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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The Australian Trellis Door Company (ATDC), manufacturer of steel security doors and window grilles, key lockable removable window bars, driveway gates and aluminium roller shutters and folding closures, has extended its product portfolio with the launch of new lockable security rated shutters. The company’s new security shutters will be available in Perth and Brisbane. ATDC’s lockable shutters feature an innovative removable insect screen. The aluminium extrusion comes with a high quality anodised finish for installations on the external façade of the premises. It also protects from sun’s UV rays as well as rain, storms and dust. The lockable security shutters tested by NATA approved testing laboratory. Also, it features marine grade reinforced aluminium extrusions locked into a heavy...
According to an SMM report, traders in both East and South China markets actively sourced metals yesterday due to the rally in SHFE aluminium prices for two consecutive days. The price rise has fuelled their optimism which is expected to continue in the near term. A00 ingot prices in Guangdong traded within a range of RMB 16,280-16,300/tonne, versus RMB16, 200-16,240 /tonne in Shanghai. According to SMM statistics, average prices for A00 aluminium ingot in China stood at RMB 15,809/t in the week ending Aug 18 registering a growth of 2.25% fromlast week’s average. The movements in benchmark aluminium price at Shanghai Metal Exchange (SME) in August are shown in the graph below (Unit: US$/t): Downstream producers, by contrast, were reluctant to buy at current high prices as production gets...
On Thursday, August 17, Aluminum Corp of China Limited (Chalco) announced the results for the first half of 2017. The company’s profit jumped more than tenfold year-on-year in H1 2017. China’s leading producer of primary aluminium and alumina reported net income of 751.3 million yuan ($112.57 million) in the first six months of 2017, from 67.9 million yuan a year earlier. The company posted 91.3 billion yuan in revenue in the first half of this year, an increase of 83 per cent year-on-year from 49.9 billion yuan a year earlier. Prices of LME aluminium reached the highest on Thursday on expectations that the metal industry will curtail supply in China. Chalco's Hong Kong shares increased around 68 percent from January to August, from roughly 35 percent gain for the Hang Seng index,...
LME aluminium continues its upward trend with another leap from US$2,075 per tonne on Wednesday August 16 to close at US$2,095.50 per tonne on Thursday, August 17. As reported by Reuters, LME aluminium may settle into a range of US$2,081- 2,089 per tonne as it has stabilized around a support at US$2,068/t. SMM predicts LME aluminium will range within US$2,055-2,075/t today and test support at the 5-day moving average. Traders are flooding into aluminium market on growing bullishness keeping prices high. As on August 17, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,094.50 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,095.50 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,085 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,086 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$2,123 per...
Midas Holdings Limited‘s subsidiary Jilin Midas Aluminium Industries Co., Ltd has secured three supply contracts from customers in the People’s Republic of China . The combined value of high speed train contracts is RMB184.4 million. CRRC Tangshan Co. has given the first two contracts worth RMB32.8 million and RMB81.9 million separately. The contracts involve the supply of aluminium alloy extrusion profiles and fabricated parts for two types of high speed trains. CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd has the third contract worth RMB69.7 million and involves the supply of aluminium alloy extrusion profiles and fabricated parts for high speed trains. Mr. Patrick Chew, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Midas, said, “The latest high speed train contract wins highlight the...
Atlanta-based Novelis, the world leader in aluminium rolling and recycling hopes to continue its partnership with China and expand investment in China's electric vehicle sector and other automotive ventures. Novelis selected Changzhou, in Jiangsu province, as the site for its first manufacturing facility in China in 2014, due to its logistic facilities and government incentives schemes for foreign investment. The Changzhou plant now produces 120,000 tons of heat-treated aluminium sheets annually and meets the growing demand for rolled aluminium from automakers to be used in conventional as well as lighter, more fuel-efficient new generation vehicles. "The driving force behind our business strategy in China is the nation's increasingly strict policy against pollution," said Pierre Labat,...
Midas Holdings Limited, the leading manufacturer of aluminium alloy extrusion products for the passenger rail transportation sector in the People’s Republic of China, announced results for the three months ended June 30, 2017. Net profit after tax jumped 197.1 per cent to RMB55.5 million for the three months ended 30 June 2017, from RMB18.7 million in the second quarter of 2016. Midas’ revenue rose to 32.1 per cent to RMB505.6 million in 2Q2017, as compared to RMB382.8 million in 2Q2016. The company said the increase was mainly attributable to the inclusion of revenue of RMB109.6 million from the Group’s Aluminium Alloy Stretched Plates Division. The Aluminium Alloy Stretched Plates Division accounted for 21.7 per cent of total revenue in the quarter. “The Aluminium Alloy Extruded...
Saudi Arabian aluminium industry is growing immensely in last few years after the country decided to venture out of the oil sector to develop a parallel non-oil economy. {newsStudioGallery} A joint venture between the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) and Alcoa Ma’aden Aluminium (MA), Ma’aden Aluminium is a significant contributor to the growth of the Saudi Arabian economy. With its ongoing projects in bauxite mining and alumina refining the company is inching towards becoming the largest and most efficient integrated aluminium complex in the world. Ma’aden has the only operating alumina refinery in the Gulf region and it imports the large part of its bauxite from various bauxite producing regions. As shown by our data, Saudi Arabia imported about 3463 tons of bauxite in 2015. In...
Nokia has launched Nokia 8, another all-aluminium Android flagship phone in the line of all other android flagship phones launched this year. The Nokia 8 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 like every other flagship Android phone and armed with a QHD screen, 4GB of memory, 64GB of storage, and the obligatory dual-camera setup. Nokia 8 is due for release in September worldwide ex-US and the phone is expected to be as exciting as its generic aluminium body, as suggested by its spec sheet. Nokia promises a reliable, well-built Android phone with few software modifications and a reasonable price tag. The aluminium body is 7.9mm at its thickest point tapering out to 4.6mm at the edges and comfortably curves at the back. It comes in "Polished Copper" and "Polished Blue" finishes, and sports...
In a first-ever move under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016, the Hyderabad bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), India, has approved an insolvency resolution plan for Synergies Dooray Automotive Limited (SDAL), an aluminium alloy wheel supplier to global auto manufacturers such as Ford. As part of the plan, Vishakhapatnam-based aluminium alloy wheel manufacturer Synergies Castings Limited (SCL), an SDAL subsidiary will merge with its holding company in an amalgamation scheme. Incorporated in 1995, SDAL had been engaged in aluminium alloy wheel manufacturing until it stopped operations on grounds of insolvency. The approved IR plan was prepared the company’s IR professional Mamta Binani. The plan will be funded through operations and against receivables from...
The mines minister of Guinea revealed that China’s Aluminium Corp of China (Chalco) has formed an intention to invest huge amount of money in bauxite project in Guinea. Chalco will spend $500 million for production of bauxite in the country from 2018, according to a report from Reuters. The company will exploit the reserves of bauxite abandoned by BHP Billiton. Saadou Nimaga, secretary general of the mines ministry, said, "The reserves of bauxite abandoned by BHP Billiton will eventually be exploited from 2018 by Chalco.” The company will develop bauxite project in the Boffa area, about 200 km from the capital Conakry. The investment will go towards the first of three project phases, which will also include the production of aluminium. The deal comes after Guinea's Mines Minister...
Bauxite mines in China’s Shanxi have come under the environmental scanning, Shanghai Metals Market report confirmed. The mines lacking production licenses have been ordered to close operations by September 14. Bauxite supply shortage had already been looming large over alumina refineries in Shanxi; the recent development is expected to aggravate the problem for the alumina producers there. Shortage in bauxite supply has reportedly affected production at two alumina refineries in Shanxi. Xing’an Chemical Co. put their facilities under maintenance in advance, which is expected to last 25 days. The entire maintenance schedule is estimated to affect alumina output by about 100,000 tonnes. China Power Investment Corporation Shanxi Aluminum Co. also shuttered down two of their alumina...
On Tuesday August 15, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer said that cheap aluminium and steel imports from China and other countries are impacting Alcoa and other domestic aluminium and steel companies. “There are top notch manufactures like Alcoa and Nucor ready to provide high-quality aluminum and steel to businesses in and around the country, but China’s overproduction has resulted in a substantial threat to Upstate New York’s metal industry by making it almost impossible for companies that play by the rules to compete,” said Sen. He has urged officials to put pressure to China against subsidies and use U.S. trade laws to eliminate “unfair competition” and maintain a level playing field. “The aluminum and steel we use to build our planes, trains and bridges should be proudly...
Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd , the leading aluminium producer in Southeast Asia, announced its net profit increased 2.8 per cent to RM150.17 million in second quarter ended June 30, 2017 from RM146.07 million a year ago driven by higher revenue. The company’s revenue for the quarter ended June 30, 2017 jumped 31 per cent to RM2.08 billion from RM1.59 billion a year ago. The increase was mainly due to the additional production output generated by its Samalaju Phase 2 smelting plant and higher metal price, it said in a filing with Bursa Malaysia. For the first half of the year , the company achieved record net profit of RM298.22 million, an increase of 23.9 per cent from RM240.63 million a year ago. Revenue soared 42.6% to RM4.1 billion from RM2.88 billion in the first half of 2016....
The uptrend in LME aluminium is continuing. The light metal shone bright sharing the sheen on other base metals and closed at US$2,075 per tonne on Wednesday, August 16, rising from its earlier close of US$2,056 per tonne on Tuesday, August 15. Shanghai Metals Market forecast says LME aluminium will keep hovering at highs of US$ 2,075-2,100 per tonne on Thursday, August 17. Reuters’ technical analysis suggests that LME aluminium may retest a resistance at US$2,103 per tonne in the near term, breaking above which may lead the metal contract to the next resistance level at US$2,125 per tonne. As on August 15, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,074.50 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,075 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is...
American Douglas Metals (ADM), a leading manufacturer, processor and distributor of aluminium products for industrial applications, announced the newest partnership with the Italian company Master Italy Srl, a leader in window and door hardware and accessories manufacturing. The company has been commissioned as Master’s North American distributor and partner to represent and distribute Master Italy’s vast window and door product line in the United States and Canada. ADM’s Vice President Kevin Blake said, “Partnering with a company like Master Italy—who’s as dedicated to providing quality window and door service and products as we are—is refreshing.” “With this new alliance, the window and door market in North America can now get state-of-the-art hardware and accessories, in addition to...
With the LME nearby spreads in backwardation during trading hours in London on Monday, August 14, the seller-buyer gap in Japan’s aluminium import market widened yesterday, reported market sources. August 15 was the deadline for declaring the shipping September cargoes and there were few buyers who were seeking spot supplies. Two international traders said they had information about a seller making offers at US$70-$75 per tonne CIF Japan. The seller could be a trading house with aluminium stocks. Cash-August spread was US$4 per tonne in backwardation during Asian trading hours Tuesday, compared to flat Monday. Cash-September was US$15 per tonne in backwardation Tuesday, widening from a US$4 per tonne backwardation Monday, reported Hellenic Shipping News. Meanwhile, a producer said his...
GlaxoSmithKline has opened a new £44 million aluminium salts facility in Montrose, Scotland. The plant will supply ingredients for around 400 million vaccines a year. Sterile aluminium salts enhance the body’s response to immunisation. The plant will supply to facilities in France, Belgium and Singapore that produce vaccines for tetanus and pneumonia. The aluminium salts facility is expected to start in 2019 and add further 15 highly-skilled jobs to the firm’s existing workforce of 450. “More than 20 million people a day rely on what we manufacture here at Montrose,” noted site director, Les Thomson. GSK is expected to make a key ingredient for approx. 70% of the company’s vaccines portfolio in this plant. First minister Nicola Sturgeon who opened this facility also expressed her pleasure...
