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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Intercontinental aluminium extruders formed an association – International Fair Trade Alliance – to promote and defend fair trade practices. The IFTA is a non-profit organisation created to unite aluminium extrusion manufacturers and suppliers in order to promote free and fair trade. The alliance, which started forming this summer, consists of aluminium extruders from North and South America, Australia and New Zealand, the Gulf States, and Israel, said a statement from IFTA. Jason Weber, director - international market intelligence for Sapa Extrusion North America, and newly elected chairman of IFTA, said: "Our alliance believes that a network of market-based aluminium extrusion companies and associations can work together to support, teach, and advocate fair trade practices at a national...
Fiji's leading mineral development company Xinfa Aurum Exploration is making steady progress towards expanding its bauxite mining operations further north in Vanua Levu. The company has already secured additional Special Prospecting License in Nawailevu, Bua and Naibulu East Mine, in Dreketi, reported industry sources. Mine Manager of Xinfa Aurum Exploration, Isireli Dagaga says, only little work is left at Nawailevu now before they start mining bauxite at the location. “A couple of thousand tonnes there that are still to be taken for washing otherwise there is nothing left at Nawailevu. Nawailevu is in two parts we have a bit at Nawailevu North and we are going to wash those materials there once the Dreketi washing plant is in full operations then we will bring over the materials from...
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LME aluminium prices took a hit as US dollar index rallied on Tuesday's night trading. The contract underperformed and dropped below the 40-day moving average closing at US$1,718/mt on Tuesday, down 0.58 per cent from previous day's closing at US$1,728/mt. According to Shanghai Metals Market forecast, LME aluminium will test US$1,700/mt and will range at US$1,695-1,720/mt on Wednesday, December 7. As on December 6, LME official 3M Buyer price of aluminium is US$1712.5/mt, 3M Seller price is US$1713/mt, DEC1 Buyer price is US$1727/mt, and DEC1 Seller Price is US$1732/mt. LME Official Opening stock of the metal currently stands at 2129200 mt, total Live Warrants is recorded as 1384875 mt, and Cancelled Warrant is estimated at 733450 mt. In China, SME aluminium opened at US$1,955/mt on...
Alcoa Corporation announced yesterday that Molly Beerman has been named Vice President and Controller of the company, and she will serve as principal accounting officer, effective Dec. 9. “Molly is a seasoned financial professional with a successful track record at Alcoa of driving process and operational improvements," said Alcoa Chief Financial Officer William Oplinger. "In addition to her accounting acumen, Molly’s experience makes her ideally qualified to take on this leadership role at Alcoa as we review our systems to run our new company more cost-effectively and efficiently.” Ms. Beerman succeeds Robert Collins who has been Controller since 2013 and will be taking a role outside of the company. “Bob made a significant contribution to our company during his 11-year Alcoa career,”...
Aluminium demand in the United States and Canada (shipments by domestic producers plus imports) amounted to 19,928 million pounds during the first three quarters of 2016 increasing 2% over the same period last year. Demand for aluminium semi-fabricated (mill) products amounted to 14,029 million pounds increasing one –tenth of 1% year-over-year. In domestic market, apparent consumption (demand less exports) amounted to 17,552 million pounds, up seventh-tenth of 1% year-to-date. During October 2016, aluminium net shipments (including exports) amounted to 2,022 million pounds, remaining same as the October 2015 total. Shipments of aluminium mill products in October 2016 were down 4.5% from the previous year at 1,283 million pounds. Shipments of aluminium ingots amounted to 738 million...
Rio Tinto has reached an agreement to sell its assets at Lochaber, Scotland to SIMEC for consideration totalling $410 million (£330 million). The sale purchase agreement comprises the sale of Rio Tinto’s 100 per cent shareholding in Alcan Aluminium UK Limited which includes the operating smelter, the hydroelectric facilities at Kinlochleven and Lochaber as well as all associated land. Rio Tinto Aluminium chief executive Alf Barrios said “This is a value-creating sale for Rio Tinto and represents another example of refining our portfolio to focus on our suite of tier one assets. “At the same time, our priority has been to ensure a long-term sustainable future for Lochaber and economic benefit for the wider Fort William community. There was significant interest in the assets, but SIMEC is...
The popularity of Japanese paper-folding art origami is going beyond paper to wrap aluminium in its wings creating three-dimensional novel objects for interior designing. The superior formability of aluminium is inspiring new-age designers to craft 3D structures unseen before from 2D metal sheets. Make Architects of the United Kingdom recently created aluminium origami kiosks for food vendors and holiday artisans who usually look for temporary, mobile structures in a festive setting to do business. Prior to this, these small-scale vendors would use unappealing, noisy trucks or boxy shelters for carrying out their businesses on a temporary basis; but the Make team came up with a concept that not only added beauty to the outlets, event, and market but also helped increase visitors' footfall...
As reported by Reuters, China Hongqiao Group Ltd is said it will invest $1.6 billion to buy two aluminium processing firms in order to expand its operation in the value added segment. After a series of transactions, the world’s biggest aluminium smelter would own majority stake in the Loften Environmental Technology Co. Ltd., an aluminium foil producer, as confirmed by a statement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Tuesday. Hongqiao already agreed to buy 28% stake of Loften for about $131 million in August 2016. The new deal would raise the stake to 74% at an additional cost of 10 billion yuan. According to the statement, Loften’s increase in value from August comes from its own purchase of aluminium alloy processor Shandong Innovative Metal Technology Co. and Binzhou Hengwang...
Australia is the top bauxite producer in the world with about 81million tons of bauxite production and that has induced some of the top aluminium companies invest on alumina refineries in Australia, especially Western Australia. {newsStudioGallery} According to the data from International Aluminium Institute, Australia produced 20.7 million tons of alumina in 2014 and 20.3 million tons in the year 2015. For the year 2016, Australia produced 15.6 million tons of alumina till date. Most of the alumina produced in Australia is exported around the world. In 2014, Australia exported 20 million tons of alumina globally. The amount dropped slightly to 19.6 million tons in 2015. For 2014 and 2015, the total value of alumina export was USD 6.5 billion and USD 5.7 billion respectively. For the year...
The Kuantan Port Consortium Sdn Bhd (KPC) says the port facilities have been upgraded to handle bauxite shipments if the government decides to lift the moratorium on mining in the state on December 31. “KPC has spent a lot of money on improving facilities to ensure the situation does not go back to what it was,” said chief executive officer Datuk Khasbullah A. Kadir after flagging off KPC’s Give Day Out event on Saturday, November 3. “We have four washing bays compared to one previously. We have adhered to government guidelines on bauxite stockpiling sites and transport at the port. We cleared our stockpiles in the first three months after the moratorium was imposed. Anyone who comes to the port can see the difference compared with early this year. Now we are waiting for directions from...
The aluminium futures contract on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) fell over 3 per cent to close at INR116.85 per kg in the past week. However, the contract has begun this week on a slightly positive note and is currently trading at INR117.5. A key support is at INR116.2. If the contract breaks below this support decisively it can extend the fall to INR114 this week. The level of INR114 is a strong support and a possibility of a reversal from there cannot be ruled out. Such a reversal can take the contract higher to INR116 or INR117.5 thereafter. On the other hand, if the aluminium futures contract manages to sustain above the support at INR116.2 in this week it can bounce to INR119.25 initially. A further break above INR119.25 will see the upmove extending to INR122.5. In such a...
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LME Aluminium reversed its downward trend as two major macroeconomic factors- the US dollar index and oil prices gave support. The US dollar index dropped to 100 from highs after Italian vote and oil soared more than 10 per cent on Wednesday to over $50 a barrel- its highest in a month, helping LME aluminium prices rise. The contract which traded at around US$1,715/mt on Friday, last week, rose higher by 0.75 per cent to close at US$1,728/mt on Monday, November 5. Shanghai Metals Market says, LME aluminium should strengthen further and move at US$1,715-1,740/mt on Tuesday. As on November 5, LME official stock of aluminium stood at 2139275mt, Total Live Warrants was recorded at 1384875mt Cancelled Warrant was at 744325mt. In China, aluminium traded on Shanghai Metal Exchange opened at...
The new large facility at the aluminium company Hydro´s plant in Grevenbroich, Germany, got started recently: Hydro is producing first coils for customers at automotive line 3 (AL 3). This follows weeks of trials on how the new machines for EDT rolling, continuous annealing and coating of high-end car body sheet are working as such and as joint operations. Now first orders have been produced and shipped to automotive suppliers. Furthermore, first strip from AL 3 were sent to car makers in order to qualify products from the new facility. “To get this challenging, innovative installation going on time and within its planned cost, is quite a strong accomplishment. Kudos and cordial thanks to the team, with our engineers, specialists and scientists, not least the partners for construction and...
Arconic Inc.,a global technology, engineering and advanced manufacturing leader, announced today that it has earned a perfect score of 100 on the 2017 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) workplace equality. The CEI is administered by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation. This is the eighth consecutive year in which the Company has earned a perfect score; prior years’ rankings are listed as Alcoa Inc. “At Arconic, we understand that our employees contribute their best when they can bring their whole self, every day, everywhere,” said Vas Nair, Executive Vice President, Human Resources Environment, Health, Safety and Sustainability. “We are incredibly...
The global busbar market is estimated to be worth US$16.55 billion growing at a 5+% CAGR between 2016 and 2021, reveals data published in a recent market report. The aluminium busbar segment alone is estimated to grow at the fastest CAGR. Driven by tremendous growth in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East & Africa regions, the demand for aluminium will increase significantly during the forecast period. Aluminium busbar, by virtue of being light-weight and at the same time, low-cost will fast replace copper busbars in many applications, over the five years period, the report says. The major application areas of busbars include oil & gas, power generation, commercial, residential, metals & mining, chemicals & petrochemicals, and other industries. The study says, emerging grey/unorganized...
India's state-owned integrated aluminium company National Aluminium Co. Ltd (Nalco) has been working on a strategy devised to add greater value to the alumina produced in-house; but a host of challenges is obstructing the PSU's way to attaining success in the transition- the domestic market being the major one. The country's Union Minister of Energy, Coal, Mines and New and Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal expressed concerned over these issues. While addressing an industry congregation on Friday, last week, Goyal said he was shocked to learn that Nalco produced less than half the quantity of alumina produced by its other private-sector competitors from within the country, in a year. The domestic market is primarily responsible for this capacity lag, Goyal added. “I made a study to understand...
Rick Hindley, Executive Director of the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro) in an interview to Resource magazine says, figures published on the National Packaging Waste Database by the Environment Agency show the that UK is on track to meet or exceed annual recycling targets for aluminium packaging. In 2015, over 75,000 tonnes of aluminium packaging was collected for recycling in the UK. Over 60 per cent of that was recycled in the UK and the rest was exported. With the commissioning of new recycling facilities around Europe, demand for aluminium packaging scrap is growing fast and strong. Hydro Aluminium’s dedicated packaging recycling plant near Dusseldorf was also launched last year. According to him automotive industry is using substantial amount of recycled aluminium...
Of late, Mexico has been hitting the aluminium industry headlines for all the wrong reasons, related mostly to its somewhat dubious role in the international trade market. According to the recent industry reports, significant quantity of fake aluminium semis has been emanating from the country, a large chunk of which has been heading towards Vietnam. Till end of July this year 7,400 metric tonnes of “extrusion metal units” have left Mexico, and according to Global Trade Information Services, Vietnam was the destination of 91 per cent of Mexico’s aluminium-extrusion exports. Experts say Mexico shipping aluminium products to Vietnam does not make much economic sense, since Vietnamese market is already highly saturated. But nevertheless, Mexico remains one of the busiest aluminium exporting...
