Two recent Tesla stories sit at opposite ends of the range. Tesla Model 3 is set to benefit from cost-focused Cybercab inverter technology, announced on November 1 2026. The flying car, Tesla Roadster, uses aluminum in its battery cells and underbody protection, reinforcing power delivery, thermal management and lightweight construction. The two models reveal how aluminum can serve very different engineering priorities, from making electric vehicles (EVs) more affordable to helping them deliver extraordinary performance. Tesla Model 3: the everyday car gets Cybercab hardware Nick Verzini, Tesla’s Head of Drive Unit Engineering, mentioned on a Munro Live factory tour that a new printed circuit board assembly and power stage from the Cybercab’s inverter will enter Model 3 production in...
Odisha Additional Chief Secretary for Housing and Urban Development and IDCO Chairperson Usha Padhee visited Angul on Saturday to review infrastructure development at the Aluminium Park near NALCO, alongside housing, sanitation and drainage projects. The visit focused on resolving infrastructure bottlenecks, improving civic services and accelerating implementation through coordination among the concerned agencies. During her visit to the Aluminium Park, Padhee held discussions with senior officials from NALCO and the Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation of Odisha (IDCO), particularly on essential power and water supply requirements. She called for coordinated efforts and time-bound action to address the identified infrastructure issues. Join the fourth edition of webinar "...
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The nationwide strike in the bauxite kingdom Guinea , which had brought the nation and its mining sector to a standstill since February 26, 2024, has been suspended by the country's trade unions, according to a statement released on February 28. The Guinean Trade Union Movement, representing various workers' unions, announced the suspension in light of the release of Sekou Jamal Pendessa, a detained union leader and a crucial demand of the unions. The unions expressed readiness to reopen negotiations with the government concerning their outstanding concerns . These encompass reducing food costs, easing internet constraints, and implementing a wage agreement established with the government in November. The strike caused disturbances at numerous mines in the world's leading bauxite...
Aluminium prices have not shown any improvement, as expected, during the beginning of the year compared to 2023. Analysts from AL Circle have already stated the global aluminium market in H1 2024 is anticipated to mirror 2023. This is primarily due to a slowdown within the Chinese economy, notably within the troubled property and construction industries and the economic deceleration in the world's large economies. Analysts foresee a persistent surplus of the metal throughout 2024, like in 2023 at the end, which was around 800,000 tonnes. It is anticipated that sustained downward pressure on prices will be exerted, given the prevailing weakness in demand. The research arm of Kenanga Investment Bank stated, "We acknowledged that contrary to expectations, China’s reopening has not...
Greenhouse gas, a significant source of concern within the realm of environmental science and mitigating its impact on the planet, is a crucial challenge for the future well-being of Earth and all its inhabitants. As per the International Aluminium Institute's (IAI) recent data, for the first time, the collective greenhouse gas emissions stemming from the worldwide aluminium sector remained static despite an expansion in aluminium production. Reduction in GHG & CO2e emission As per the IAI data, despite a 3.9 per cent increase in global aluminium production from 104.1 million tonnes to 108.2 million tonnes, total greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from the sector have remained stable. There was a slight decrease from 1.13 billion tonnes CO2e to 1.11 billion tonnes CO2e in 2022. IAI Secretary...
The German automotive sector has experienced a notable recovery following the conclusion of the pandemic, with exports exhibiting particularly robust growth for car manufacturers. The automotive industry in Germany is said to be one of the largest employers in the world. Germany's automotive industry stands as a global beacon of excellence, renowned for its unparalleled engineering prowess. From Asia to the Americas, German automobiles epitomise cherished qualities of innovation, dependability, safety, and aesthetic design. The automotive sector is heavily influenced by a select few countries where major Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) operations are based, contributing significantly to global vehicle production. These nations include China, the United States, Japan, India, South...
LME aluminum opened at US$2,203.50 per tonne on Wednesday, February 28, with its high and low at US$2,203.50 per tonne and US$2,177 per tonne, respectively, before closing at US$2,191 per tonne, down 0.41 per cent. LME aluminium cash bid price shed off US$15.50 per tonne or 0.72 per cent to stand at US$2,129.50 per tonne, while LME aluminium official settlement price lost US$16 per tonne or 0.75 per cent to settle at US$2,130 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price shrank by US$18 per tonne and US$17.50 per tonne, respectively, to rest at US$2,180 per tonne and US$2,181 per tonne, respectively. December-25 bid price and December-25 offer price closed the day at US$2,398 per tonne and US$2,403 per tonne, respectively, down by US$15 per tonne from the previous day. LME...
On Thursday, February 29, China’s A00 aluminium ingot price hiked by RMB 70 per tonne to settle at RMB 18,860 per tonne, with the spot contract price expected to be traded at a discount price of RMB 30 to a premium price of RMB 10 per tonne. The average price for the same is expected to orbit between RMB 18,840 per tonne and RMB 18,880 per tonne. The prices have shown growth in all the provinces. The price in Wuxi has experienced a growth of RMB 80 per tonne to RMB 18,870 per tonne. In regions like Gongyi, Hangzhou, Chongqing, and Shenyang, it has grown by RMB 70 per tonne to settle at RMB 18,770 per tonne and RMB 18,860 per tonne, respectively. On the same day in Linyi, the A00 aluminium ingot price added RMB 60 per tonne to settle at RMB 18,880 per tonne, followed by a rise of RMB 50...
A leading manufacturer of jet engines, known for its dedication to enhancing manufacturing capabilities, has announced plans to integrate two state-of-the-art Vapor Phase Aluminizing (VPA) coating furnaces from G-M Enterprises, a Nitrex company, in the first half of 2024. This strategic move signifies a significant advancement in aerospace manufacturing and underscores the enduring partnership between the two entities. Over time, the customer has consistently relied on Nitrex vacuum furnaces across multiple locations. The newly acquired VPA furnaces are designed for high capacity and low maintenance, featuring automated retorts with moving bases and a fixed heat chamber to optimise operational efficiency. With each retort securely sealed to the moving bases, the furnaces can concurrently...
On February 28, 2024, Constellium SE unveiled its leadership in a fresh R&D venture named "Close the Loop," collaborating with a consortium of recycling enterprises in France. This partnership encompasses INDRA (specialising in automotive recycling), GALLOO (a prominent figure in metal recycling), and MTB RECYCLING (known for its expertise in metal shredding and sorting). Constellium is an industry-leading provider of comprehensive rolled and extruded aluminium solutions catering to the worldwide automotive sector. Through strategic collaboration spanning the value chain, the company actively champions the low-carbon transition and advocates for a circular economy. Funded in part by the French Environmental Agency ADEME under the France 2030 program, the ‘Close the Loop’ project aims to...
World alumina production welcomed 2024 with a slight month-on-month dip of 0.22 per cent but a year-on-year rise of 3.9 per cent, found the International Aluminium Institute. According to the data revealed, world alumina production in January stood at 12.052 million tonnes compared to 12.078 million tonnes in December 2023 and 11.6 million tonnes in January 2023. The daily average output across the world was 388,800 tonnes in January, reflecting a drop of 0.21 per cent M-o-M aligned with the monthly production drop. On a year-on-year basis, world daily alumina output in January was 3.9 per cent higher than 374,200 tonnes. China produced 6.85 million tonnes (approx.) of alumina in January 2024, accounting for 56.84 per cent of the world’s production. On a month-on-month basis, China’s...
To comply with the national energy-saving policy and advance Chinalco Group's "double carbon" agenda, Southwest Aluminum and Chinalco Environmental Protection and Energy Conservation Technology (Hunan) have recently achieved the energy-saving refurbishment of their smelting furnace. This move underscores their commitment to green development, focusing on energy conservation and emission reduction. As a result, the energy-saving rate for natural gas consumption per ton of aluminium smelting has surpassed 20%. Adopting dispersed regenerative combustion technology for the No.24 boiler unit in the second part of melting and casting is a strategic move towards further energy efficiency. This technology, which changes the traditional premixed combustion mode, optimizes airflow circulation, and...
The mining sector in Jamaica experienced an approximate 23.6 per cent growth during the final quarter of 2023. Crude bauxite production in the island nation experienced a notable decline of 27 per cent, leading to a decrease in the bauxite capacity utilization rate to 32.7 per cent, marking a drop of 12.1 percentage points. Dr Wayne Henry, the Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), stated, " Alumina production grew by 32.9 per cent due to increased capacity utilisation at the Jamalco refinery. The alumina capacity utilisation rate increased to 39 per cent, up 9.6 percentage points compared with the corresponding quarter of 2022." Dr Henry remarked that this indicated a rise in alumina production.
Hydro and NKT have forged a strategic partnership to create an exceptional, low-carbon aluminium power cable value chain to support the growth of Europe's renewable energy grid. The two companies will work closely together on research and development initiatives and product innovations over the next decade leading to 2030. What the partnership holds Together, they will pioneer new frontiers in aluminium wire rod applications, aiming to significantly reduce carbon footprints without compromising on the impeccable quality they are known for. These cutting-edge projects will traverse the realms of primary and recycled aluminium sources, ushering in a greener era for the energy landscape of tomorrow. Despite the swift expansion of renewable energy sources, the looming challenge of outdated...
Kam Kiu Aluminium Products Group's extrusion facility at Taishan City has achieved ASI Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard V2 (2022) Certification. Located in the Shiqiao Industrial Zone of Dajiang Country, Taishan City, the facility specializes in producing aluminium profiles tailored for door and window systems and profiles and grilles for broader construction projects. This certification extends to manufacturing construction and industrial aluminium profiles and grilles. Additionally, the facility has attained recertification to ASI Performance Standard V3. Both certifications, the ASI CoC Standard V2 (2022) and ASI Performance Standard V3, became effective on January 31, 2024. "We congratulate Kam Kiu Aluminium Products Group Limited on achieving Certification against ASI CoC Standard V2...
On February 22, 2024, POSCO Future M Co., a leading supplier of battery materials, commenced construction on its fifth cathode materials plant in Gwangyang, South Korea. This move aims to establish the complex in South Jeolla Province as the largest manufacturing cluster for cathode materials globally in terms of capacity. The new facility is projected to manufacture 52,500 tonnes of cathode materials annually, tailored for nickel, cobalt, and aluminium (NCA) batteries commonly used in electric vehicles. This production capacity will adequately power approximately 580,000 EVs with 60 kilowatt-hour batteries. Notably, these cathode materials will be exclusively provided to Samsung SDI Co. The South Korean company announced that upon its scheduled completion by April 2025, it will enhance...
Global law firms Davis Polk & Wardwell and Ashurst are advising American aluminium giant Alcoa Corporation regarding its proposed acquisition of Alumina Ltd, an Australian alumina and bauxite producer. The acquisition, structured as an all-stock transaction, values Alumina Ltd. at USD$2.2 billion. Alumina, advised by King & Wood Mallesons, has consented to the terms of the agreement, contingent upon approval from shareholders and regulatory bodies. Notably, Alumina Ltd.'s primary shareholder, fund manager Allan Gray Australia, has committed to selling its 19.9 per cent ownership stake. Kylie Lane, Partner at Ashurst, stated, "We are proud to be supporting Alcoa Corporation, a long-standing client, on this major strategic transaction." "The acquisition of Alumina Limited represents an...
Aluminium and its alloy variations have enjoyed extensive use over numerous decades. However, with the rising demand for exceptionally pure materials in advanced technological products, the exploration of high-purity aluminium has garnered substantial interest recently. Aluminium Ingots A7 represent a premium grade of aluminium highly sought after across industries for its exceptional properties and adaptability. Recognized for its remarkable purity and impressive strength-to-weight ratio, aluminium Ingots A7 is a refined form of this metal that holds immense value in the global market. With a chemical composition boasting a minimum aluminium purity of 99.7 per cent, aluminium A7 features minimal impurities like silicon, iron, copper, and other elements. This result in a top-tier...
According to a report on February 28, Capral Aluminium Chairman Rex Wood-Ward will retire from the board at the conclusion of the company's Annual General Meeting on May 8, 2024. The news came after Mr Wood-Ward announced his retirement, telling Australia's leading publication, Trailer Magazine, that he enjoyed his time immensely at Capral. "I've really enjoyed working and watching management take control of the business, while doing intelligent, game-changing things for it. They've really turned the business around, and we've built a solid base going forward," said Mr Rex. He also said that Capral is in a powerful position and will continue to grow. He added, "The Board and management are totally aligned with a very clear vision of where we're going." Mr Wood-Ward joined Capral in 2008...
On Tuesday, February 27, The UK Trade Remedies Authority announced that it reconsidered decisions concerning anti-dumping measures on aluminium extrusion imports from China. Of the two decisions, one is related to the recommendation of anti-dumping measures on certain Chinese aluminium extrusions, and the other is the final determination of whether to include large aluminium extrusions under the duties. The authority initiated reconsideration after receiving an application from a UK producer, which suggested that duties imposed are not up to the mark considering the injuries caused to domestic businesses and that the large extrusions should not have escaped the measures. During the anti-dumping investigation, the UK Trade Remedies Authority found that Chinese aluminium extrusion dumps put...
