
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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LME aluminium reversed the temporary drop and regained its upward momentum as the US dollar index weakened further after the release of not-so-inspiring Fed’s May policy meeting minutes. The light metal traded globally closed at US$1,944 per tonne on Wednesday, May 24, rising 0.93 per cent from its previous close of US$1,926 per tonne. Reuters’ technical analysis suggests that LME aluminium is biased to retest strong support at US$1940 per tonne. A break below the level can lead to a further loss to US$1,933 per tonne. According to Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) forecast, LME aluminium will rise to US$1,935-1960 per tonne on Thursday, May 25. As on May 24, LME official cash buyer aluminium price stands at US$1,943 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price is US$1,944 per tonne, 3M...

The Global Aluminium Foil Roller Initiative (GLAFRI) has announced the launch of The Robert V Neher Award, an award that would recognize the best innovative packaging and technical applications in the field of aluminium foil and closures through an academic competition. The Award, which is named after the inventor of the aluminium foil rolling process, would allow students and academia from packaging, food and technical universities worldwide to submit entries online. Explaining the objective of the award, Director General of GLAFRI, Stefan Glimmsaid, “Every sector needs its innovators, and the aluminium foil and closure sector, through GLAFRI, has a great responsibility to encourage and develop talent for the future wellbeing of our industry.” “The Award is a great opportunity to...

Total aluminium recovered from scrap in March 2017 was 324,000 Tonne, 8% more than the revised amount in February 2017 and 8% more than the recovered amount in March 2016, and 4% more than the amount in March 2015. Of this, 180,000 tonne of aluminium was recovered from new scrap. This registered a 6% increase from the revised amount in the preceding month as well as in March 2016. The amount is 3% more than the aluminium recovered in March 2015. (Data in thousand metric tons) Recovery from old scrap was 145,000 tonne, 11% more than the revised amount in the preceding month, 9% more than the revised amount in March 2016. The amount records a 5% growth from the amount recovered in March 2015. According to a recent update from Aluminum Association, new can stock (class) scrap receipts stood...

Guinea is readying to step up its bauxite mining operations over the next three years, a leading industry journal reported, citing Guinea Mines Minister Abdoulaye Magassouba. The country, Magassouba said, plans to increase its bauxite production in order to meet the rising ore demand from China. Guinea aims at scaling its bauxite production to 33 million tonnes in the current financial year and raise it further to 60 million tonnes by 2020. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Guinea has bauxite reserves amounting to 40-41 billion tonnes. It makes up almost two third of the world's total bauxite reserve. The figure includes 29 billion tonnes of proven reserves and ranks first globally. In comparison to the reserves, bauxite output in Guinea is much lower. In 2016, bauxite output in...

According to the recently published USGS Mineral Industry Survey for Aluminium in March 2017, domestic primary aluminium production in March 2017 was 63,000 tons, up 11% in comparison to February 2017, but down 19% YOY and 56% less than the production in March 2015. The average daily production remains flat MoM in March at 2,030 tonne. The daily production rate dropped 19% YoY. The average U.S. market price of primary aluminium ingot and average cash price on the London Metal Exchange Ltd. (LME) in March 2017 stood at to $0.964 per pound and $0.862 per pound respectively, up 2% from those in February 2017. The total inventories of primary aluminium in LME-approved warehouses in the United States decreased to 194,000 tonnes at the end of March 2017. On April 27, the President of the United...

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside oil and gas, has been named aluminium company of the year at the Platts Global Metals awards. The awards ceremony took place in London and brought together the global metals industry. EGA was recognised as ‘Industry Leader – Aluminium’. Abdulla Kalban, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at EGA, said: “It is pleasing to be recognised by our peers in this way. This award is for each of our 7,000 people whose work over decades has made EGA the industry leader it is today.” EGA makes around 1 t every 25 t of aluminium produced in the world today and supplies to some 300 customers in 60 countries. Around 10% of EGA’s production is sold in the UAE to 26 downstream companies that use it...

Jacquet Weston Engineering Ltd (JWE), the leading manufacturer of Metal Finishing Process Plants and supplier to the aluminium treatment and aerospace industries and other sectors, has manufactured an aluminium anodising line for GSM Graphic Arts Ltd. GSM Graphic Arts is one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of high quality labelling products. The company manufactures anodised aluminium labels, nameplates and panels for nearly 40 years. Peter Young, Site Manager at GSM, said, “Anodising has long been one of the key processes we offer, but increased demand prompted us to commission new equipment that could underline the quality of our products in a more efficient way.” “The new line provides not only a faster rate of throughput, but also better process control, enhanced monitoring and...

The European metal packaging sector reached a major milestone by hitting 70 per cent aluminium can recycling rate in 2016. In the UK alone, seven out of ten aluminium beverage cans were reportedly recycled in the past year, the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro) data showed. Commenting on the progress, Alupro executive director Rick Hindley said, “The continued growth is due to the support of our members and partners in the wider industry and their commitment to invest in and support our programmes to drive positive, lasting behaviour change among consumers.” The UK is the largest beverage can market in Europe. In 2016, beverage cans made up most of the 180,000 tonnes of aluminium packaging produced and sold in the market. With the 70 per cent aluminium can recycling rate...

China’s aluminium alloy ingot export grew 3.37 per cent to reach 45,117 tonnes in April 2017. According to the import-export data released by China’s General administration of Customs, the cumulative export volume of aluminium alloy ingots from the country stood during January-April period stood at 162,104 tonnes. The increase is in contrast with the two-yearly aluminium alloy export trend that has been declining since 2015. {newsStudioGallery} In 2016, China exported 508,387 tonnes of aluminium alloy compared to 544,266 tonnes in 2015. In the first quarter of 2017 (i.e. April to June) the country is estimated to export 132,536 tonnes. Earnings from aluminium alloy export have grown on a yearly basis, as per international trade statistics. Revenues totalled US$1.17 billion in 2016, up...

According to the latest figures released by the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA), European markets started 2017 with strong demand for all grades of aluminium foil. Production increased 1.5% YoY to 226,900 tonnes in Q1 2017. Exports registered a downturn in Q1 in comparison to Q1 2016, after a strong end of 2016. Deliveries of thicker foils as well as thinner gauges were up 0.7% and 1.5% respectively indicating a steady recovery in the economies of the EAFA region. Total YTD domestic shipments were up by 3.6% through March 2017. Thicker foils are used for semi-rigid containers and technical applications and thinner gauges are for flexible packaging and household foils. EAFA’s Executive Director, Guido Aufdemkamp sounds positive on the prospects for the rest of 2017. “Certain...

The Australian Trellis Door Company (ATDC) has extended its product portfolio with the launch of a new 150mm slimline panel accordion door in their existing range of products. The company has launched the new model FC2 accordion door after the success of its wide body 300mm FC1 accordion door. ATDC’s model FC2 is crafted from extruded aluminium sections which operate through a series of interlocking hinges and heavy duty top wheel carriages, creating the low friction sliding and folding action of the door. The company’s new accordion door is used for installations where the pocket width for a particular opening is restricted. The new door is best suited where the accordion door needs to traverse extremely tight radius turns. The FC2 is one of the world’s finest commercial closures ever...

The Aluminum Association released today three updated American National Standards (ANSI) H35 on Alloy and Temper Designation Systems and Dimensional Tolerances for Aluminum Mill Products. These new editions update previous versions last published in 2013. The Aluminum Association is the ANSI-accredited standards setting organization for aluminum produced in the United States. These documents provide the foundation for standards and registration systems used for aluminum alloys, tempers, unalloyed aluminum, and dimensional tolerances for aluminum mill products. The documents offer complete explanations of a variety of designation systems, and are the foundation to the Aluminum Association publication Aluminum Standards and Data which is slated for release later this year. Updated documents...

After declining through the first fortnight of May, Alumina prices in China have registered a gain and now continue to grow firm throughout all the major markets. As on May 24 2017, as reported by Shanghai Metals Market; The average spot alumina price in East China market increased from RMB 2380/t on May 23 to stand at RMB 2,430/t. In the Central China Market, the average spot alumina price stands at RMB 2420/t, up from RMB 2370/t on May 23. The average spot alumina price in South China market increased from RMB 2315/t on May 23 to stand at RMB 2,365/t. In the North China Market, the average spot alumina price increased from RMB 2350/t on May 23 to stand at RMB 2,415/t. Market price difference between north China and south China also increased to RMB50/t. Alumina prices from large scale...

After picking up pace on news that the OPEC countries may extend their oil output cut agreement, LME aluminium has plunged low on yesterday’s closing as a natural trend after testing resistance at around US$1,947 per tonne. LME aluminium plunged 0.87 per cent from its previous close of US$1,943 per tonne to close at US$1,926 per tonne on Tuesday, May 23. Shanghai Metals Market forecasts that the contract will trade in the range of US$1,935-1965 per tonne on Wednesday, May 24. As on May 23, LME official cash buyer price of aluminium stands at US$1,925.50 per tonne, cash seller & settlement price is US$1,926 per tonne, 3M buyer price is US$1,928 per tonne, 3M seller price is US$1,930 per tonne, Dec1 buyer price is US$1,955 per tonne, and Dec1 seller price is US$1,960 per tonne. The current...

The London listed Vedanta Resources plc yesterday announced the appointment of Mr Edward Story as a Non-Executive Director with effect from 1 June 2017. According to a release, Vedanta will also appoint him as a member of the Company's Audit Committee with effect from 1 June 2017. Mr Anil Agarwal, Chairman of Vedanta, said, "I am delighted to welcome Ed to our Board. His background and domain experience in the oil and gas industry will significantly enhance our ability to grow and develop Vedanta's oil and gas business. On behalf of the Board, I want to acknowledge Aman's significant contribution during this time on the Board, particularly in transforming the Audit Committee's oversight of the Group's risk management and internal control processes. We thank him for his contributions and...

The classic sports car Lister Knobbly is back- this time not on the tracks but on roads; and the best part is the new Knobbly flaunts a built that is supported by sturdy aluminium body panels. The remodelled exquisite Knobbly is placed by its maker British marque Lister Motor Company in the same rank as Jaguar and Aston Martin 'classic cars with modern assembly.’ The elaborate hand-rolled aluminium bodywork that takes 500 hours to beat into the curvaceous form and the tubular chassis with the aluminium panels surely make the car one off among its global contemporaries. The brand new Lister Knobbly is powered by a 3.8 litre, original-specification racing engine professionally built around an original period Jaguar engine block, the company says. Plus the vehicle has been engineered to be...

Saudi Arabian Mining Company Ma’aden signed two landmark Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with its U.S.-based partners Alcoa and Mosaic at the ongoing inaugural Saudi-U.S. CEO Forum that was launched in Riyadh on Saturday, May 20. The Memorandums are expected to provide fresh impetus to the Kingdom's mining sector which is identified to be a playing a crucial role in the economic diversification of the nation as outlined in Saudi Vision 2030. The first MOU outlines the scope of feasibility assessment of a potential expansion of aluminium production complex in Ras Al-Khair Industrial City, by Ma'aden and Alcoa, the joint developers of the project. Since inception in 2009, the Ma’aden-Alcoa aluminium smelting joint venture complex has made a significant contribution amounting to US$4...

One of the leading Indian aluminium sheets and coils manufacturers, Manaksia Aluminium Company, reported a rise in sales by 11.79 per cent to INR 63.24 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2017. The quarterly net profit of the downstream aluminium products company jumped to INR 0.70 crore from a net loss of INR 3.04 crore in the corresponding quarter ended March 2016. Sales surged 11.79 per cent INR 63.24 crore in fourth quarter of the last financial year as against INR 56.57 crore during the previous quarter ended March 2016. For the full year ended March 31, 2017, Manaksia Aluminium's net loss was reported down at INR 4.62 crore as against net loss of INR 5.04 crore during the same period previous year. Sales declined 10.22 per cent to stand at INR 238.39 crore in the year ended March...