Spanish racing driverFernando Alonso has added a one-off Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse to his growing collection of rare cars. Known as chassis 8.100, the car is distinguished by bespoke aluminium bodywork that required more than 20 tonnes of aluminium to produce, along with dedicated CAD programmes developed by Bugatti. Its history is equally distinctive, being produced after an original customer pushed Bugatti to create something it had initially considered too expensive. For Alonso, the automobile fits closely with an approach to luxury he outlined in 2024 about choosing manufacturers that treat individual customers differently rather than simply producing cars in larger numbers. To know the aluminium casting demand forecast in the transportation sector, explore our report "Global...
China Rare Earth Group is in talks to acquire a controlling stake in Shenghe Resources, a move that could bring the Chinese rare earth producer under tighter state control while giving Beijing influence over Shenghe’s overseas holdings, including a stake in US rare earths company MP Materials. Two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that discussions between the companies have been underway since earlier this year. One source said China Rare Earth Group is seeking a controlling stake, although neither source knew when the acquisition could be announced or completed. If the deal goes through, China Rare Earth Group would take control of Shenghe’s interests in foreign companies, including its 3 per cent stake in MP Materials. The US rare earths company counts the US Department of...
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The Guyana Government has revealed that the bauxite mining business is back with a bang as 2024 witnessed a new high of production inflation amounting to 225 per cent as compared to 2023, with 1.7 million tonnes produced from the two overseas companies that mine in the nation. “Bauxite has been a success story over the last few years. In 2023, the production of bauxite was at 523,732 tonnes,” Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat said during his ministry’s annual review press conference. Image Source: https://www.kayak.co.in/Guyana.103.dc.guide Earlier in January, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali , President of Guyana, proudly commented during his official statement on the substantial improvement of bauxite production in the country during his tenure. In his statement, he mentioned the...
The Damaoqi Project Department of Baotou Aluminum Industry recently achieved a significant milestone. The 220kV booster station of the No. 2 Scenery Power Station was successfully commissioned in a single attempt. By the next few days, the station had successfully energised two main transformers and four sections of 35kV buses, signalling the first successful transmission for the 1.2-million-kilowatt new energy project in Damaoqi. Source: Baotou Aluminum This achievement will increase the share of green electricity at Baotou Aluminum to over 40 per cent, establishing a crucial foundation for the company's pursuit of green, low-carbon, and high-quality development. It will also strengthen its competitive edge and contribute significantly to building a sustainable, low-carbon "New...
As the UK accelerates towards its net zero targets, the aluminium industry is proving to be a critical player in the drive to reduce carbon emissions and build a sustainable future. With its crucial role in both the production and recycling of one of the most versatile metals, the UK aluminium industry has the potential to significantly impact the country’s path to achieving net zero goals. In this article, we will discuss the key reasons why the aluminium industry is vital towards the UK’s net zero ambitions, and how you can join the conversation at the Aluminium Federation (ALFED) House of Lords Lunch on Thursday 26th June 2025. Three key reasons highlight why the aluminium industry is vital in the UK’s fight towards net zero: Recycling and Circular Economy : Aluminium is one of the...
Kaiser Aluminum (NASDAQ: KALU), a leading producer of speciality aluminium products, announced today that its Board of Directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.77 per share. This dividend, representing a 4.3 per cent yield, is scheduled to be paid on February 14, 2025 to shareholders on record as of January 24 2025. According to InvestingPro, the company has maintained its dividend payments for 18 consecutive years, with a consistent commitment to shareholder returns. Based in Franklin, Tennessee, Kaiser Aluminum has built a reputation for delivering high-quality, engineered solutions across various industries, including aerospace, automotive, and general engineering. Established in 1946, the company is a significant player in the aluminium sector, specialising in...
According to SMM survey estimates, China's prebaked anode production in December 2024 was 1.9382 million tonnes, up 4.81 per cent Y-o-Y and down 0.17 per cent M-o-M. Among this, supporting prebaked anode production was 866,500 tonnes, and commercial prebaked anode production was 1.0717 million tonnes. The cumulative prebaked anode production in China for 2024 reached 23.6092 million tonnes, up 7.56 per cent Y-o-Y. Image Source: Made-in-China In December 2024, the operating conditions of domestic prebaked anode enterprises slightly declined. In some areas of Henan, Hebei, and Shandong, production was slightly reduced due to emergency controls for heavy pollution weather, with both calcination and baking processes affected to varying degrees. Additionally, some enterprises resumed...
While bauxite plays a crucial role in the global economic and trade landscape, the mining of the substance should not ideally pose a threat to humanity. Guinean bauxite mining, especially when coming to German firms, has long seen a different reality. Image Source: https://www.energymonitor.ai/ For quite some time, Germany’s lion’s share of its bauxite import has been from the African state of Guinea. In 2016, the German commercial bank ING DiBa provided the largest single credit of a consortium (including the World Bank Group) loan of over €248 million for the expansion of a bauxite mine through the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, also known as BMWK, through ‘guarantees for untied financial loans’, reserving 15 per cent of the mine’s annual output. According to...
The deposit for PET and aluminium beverage containers is expected to rise, encouraging consumers to sort materials correctly to benefit the climate and the environment. Returpack, the Swedish DRS company, will raise the deposits on all packaging: from SEK 1 to SEK 2 for aluminium cans and small PET bottles and from SEK 2 to SEK 3 for large PET bottles. About Sweden’s DRS The goal for Sweden's DRS is to maintain a stable rate above 90 per cent, yielding significant environmental benefits. In 2023, 2.7 billion packages were deposited and returned to the recycling loop, achieving a deposit rate of 88.5 per cent. “The refund is that little added value that makes the deposit return scheme work so well. Now we are turning it up a notch by increasing the deposit amount on all packaging, making...
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) is the first industrial company in the United Arab Emirates and the first aluminium company globally to have been identified as an Industry 4.0 global lighthouse by the World Economic Forum. This recognition is specifically awarded to EGA's Al Taweelah site in Abu Dhabi but testifies to the company's relentless efforts towards transforming the operational efficiency of the aluminium industry by implementing Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies. EGA began its digitalisation journey in 2021 to enhance operational efficiency, cost effectiveness, agility and flexibility, and safety and sustainability. Since then, the company generated a financial impact of some $100 million through implementing more than 80 Industry 4.0 use cases, like using artificial...
The term "smart" has evolved beyond its traditional association with human intellect, finding its way into the heart of modern industry. Today, it stands as a symbol of innovation and foresight, shaping everything from smart technologies that revolutionise how we live and work to smart environments that redefine the spaces we inhabit and smart ecosystems that connect nature and technology in harmony. This transformation reflects an undeniable global momentum to weave sustainability into every thread of existence, creating solutions that optimise efficiency and nurture the planet. And when talking about sustainability, aluminium stands out as the ultimate choice. Unlike most materials that degrade with each cycle, aluminium retains its quality through endless reuses, transforming old...
The European Union is contemplating the release of its 16th sanctions package against Russia in February 2025, when the Russia-Ukraine geopolitical conflict will mark a third anniversary. A preliminary draft has been outlined for the forthcoming package, restricting aluminium imports, military equipment, and all those vessels transporting Russian oil. The 16th sanctions package is also likely to impose limitations on international payment systems SWIFT, said the people involved in the bloc committee discussion. All these actions are specifically aimed at undermining Russia's revenue streams and limiting its ability to fund the war. A month ago, ten European Union member states even appealed for stricter sanctions on Russian aluminium , recognising the metal as a critical source of income...
ABx Group (ASX:ABX) has set a sustainable example as the company agreed upon a lease with Rio Tinto for a waste-to-product industrial facility next to the Bell Bay aluminium smelter in northern Tasmania. Image Source: https://abxgroup.com.au/alcore The company has an 83 per cent shareholding of its refining technology subsidiary ALCORE, which is accountable for the construction of a pilot plant at the facility, enticing a 500-square-kilometre building on an industrial site. It proffers permits to local engineering services and suppliers in the Bell Bay region of Australia. ABx, with its stock market value of US$9 million, has the intent of making nominal adjustments to serve the continuity of the plant through its subsidiary firm ALCORE, which will demonstrate its world-first proprietary...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the world's largest aluminium smelter on a single site, is convening its Annual Majlis from 14 to 18 January 2025. This event serves as a platform to foster open dialogue, two-way communication between the Company's top management and employees through multiple live sessions conducted in a hybrid format – both in-person and virtually. At the inaugural Majlis session on Tuesday 14 January 2025 at Alba Oasis Hall, Alba's Chief Executive Officer, Ali Al Baqali, unveiled the Company's bold and inspiring Objectives for 2025: Be an Albawee, Tapping into Talent, Alba's Open Space, and e-Al Hassalah Year-2. The inaugural session was attended by Alba's Executives, Directors, and Managers, where the CEO presented key highlights of the Company's operational...
In the presence of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC—Masdar and Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) today announced the launch of the world’s first large-scale ‘round the clock’ Giga scale project, combining solar power and battery storage in Abu Dhabi. The launch was announced by His Excellency Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar, and His Excellency Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Minister of Investment and Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of ADQ. The launch marks a pivotal moment in the clean energy transformation, allowing renewable energy to be dispatched 24 hours a day, seven days a week, reaffirming the UAE’s position as a global pioneer in...
Bike enthusiasts, prepare for a thrilling ride into the future! Flying Flea, Royal Enfield’s electrifying new EV brand, has teamed up with Qualcomm Technologies to revolutionise the two-wheeler experience. The collaboration brings Qualcomm’s Snapdragon QWM2290 system-on-chip (SoC) and Snapdragon Car-to-Cloud Platform to Flying Flea’s electric motorcycles, promising smooth connectivity, performance, and rider personalisation. Image Source: https://flyingflea.royalenfield.com/ Unveiled globally at the Milan Motorcycle Show in November 2024, Flying Flea motorcycles blend advanced technology with Royal Enfield’s timeless style. With Qualcomm’s innovation at its heart, these bikes aim to redefine how riders interact with their machines. Tech-powered riding redefined The Snapdragon QWM2290 SoC,...
On January 14, a report revealed that Novelis renewed its multi-year partnership with thyssenkrupp Aerospace, agreeing to supply specialised aerospace-grade aluminium to the latter. This renewed agreement re-establishes the two companies' age-old collaboration, as Novelis has long been a supplier of premium, aircraft-grade aluminium plates and sheets to thyssenkrupp Aerospace. Under the new agreement signed, Novelis will supply specialised aluminium to thyssenkrupp Aerospace's key markets in Europe and Asia from its facilities in Koblenz, Germany, and Zhenjiang, China. Patrick Marous, CEO of Business Unit Solutions at thyssenkrupp Materials Services and responsible for the Aerospace business field, commented: "We are very pleased that our global Aerospace unit is prolonging our...
Ball Corporation, the world’s #No1 innovative and sustainable aluminium packaging provider, has partnered with Meadow by making a minor investment in the company to revolutionise aluminium packaging solutions. Meadow is a Sweden-based company specialising in handling data to design, technology to artistry to create innovative solutions for aluminium refill packaging production. Image Source: Meadow The two companies will collaboratively produce fully recyclable aluminium cans as pre-filled cartridges for personal and home care products. While the former will contribute to the project by supplying aluminium cans and can ends, the latter, with its groundbreaking packaging technology, “MEADOW KAPSUL”, will turn them into reusable dispensers and bring the pre-fill packaging solution to the...
In quantum computing, single photons often serve as carriers of information, which are detected by superconducting nanostrip single-photon detectors (SNSPDs). While traditional type-I superconductors could potentially integrate more seamlessly into existing quantum computing architectures compared to the more commonly used type-II materials, their use in SNSPDs has remained largely unexplored. Image Source: Hui Zhou Aluminium offers greater compatibility However, new research published in Superconductivity marks a breakthrough. Lixing You and colleagues at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shanghai, China, have successfully fabricated an SNSPD using thin films of the type-I superconductor aluminium. This pioneering structure demonstrated the ability to detect single photons of visible...
Leftover degraded soil at a closed-off aluminium facility located North of Columbia Falls will be converged and capped as per a chalked-out plan published last week by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Image for representational purposes only The EPA has figured out the doable for the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company site along the Flathead River after 15 years of the plant’s shutdown and even eight years after the site made it to the National Priorities List, popularly known as the Superfund list. The 432-page Record of Decision majorly reminisces a rough version that was denounced by quite a few univocal locals who demanded the EPA to force the site’s owner, mining giant Glencore, to altogether excavate the contaminated soil. In the press release published on January 10,...
