BorgWarner has won its first commercial order for an electric motor developed with aluminium-wire hairpin winding technology. The US automotive supplier will provide the new eMotor to a major Chinese automaker for use in hybrid vehicles, bringing the technology into its first production application. The motor uses aluminium-wire hairpin winding technology and is designed for hybrid vehicles. Its applications include generator motors and traction motors for auxiliary drive systems, with production scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026. Explore AL Circle’s report ALuminium Wires & Cables - Insights & Forecast to 2030 for insights into aluminium applications, industry developments and opportunities across the electrical sector . Compared with conventional copper-wire motors with...
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...
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TOR Minerals International, Inc. announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017. The company reported sales increased 9 per cent to $10.7 million for the second quarter as compared to $9.9 million during the same period of 2016. The increase in revenue was mainly due to continued growth in specialty alumina sales. “Specialty alumina sales primarily benefited from strong growth in Europe and growth of OPTILOAD to both existing and new customers in the U.S,” according to the company’s press release. The company’s revenue of specialty aluminas stood at $6 million for the second quarter as compared to $5 million in the same period of 2016. Dr. Olaf Karasch, Chief Executive Officer, said, “We saw continued strength in our Specialty Alumina business and are well...
Discouraging all efforts towards capacity cut, aluminium stocks in China are continuously rising in July and August. SMM statistics showed that aluminium stocks in five major markets, including SHFE aluminium stocks have touched fresh record highs recently. As of August 3, stocks in Shanghai stands at 275,000 tonnes, Wuxi at 566,000 tonnes, Gongyi at 95,000 tonnes, Hangzhou at 88,000 tonnes and Nanhai at 310,000 tonnes. All these five markets put together, the current aluminium stock stands at 1.33 million tonnes, up 51,000 tonnes from a week ago. SHFE Aluminium and A00 ingot prices soared in all markets after the much hyped higher-than-expected capacity cut rumours at China Hongqiao. Shandong Xinfa Group has also announed completion of shutdown of 426 electrolytic cells, with a capacity...
The demand for “green” aluminium is on the rise. Global automotive, electronics, and packaging industry players who are fiercely competing to occupy a piece of mind-space of today’s environment-conscious consumers while getting a quick go-ahead from the regulators and investors are increasingly leaning towards low-carbon aluminium. Cashing on the demand, aluminium producers running hydro-powered or gas-fired smelters are charging a premium for their end product- low-carbon or “green” aluminium. The change of the consumer preference towards low-carbon aluminium has long been awaited. According to the International Aluminum Institute (IAI) data, the amounts of hydro and coal power used to make aluminium stood roughly at the same level around 200,000 gigawatt hours each in 2005. A decade...
Despite a year and a half-long ban on bauxite mining, the exports of bauxite are mounting for months in Pahang. The illegal mining activities, unless regulated, will continue in the future. The moratorium on bauxite mining in Pahang is currently in place until December 31, 2017. Malay daily Berita Harian’s investigations for over a week showed that the illegal activity is still taking place in Kuantan. A local trader said that the bauxite mining had “never stopped” in spite of bauxite mining ban. Also, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) remanded nine men over illegal bauxite mining activities. “The MACC had also raided the Pahang’s PTG Office, Customs Department and the Kuantan Port to obtain several documents related to the investigation,” the Bernama news agency reported....
Engineered Material Handling (EMH), a manufacturer and supplier of a complete line of overhead material handling equipment has launched the AL Systems Aluminium Rail Jib Cranes, a series of lightweight aluminium cranes for applications like underneath bridge cranes, outdoor loading docks, machining and assembly areas where several jib cranes may overlap. The cranes with spans of up to 15 feet and capacities of 250lb and 500lb can serve multiple workshops. As explained by EMH the lightweight aluminium track profiles make installation and configuration easy. The anodized aluminium extrusions and enclosed rails offer strength and durability to the cranes despite the lightweight. The cranes are flexible and free-moving rather than being limited only to moving at right-angles. This helps in...
LME aluminium is finding it difficult to hold ground above US$1,900 per tonne. The light metal which edged higher to US$1,904 per tonne on August 2, from its earlier close of US$1,887 per tonne on August 1, has again slid back to US$1,892 per tonne after night trading on Thursday, August 3. Reuters’ technical analysis suggests that LME aluminium is biased to break a support at US$1,909 per tonne, and fall towards the next support at US$1,896 per tonne. According to Shanghai Metals Market forecast, LME aluminium should continue to struggle around the moving average and range at US$1,910-1,922 per tonne on Friday, August 4. As on August 3, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$1,891 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$1,891.50...
The Supreme Court of India has directed the government to consider revising the National Mineral Policy by December this year so as to better regulate the domestic mining sector which includes coal, iron ore, bauxite mining along with other industrial minerals. The revision would also stop illegal mining activities thereby regularising supply-side dynamics and import dependence of many minerals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ambitious plans to expand the country’s industrial metal capacity as part of his various infrastructure overhaul programmes. A revised National Mineral Policy would help in this direction by making it easy for the investors to get approval for mining leases. A two-judge panel of the Supreme Court, led by M.B. Lokur, said the policy effective since 2008 “seems to be...
Trump administration’s protective policies that claim to boost the struggling U.S. industries and protect national security may create wide-ranging repercussions like increase in the price of beer and soda cans. Over 30 prominent representatives from the beverage industry - including executives from often competing companies like both Coca-Cola and Pepsi, and both Anheuser-Busch and the Brewers Association gathered and signed a letter to president Trump. They appealed to the president to exclude the aluminium can sheet imported to make cans and bottles in his “Investigation on the Effect of Imports of Aluminum on US National Security.” The industry executives fear that the president may impose new tariffs, taxes or import restrictions on aluminium, which would eventually drive up the...
Aluminium as a green metal not only inspires the environmentalists but also a six year boy who has started a can recycling service recently. A southern Indiana boy who has a passion for aluminium and recycling has started an aluminium can recycling service from home. He wants to save the money earned for his college education. Eli Harting travels around the city of Jasper every two weeks accompanied by his father, to collect used beverage cans and crush them for recycling. He also wishes to buy a bigger truck to be used for his recycling business in the city about 50 miles northeast of Evansville. Harting tells WFIE-TV that recycling is "good for the environment" but it's also fun. Even for the fun of it, a little boy has started contributing towards environment through his recycling...
The global aluminium powder and flakes market is estimated to be valued at US$3,453 million by 2021 growing at a CAGR of 3.51 per cent from US$2,808 million in 2015. The key players in the industry are expected to cash on the opportunities that abound the market during this period. Japan, known for its growing downstream aluminium manufacturing sector, which mainly caters to the automotive industry will be one of the prime demand epicentres in the Asia Pacific region. Japan’s aluminium powder and flakes import has been rising year-on-year since 2015. Last year, the country imported 4236.5 tonnes of aluminium powder and flakes, up from 3,777 tonnes in 2015. This year, the projected aluminium powder import volume of Japan though stands down at 4081 tonnes is expected to go up as the orders...
Century Aluminum Company reported a net income of $7.1 million for Q2 2017 in comparison to a net loss of $15.1 million for Q1 2017. Results were driven by a $6.1 million unrealized gain relating to LME forward sales. Adjusted net income for Q2 was $0.8 million compared to an adjusted net loss of $5.0 million for Q1 2017. The positive results were a reflection of improved aluminium prices and positive market sentiments in the U.S. The adjusted net income was $0.8 million compared to an adjusted net loss of $5.0 million Q1 2017. Century also reported adjusted EBITDA of $34.0 million, up $11.8 million from Q1 2017. The increase was driven by higher aluminium prices, slightly offset by higher alumina prices. Commenting on the results, Michael Bless, President and Chief Executive Officer...
The noted global supplier of lightweighting, vibration and noise solutions to the automotive industry, Shiloh Industries, Inc. of Delaware, USA, introduced a new, lighter version of cast aluminium rear axle last week. The new axle is 24 pounds lighter than the previous solid rear beam axles, the company confirmed in a media release. Shiloh succeeded in reducing weight of the solid beam axle housing by 40 per cent using its proprietary casting technology. The design helped the manufacturer save significant production time and cost through reduction of secondary machining while preserving the overall quality and performance of the automotive part. Shiloh says the cast aluminium axle is the lightest variety available presently in the light truck market. Speaking on the new launch, CastLight...
Leading Spanish packaging company Rafesa has extended its aluminium collars range for perfumery packaging. The brand new glossy black version of the perfumery aluminium collars has already found place in the company’s accessories catalogue as a standard offering. Rafesa came up with the extension keeping in view aluminium’s versatile material properties that makes it an ideal packaging material, and its increasing demand among perfume manufacturing firms. The new range of aluminium collars joins the bouquet of Rafesa offerings that allow for extensive customisation. Rafesa said that it will make the collars available to the perfumery firms with the options of four-colour serigraphy, wooden caps, and innovative packaging designed with environmental safe materials. However, the company will...
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As expected, the average prices of A00 Aluminium has registered a substantial gain across all major Chinese markets (North, South, North-East and South-West) today based on the news in the market that China Hongqiao Group will shut down 2.6 million tonnes of aluminium capacity before October. Market participants expect that more than 2 million tonnes capacity cut by the largest aluminium producer in the world would make a sizable difference in the aluminium inventory. On August 3, among the domestic markets, the average price for A00 Aluminium Ingot for North China market has increased to RMB 14,440/t . In the South China market the price increased to RMB 14,520/t. The price gap between the two market increased toRMB 80/t. The price in East China market (Zhejiang) jumped to RMB 14,505/t...
LME aluminium crosses the US$1,900 per tonne level and settles at US$1,904 per tonne after night trading on Wednesday, August 2. The rise from the earlier close of US$1,887 per tonne on August 1 suggests that the light metal is currently on an uptrend. However, Reuters’ technical analysis says that LME aluminium is neutral in a range of US$1,922-US$1,938 per tonne; and only an escape from this range could suggest a direction. According to Shanghai Metals Market forecast, LME aluminium should move at highs of US$1,917-1,933 per tonne on Thursday, August 3. As on August 2, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$1,902 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$1,904 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$1,925 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is...
Rio Tinto reports four per cent increase in bauxite production in the first half of 2017 at 24.2 million tonnes in comparison to the same period of 2016. The increase was driven by record production at both Gove and Weipa bauxite mines. Underlying earnings declined by 12 per cent to $215 million in H1 2017 first half. This was attributed to the impacts of the stronger Australian dollar and slightly lower prices slightly offset by higher volumes and continued focus on cash cost reductions. Rio reports gross sales revenues of $957 million for bauxite in H1 2017. The revenue remains flat YoY and included freight revenues of $111 million in comparison $96 million in H1 2016. Rio’s $1.9 billion Amrun bauxite project on the Cape York Peninsula in north Queensland is developing according to plan...
According to a news report from Reuters, China Hongqiao Group Limited, the biggest aluminium producer in China said that they have planned to cut 2 million tonnes per year of outdated aluminium capacity. The company said that it expects the production to continue to be at similar levels to current production, albeit outdated capacity cuts. Also, the company anticipates that this outdated capacity cut will not impact its financials, cashflow or regular production. It was reported earlier that the company is curtailing outdated capacity on the back of government’s strict measures against illegal production. China has started taking strict measures this year to cut capacity to reduce excess supply and to put a curb on pollution. China’s top economic planning agency issued an order in April...
Chalco has decided that they will no longer proceed with the alumina project at Huangha Port in Cangzhou city. The project with 2 million tonnes of annual capacity will be cancelled as a result of environmental protection consideration, Shanghai Metals Market reported. The alumina project was slated to enter into operations in 2018. The company will replace this project with 4 million tonnes alumina project to be started in cooperation with Yunnan Aluminum at Fangchenggang. Yunnan Aluminum is engaged in the mining of bauxite, the smelting of aluminium, as well as the manufacture and distribution of alumina, aluminium products and carbon used in aluminium industry in China. Chalco is the world's second-largest alumina producer and China’s largest alumina producer. The company owns the...
