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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National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) yesterday announced that the company is considering lending its brand name to downstream micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that deals with aluminium application. Dr. Tapan Kumar Chand, CMD of NALCO, has made the announcement while addressing the participants at the 31 st Annual State level Convention of Odisha Assembly of Small & Medium Enterprises at Bhubaneswar. Dr. Tapan Kumar Chand stated: “While Nalco provides a large market for the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises of Odisha and has supported the growth of the sector as a responsible Mother Plant, the company is now considering lending its brand name for downstream MSME industries dealing with aluminium applications”. He said the move would not only boost the small and medium...
LME aluminium prices are on a solid upward track. Although technical analysis by major global research firms indicate at a possible correction which might result in trend reversal, the higher prices, as of now, are turning out to be real boon for the Indian aluminium producers. Vedanta is expected to post a whopping 162 per cent increase in its Q1 profit; Hindalco’s standalone profit increased 28 per cent; and Nalco’s production was up by 6.5 per cent year-over-year. Higher metal prices signify improved realization. Even though cost plays critical in deciding a company’s profitability, it definitely helps in improving the topline. Hindalco Industries had flagged rising costs in their aluminium business; but thanks to the rising global aluminium prices, the company’s revenue increased by...
Austria is the 29th largest importer in the world. The country imports alumina to feed the domestic aluminium industry. Alumina imports from Austria grew significantly over the last two years. The rise in import of alumina is expected to continue in the coming years. Italy and Germany supply good amount of alumina to the country. As our data shows, Austria imported about 21097 tonnes of alumina in 2015. The alumina import by the country jumped in 2016 compared to the previous year. The country imported an estimated 36583 tonnes of alumina. The amount is estimated to increase notably in 2017. The country is estimated to import about 43481 tonnes of alumina. The cost of the total alumina import stood at USD 11.46 million in 2015. The cost increased to USD 16.72 million in 2016. The cost of...
In what is considered the first instance involving a joint venture with a foreign government arm seeking insolvency, Anrak Aluminium, the joint venture between India's Penna group and UAE's Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority (RAKIA), has moved the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). The move comes close on the heels of RAKIA serving an arbitration notice to the Indian government and Andhra Pradesh seeking either to fulfil commitment to supply bauxite or pay compensatory damages on its investment of $44.71 million. The development also comes weeks after the Andhra government decided to cancel the agreement that the Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC) had entered into with Anrak Aluminium to supply bauxite during the erstwhile Congress government headed by YS...
The world’s largest aluminium producer China Hongqiao confirmed Monday, August 14 that it had closed 2.68 million tonnes of smelting capacity after Shandong Government ordered it to do so in an attempt to curb illegal capacity. The aluminium capacity closed by Hongqiao was spread over five projects. Neither Hongqiao nor any of its subsidiaries was charged a penalty by the authorities, Shandong Weiqiao Aluminum & Electricity said in a disclosure made to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Shandong Hongqiao is the sole shareholder of Shandong Weiqiao, and all the capacities closed are the newly added ones by these two companies and their subsidiaries. Presently, Hongqiao has a total aluminium capacity of 6.46 million tonnes per annum, which remains unaffected by the recent closures. As per August...
Jamaica is yet to get its due from its bauxite mining industry. The country with a sizeable bauxite reserve amounting to 2 billion tonnes ranks fifth after Guinea, Australia, Brazil, and Vietnam as one of the world’s top countries with rich bauxite reserves. As per 2014 U.S. Geological Survey data, Jamaica’s bauxite production stands at only 9.8 million tonne; which means the country remains largely untapped as far as its mining potential is concerned. No wonder, its bauxite export growth also remains stunted even after five decades of it becoming a mainstream bauxite producer. During the initial six months of the current calendar year, Jamaica exported 1.54 million tonnes of bauxite, according to the global export-import data based on a number of macroeconomic factors. The figure is in...
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will examine the ports to restrict the export of bauxite in the country. MACC has been investigating illegal bauxite mining activities for weeks. MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Azam Baki said the halt would be difficult but necessary. MACC seized 10 million tonnes of bauxite stockpile worth RM1.28 billion. The areas where bauxite stockpiles were seized are located in Felda Bukit Goh and Kuantan Port. The seizure would prevent the bauxite from being taken out of the stockpile area. “They will have to comply with the notice. We can hold the bauxite stockpile in Pahang for 18 months, once the notices are issued,” Azam said. The commission also asked the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry (NRE) to cancel all Approved...
Due to huge aluminium capacity cuts by Weiqiao and Xinfa Group, alumina market in China is in surplus. SMM expects that due to inflows of surplus alumina from Weiqiao group, alumina prices will face continuous downward pressure. Weiqiao Group has announced that it will release alumina into the open market for sale. Moreover, Xinfa Group is already selling in the market and this might worsen the situation in the market. The weighted average alumina price in the four major domestic major markets remained unchanged week-on-week at 2,521 RMB/tonne on August 11. As updated by SMM, the major alumina and aluminium producers in China had two meetings last week to discuss future price trends of the materials. As seen by SMM, due to the uncertainty in the market, both the sellers and buyers avoided...
Urbanline Architectural, supplier of composite, hardwood, thermally modified, aluminium and softwood building products in Australia, has expanded its product range by adding an innovative exterior cladding product called Alu Selekta. The product is made from solid extruded aluminium. The non-combustible cladding comes with a timber finish. The product can be interchanged with company’s fire rated Euro Selekta profiles for a seamless look across the building. Urbanline Alu Selekta has heavy duty solid aluminium extrusion with the 1.8mm robust profile body engineered for strength. The low maintenance aluminium exterior cladding product has passed the sea salt spray test for corrosion resistance. Alu Selekta is eco-friendly, lightweight and incredibly durable. Exterior cladding is designed...
LME aluminium is trending high. With the Chinese supply-side scenario looking a bit precarious and the US dollar turning broadly lower against major currencies on Friday, August 11, the light metal is expected to climb higher. LME aluminium rose from its earlier close of US$2,024 per tonne on August 10, to settle at US$2,040 per tonne on Friday, August 11. According to Shanghai Metals Market forecast, LME aluminium will move at highs of US$2,035-2,050 per tonne Monday, August 14. Reuters’ technical analysis suggests that aluminium prices at the LME may consolidate in a narrow range of US$2,021-2,046 per tonne over the near term before reversing the trend once again. As on August 11, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,039.50 per tonne, cash seller &...
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside oil and gas, has shipped around 5,000 tonnes of spent pot lining, a by-product from its industrial process, to Befesa, a company in the United Kingdom that specialises in waste management and recycling. Befesa will treat and recycle the spent pot lining to create useful raw materials for the cement, fibreglass and ceramics industries. Spent pot lining is the worn out inner lining of aluminium smelting pots. The lining is typically replaced every four to five years. The global aluminium industry produces over one million tonnes of spent pot lining every year according to industry experts, much of which is then kept in indefinite storage. EGA aims to recycle all its spent pot lining over the...
According to a report from The Australian, US-based Century Aluminium and Glencore are eying Rio Tinto’s Pacific Aluminium business, which is up for sale through Deutsche Bank at an estimated cost of $US1 billion ($1.3bn). The Pacific division owns the Bell Bay Aluminium smelter in Tasmania and Boyne smelter 20km south of Gladstone on the central Queensland coast in Australia. It also owns the Tomago Aluminium smelter and a majority stake in the New Zealand’s Tiwai Point aluminium smelter in Southland. Century Aluminium has primary aluminium facilities in the US and Iceland and has been running under capacity due to lower aluminium prices in last two years. Deutsche bank is currently working on Rio’s aluminium assets sale. The process is expected to start in October. Rio announced its...
On August 8, U.S. Department of Commerce announced its preliminary determination that imports of certain aluminium foil from China are benefitting from unfair government subsidies. Aluminum Association applauds this preliminary determination in foil investigation. “The association and its foil-producing members are very pleased with the Commerce Department’s finding and we greatly appreciate Secretary Ross’s leadership in enforcing U.S. trade laws to combat unfair practices,” said Heidi Brock, President and CEO of the Aluminum Association. “This is an important step to begin restoring a level playing field for U.S. aluminum foil production, an industry that supports more than 20,000 direct, indirect, and induced American jobs, and accounts for $6.8 billion in economic activity,” she...
Hindalco Industries produced 724000 tonnes of alumina in the quarter ended 30th June 2017. The alumina production increased 2 per cent as compared to Q1 FY2017. Aditya, Mahan and Utkal alumina continue to operate at their designed capacities, according to the company. Hindalco's Utkal refinery produced 384000 tonne of alumina, an increase of 3 per cent compared to the previous year. Utkal Alumina is amongst the lowest cost producers in the world. For Q1 FY2018, alumina refinery reported a 207 per cent increase in EBITDA at INR 291 crore on the back of higher realisation. “However higher alumina prices result in higher input cost for Hindalco standalone, company’s press release stated. “Prepaid INR 4,505 crore in April 2017 at Hindalco standalone and INR 894 crore in July 2017 at Utkal -...
Aluminium Conductors are engineered from electrolytic aluminium with a purity of 99.5% of aluminium. They are made from aluminium wire rod, the raw material or the primary form of the metal. Due to corrosion resistance features, high tensile strength and shock proof, these aluminium conductors are used extensively in overhead line applications. They are also used in power distribution for the same qualities. The entire assortment of conductors is extensively used in urban areas and all these conductors are made up of more than one strands of aluminium wire as per requirements on the end usage. Different types of aluminium conductors are: 1. All Aluminum Conductors (AAC) 2. All Alloy Aluminum Conductors (AAAC) 3. All Alloy Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced (AACSR) 4. Aluminum Conductors...
As China squeezes 10% of its aluminium production and as a result, the LME aluminium prices have jumped to a three-year high, Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd (PMETAL) is poised to leverage on the benefits. Analysts have conservatively increased the company’s estimated financial year 2018 (FY18E) aluminium price to US$1,900 (RM8,151) per tonne. This will lift the estimated earning in FY18 up to 7% from 0% in FY17. Recently, Bloomberg reported that China “called for the closure of 3.21 million tonnes of illegal aluminium capacity by end-July” in Shandong on July 24, higher than analysts’ expectations. Shandong is a major aluminium production hub in China, and the target makes up 10% of China’s total production of 31.6 million tonnes in 2016. The news resulted in a price hike of +7% to...
Hindalco Industries Ltd., India's leading producer of aluminium and copper and a subsidiary of the Aditya Birla Group, released its standalone unaudited financial results for the quarter ended 30th June, 2017. The company’ revenue during the quarter stood at INR 10,407 crore, up 28 per cent compared to Q1 FY2017 driven by higher volumes and realisation. EBITDA (Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation) was INR1,404 crore, an increase of 4 per cent compared to Q1 FY2017 on account of higher aluminium and copper volumes, supportive macros partly offset by higher input cost. The company’s net profit for Q1 FY2018 declined to INR 290 crore from INR 294 crore in the previous year. “The net profit for the current quarter factors the exceptional provisioning of INR 104 crore...
The International Committee for Study of Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminium (ICSOBA; www.icsoba.org) unites the aluminium industry professionals and offers forum to promote collaboration and exchange of ideas among its members and results of work from different fields of research and practice related to bauxite exploration & mining, and alumina and aluminium production. Beyond this objective, ICSOBA is striving towards its vision to be The Technology Conference of the Aluminium Companies, for the Aluminium Companies. At present, ICSOBA is in the process of organizing the 35th International Conference and Exhibition, which will be held in the Radisson Blu hotel in Hamburg in the period of 2 - 5 October 2017. The selection of Hamburg follows ICSOBA’s practice of rotating the venue of...
