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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Southwest Aluminum Co. posted an increase in its exports of aluminium processed products in January-July 2017. The exports grew 54 per cent year-on-year during the mentioned period, reported by Shanghai Metals Market. The company, one of Chalco’s subsidiaries, reported a growth of 12.9 per cent YoY in the production of high-precision plate & strip. Southwest Aluminum’s plate & strip sales increased by 13.4 per cent YoY. The company manufactures aluminium plates, sheets, strips, foils, tubes, rods and bars, die forgings, hand forgings, industrial profiles, as well as aluminium welding tubes, AL-Li alloys and others In other news, China’s Jianxin Mining Co.’s semiannual report shows an increase in net profit in the first half of 2017. The company’s profit was to 241.499 million yuan in the...
Metallica Minerals has set the first step towards the development of its Urquhart bauxite project in Queensland as it has received l environmental approval for the project from the federal government. The government inspected the project located 5km southwest of Weipa on the Cape York Peninsula according to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and approved the same. Metallica Minerals project now needs state government approval for the mining lease and environmental authority. The project will also require a separate approval for the construction of haul road which would link the project to the port at Hey Point. Metallica CEO Simon Slesarewich considered the federal approval as a key milestone in the project development. Commenting on the approval, he said:...
Suntown Technology Group Co., a manufacturer of aluminium products in China, is scheduled to debut its products for the first times in Middle East. The company has inked an agreement, a 10-year cooperation deal, with Saudi Arabia’s Enmaar to make its aluminium formwork products available to the Middle East market. The companies are expected to complete construction of over 5,000 residential buildings within five years, according to the report published by SMM. The company’s product serves packaging, electrics, automobiles, ships, construction, decoration, aviation, aerospace, other industries.
After a temporary dip below US$2,100 per tonne mark, LME aluminium is back to where it was last week. Drawing support from positive market fundamentals the light metal edged higher to US$2,104.50 per tonne after night trading on Tuesday, August 22, from the earlier close at US$2,084.50 per tonne on August 21. Reuters’ technical analysis suggests that LME aluminium is still targeting a range of US$2,046-US$2,055 per tonne, as it is yet to complete the correctional reversal from the high of US$2,112 on August 17. According to Shanghai Metals Market forecast, LME aluminium will drop and range at US$2,060-2,090 per tonne on Wednesday, August 23, since aluminium stocks at LME registered warehouses are beginning to rise. As on August 23, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price)...
Clemson University Researchers in the U.S has made a breakthrough in Aluminium-ion battery (AIB). They have designed a prototype Aluminum-ion battery (AIB) that uses a graphene electrode to intercalate tetrachloroaluminate (AlCl4–). Aluminum-ion batteries are gaining quick ground as an alternative to Li-ion battery systems. But there are a number of hurdles in implementing it practically. In case of LIBs, the mobile ion is Li+, but, aluminium forms a complex with chloride in most electrolytes and generates an anionic mobile charge carrier, usually AlCl4– or Al2Cl7–. The University's Nanomaterials Institute team have explained the intercalation mechanism of the AlCl4– anion in graphene electrodes, and gives an insight into the influence of defects and doping on the intercalation process....
According to a recent Shanghai Metals Market report, Henan Aipusheng Secondary Metals Company started construction of its aluminium alloy flat casting ingot project on August 16. The aluminium alloy casting ingot manufacturer would be using aluminium scrap beverage cans as raw material for the project. The aluminium scrap beverage can fed unit in Henan will produce food-grade aluminium alloy flat casting ingots at 100,000 tonnes per annum capacity. Henan province in China is home to a number of secondary aluminium product manufacturing companies. Henan Huilong Aluminium Industry Co,. Ltd has ranked one of the seven largest aluminium industry corporations in Henan Province and its 100000 tonnes of secondary aluminium project has been listed in the national "Torch Plan” projects. Besides,...
The USA has been a major exporter of aluminium containers which are used for packaging of several commercial commodities. The country’s aluminium container export witnessed a drop in volume and value in 2015 and 2016 after a surge in 2014. The current calendar year seems to be bringing in some good news for the US aluminium container manufacturers. The exports are going rise significantly, reveal global export-import data. In 2014, the U.S. exported 1680 tonnes of aluminium containers, which dropped to 790 tonnes in 2015. Last year, the volume was slightly up at 978 tonnes, still reasonably below the volume exported in 2014. In 2017, aluminium container export by the U.S. is estimated to rebound and reach 1663 tonnes by December end. Value-wise too, last two years were discouraging for...
The arrival of a new BMW M5 will always make the biggest stories among the car enthusiasts. The M5 re-invents itself with each new generation, grows its size and power and expands the cylinder count from six to eight to 10 before the adoption of turbocharging. The sixth-generation F90 M5 is no exception and comes up with lots of additions in design, structure and powertrain. The adoption of all-wheel drive turns out to be the biggest revolution in the model’s 33-year history. BMW’s new super sedan passes 200km/h in just 11.1sec up to 250km/h top speed, which can be increased to 305km/h optionally. The new BMW M5 is slightly larger in every dimension from its predecessor. Despite the addition of all-wheel drive, at 1855kg the new M5 is actually 15kg lighter from its previous model. This...
The exclusive aluminium industry report by AlCircle titled Potline Failure in Aluminium Smelters: An Observation and Recent Case Studies (2013-2017) has strike the right chord with the global aluminium industry players. From renowned aluminium smelters, consultancies, and research bodies to technical infrastructure providers- everyone is showing genuine interest in the report. Some of the biggest names in the industry have already even subscribed for it. With well-researched information and case studies spanning last five years’ time period, the report promises to provide deep insight into the aluminium potline failure issue that has been found to be having significant financial impact and hence, an area of prime concern for aluminium producers over the years. In the era of predictive...
Despite tight bauxite supply in Shanxi, local market prices for bauxite rose only slightly recently. Currently, average price for Bauxite (6.0≤Al/Si SMM informs that one large local alumina producer grants additional RMB30/t above market prices to those bauxite suppliers who could guarantee over 30,000 tonnes of supply every month. In our last news update, it was learned that all bauxite mines in Shanxi that lack production licenses were ordered to close during August 14-September 14. Bauxite shortage has already affected domestic alumina production causing tightness in alumina supply and showed signs of price rise in alumina. China’s domestic alumina price rebounded slightly on August 17, driven by an outlook on tightened supply. However, whether alumina prices will rise across the board...
SHFE 1709 aluminium dropped RMB 150 /t after opening on Tuesday, and then recovered some losses before closing. Though there was enough buying and selling in the East China market, overall trading was slow. Traders were in a wait-and-see mode, while downstream producers bought the metal following the drop in price. Mainstream traded prices for SHFE 1709 aluminium ranged between RMB 16,060-16,070/t in Shanghai, RMB16,060-16,070 /t in Wuxi, and RMB16,070-16,090 /t in Hangzhou. SMM expects August aluminium output in China to stand at 3.08 million tonnes in August, up 12.6% YoY, but less than 3.12 million tonnes of aluminium output in July. Annualized aluminium capacity in operation expected to be down slightly to 36.20 million tonnes. According to IAI, primary aluminium output outside China...
Jiwanram Sheoduttrai (JS) Group, the multi-faceted organisation engaged in industrial marketing, manufacturingand turnkey project management and the trusted raw material and technology partner of aluminium businesses in India and abroad, recently celebrated the 100th birth anniversary of its key founding member, Late Satyanarain Prasad, in Kolkata. The Centennial Founder’s Day celebration held at Arts Acre, Museum of Bengal Modern Art, in New Town, Kolkata, on August 8, reached a different level of success in presence of 300 plus guests who came in from different parts of the world. As part of this Founder’s Day celebration, the JS family commemorated absence of Shri Satyanarain Prasad ji through his omnipresence. An elaborate programme was staged which saw one of his grandsons Mr....
The upward momentum in LME aluminium prices is likely to slow down this week. The bullish sentiment that prevailed last week with investors flooding in the market is settling down. LME aluminium which had closed at US$2,104 per tonne last Friday, August 18, came down to US$2,084 per tonne on Monday, August 21. Shanghai Metals Market predicts that LME aluminium will stage technical corrections and hover at moderate highs this week. Reuters’ technical analysis suggests that LME aluminium may drop into the range of US$2,046-2,055 per tonne after facing correction. There is a resistance at US$2,089; a break above this mark could lead the light metal to a gain around US$2,103 per tonne. As on August 21, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,084 per tonne, cash...
MRT Castings, a manufacturer of high quality die castings in aluminium alloys in the UK and Europe, is expanding its manufacturing operations in Andover, Hampshire. For this, the company acquired warehouse from DHL at Walworth Business Park in South Way, Andover. Phil Rawnson, Managing Director at MRT Castings, said, “We are delighted to have completed this acquisition from DHL with the support of Lambert Smith Hampton.” “Plot 66 provides us with the opportunity to redevelop this site into a new advanced manufacturing centre for aluminium die castings and machined components. It provides additional capacity for future growth to run alongside our existing facilities.” MRT Castings manufactures and exports aluminium, zinc, gravity and high pressure die castings. The company is celebrating...
AMG Superalloys UK, A Rotherham based metals manufacturing business and a business unit of AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. has reported increased earnings and profit despite a turbulent year. AMG Superalloys is a leading producer and supplier of specialty metals, alloys, and materials including aluminium products. The company is a highly specialized manufacturer of specialty products to the aluminum, steel, superalloy and glass industries. Though revenue dropped by 6 per cent from £132.3m in 2015 to £124.2m in 2016, EBITDA registered an increase to £9.7m, up from £6.1m. Profit before tax for the company rose to £8.1m from £3.4m. The increase in bottom line profit was primarily driven by a combination of higher sales volume, improved product mix and internal cost improvement...
The centre has expressed concern over the slow pace of the proposed Angul Aluminium Park project at Angul, Odisha. Ramesh Abhishek, secretary of the department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP), asked the state government to complete the aluminium park project by March, 2018. Angul Aluminium Park is a joint venture between Navratna firm National Aluminium Company (Nalco) and state-owned Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO). "I have personally reviewed progress of the project on June 9 and found that the progress is poor (physical progress 1.82 per cent and financial progress—INR 1.57 crore) considering that the funds were provided to the project about 18 months ago," Abhishek wrote in a letter to chief secretary A P Padhi. According to the IDCO...
As reported by SMM, Shenhuo Group signed a deal with Shangqiu Urban-Rural Integration demonstration Zone Management Commission on August 17, to construct a high-end aluminium foil project in the city. Henan Shenhuo Group Co., Ltd. is an integrated commodity producer, which, together with its subsidiaries, produces primary aluminium as well as, aluminium foil, prebaked anode and cast aluminium alloy ingots. The company also engages in coal mining; power generation; coke production; cotton yarn milling; and product processing businesses in China. The project involves a total investment at RMB 3.6 billion and is expected to a designated annual capacity of 100,000 tonnes of high-end light gauge aluminium foil. Over 80% of products from the project will be exported to Europe and the US,...
Building up of fresh positions amid improved demand scenario in the spot market led aluminium prices in India drive up by 1.33 per cent to INR 133.45 per kg in futures trade today, August 21. Aluminium for September delivery climbed up by 1.33 per cent to INR 133.45 per kg in a total business turnover of 292 lots at Mumbai's Multi Commodity Exchange. Likewise, aluminium for delivery in August was found trading higher by INR 1.70 or 1.30 per cent to INR 132.75 per kg in a business turnover of 1,155 lots. Market analysts said that creation of fresh positions by participants due to spike in demand from the end user industries in India's spot market primarily led to the rise in aluminium prices at futures trade, reported PTI.
