Singapore is exploring solar photovoltaic (PV) roof tiles that could allow heritage buildings to generate clean electricity without compromising their traditional appearance, as the Energy Market Authority (EMA) steps up efforts to advance solar technologies through partnerships with public and private sector organisations. EMA will collaborate with Swiss technology innovation centre CSEM and the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) to pilot the use of solar PV roof tiles on heritage State buildings. Designed to resemble traditional clay roof tiles, the technology could enable more roof space to generate clean electricity while preserving the overall appearance of historic properties. Traditional clay-tile roofs are an integral part of the character of Singapore’s heritage precincts....
A Swiss-Polish research team has achieved up to 97.9 per cent relative density in extrusion-printed AA6061 aluminium by removing the solvent-debinding stage and extending the sintering process. The approach offers a potential alternative to conventional processing routes for sinter-based aluminium additive manufacturing, where oxidation has remained a major obstacle. The study, led by the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), was published in Progress in Additive Manufacturing on October 15, 2026. An earlier version appeared as a preprint in May, making the journal publication the latest stage in the research’s release. The researchers combined a single-step wick-debinding process with a longer sintering hold to improve the density of printed aluminium...
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On Monday, April 21, 2025, Benchmark analysts reaffirmed their 'Buy' rating on American aluminium producer Kaiser Aluminum but lowered the price target from USD 100 to USD 74. As of 11:21 AM on April 23, the company's stock is trading at USD 55.95, marking a 37% decline over the past year. Image source: Kaiser Aluminum The reduction recommended on the current stock price of Kaiser Aluminum reflects a valuation of 9 times projected for the company’s value to EBITDA in FY25. However, the company's major sector of operation, the aerospace/high strength division, is expected to witness strong financial growth in the first quarter of 2025. For the rest of the year, the division, accounting for 36 per cent of sales and a significant portion of EBITDA, shall witness financial growth by an...
Capral Aluminium, one of Australia's leading aluminium extruders and distributors, has introduced a more flexible approach to meeting customer needs. This led to the launch of Shop.Capral, an online store designed to give customers greater visibility and easier access to Capral's Industrial Solutions aluminium range. The platform is open to all industrial clients, as well as general consumers and trade customers. Image Source- Capral Mark Murray, Capral's National Market Manager for Industrial Solutions, highlights the pivotal role of the company's online platform, Shop.Capral, in providing a dependable source of sustainable and high-quality aluminium. Operating nationwide, the online store provides customers with the option to pick up products from any of Capral's 28 locations, including...
The Stanford University research team has developed solar technology that generates energy long after the sun sets—even in moonlight, clouds, or rain. This may be a pivotal leap that could redefine the boundaries of renewable energy. Dubbed by many as "moonlight panels," this innovation directly challenges solar energy's long-standing limitation: its dependence on sunlight. For decades, scientists have grappled with the inconvenient truth that solar panels sleep when the sun does. However, a team led by Professor Shanhui Fan at Stanford has now seemingly cracked the code, utilising a natural thermodynamic process known as radiative cooling. The mechanism is elegantly simple but profoundly powerful. At night, surfaces naturally emit heat in the form of infrared radiation. On clear nights,...
In the heart of Gramercy, Louisiana, a silent struggle unfolds. Atlantic Alumina’s refinery, the last remaining alumina plant in the United States, is grappling with the heavy toll of shifting trade policies on metal, cars and dozens of foreign exporters. What was once a thriving symbol of industrial resilience now stands at the crossroads of uncertainty and with it, the lives of more than 550 workers hang in the balance. Image source: Atalco Atlantic Alumina, or Atalco, is the last operating alumina refinery in the US, between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. With 550 workers, the plant processes Jamaican bauxite into alumina, a white, sugar-like compound essential for making primary aluminium. Atalco supplies nearly 40 per cent of the nation's alumina needs. But despite its critical role,...
The global alumina market has endured a dramatic roller‑coaster in early 2025, witnessing a severe price slump in the first quarter and a raft of fresh supply hitting the market in the recent weeks. While analysts now eye a price floor in coming months, forecast revisions evidently highlights the fragility of near-term price momentum. This AI-generated image is for representational purposes only As of April 16, the benchmark price for Australian alumina stood at USD 347.50 per tonne on a FOB (Free on Board) basis — the price that covers the cost of transporting the goods to the port and loading them onto the ship, with the buyer covering the cost from that point onwards. This price point represents nearly a 50 per cent drop from where it stood at the beginning of January. In comparison,...
In a significant move towards achieving India's climate goals, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has set greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity targets for individual companies across four key industrial sectors—aluminium, cement, chlor-alkali, and paper. This landmark initiative marks a shift towards sector-specific accountability and data-driven climate action. These targets apply to 13 aluminium producers (including Vedanta and Hindalco), 186 cement companies, 30 chlor-alkali units, and 53 paper manufacturers. The emission intensity goals are set for the fiscal years 2025–26 and 2026–27, using each company's 2023–24 production levels as the baseline. For instance, Vedanta, listed first among the aluminium producers, reported a production volume of...
Industry leaders, environmental specialists, and policymakers convened in Muscat on Tuesday for the second Aluminium Recycling Forum, organised by Sohar Aluminium in partnership with the Environment Authority. The forum hosted two high-level panel discussions that explored the key challenges and emerging opportunities in aluminium scrap recycling. The first session focused on the operational and regulatory barriers encountered by recyclers, collectors, and industry stakeholders while also showcasing how regional industries are embedding recycling into their wider sustainability frameworks. The discussion also delved into how evolving regulations in Oman could more effectively support recycling logistics and ensure regulatory compliance. Additionally, they assessed how trade policies and...
Just when we thought ‘zero-for-zero’ was gathering dust in the diplomatic archives, India is breathing new life into the idea, and this time, the country is refusing to take no for an answer. Indian industry is rallying for tariff-free trade on aluminium, steel, and autos through a proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the United States. And aluminium, the often-overlooked metal powering everything from EVs to skyscrapers, is quietly hoping for its moment in the sun. Image Source: https://www.cfr.org/ According to a publication by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, officials suggested that the zero-for-zero offer could potentially aid in fast-tracking the proposed BTA between the bipartisan, which may, in turn, pave the way for rolling back the 26 per cent reciprocal tariff on...
Rising criminal activities have created tension among Ghana’s scrap dealers, leading to lower returns across the scrap metal industry. This gave a nudge to the scrap dealers to take up the issue to the government with the demand to implement stringent regulation to mitigate the current issue. The scrap dealers blame the current situation of the Ghana scrap metal industry on a lack of oversight leading to loopholes by the government which enabled the criminals to invade the scrap trade process. Due to these criminal activities infiltrating the scrap metal industry, many businesses have witnessed a tarnished reputation and functionality within the operating market. Moreover, Ghana's scrap dealers have also claimed that the nation's scrap business has been struggling for a long time to...
India Government is reportedly initiating a bilateral trade talk with the United States to address the 25 per cent tariff concern on aluminium and steel exports, scheduled on April 23, 2025. The move follows India’s approach to the World Trade Organization, arguing the Trump administration’s tariff move was a safeguard measure rather than genuine national security concerns. Image source: Adobe Stock India's complaint at WTO Seven years after the initial dispute, India once again approached the World Trade Organization, requesting consultations with the United States over tariffs reminiscent of those imposed in 2018. At that time, the US had introduced a 25 per cent tariff on steel and a 10 per cent on aluminium, citing national security concerns as justification for protecting its...
As the global aluminium industry continues its pursuit of sustainability and resource circularity, AL Circle is proud to announce the launch of the updated version of its industry-focused research report, “Aluminium Dross Processing: A Global Review,” on this year’s Earth Day — a symbolic moment that underscores our shared responsibility to protect the planet. For decades, aluminium dross — a by-product of molten aluminium oxidation — was treated as industrial waste, often sent to landfills, leaching toxins and losing valuable metal content. But today, the landscape is changing profoundly. Industry leaders, researchers, and technology developers are revolutionising how we think about and process dross. The updated version of the AL Circle report is a testament to this transition — from...
Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), one of India’s iconic aluminium producers has taken a significant step towards sustainability by introducing six Electric Vehicles (EVs) into its waste management fleet in Korba. Korba is a city and an industrial area in Korba District in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. With a load capacity of 1,000 kilograms each, these EVs enhance efficient and segregated waste collection , promoting systematic and eco-friendly waste disposal. In a further push towards green operations, BALCO has also deployed electric lithium-ion forklifts within its facilities. Mr. Rajesh Kumar, CEO and Director of BALCO, stated, “At BALCO, we are actively investing in innovative green solutions that not just transform our operations but inspire a movement towards...
In light of recent media speculation over the past few weeks—including reports concerning a proposal from Mr James Cameron to acquire Eurasian Resources Group (ERG)—Mr Shukhrat Ibragimov, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of ERG, has clarified that there are no ongoing negotiations regarding the sale of the company. Sole producer of high-grade aluminium in Kazakhstan, the group is also one of the major suppliers of copper and cobalt. Mr Shukhrat Ibragimov affirmed that the company's leadership remains fully committed to ERG's long-term, sustainable growth. At the end of 2024, the Board of Directors approved a new strategic plan focused on advancing the Group's development and investing further in its operations, which the company is actively executing. In Africa, ERG's copper...
Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) have found that partially replacing copper in EV conductors with aluminium can reduce vehicle weight and improve energy efficiency. They propose using cold welding to combine the strengths of both metals without sacrificing conductivity. In this process, aluminium and copper bond at the atomic level along the contact surface. While higher temperatures typically improve mixing, they also tend to produce brittle intermetallic phases—crystals that form between the metals and hinder conductivity. Cold welding helps avoid these, preserving electrical performance. To prevent the formation of brittle crystals, researchers at NTNU have developed a new method called Hybrid Metal Extrusion and Bonding (HYB). PhD research...
Premier Energies, a prominent producer of solar modules and cells, has announced the incorporation of a wholly owned subsidiary, Premier Energies GWC Private Limited. As per the regulatory filing, this new subsidiary will focus on the manufacturing and processing of silicon ingots and wafers using advanced technologies for solar cell applications. Aluminum contributes significantly to the manufacturing of silicon ingots and wafers, serving both as a dopant and in various bonding and coating applications. During ingot growth, aluminium can be introduced to modify the electrical characteristics of the silicon, tailoring it for specific semiconductor functions. The newly formed subsidiary has been established with an authorised share capital of INR 1 million, comprising 100,000 equity shares...
Lakeside Auto Recyclers in Carter Lake, Nebraska, is poised to reclaim processing work as 25 per cent tariffs raise the cost of imported metal. Local recyclers say the aluminium levy could redirect business back to their yard, where yard manager Nick Hanson oversees a 60-strong team processing 8,000 tonnes of recycled steel each month. Image for representational purposes only “It’s a little scary just based off what happened in 2016 and 2018 with the aluminium, it crashed drastically,” Hanson said, adding “Since then, there’s a lot more domestic options for your shredded cast aluminium. So I think it could be a positive, I really do.” Hanson is optimistic that the tariff impositions can potentially pull in buyers to recycled materials produced within the US. “This is part of a car engine,...
The United States’ 2024 aluminium market has further demonstrated a clear shift from primary to secondary sector, as evidenced by a Y-o-Y drop in primary metal production and a rise in scrap recovery. According to the United States Geological Survey, the country’s primary aluminium production recorded a decline of 9.92 per cent from 750,000 tonnes in 2023 to 675,600 tonnes in 2024, while its scrap recovery increase by 4.83 per cent from 3.31 million tonnes to 3.47 million tonnes. Monthly production trend While analysing the monthly trend this year, it is observed that the United States primary aluminium production ranged between 52,000 and 57,000 tonnes, following a peak in the first month of the year amounting to 63,000 tonnes. Similarly, scrap recovery was mostly around 292,000 to...
The United Kingdom aerosol industry marked a return to growth phase in 2024 after a three-years declining notion, with total production rising to 1.45 billion units, a 1.97 per cent increase over 2023. After a prolonged period of stagnation between 2021 and 2023, where production hovered around 1.44 billion units, this uptick signals renewed momentum for the sector. The figures, released by the British Aerosol Manufacturers Association (BAMA), are based on contributions from UK-based fillers and are considered a reliable snapshot of current market activity. Alike world trend, UK’s personal care aerosols continue to dominate, accounting for approximately 75 per cent of all fillings in 2024. According to retail sales data from Kantar World Panel, this category saw a 3 per cent increase over...
