Tesla's ambitions for its Optimus humanoid robot extend well beyond factory automation, with the company envisioning a future in which robots could support vehicle servicing, logistics and even last-mile delivery. However, turning that vision into a commercially viable product will require more than advances in artificial intelligence and robotics. It will also depend on access to aluminium, critical minerals and the downstream manufacturing capabilities needed to produce increasingly sophisticated hardware at scale. Tesla has already taken an important step towards that ambition. On October 21, 2026, the company announced that Optimus production had begun on its high-volume manufacturing line in Fremont, California. Tesla described the units coming off the line as its first...
Trimet has reduced direct carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions at its aluminium recycling plant in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, by 25 per cent, saving approximately 4,000 tonnes annually through a transition to hydrogen-rich coke oven gas. The new energy supply system, commissioned on October 29, 2026, will power the site's melting furnaces using industrial gas containing more than 60 per cent hydrogen. The coke oven gas is sourced from ArcelorMittal's coking plant in neighbouring Bottrop and supplied to Trimet through Uniper Energy Sales via the existing gas pipeline network. A new supply line, approximately 700 metres long, was installed to connect the recycling facility at Gelsenkirchen's inland port to the network. According to Trimet, coke oven gas generates lower CO2 emissions during...
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International technology group Andritz has initiated a comprehensive refrigerator recycling line at the Derichebourg España facility in Madrid. This innovative plant, designed to process up to 120 refrigerators containing CFCs and VHC (pentane) per hour, stands as a testament to advanced recycling technology and environmental stewardship. The core of the newly established line is the ADuro QZ shredder, a marvel of modern engineering. Operating as a fully sealed system, it utilises impact forces to disassemble refrigerators into their constituent components. This meticulous separation ensures that valuable materials, including iron, copper, aluminium, plastics, and polyurethane foam, are efficiently recovered for reuse. Aluminium, in particular, is notable for its ability to be recycled...
Hydro Aluminium UK Ltd, a prominent subsidiary of the global aluminium giant Norsk Hydro, has showcased its unwavering dedication to health and safety, achieving significant recognition in the UK's premier health and safety awards. At the RoSPA Awards, Hydro Aluminium UK Ltd garnered a Gold Achievement Award and the Best New Entry Award, reflecting its exemplary health and safety standards and innovative initiatives. Hydro Aluminium UK's dual accolades from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) highlight the company's robust health and safety management systems. The Gold Achievement Award underlines the company's comprehensive approach to health and safety, meticulously documented and demonstrated over the past year. Initiatives such as safety stand down days, a family...
With the rapid advancement of human civilisation, air pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have posed a significant threat to humanity for years. Energy conservation and emission reduction have become crucial priorities in the transportation industry. According to AL Circle's report, "Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2024," aluminium usage in the transportation sector was 27.5 million tonnes in 2023. This demand is expected to increase to 28.2 million tonnes in 2024.Today, millions of people and tonnes of goods are transported on trains yearly because they are the most efficient, convenient, and comfortable means of transportation. Since their inception during the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century, railways have undergone constant development to increase their efficiency,...
In response to the United States' decision to hike tariffs on Chinese aluminium and steel, Canada has made a firm commitment to shield its market from becoming a secondary channel for diverted Chinese products. As the U.S. increases tariffs on specific Chinese imports to 25% from 7.5%, affecting over $1 billion worth of goods, Canada vows to protect its industry from the potential influx. Navpreet Chhatwal, communications adviser for Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, emphasised Canada's robust trade-remedy system, designed to thwart dumped and subsidised imports. This measure aims to safeguard Canadian workers and the aluminium sector from unfair competition. Although Freeland's office is still evaluating the American tariffs, they have not ruled out further actions to prevent market...
Alcoa Australia is strengthening its enduring dedication to safeguarding, revitalising, and disseminating knowledge about the forest by establishing a dedicated research centre. Over the next five years, the Forest Research Centre will receive $9.9 million in research funding from Alcoa, in connection with the company's bauxite mining activities in specific regions of the Northern Jarrah Forest in Western Australia's Darling Range. Alcoa is expanding its internal environmental research team from 4 to 11 members and enhancing existing facilities across various locations in WA to bolster its research initiatives. Tanya Simmonds, Interim Vice President of Operations in Australia, expressed that the Forest Research Centre will leverage the extensive research conducted over decades, which has...
LME aluminium opened at US$2,550.5 per tonne in the previous trading day, with its low and high at US$2,539 per tonne and US$2,620 per tonne respectively before closing at US$2,600 per tonne, up 1.92 per cent. As per the LME data, on Wednesday, May 15, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement expanded by US$52 per tonne or 2.09 per cent to clock at US$2,529 per tonne and US$2,529.50 per tonne. On the same day, both 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price hiked by US$39 per tonne or 1.53 per cent to peg at US$2,575 per tonne and US$2,577 per tonne. December 25 bid price and December 25 offer price grew by US$40 per tonne or 1.49 per cent to rest at US$2,715 per tonne and US$2,720 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock came in at 1033450 tonnes. Live...
On May 15, 2024, Oslo's burgeoning fleet of floating saunas welcomed its newest flagship, Trosten, featuring a universal design aimed at inclusivity and an innovative façade crafted from Hydro CIRCAL. Crafted using Hydro CIRCAL, a revolutionary material comprising a minimum of 75 per cent recycled post-consumer aluminium scrap, Trosten sets a new standard in sustainability by drastically reducing its carbon footprint. Spearheaded by the Oslo Sauna Association, this unveiling marks a significant step towards fulfilling the association's mission to make Norway's capital an urban hotspot by democratising access to saunas since 2016. This vision has been realised through a creative collaboration with the renowned Spanish architectural firm eStudio Herreros and Hydro, a prominent player in...
In a bold move towards sustainability, Moddex Group Australia, a leading manufacturer of pre-fabricated handrail and balustrade systems, has announced its transition to Capral's LocAl® Green lower-carbon aluminium. This strategic decision underscores Moddex's commitment to environmental responsibility and contributes to the imperative goal of decarbonising the built environment and infrastructure projects. The aluminium industry is gradually striving towards zero waste owing to adopting a circular economy, making the life cycle of aluminium resource-efficient. To know more about aluminium's contribution to an energy-efficient future read AL Circle's report on, "Sustainability in the Aluminium Industry". Over the years, global aluminium producers have experimented heavily to lower their...
United States President Joe Biden has reportedly increased tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, batteries, steel, solar cells, and aluminium, aiming to protect American manufacturers from unfair trade practices and prices and paving the way for a more competitive domestic market. As per the report, the Biden-led US government has imposed a 100 per cent tariff on electric vehicles, a 50 per cent tariff on semiconductors, and a 25 per cent tariff on electric vehicle batteries from China. Addressing the nation from the White House, Biden said China should not be allowed to control the United States automobile market. He rather seeks fair competition with China. The President alleged that over the years, the Chinese government poured money into a wide range of industries, including aluminium...
Vedanta Limited's Aluminium Business in Jharsuguda, Odisha, India, has recently attained ASI Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard V2 (2022) Certification for its smelter located in the Special Economic Zone. This certification marks a significant achievement, with Vedanta's operations in Jharsuguda comprising two smelters and three casthouses and boasting 3615 MW of power generation facilities. With an impressive annual smelting capacity of 1.8 million tonnes, it is one of the largest single-location aluminium plants globally. The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) has officially recognised Vedanta Limited's accomplishment, announcing its successful certification against the ASI CoC Standard V2 (2022). Notably, the company had previously achieved Performance Standard V2 Certification for...
Developed jointly by Thomas Cappelen Malling and Sjur Stangebye-Hansen, Radium Instruments, the Norwegian watch brand known for using Hydro aluminium, has now taken a step further by incorporating Hydro CIRCAL's recycled aluminium into its watch cases. In its latest collection, the watch cases are constructed from Hydro CIRCAL aluminium, which contains over 75 per cent recycled material. Using recycled aluminium significantly reduces energy consumption during the production phase. About Radium Instruments Beyond supplying the material, Hydro has actively collaborated in the watch's prototyping process and provided manufacturing data to optimise the use of Hydro CIRCAL in the watch case. This case houses the high-quality Swiss ETA 2892-2 movement. "Aluminium stands out for being a strong,...
LME aluminum opened at US$2,548 per tonne in the previous trading day, with its low and high at US$2,519 per tonne and US$2,559 per tonnes, respectively, before closing at $2,549 per tonne, up 0.28 per cent. On Tuesday, May 14, LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price decreased for the second day in a row by US$32 per tonne and US$32.50 per tonne to reach US$2,477 per tonne and US$2,477.50 per tonne, respectively. The fall in aluminium prices on LME could be attributed to the unprecedented surge in opening stocks as Trafigura, a Swiss-based commodity trader, delivered more than 400,000 tonnes of aluminum last week. The LME aluminium stocks total accumulated 425,575 tonnes of aluminium overnight, reaching more than a two-year high. 3-month bid price and...
According to the Shanghai Metals Market survey, China’s primary aluminium production in April 2024 (30 calendar days) recorded a month-on-month decline of 1.13 per cent but a year-on-year increase of 4.93 per cent. As per the data revealed by SMM, China’s primary aluminium output in April was 3.515 million tonnes, compared to 3.555 million tonnes in March 2024 and 3.35 million tonnes in April 2023. The domestic daily production in April 2024 was 117,200 tonnes, up by 2 per cent from 114,900 tonnes in March, despite the fall in monthly production. The share of aluminium liquid output rose 1.4 per cent M-o-M and 2 per cent Y-o-Y to about 75.36 per cent. In the first four months of 2024, China’s primary aluminium production totalled 13.965 million tonnes. Changes in production capacity At...
Under the careful guidance of the Party Committee of Chinalco Henan Luoyang Aluminum Foil Company, three workshops - the aluminium foil workshop, the finishing car workshop, and the three storage and transportation workshops, demonstrated remarkable execution. Throughout this period, they effectively fulfilled diverse responsibilities and realized the objective of integrating party-building efforts, doubling their impact. It was a period of significant production achievements. The aluminium foil workshop, with its record-high throughput, marked a notable 9.8 per cent increase from the previous month, a testament to its collective efforts. Similarly, the finishing workshop reached a historic peak in completion throughput, registering a remarkable month-on-month increase of 10.9 per cent, a...
The construction sector of the Polish aluminium industry is anticipated to witness significant changes in the coming years. To learn more about the economic situation of the Polish construction sector, register for the upcoming event, “Aluminium 2024 – Trends Innovation Technologies,” organised by the Polskie Stowarzyszenie Aluminium (Polish Aluminum Association). So, what are you waiting for! Register and book your seats today for Aluminium 2024 Conference. Scheduled for June 11th and 12th, 2024, at the Fabryczna Conference Center, the conference will highlight significant industry issues and other important topics. The discussions will be led by the esteemed Anna Oleksiewicz, President of ZOPI, a recognised authority in the field. The conference is primarily designed for delegates from...
Sinan Technology's recent announcement about establishing a joint venture in Thailand reflects its strategic initiative to expand its global presence and enhance its capacity to serve international markets. Specialising in the research, development, production, and sales of aluminium alloy parts for automotive lightweight applications, Sinan Technology focuses on precision pneumatic shell components for turbochargers. With a significant investment of $68 million, the company aims to construct a factory in Thailand through its subsidiary, Wuxi Castin Materials Co., Ltd. This move aligns with the company's business development goals and underscores its commitment to improving its overseas layout strategy. Additionally, the company is venturing into developing precision parts for new energy...
In a strategic alliance emblematic of forward-thinking marketing in the aluminium industry, Oralium, a distinguished Indian brand renowned for its premium aluminium building materials, has entrusted Eggfirst with its creative, digital, media, and production endeavours. This partnership signifies not only a collaboration between two industry giants but also a commitment to elevating the standards of aluminium marketing across both established and emerging Indian markets. Specialising in premium downstream products such as Oralium Premium Aluminium Roofing, alongside a comprehensive range of flat rolled items and profiles within Oralium Systems and Profiles, Oralium stands as a paragon of quality and innovation in the aluminium sector. Ahamed Iqbal KM, Managing Director, Oralium, seemed...
Abiding by the commitment to lead and empower the metal production industry’s shift towards full sustainability, Bathco, in collaboration with its technology arm Metsol, has entered into a multi-year partnership with Alucam to help it with the integration of the APC+, a next-generation, smart Pot Control System at its smelter, and Bathco will now market a significant share of the metal produced. . This cutting-edge technology will enable Cameroon’s sole aluminium smelter to enhance production efficiency, optimise power utilisation, and increase operational stability, targeting to save as much as 1 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. This collaboration will not only steer operational efficiency and environmental sustainability but will also cater to the increasing worldwide demand...
