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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Crystal Window & Door Systems announces the receipt of national industry recognition for one of its popular products. The Crystal Series 8500/8600 aluminium projected window line, available in a variety of styles and feature options has been selected as US Glass Magazine's 2016 Readers' Choice Award winner in the Window Products category. The window line, introduced in spring 2016 has already been supplied to several projects, including the major renovation of a few well known hotels in New York. "We are very proud of our Series 8500/8600 aluminium line," said Sabrina Leung, Crystal's Architectural Sales and Engineering Manager. "The Readers' Choice Award in US Glass Magazine confirms the broad national appeal of this high-end window with professionals in the fenestration industry."...
As an update on the ore export ban imposed in Indonesia, two years back, Indonesia amended the policies on Thursday allowing exports of nickel ore and bauxite and concentrates of other minerals under specific conditions. The ban on unprocessed ore exports was imposed in 2014 to encourage value added domestic smelting industry. As a result, the government of Southeast Asia's biggest economy has faced a huge budget deficit missing its 2016 revenue target by $17.6 billion. A new draft may have been prepared to resume shipments to cure the big gap. The new regulations will include changes in permit extensions, which can now be issued up to five years in advance of expiry, as well as new divestment requirements. "Where, considering installed (smelter) capacity, they can't absorb production,...
Eurasian Resources Group said on Monday January 9 that its Kazakhstan Aluminium Smelter JSC (KAS) has produced more than 235,000 tons of primary aluminium in 2016, exceeding the annual production target. Since the inception of plant, this was plant’s highest production volumes in the history of plant in nine years. KAS, the only aluminium producer in the Republic of Kazakhstan, has an aluminium capacity of 250 thousand tons per year. In 2016, the plant ran at 94% of its design capacity with an increase of 6.3% over 2015. According to plant’s figures, per reduction cell averaged 2,446 kilograms of primary aluminium. While attaining this huge jump in production, the company also brought down the electrical consumption from 13,460 kWh to 12, 746 kWh. The achievement was possible by lowering...
Base metal prices including aluminium are expected to be buoyed up by falling dollar on Friday, Shanghai Metals Market predicts. LME aluminium price is constantly trending higher to close at US$1,788 per tonne on January 12 and it is expected to hover within a range of US$ 1,780-1,805 per ton on Friday, January 13. On a very positive note, LME aluminium hit the highest level in 2016 on Thursday’s night trading and relative strength index was at high. SMM predicts that LME aluminium will test USD 1,800/mt and a new market high on Friday as a result of the worry on China’s lower capacity policy of refined aluminium which is floating the market. As on January 12, LME official cash buyer price of aluminium stands at US$ 1787 per tonne, cash seller & settlement price is US$ 1788 per tonne, 3M...
The Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) announced its strong support for the new trade enforcement action against the People’s Republic of China announced today by the United States Trade Representative (USTR). The action seeks to have the World Trade Organization (WTO) address U.S. concerns that China’s subsidies to certain producers of primary aluminum is causing “serious prejudice” to U.S. interests by artificially expanding Chinese capacity, production and market share. “China’s subsidies have had and are continuing to have a significant adverse impact on the U.S. domestic aluminum industry, and ultimately are harmful to American jobs, workers and business,” said Matt McMahon, AEC’s Chairman. “The USTR’s action is an important first step towards addressing, and correcting, China’s...
Aluminium has already forayed into the world of smartphones as a preferred chassis material. The year 2016 saw some of the biggest brands in the mobile phone market using aluminium alloy in their construction. {newsStudioGallery} The year 2017 is going to offer different designs of smartphone crafted out of aluminium. Starting with Apple iPhone, many brands such as Samsung, Huawei, Lenovo, LG and Asus have already used aluminium in their devices. They are using aluminium in their smartphones as aluminium is malleable and can be bent as per requirement. The processor of an aluminium phone can be faster than that of a plastic phone. Several smartphones made of aluminium have been launched for 2017 model year and some are waiting for their debut. Aluminium based smartphone is likely to...
Century Aluminum Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer Michael A. Bless today commended the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) announcement that the United States has requested World Trade Organization (WTO) consultations with China regarding the Chinese government’s illegal subsidization of its aluminum industry. For years, the Chinese government has used its state-directed financial system and other channels to expand and maintain millions of tons of uneconomic and unnecessary primary aluminum smelting capacity. The resulting excess capacity has caused a persistent global glut of metal that has made it impossible for market-oriented producers in the United States and elsewhere to sell profitably. Smelters in the United States have been forced to shut down as a result, with...
Aluminium scrap import by Indonesia has surged significantly over the last two years as the country is on the verge of becoming an important downstream aluminium product manufacturing hub in south-east Asia, catering mostly to the automotive industry. The country purchased 55,059.5 tonnes of scrap aluminium in 2015, which increased by 28.5 per cent year-over-year to reach 70773.12 tonnes last year. In 2017, till October, Indonesia is estimated to import around 62,159.8 tonnes of aluminium scrap for recycling, up 4.6 per cent from the corresponding period previous year. The import value of scrap aluminium in Indonesia has also increased in tandem with the volume. Last year, the South-east Asian country purchased scrap aluminium worth US$96.8 million, up 33.14 per cent from US$72.7 million...
Imerys S.A, the French multinational behemoth dealing in industrial mineral production and processing, will divest one of its newly purchased fused alumina operations in La Bathie in Savoie, France, reported sources familiar with the development. The move comes after the European Commission set out pre-conditions for the French industrial group for its planned takeover of Alteo's fused alumina assets in France. Alteo, the world's leading, fully-integrated supplier of specialty alumina, received an offer from Imerys last year July, for the acquisition of the companies ALTEO ARC and Alufin. Alteo ARC, at that time, was operating a white fused alumina plant in La Bathie in Savoie and a brown fused alumina plant in Beyrède, France. Commenting on the proposed acquisition, Frédéric Ramé,...
Other than being the top aluminium producer in the world, China is one of the leading producers of aluminium semis. Chinese production and exports of semi-finished products (semis) hit six-month highs in mid 2016. China has been accused by competitors of selling semi-finished metal into oversupplied global markets below market rates. In fact, The U.S. International Trade Commission has launched an investigation into the global aluminium trade and into the allegations by the major U.S. aluminium producers about China’s unlawful export of semis to the U.S. market. Here, we are trying to analyse the trading trends of aluminium bars, rods, and profile in China to understand if there is any major upturn or downturn in the export of aluminium bars, rods, and profile by China. We would also try...
The UAE Ras Al-Khaimah Investment Authority (RAKIA) has served an arbitration notice to the Indian government seeking a hefty compensation of US$44.71 million for a bauxite and alumina supply agreement that was signed for a planned project in south India. The notice served mentioned the option for the Indian government to fulfil the supply agreement on an immediate basis. The arbitration sought by the UAE government through RAKIA falls under the existing Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement between India and UAE, stated a release by the India Mines Ministry. The dispute between Indian government and RAKIA stemmed from the memorandum of understanding (MoU) that was inked between India's state government of Andhra Pradesh and the government of Ras Al-Khaimah, part of UAE, for the...
The Obama administration is expected to file a complaint on Thursday with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against China over aluminium subsidies, as reported by Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. The world's two largest economies are expected to affect by the WTO complaint, since President-elect Donald Trump will take the oath of office next week to cut U.S. trade deficits with China as a top priority. The U.S. Trade Representative's office will file official complaint for allowing cheap loans from Chinese banks as well as giving subsidized electricity, coal and alumina to Chinese Aluminium manufacturer. According to sources, these subsidies will help to increase china’s aluminium production further and harm American aluminium companies and their workers. In October 2016, two U.S....
Norwegian based aluminium company Hydro has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with the state of Pará and also a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Shell Brasil Petróleo LTDA, with the aim to replace a major part of its current fuel oil consumption at the Alunorte alumina refinery in Brazil with more environmentally friendly natural gas. The LoI with the Para Government was signed in Belem, Brazil, yesterday evening, and witnessed by Hydro's CEO, Svein Richard Brandtzæg, and Governor of Pará, Simão Jatene. The LoI aims to develop infrastructure and enable the use of natural gas in the region. Hydro Alunorte would be the first significant consumer of gas, and an enabler for establishing new LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) infrastructure in Pará. Feasibility study to be conducted The MoU with...
ALUMINIUM of GREECE (AoG), a MYTILINEOS Group subsidiary carried away two awards during the Health & Safety Awards 2016 event organized by Boussias Communications. ALUMINIUM of GREECE is currently Europe’s most modern vertically integrated alumina and aluminium production and trading plant. The award ranks the company among Greece’s leading promoters of health and safety at the workplace. AoG won the first prize for Implementation of the “Health & Safety at work” thematic Consultation with its Stakeholders in the “Alumina and Aluminium Production & Trading” category. The company won the gold award for its “Right Hemisphere” Employee awareness-raising communication campaign on Health and Safety in the “Activities” category. The thematic Consultation enabled the company to interact with...
LME aluminium is trending higher. The contract having risen for six days at a stretch is slated for a further rise as U.S. Dollar turned lower after Trump conference failed to throw light on the details of fiscal policies. Shanghai Metals Market says LME aluminium will move at US$1,750-1,770 per tonne on Thursday, January 12. As on January 11, LME official cash buyer price of aluminium stands at US$1747.5 per tonne, cash seller & settlement price is US$1748.5 per tonne, 3M buyer price is US$1746 per tonne, 3M seller price is US$1,746.5, Dec1 buyer price is US$1,793 per tonne, and Dec1 seller price is US$1,798 per tonne. The current LME official Opening Stock of aluminium is estimated at 2232725 tonnes, total Live Warrants is 1591475 tonnes, and Cancelled Warrant is 652300 tonnes. As on...
Samsung has been working hard on a couple of handsets in its Galaxy C series throughout 2016 as the company is gearing up to launch the same outside China. Market is abuzz with speculations about Samsung’s swanky new Galaxy C7 Pro which is one of the most awaited smartphone from Samsung’s C series. A bunch of leaked images of the phone has made its way on the internet via NextPowerup. These reported images are giving Galaxy fans a comprehensive look at the classy design of Galaxy C7 Pro. The phone appears to be encased in an iPhone like aluminium unibody, similar to its predecessor that was launched in June 2016. The recently surfaced images indicate a couple of changes including a beefed up camera sensor. The phone sports a mammoth 5.7-inch Full HD display in style. The upgrade of the...
Alumina enters 2017 on a positive note. Its price advance last year was ahead of other commodities in the aluminium value chain, and the growing demand from China and Middle East aluminium makers suggests that those gains may be sustained this year as well. {newsStudioGallery} Demand-Supply & Price Outlook: Globally, alumina prices have been improving in the latter half of 2016; over the last couple of months, the prices rose even higher as coal became costlier and alumina supply deficit became clear following Chinese output curtailments. With the world’s biggest aluminium producers firing up new plants and restarting idled capacity to take advantage of high aluminium prices, it is expected that the demand (pull factor) for alumina will rise, keeping prices buoyed up through 2017. On the...
AlCircle has been into the business of information dissemination for pretty long and has already become the reference point for the industry as far as news, blogs, events and reports are concerned. We have decided to go a step further in delivering information to our valued users. After creating a digital platform for aluminium industry news, we are now diversifying it to “AlCircle Mobile Alerts” According to the latest statistics, mobile devices are overtaking desktop computers as people’s preferred device to access the internet. Seventy per cent of internet use is now on a mobile device, and the percentage is expected to jump further this year. Getting the right kind of information at the right time is one of the prime criteria in running a successful business. Next stage is to get that...
