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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SHFE Aluminium bounced back yesterday, August 31 after the drop the day before. Rally in SHFE 1709 aluminium encouraged traders to throng the east China spot market. Downstream producers still bought as per their demand. Mainstream traded prices for aluminium were RMB16, 220-16,260/tonne in Shanghai, RMB16,220-16,250/tonne in Wuxi and RMB16,200-16,220/tonne in Hangzhou. Spot discounts of RMB 250-240/tonne were offered over SHFE 1709 aluminium. During Thursday’s night trading, most of the base metals finished higher, especially aluminium, zinc and nickel. SHFE 1711 aluminium is expected to fall back to RMB 16,560-16,740/tonne on Friday. SMM continues to observe that many downstream producers in Zhejiang closed operations due to environmental issue, hurting local demand for aluminium....
Metro Mining Limited yesterday provides a construction update for the Bauxite Hills Mine. The construction work at the site is currently on schedule, and will be completed by the end of 2017. Barge Loading Facility (BLF) fabrication commences in Cairns by CSF Steel Fabricators. The shipment to site is planned for mid-September. Foreshore Marine has installed the tidal gauge and cyclone moorings in the Skardon River. “Mining equipment has arrived on site with civil works commencing immediately to clear the Port and approved Barge Loading Facility (BLF) areas. Additional civil works including upgrading the existing roads and sediment dam works are also in progress,” the company said. Metro’s Site Environmental Officer has arrived on the Mine site and will supervise construction activities,...
LME aluminium strengthens again. The light metal contract which closed at US$2,066.5 per tonne on Wednesday, August 30, edged higher to close at US$2,113.5 per tonne on Thursday, August 31. According to Shanghai Metals Market forecast, LME aluminium may continue to hover at highs in the short term but will lack any further upward momentum. On Friday, September 1, it is expected to range at US$2,110-2,140 per tonne. As on August 31, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,113 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,113.50 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,130 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,132 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$2,170 per tonne, and Dec1 Offer Price is US$2,175 per tonne. LME aluminium Opening Stock stands at...
Ball Corporation, a leading beverage can maker with production facilities around the globe, announced that they will stop production at its Birmingham, Alabama, Chatsworth, California, and Longview, Texas, beverage packaging plants in 2018. The company will supply its products from other facilities. Also, the company will build a new state-of-the-art beverage packaging facility in Goodyear, Arizona. This plant will start producing in the second quarter of 2018 and will serve growing customer demand for specialty cans in the southwestern U.S. Carlos Medeiros, president, Beverage Packaging North & Central America, said,"These transformational actions will optimize our plant network, realign our standard 12-ounce beverage can and end capacity, increase our manufacturing flexibility and drive...
Provincial authorities of Dak Nong in Vietnam said Wednesday, August 30, that the total tax to be collected from the Nhan Co alumina refinery in 2017 is estimated to come down form what was expected of it. The estimated amount stands at VND107.39 billion against an expected VND437.761 billion. The alumina plant began operations in 2016 and produced 247,000 tonnes of aluminium hydroxide and 126,000 tonnes of alumina in the first quarter of 2017. It also exported 85,000 tonnes of alumina to Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan, and 16,600 tonnes of aluminium hydroxide to South Korea and Japan. The Nhan Co alumina refinery paid VND57.181 billion to the state budget. Dak Nong provincial authorities estimated that the current revenue generating capacity of the plant would be only VND150 million....
Chigwell Window Centre (CWC), dedicated to providing aluminium bifold doors and windows, uPVC doors and windows, officially opened a new showroom on August 26 in Billericay, Essex, England. The new shop is packed full of aluminium and uPVC doors products such as bifold doors, windows, front doors, roof lanterns and windows. Simon Baldock, PR manager of CWC, said: “The opening day was a huge success. We had a number of visitors commenting on how nice the showroom is and what a great addition it will be for the area.” The mayor of Basildon Cllr David Harrison cut the ribbon to officially open the new shop along with CWC directors and staff and other specially invited guests. CWC, based in Hainault, Essex, supplies its product for the domestic and commercial sectors. The company’s products...
The Australian Securities Exchange listed mining and resource company Lindian Resources Ltd, has been granted a trading halt today, August 31, pending assay results from Tanzanian Lushoto bauxite project. The Perth-based explorer recently signed an agreement to acquire a 75 per cent farm in interest in the east African bauxite project. The project worth nearly US$2 million has potential to emerge as a direct shipping bauxite operation, Lindian said. Lindian entered into the agreement with Batan Australia to acquire majority stake in the bauxite project despite the recently introduced legislation which mandates enhanced government ownership of local projects. However, since the bauxite project is currently not in a production stage, the legislation did not apply. The trading halt at ASX...
The imports of commodities by North Korea during the last five years have decreased and are estimated to continue in the coming years. The imports of alumina by the country also dropped during the last two years. North Korea‘s alumina import is estimated to fall considerably in 2017. {newsStudioGallery} According to the estimated data, North Korea imported about 8185 tonnes of alumina in 2015. The amount noticeably fell in 2016 to reach 6408 tonnes. The country is estimated to import about 2257 tonnes of alumina in 2017, an extreme decline. The cost of alumina import stood at USD 3.29 million in 2015. In 2016, the import generated a cost of USD 2.02 million. The cost of import for alumina in 2017 is estimated to be USD 0.43 million. The cost of alumina is also estimated to drop...
China downstream aluminium producers were found to buy aluminium ingots in a calculative manner after SHFE aluminium prices rose sharply today. On Wednesday, August 30, domestic aluminium processors, extruders and rolled product manufacturers had engaged in bargain hunting after aluminium prices in east China spot market dropped below RMB 16,000 per tonne. As on Thursday, August 31, mainstream traded prices of the light metal contracts stood at RMB 16,120-16,140 per tonne in Shanghai, with discounts of RMB 230-220 per tonne over SHFE 1709 aluminium. Traders literally jumped into the spot market to stockpile goods. China’s official manufacturing PMI rose to 51.7 in August, higher than 51.4 in July and 51.3 projected. With other macroeconomic factors remaining steady, the demand from key...
According to a recently published market research report by Market Data Forecast, the global food and beverage metal cans market was valued at USD 50.96 billion in 2016 and is expected to garner USD 60.82 billion by 2021, registering a CAGR of 3.6% during 2016 to 2021. Aluminium cans are dominating the market holding nearly 70% of share. The growth is driven mostly by increasing demand for processed and canned food and beverages and visual appeal of canned food. This market is categorized into regions of North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and Middle East and Africa. Asia Pacific is leading food and beverage metal cans market with highest share. Some of the manufacturers dominating this market include Crown Holdings, Ball Corporation, Silgan Holdings, Ardagh Group, CAN-PACK...
LME aluminium continues to move in a wide trading range. From the earlier close of US$2,092 per tonne on Tuesday, August 29, the light metal contract fell to US42,066.5 per tonne on Wednesday, August 30. According to Shanghai Metals Market forecast, LME aluminium will continue to hover around its 5-day and 10-day moving averages in the foreseeable future, and range at US$2,075-2,100 per tonne on Thursday, August 31. Reuters’ technical analysis suggests that LME aluminium is neutral in the US$2081-2,103 per tonne range; any escape from this bracket would suggest a trend. An extend stay below US$2,119 per tonne level might enhance the chance of the light metal going down towards US$1,958 per tonne. As on August 30, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,066 per...
Yunnan Aluminium Co Ltd., one of China's major aluminium producing companies, announced that the company has decided to acquire aluminium manufacturer Qujing Aluminum Co. for 35 million yuan. Qujing Aluminum Co. has a production capacity of 380,000 tonnes per year. Yunnan Aluminium will 94.35% stake in Qujing Aluminum Co. The acquisition will allow the company to expand its total production capacity to 1.6 million tonnes per year, as reported by SMM. Yunnan Aluminium Co Ltd. engaged in aluminium smelting as well as the manufacture and supply of aluminium semi-finished products. The company announced its production target for aluminium and other products for the second half of 2017. Yunnan Aluminum sets a goal to produce 650,000 tonnes of alumina, 600,000 tonnes of primary aluminium, and...
Despite political uncertainty, German aluminium industry grew satisfactorily in the first half of 2017, supported by overall growth of the economy. Aluminium producers and converters combined, the total production increased year-on-year. The volume excludes aluminium semis production which dropped marginally during the period under review. As per the Joint German Occupational Safety and Health Strategy (GDA) data, German aluminium sector produced around 660,900 tonnes of aluminium during January-June 2017, up 5.7 per cent YoY. The figure comprises 273,100 tonnes of primary aluminium and 387,800 tonnes of recycled aluminium. While primary aluminium production was up by 0.7 per cent, production of recycled aluminium was higher by 9.6 per cent than the same period previous year. Aluminium...
Acer, the world's leading Chromebook brand, has introduced a new model in its Chromebook 15 line. The new Acer Chromebook 15 is made out of aluminium and has a long battery life of up to 12 hours. The model is thinner and lighter than previous generations. “The new Acer Chromebook 15's huge display is a visual feast," said James Lin, General Manager, Commercial & Detachable Notebooks, IT Products Business, Acer Inc. "Movies, apps, games and websites are immersive and the stunning display pairs beautifully with an aluminium design, quiet performance and up to 12 hours of battery life. The Chromebook 15 continues Acer's legacy of delivering the most innovative Chromebooks in the industry and in the widest range of sizes." The laptop sports 15.6-inch HD display with 1920 x 1080 resolutions...
Russia's public sector power company Rushydro may join Rusal’s new aluminium smelter project in Siberia, as shared by the board chairman of the company to Reuters. Rusal, the world's No.2 aluminium producer is resuming work on the Taishet project now which was on halt due to low aluminium prices. "We will discuss this at the board meeting. In general, I think that taking such a decision (to join the Taishet project) is possible," said Yuri Trutnev, also Russian deputy prime minister in charge of developing the Far East. If this project comes into operation, Rushydro will be able to sell its excess power and Rusal would return to its pre-economic crisis aluminium output levels of over 4 million tonnes per year. Rusal’s current aluminium output stands at 3.7 million tonnes. Rushydro's board...
According to data from the Korea Nonferrous Metal Association (KONMA), South Korea has increased its sales volume of aluminium foil on a yearly basis in first half of 2017. The nation’s sales, both domestic and international rose in the mentioned period. South Korea’s sales by aluminium foil producers increased 4.7 per cent year-on-year to 48,500 tonnes in the first half of this year, as reported by Shanghai Metals Market. The total domestic sales were up 6.3 per cent year-on-year to 28,800 tonnes. The exports totalled 19,600 tonnes in H1 2017, an increase of 2.6 per cent year-on-year. As per earlier reports, the South Korean government projected economic expansion of 3 percent in 2017 while the government sees export surging 10.2 per cent this year. "South Korea's potential growth rate...
Bentley has unveiled its third generation Continental GT, an entirely new grand tourer with a brand new chassis and engine, armed with some innovative new technology. The new engine is an upgrade on the Bentayga's 6.0-litre W12 TSI with a dual-clutch, eight-speed transmission for super performance. The car can reach 0-100km/h in 3.7 seconds (0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds) and go on to a top speed of 207mph. The GT's adaptive chassis also borrows heavily from the Betayga by using Bentley’s intelligent and powerful 48-volt Dynamic Ride System. The car sports an aggressive styling in a body that is constructed from a new aluminium architecture that saves more than 80kg over the previous Continental and comes up with a much wider, more attractive GT that is longer and lower than the previous 2011...
Turkey, the transcontinental country in Eurasia, is aiming to reduce its alumina import in 2017, according to the estimates provided by global alumina trade data. The country’s only integrated aluminium producer Eti Alüminyum Inc. Co. having 230,000 tonnes per annum of calcined alumina production capacity seems to be mulling production increase at its Seydişehir Plant or devising strategies in the same line. The company produced 110,000 tonnes of alumina in 2015. {newsStudioGallery} According to the international trade data, Turkey imported 42,342 tonnes of alumina in 2016, a whopping 136 per cent up from its 2015 imports totalling 17,948 tonnes. This year, the country is estimated to import only 23,052 tonnes of alumina, down 45.5 per cent year-on-year. The major countries from where...
