress of the Line 6 Expansion Project. After the discussion with them, the Chairman of Alba’s Board of Directors issued a statement announcing that the pouring of its First Hot Metal (FHM) will take place by January 01, 2019. Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the Bahrain-based international aluminium smelter, is taking solid steps in building its present and future portfolio with the...
GFG Alliance is ready to submit planning application for the new aluminium wheels plant in Lochaber in November this year. A public consultation is scheduled to be held in October. The plant is a part of an expansion plan of its Lochaber Smelter .The company will use liquid aluminium from the smelter for the production of approximately two million alloy wheels a year. Brian King, GFG Alliance's managing director of operations at Lochaber, said: “Our ambition is for this plant to become a leader in its field, producing the most advanced products on the market and employing highly-skilled people.” The new wheel factory is expected to employ up to 400 people and could be operational by 2020.
The continuous price rise in alumina is expected to make a big difference to the FY 2018 net profit of National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO). The leading Indian aluminium producer with integrated alumina operations expects the annual net profit to grow by 45 per cent, TK Chand, CMD of NALCO said in a recent interview. NALCO’s EBITDA per tonne was at US$80-90 in Q1 FY18. Source: Market Realist NALCO’s current alumina capacity stands at 2.1 million tonnes and the last alumina shipment was valued at US$440 per tonne. The company registered total alumina sales of around 1.1-1.2 million tonne in Q1 FY18. Input cost for alumina has also risen in Q2 of the current financial year. "In alumina, caustic soda constitute a major portion and there has been increase in the price of caustic soda,...
Hurricane Irma which has left behind heaps of twisted metal and busted appliances has indirectly caused an increase in aluminium scrap intake in the scrap yards in Lee County. Mountains of metal debris are pouring in every day in the local scrap yards. All Scrap Recycling is one of the few scrap yards in Lee County that's seen a quick growth in aluminium scrap sales after the storm tore down metal structures, roofs and fences in the area. The company offers a cut of their profit to the amateur scrap suppliers. "You're looking at a three-to-four story tall pile of literally just carport and sheet aluminum." said All Scrap Manager, Trevor Mackellar One of the customers said that most of the aluminium scraps are from trailers and stuff that were dismantled by the hurricane. "Aluminum pool...
The global aluminium industry is at an inflection point. Production bases of Aluminium, CPC, CTP, and Prebaked Anodes had long started their shift from the West to Asia. Today, China is at the driver’s seat, as far as aluminium and carbon raw materials supply and demand is concerned, and is steering the price movements across these sectors. However, with China stepping up its environmental pollution control regulations many enterprises are being forced to slash their capacity and this is creating wide-scale supply-side uncertainties. Now, the aluminium producers outside China who would rely on the China, a bit too excessively for their CPC, CTP, and prebaked anode requirements are trying to look for alternative procurement sources to sustain production over the long term. AlCircle, the...
