Aluminium alloy powder production for additive manufacturing is set to expand through a new technical cooperation agreement between CNPC Powder China Ltd and Xi’an Bright Laser Technologies Co Ltd (BLT). The agreement covers the production and international distribution of BLT-AlAM400, an aluminium alloy powder developed for applications in humanoid robotics, new energy vehicles (NEVs), aerospace and other industrial sectors. Under the agreement, BLT has authorised Shanghai-based CNPC Powder to manufacture BLT-AlAM400 on a contract basis in China and sell the powder internationally. CNPC Powder has also secured exclusive overseas agency rights, excluding BLT’s direct sales network and existing regional agents. With an annual powder production capacity of almost 10,000 tonnes, CNPC Powder...
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...
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The recent move by four countries in the GCC: UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt to cut diplomatic ties and discontinue all land, air and sea communications with Qatar is likely to have a series of immediate ramifications across a wide spectrum of commercial activities in Qatar and the entire of the Gulf region. As a knee jerk effect, two-way trade and investment flows will be affected the most on the bilateral front. Qatar’s aluminium extrusion export which finds a solid market in Saudi will undoubtedly be hit badly over the next few quarters. {newsStudioGallery} Overall aluminium extrusion trade data shows that Qatar exported 9627 tonnes of aluminium bar rods and profiles (one of the major extruded aluminium product categories) in 2016, down 28 per cent from 2015, when the export...
Manuel Quijada and his team, optical experts at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, are aiming to develop highly reflective aluminium mirrors sensitive to the infrared, optical, and far-ultraviolet wavelength bands for the James Webb Space Telescope and Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope. Quijada said, “Aluminium is a metal that nature has given us the broadest spectral coverage. However, aluminium needs to be protected from naturally occurring oxides with a thin film or substrate of transparent material.” Quijada’s team are investigating in order to tackle a broad range of astrophysics studies, from the epoch of reionization, through galaxy formation and evolution, to star and planet formation. The team is researching three different techniques and materials for...
The Qatalum aluminium plant is working to solve outbound logistical challenges arising from the uncertain situation in the Middle-East after Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut off transportation links and severed diplomatic ties with Qatar. Qatalum is a joint venture between Hydro and Qatar Petroleum, and is producing more than 600,000 tonnes per year of value-add primary aluminum to customers in Asia, Europe and the U.S. Most Qatalum shipments normally go through the large Jebel Ali port in UAE, but this port looks to be closed for all Qatar shipments from Tuesday morning. Supported by owners Hydro and Qatar Petroleum, the Qatalum JV is currently working to find alternative shipment routes to enable it to continue to serve its global customers.
The prices for A00 Aluminium Ingot for all provinces in the China markets (North, South, North-East and South-West) have plunged further after the last gain on June 2 2017. Currently, among the domestic markets, the prices for A00 Aluminium Ingot for North China market have plunged 0.66% down from RMB 13,690/t on June 5 2017 to RMB 13,600/t on June 6 2017. A00 Aluminium Ingot at South China market plunged from RMB 13,735/t on June 5 to RMB 13,630/t on June 6. The price in East China market (Zhejiang) dropped from RMB 13,680 /t on June 5 to RMB 13,590/t on June 6 and for Jiangsu province it dropped from RMB 13,670/t to RMB 13,580/t. For the Northeast China market, the price dropped from RMB 13,670 /t on June 5 to RMB 13,610/t. For the Southwest China market, the price dropped from RMB...
Aluminium industry in China has a line-up of projects ready in place to steam up production in the coming quarters. Among a number of new smelter projects and old capacity restart plans is the alumina capacity expansion plan in Henan. East Hope (Sanmenxia) Aluminum announced that it will invest 3 billion yuan (US$441 million) to expand the capacity of its alumina refinery in Minachi County in the central China province. The alumina refinery expansion project will include two 0.5-tonnes per annum alumina refining lines and two 25 kilowatt thermal power plants. Mengtai Group in Inner Mongolia has also announced plans to build an aluminium project in Dalate Economic Development Zone with a total investment of 6.5 billion yuan. The first phase of the project will have an annual capacity of...
Kaliber Group, owner of doors and windows manufacturer, KAT, plus Ayrshire Aluminium and Spitfire Doors, acquired Universal Arches, the leading PVCu profile bending company in the UK, adding a further niche market leader to its group of PVCu and aluminium specialist businesses. The company said that it is expanding its fenestration market foothold to offer a wide range of door and window products as the forecasts showing continued growth in the home improvement sector over the next three to five years. David Richards, chairman, Kaliber Group, stated: “The strategic acquisition of Universal Arches is exciting because we have added another niche market leader with a talented and committed workforce to our group of specialist but inter-related window and door businesses.” Chris Powell,...
As short-term volatility gripped commodity market, LME aluminium inched up from its early-month drop. The aluminium price on the global bourse stood at US$1,917.50 per tonne on Monday, June 5, up from US$1,916.50 per tonne on Friday, June 2. Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) forecast says LME aluminium will test support at US$1,900 per tonne and range between US$1,890-1,915 per tonne on Tuesday, June 6. The marginal price rise of LME aluminium can be partially attributed to the oil prices which recouped some of its previous losses on Monday. Overall US dollar sentiment also remains weaker. As on June 5, LME official cash buyer aluminium price stands at US$1,917 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price is US$1,917.50 per tonne, 3M buyer price is US$1,917 per tonne, 3M seller price is...
According to Tapan Kumar Chand, Chairman of National Aluminium Company Ltd (Nalco), the company has put all overseas projects on hold, including one in Iran, as it aims to focus on increasing domestic capacity. Tapan Kumar Chand told Reuters, “Iran’s proposal is attractive as long as gas prices are attractive, but not much of an indication in that area has come.” NALCO, signed a MoU with Vice Chairman of Planning Board, Govt of Iran to explore the possibility of setting up an aluminium smelter in Iran in 2016. Late last year, the Indian government asked the company to consider again its global expansion plans, mentioning the need to be self-sufficient in aluminium production. The company also had intended to establish smelter with capacity of 500,000-tonnes per annum and an associated...
Aluminium recycling is still a fledgling industry in India. The lack of a proper ecosystem and a weak legal structure has stopped the hitherto ‘unorganized sectoral practice’ from growing into a full-fledged industry. However, considering the fact that India’s per capita consumption of aluminium is still one of the lowest at around 2.5 kg against a world average of ~8kg, with 22-25 kg in developed nations, it will be too early to call it a day. In fact, the new India is waking up to the endless benefits of aluminium recycling, thanks to the Start Up boom and missions like “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” (Clean India Movement). The city of Madurai in Tamil Nadu is going to make solid waste management mandatory in the city from June 5 onward. On the occasion of World Environment Day, the municipal...
According to an SMM report, Shandong province, one of the major aluminium producing region in China, is going to restrict its new alumina and aluminium capacity. The province will encourage the development of aluminium processing industry instead. The province has an intention to keep capacity utilization rate in alumina and aluminium industries at above 80% before the end of 2020. Also, it aims to raise aluminium output/aluminium semis output ratio to 1:1.4. The new aluminium projects (including renovation projects and expansion projects) must come under capacity swap program. If a new project comes up, it has to be “swapped” with the removed project of the same capacity or of higher capacity in order to get approved. China is currently producing about 53 per cent of the total aluminium...
Bauxite prices in China major markets remain unchanged while demand grows sustainably within the country. As on June 5, Monday, average price of Bauxite (5.5=Al/Si<6.5) Guangxi stands at RMB 217.50 per tonne, Bauxite (6.5=Al/Si<7.5) Guizhou average price is RMB 295 per tonne, Bauxite (5.5=Al/Si<6.5)Guizhou price is RMB 230 per tonne and Bauxite (6.0=Al/Si<7.0) Henan average price is RMB 380 per tonne. In Shanxi, Guangxi, and Henan too, bauxite prices showed a flat trend. As on June 5, average price of Bauxite (6.0=Al/Si<7.0) Shanxi is recorded at RMB 355 per tonne, Bauxite (6.5=Al/Si<7.5) Guangxi average price is RMB 292 per tonne, Bauxite (4.5=Al/Si<5.5)Henan price is RMB 275 per tonne (-10 rmb per tonne), and Bauxite (4.5=Al/Si<5.5)Shanxi average price is also RMB 275 per tonne. Coming...
The mounting demand for aluminium in China is expected to create new mining job opportunities in the Weipa region which is extremely rich in bauxite deposits. Metallica Minerals chief executive Simon Slesarewich said that the fundamentals of bauxite would remain strong due to the growing demand for fuel-efficient cars, planes and trains. “The majority of the iconic Ford F100 is now made of aluminium. In terms of where the demand is coming from, all roads lead to China,” he added. Metallica Minerals Urquhart bauxite project, near Weipa, is expected to start production in the next three months after a $4 million capital raising. Simon Finnis, Metro Mining’s chief executive said that the renewed demand was being driven by Chinese vehicle manufacturers as they preferred lighter and...
Japan is the biggest aluminium and aluminium products importer in the Asia Pacific region. The premiums it agrees to pay per quarter for the primary metal shipments, over the LME aluminium cash price set the benchmark aluminium price for the entire region. The country’s annual consumption of aluminium cans has been increasing with the spread of aluminium cans for coffee beverages and bottle cans. Till 2016, japan imported a major percentage of aluminium cans to meet the domestic demand. However, with the growth of the domestic metal packaging industry, imports are expected to slow down in 2017. {newsStudioGallery} Japan imported 3372 tonnes of aluminium cans in 2016 compared to 3245.5 tonnes in 2015. In 2017, aluminium cans imports are estimated to drop. As per international trade data,...
LME aluminium is heading towards a volatile phase. With uncertainty brewing in the oil market due to souring political relationships among countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the light metal commodity is likely to experience a bumpy ride ahead. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and UAE announced to sever all kinds of diplomatic ties with Qatar on June 5, saying the nation supports terrorism. This should lead to transitory changes in the oil market dynamics which, in turn, may impact the commodity market. LME aluminium closed at US$1,916.50 per tonne on Friday, June 5, down from US$1,930 per tonne on Thursday, June 1. According to Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) forecast, LME aluminium will continue to struggle around the moving averages and trade between US$1,920-1,940 per tonne...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the Bahrain-based international aluminium smelter, announced the promotion of Boris Santosi to the Director of Global Export Markets. Boris joined Alba in 2011 to set-up the first overseas sales office in Switzerland from where he developed the European and Americas markets. He was promoted to Senior Manager Sales Europe in 2016. Speaking on this occasion, Alba’s Chief Executive Officer Tim Murray said: “Boris has been a key player in the Marketing group for several years. I am confident that under his leadership, the Company’s global export team will continue to deliver superior customer service as well as increase Alba’s export sales with the ramp-up of Line 6 Expansion Project.” Boris holds a BA Hons. in Geography from the School of Oriental and African...
Australian Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, through its Anti-Dumping Commission (ADC), issued a document to terminate part of an investigation on alleged dumping and subsidisation of aluminium extrusions imported from VietNam and Malaysia. The ADC determined that Vietnamese producers had either not received any subsidy from the Government of VietNam for the products under investigation, or had received a negligible level of countervailable subsidy. This led the ADC to terminate the anti-subsidy investigation with VietNam. In August 2016, ADC started an investigation into dumping and countervailing duty on aluminium extrusions imported from VietNam and Malaysia. According to the Statement of Essential Facts, published by the ADC, preliminary countervailing margins for...
Hind Aluminium Industries, manufacturer of aluminium alloy and electrical grade wire rods, reported a 55.23 per cent decline in its standalone net profit to INR 0.77 crore in the quarter ended March 2017 as compared to INR 1.72 crore during the previous quarter ended March 2016. The company’s sales fell 32.56 per cent to INR 138.47 crore in the quarter ended March 2017 as compared to INR 205.33 crore during the previous quarter ended March 2016. For the full year , the company’s net profit declined 28.30 per cent to INR 6.46 crore in the year ended March 2017 as compared to INR 9.01 crore during the previous year ended March 2016. Hind Aluminium Industries sales declined 30.84 per cent to INR 496.86 crore in the year ended March 2017 as compared to INR 718.38 crore during the previous...
Heineken, the leading Dutch brewing company has introduced new designs for its limited-edition aluminium bottles and specified three additional locations in USA to roll out the same. In the beginning of 2017, the brewer unveiled colour-changing aluminium bottles at the Ultra Music Festival in Miami. Keeping up with the recyclable aluminium can trend, the farm has lined up different models of aluminium bottles for Miami, New York, Los Angeles and Hawaii. The packs are targeted at the on-premise, feature city-specific designs as well as the Heineken red star. "We know that 66% of alcohol buyers pay attention to packaging and nearly the same amount pay attention to label design," said Raul Esquer Lopez, brand manager at Heineken USA. It’s noteworthy that this week, Heineken completed its...
