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 ideators of the LEED green building rating system - the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) - have announced this year's Greenbuild- the world's biggest conference and expo on greenbuilding industry trends will be held in Mumbai, India, on November 2-4. Last year, the Aluminum Association released Aluminum in Green Buildings – A Guide to Environmental Declarations - at the conference in Los Angeles. While the Guide still remains the preferred reference point for aluminium stakeholders for understanding the appropriate process of conducting environmental assessments for aluminium building products, this year's Greenbuild stands to promote India and the other Asian countries as the next biggest growth engine of the greenbuilding movement. The Greenbuild International Conference and Expo...
Alcoa's Australian partner Alumina Limited has reported a loss of $US30.2 million ($A39.3 million)in 2016, down from a $US88.3 million ($A114.8 million) profit in 2015 driven by restructuring-related write-offs and lower prices and volumes. Alumina Limited holds a 40 per cent stake in AWAC and the company had to pay an impairment charge of $US115 million pertaining to the share as cost for closing down operations. Notably, the Portland smelter in which AWAC has a 55% equity interest is the only remaining aluminium smelting operation in the AWAC portfolio. Alumina Limited and its partner Alcoa have reduced their stake in the Portland aluminium smelter in Victoria by $US126 million ($163.7m). This has caused a value hit of $US229m for the whole smelter also contributed by the higher power...
The UAE-based Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has become a member of Aluminium Stewardship Initiative, which brings the world’s leading mining and metals companies together, that sets global standards for governance, environmental and social responsibility. With this EGA has become the first Middle-East aluminium company to join the initiative. Abdulla Kalban, EGA’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer said, “Aluminium touches the lives of almost everyone on earth, and the impacts of making aluminium do too. Being a member of the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative will enable us to share what we have learned about governance and environmental and social responsibility, as well improve our performance further.” EGA has spent $1 billion since 2010 in environmental technologies. The...
LME aluminium staged a reversal after falling on Wednesday on news of the FOMC meeting that hinted at a possible Fed rate hike. The contract closed at US$1,882.50 per tonne after night trading on Thursday, February 23. The Federal Reserve has hinted at multiple short-term interest rate increases this year, a sign that the central bank wants to rein in inflation and expects the recent economic growth to continue. Crude oil prices have also spiked after OPEC confirmed that it would stick to its agreement on production cut. These two factors combined have buoyed LME aluminium prices up. Shanghai Metals market (SMM) in its forecast said LME aluminium will test support at the 20-day moving average and will trade at US$1,850-1,880 per tonne on Friday, February 24. LME Price Source:...
According to a report from Reuters, Guinea aims to increase bauxite production to 60 million tonnes by 2020. The country is planning to invest aggressively to meet strong demand for bauxite from China, the mines minister of Guinea said on Wednesday. The West African nation has about a third of the world's bauxite reserves and one of the leading bauxite producer. Currently, Guinea produces about 19 million tons of bauxite annually. The bauxite is refined and supplied to refineries in the country and abroad to make aluminium. Though development had been hampered by years of military rule and civil unrest, the country has recently seen a few significant investments by overseas companies. "The minimal objective for the government is to bring bauxite production from 18 million tonnes in 2015...
Jaguar Land Rover India has launched its second-generation Jaguar XF sedan in the Indian showrooms today at a starting price of INR 47.50 lakh. The new Jaguar XF gets a slew of advanced technology features including InControl Touch Pro with the all-new 25.9 cm (10.2) touchscreen infotainment system and a Meridian Sound System. Jaguar Land Rover India Ltd Managing Director and President Rohit Suri said, "The introduction of the all-new Jaguar XF into our locally manufactured portfolio reiterates our commitment to the Indian market." The Jaguar XF is available in two options: a 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel engine with a power output of 132 kW and a 2.0-litre petrol engine with a power output of 177 kW. The use of aluminium for XF’s chassis has helped to diminish the car’s weight while...
Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), the Bahrain-based international aluminium smelter, has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Joint Co-Operation with Bahrain Polytechnic to support Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030. The MoU was signed between Alba’s Chief Executive Officer Tim Murray and Acting CEO of Bahrain Polytechnic, Dr. Mohamed Al-Aseeri at Alba. Tim Murray said: “Our MoU with Bahrain Polytechnic emphasises Alba’s commitment to support Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030, by equipping young Bahraini nationals with skills that enhance their employability, thereby paving the way for successful Bahrainisation of the Kingdom's labour force.” Alba’s resources would be used to enhance skills of the students. The company will offer job training, internship, employment opportunities to Bahrain...
Talum, a Slovenian company in Kidricevo specialised in alumina and aluminium products, has earned EUR 300m in sales revenue in 2016. Even though the company has generated 5 per cent less vs 2015 despite low aluminium price, the unaudited data shows the company doubles profits to a million euros. Talum chairman Marko Drobnic explained that the company’s new strategy such as a change in the product structure and purchasing and business process optimisation lead the company to success. He commented: "We have been expanding volumes in the higher value added ranges, one of the goals in the strategy set out as early as 2012”. Marko added that negative price trends had continued till final quarter of 2016. After the quarter, the situation enhanced therefore the current prices are above...
The aluminium industry of Australia represents a highly vertically integrated system comprising bauxite mines, alumina refineries and four major aluminium smelters- all operated by the biggest names in the global aluminium industry. In 2015-16, Australia produced 1.6 million tonnes of aluminium creating exports of US$3.8 billion. The country has also been importing a lot of the metal to feed its growing downstream aluminium sector. However, looking at the export-import data for the last three years, it can be easily inferred that the island country remains a net exporter of aluminium. In 2015, Australia ranked as the 4th largest aluminium exporter of the world. Aluminium Export by Australia Australia's aluminium exports have been declining over the last three years. The Kurri Kurri (NSW)...
According to sources in the Japanese market, Russian Federation aluminium major UC Rusal is of the opinion that the second quarter contract premium should be US$125 per metric ton plus London Metal Exchange cash CIF (cost, insurance, and freight) Japan. Such a premium is almost one third above the contract price for the present month of US$95 per metric ton plus LME cash CIF Japan. The sources, who were not identified in the article, went on to say that they are awaiting second-quarter offers from Rio Tinto Japan and South32 before making a purchasing decision. The contract negotiations for the second quarter include P1020/P1020A ingot and certain value-added products. “The question is, will Rio and South32 offer above Rusal?” observed an unnamed Japanese trader. The trader went on to say...
BMW Motorrad, the German luxury motorcycle manufacturer, shows-off machined parts produced in high-quality aluminium for the R nine T range. BMW Motorrad offers machined parts for their R nineT, Pure, Scrambler, Racer and Urban G/S. The customizer based California Company Roland Sands Design has created these customised aluminium machined parts for BMW Motorrad. The company has employed special manufacturing technique offering a surface quality with black aluminium contrast. BMW Motorrad further added, "The parts are initially made from an aluminium forging blank using a CNC-controlled machine tool, after they undergo elaborate hand-polishing before application of a black coating. Selected areas are then milled once more so that the original distinctive aluminium surface becomes visible...
Alcoa's Australian partner Alumina Limited has reported full year result for 2016 and registered a loss of $US30.2 million ($A39.3 million) down from a $US88.3 million ($A114.8 million) profit in 2015. The loss is attributed to restructuring-related write-offs and lower prices and volumes. Impairment charges related to shutting down capacity in its Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals (AWAC) joint venture with metals giant Alcoa has also contributed to the loss. Alumina holds a 40 per cent stake in AWAC and the company had to pay a charge of $US115 million pertaining to the share which was partially offset by gains on the sale of the Dampier-Bunbury gas pipeline. Commenting on the result, chief executive Peter Wasow said , "Net cash distributions from AWAC were higher than the previous year...
LME aluminium dropped during Wednesday's night trading after remaining unchanged for two consecutive days. The contract closed at US$1,873 per tonne yesterday, down 0.26 per cent from the previous closing of US$1,878 per tonne on Tuesday. According to the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, the Fed is expected to raise rate soon. Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) said in its forecast LME aluminium will "seek a breakthrough" and trade at US$1,870-1,900 per tonne on Thursday, February 23. As on February 22, LME official cash buyer price of aluminium stands at US$1,872.5 per tonne, cash seller & settlement price is US$1,873 per tonne, 3M buyer price is US$1,877per tonne, 3M seller price is US$1,877.5 per tonne, Dec1 buyer price is US$1,920 per tonne, and Dec1 seller price is US$1,925...
A team of innovators from Delhi University started an initiative named “We-Convert” to promote sustainable future and help people to save the environment from being polluted through landfills. “We-Convert” aims at recycling aluminium cans, glass scraps and plastic bottles by dumping them into a vending machine. “We-Convert” ask people to drop their aluminium cans, glass scraps and plastic bottles into technologically smart e-collectors and in turn reward them with free vouchers for online shopping, free recharge for phone etc. Ashutosh Srivastava, Co-founder of We-Convert, said, “Through We-Convert, we aim to empower the user to recycle plastic/PET bottles, aluminium cans, and glass scraps. The process is fairly simple, all one need to do is drop in the trash and follow few simple...
The global aluminium powder market is growing driven by the automotive paints and sealants and other industrial pigments sectors. During 2009-2016, the market has grown at a CAGR of two per cent reaching a volume of 589,012 tonnes in 2016. A recently published report suggests the market will grow at around five per cent CAGR over the next five years. The Asia-Pacific region accounted for 44 per cent of the global aluminium powder market share during 2014. Piggybacking the growth in China and India, the market is expected to grow further, both volume and value-wise, through 2020. Aluminium powder, also known as aluminium flake or metana, is a light, silvery-white to grey, odourless, granular powder having flammable reactive properties. It is used for several applications such as...
Norican Global, a leading metallic parts enhancement company has entered into an agreement with Auctus Fund III GmbH & Co. KG, and its fellow investors collectively referred to as "Auctus" to buy 100% of their shares in Light Metal Casting Solutions Group. "Two years ago we formed a strategic partnership with Altor, a leading Scandinavian private equity firm, to explore ways in which to better serve our customers", says Robert E. Joyce Jr., President and CEO of Norican Global. The President and CEO said that the company was proud to announce their first public step in this journey. The portfolio of aluminium parts formation products of Light Metal Casting Solutions Group is represented by StrikoWestofen, ItalPresse and Gauss. Norican feels through the acquisition of LMCS, and their...
Italian shipyard Benetti has unveiled the new Benetti Now Fast designs to their existing fleet of Now superyachts. The company had already announced yachts at the recent Yachts Miami Beach boat show. The superyachts runs at a top speeds in excess of 20 knots. The Benetti Now Fast offers three different yachts: the 50 metre BF164, the 56 metre BF184 and the 68 metre BF224. BF164 would be built entirely from aluminium, while BF184 and BF224 would use a steel hull and aluminium superstructure. Omega Architects created the yacht’s exterior lines, Team 4 Design – Enrico Gobbi designed the interior and naval architecture by Mulder Design. The all-aluminium BF164 have been chosen smooth, rounded lines with very few angles that contrast with various geometric elements like tables and nightstands....
CRU Group, the London-based analysis and consultancy firm CRU focuses on the global mining and metals, has scheduled the World Aluminium Conference on 3-5 May 2017 at the Marriott London Grosvenor Square hotel. The World Aluminium Conference 2017 is the CRU’s 22nd edition of the summit. The World Aluminium Conference 2017 will address the aluminium supply, demand and sustainability factor in the aluminium sector. The CRU said, the event also going to cover how environmental and economic strategies interact and the business opportunities created by sustainability. The 2017 conference will interest more than 200 delegates all over the world. The event will provide an update on the outlook for markets, prices and premiums in the aluminium sector. The World Aluminium Conference 2017 comprises...
