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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More than 500 jobs could be created if plans to redevelop a former aluminium smelting site in Northumberland are given the green light. Harworth Estates Investments Ltd is proposing to build a 121,000sqm employment park in Lynemouth, having purchased the 71 hectare site in April 2015. The company said the park would be used for “general industry” and the number of buildings would depend on what businesses needed. Several buildings from the former Alcan smelting plant have been retained and companies currently based there employ more than 100 people. The planning application said this could increase to 650 if the plans for the park are given the go-ahead. Iain Thomson, associate director, partnerships and communications at Harworth Estates, said: “The benefits of what we’re proposing...
The largest alumina refinery in Europe on the Shannon estuary, Aughinish Alumina, last year went back into the red with pre-tax losses of $40.5m (€34m). Limerick Alumina Refining recorded the loss as revenues slumped by 24pc from $688.39m (€581m) to $520m (€439m) due to a drop in the price of alumina worldwide. The pre-tax loss of $40.58m followed a pre-tax profit of $14.4m (€12.1m) in 2015. The directors stated that "the outlook in 2017 is much more positive due to higher sales prices and continuing lower production costs, which are forecasted to lead to a return to profitability." The directors stated that the impact from the lower alumina prices were somewhat offset by lower production costs in 2016. The loss last year included a full impairment charge of $15.8m (€13.3m) concerning the...
The Philippines is the 39th largest export economy in the world. The country exported US$56.3 billion worth of goods in 2016. The top export destination of the Philippines is China. The Philippines exported 12,907 tonnes of aluminium scrap in August and 47,786 tonnes during the first eight months of 2017. The other top importers include Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, and many more. The country’s exports of aluminium scrap decreased during the last two years and are expected to drop further this year. According to the recent estimates, in the year 2015, the Philippines imported 53522 tonnes of aluminium scrap. The value of import was USD 66.5 million for the same amount. In the year 2016, the amount stood at 32796 tonnes and the value of import stood at USD 39.7 million. In the year 2017,...
Senior-level executives from Alcoa, Novelis, Scepter and the Aluminum Association will discuss continued demand growth and investment in the domestic aluminum industry during a media roundtable at the association’s annual member meeting in Washington, D.C on Wednesday, October 4. The U.S. aluminum industry has seen seven straight years of demand growth led by major increases in the light vehicle market, which has shipped record volumes for each of the past two years. The executives will also discuss a variety of ongoing global trade issues including the upcoming preliminary decision from the Commerce Department in its antidumping investigation of aluminum foil from China. Following brief opening remarks, the executives will be available for a Q&A session with reporters in-person and via...
Ashapura Holdings (U.A.E) FZE (‘Ashapura’), a part of the Indian multi-national Ashapura Group has acquired exclusive mining rights for Bauxite for over 100,000 acres in the Boffa prefecture of Guinea. Guinea is home to the largest Bauxite reserves in the world, Bauxite is the primary ore for making Aluminium metal. Ashapura has partnered with one of the most reputed public-sector undertakings in Guinea, Société Guinéenne du Patrimoine Minier (‘SOGUIPAMI’) for the project. Ashapura which is already India’s largest Bauxite exporter, expects to commence Bauxite exports from Guinea by the first quarter of 2018. The Ashapura Group is one of India’s leading muti-mineral solutions provider. Headquartered in Mumbai, the Group operates from 8 states in India and from Belgium, Oman, Guinea, U.A.E,...
A00 Aluminum Ingot prices took a small jump across all major markets after two consecutive drops on September. The average price of A00 Aluminium Ingot would range between RMB 16,120 – 16,160/t and today’s average price stands at RMB 16,140/t, slightly up from RMB 16,120/t yesterday. A00 Aluminium Ingot in spot China market is trading at discounts of RMB 240 - 200/t on the last trading day before the week-long Chinese National day holiday. According to Shanghai Metals Market analysis, SHFE 1711 aluminium will range RMB 16,380-16,550/mt. Today’s aluminium A00 Aluminum prices across the various markets in China are presented in the table below: As for other raw materials are concerned, Average prebaked anode prices in East China, Central China, Southwest China and Northwest China market...
LME aluminium slips further down the price curve. The light metal which stood at around US$2,116-2,117 per tonne for the last two consecutive days, September 26 and 27, fell to US$2,102.50 per tonne on Thursday, September 28. Technical analysis suggests that LME aluminium may rise slightly into US$2,130-2,150 per tonne range on Friday, September 29; but any rise will be limited within a narrow range. Source: www.lme.com As on September 28, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,102 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,102.50 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,127.50 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,128 per tonne, Dec3 Bid Price is US$2,240 per tonne, and Dec3 Offer Price is US$2,245 per tonne. LME aluminium Opening Stock or...
Russian Federation aluminium behemoth UC Rusal told domestic media yesterday that plans are in the works to commission the 3-million-metric-ton-per-annum Dian-Dian bauxite mine in the African country of Guinea by next spring. Yakov Itskov, Rusal’s alumina business director, told Russian News Agency TASS that work at the bauxite mine was well underway at present. “We look forward to deliveries of first bauxites to our alumina refinery in Ireland by next spring. We can proudly say today that we started bauxite mining [in Dian-Dian deposit – TASS]; first 100,000 tonnes of bauxites [were mined]. We are constructing and producing in parallel.” Itskov went on to say that the firm’s overall investment in the initial two phases of the project are projected at US$216 million. He continued by...
Constellium N.V. today announced that it extends its long-term partnership with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive (FCA) to supply aluminium Auto Body Sheet for the new Alfa Romeo Stelvio. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio is a major milestone in the 107 years of history of the famous brand. This first ever SUV produced by Alfa Romeo hit the road early 2017, and is the second vehicle produced on the newly launched FCA Giorgio platform. Constellium is the primary supplier of Auto Body Sheets both for the closures and inner parts for the Stelvio. For the hood outer, the tailgate outer upper and lower, Constellium provides Surfalex, with high surface quality and specific hemming and roping properties, particularly adapted to model designs such as the Stelvio. Constellium also provides its high performing...
Driven by environmental factors Chinese aluminium extruders in Guangdong extrusion hub have turned away from aluminium ingot to billet, leading to a spike in billet processing fees. A large number of aluminium extrusion producers in Guangdong have closed their melting and casting facilities due to widespread environmental crackdowns. This has forced aluminium extruders to opt for aluminium billet over ingot. As a result, processing fees for aluminium billet have gone up. As on Wednesday, September 27, aluminium billet processing fees were mainly between RMB270-400 per tonne. On September 27, China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection convened routine press conference. Cui Shuhong, director of Division of Environment Impact Assessment, said in the past some illegal pollution emission...
LME aluminium has slowed down on its uptrend. The light metal contract which closed at US$2,116 per tonne last Tuesday, September 26, inched higher to close at US$2,117 per tonne on Wednesday, September 27. Technical analysis suggests that LME aluminium may move within US$2,120-2,140 per tonne on Thursday, September 28, meeting resistance at the 10-day moving average and testing support at the 20-day moving average due to a strong US dollar. As on September 27, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,116.50 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,117 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,139.50 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,148 per tonne, Dec3 Bid Price is US$2,250 per tonne, and Dec3 Offer Price is US$2,255 per tonne. LME...
Alcoa Corporation has been named a leader in the annual Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) a recognized source for corporate responsibility and sustainability. In its first year as an independent company, Alcoa Corporation is included in the prestigious DJSI World Index. Alcoa’s former parent company was listed as a sustainability leader for 15 consecutive years. “Alcoa Corporation attributes its inclusion in the Indices to the ongoing dedication of our employees across the globe,” said Michelle O’Neill, Senior Vice President of Global Government Affairs and Sustainability. “Our corporate values, which are to act with integrity, operate with excellence, and care for people, drive our daily commitment to reducing the impact of our operations and increasing the value we bring to...
On the occasion of its annual aluminium packaging seminar held this year in Rotterdam (the Netherlands), European Aluminium calls for realistic but ambitious aluminium packaging recycling targets. Following the largely positive outcome of the vote of the European Parliament earlier this year and the start of the so called trialogue discussions with the Council of Ministers on the EU Circular Economy package, European Aluminium calls upon the EU Member States to endorse the recycling targets originally tabled by the European Commission. This means that most countries have to meet a separate aluminium packaging recycling target of 75% by the year 2025. Mr Andy Doran, Chair of European Aluminium’s Packaging Group is confident that industry can meet this target, providing that “Member States...
The leading Indian rating agency ICRA said on Tuesday that it expects the global aluminium deficit to widen this year on the back of Chinese production drop which may total up to 4 million tonne due environmental crackdowns. The agency said that base metal prices which are currently on an upward trend are expected to stay buoyant during the rest of FY2017-18. ICRA in its latest report said it "expects the deficit in the global aluminium market to widen in 2017 as a result of at least 4 million metric tonnes (MMT) of capacity cutbacks in China, due to the recent regulatory developments in the country." Explaining the effect of higher metal prices on Indian primary aluminium industry and other key non-ferrous industries, Jayanta Roy, SVP and Group Head, Corporate Sector Ratings, ICRA said,...
An eye-catching, 43ft-tall installation has been unveiled in the Kazakhstan capital of Astana. Designed by Marc Fornes of New York-based art and architecture firm THEVERYMANY, ‘Minima | Maxima’ was commissioned for the World Expo, which takes place this year in the city. The striking, angular installation is one of four public pavilions or ‘Creative Energy Spaces’, meant to reflect this year’s theme; Future Energies. “‘Minima | Maxima’ is a free-standing thin-shell aluminium structure, a development of the studio’s research into ‘Structural Stripes’ and ‘Crawling Assemblies’,” Marc tells Lonely Planet. As he explains, the smart innovation used means the piece didn’t require structural beams or columns. “2mm aluminium stripes are woven and mechanically bonded in three perpendicular layers...
As per the latest export-import data published by China General Customs, China’s aluminium semi-finished products exports in August hit the lowest since February 2017. China’s aluminium semi-finished products export totalled 360,000 tonnes in August, down 3.2 per cent from a year ago and down 7.7 per cent from 390,000 tonnes in July. The country’s aluminium foil exports stood at 93,400 tonnes in August, down 4.9 per cent year on year due to anti-dumping policy from the US. The country exported 2.88 million tonnes of aluminium semi-finished products during the first eight months of this year, up 5.2 per cent year on year, customs data showed.
Australian strategic metals company TNG Limited announced that the company signed an agreement for the sale of its wholly owned Melville Island exploration licence application (ELA) in the Northern Territory to Rio Tinto Exploration. ELA 28617 covers an area of 1,387km2 in the north-western part of Melville Island and have potential for bauxite and heavy minerals. TNG’s Managing Director, Mr Paul Burton, said “Over the past 12 months, we have demonstrated a clear intent to rationalise our portfolio consistent with our focus as an emerging international strategic metals producer.” “A key step in this process was the successful demerger and IPO of our Northern Territory base metal exploration assets through Todd River Resources, and this transaction with RTX marks another step towards...
Petcoke requirement of the UAE has been surging riding humongous demand growth from the end user industries namely, energy, steel and aluminium. According to the global export-import data, the country’s petcoke imports will grow 12.2 per cent on a yearly basis reach 819,318 tonnes in 2017. In 2016, UAE’s petcoke import totalled 729,781 tonnes, up 6.5 per cent from the previous year. Calcined petcoke, which is obtained by further heat-treating petroleum coke is used to manufacture prebake anode used in the electrolysis process of aluminium smelting through Hall-Heroult Method. The biggest aluminium conglomerate in the UAE- Emirates Global Aluminium procures a substantial volume of its CPC requirement from China. In H1 2016, it imported 167,966 tonnes of anode grade CPC (at US$273 per tonne...
