Metlen Energy & Metals PLC is investing EUR 25 million in its recycled aluminium production facility EP.AL.ME. in Greece, targeting higher processing capacity and greater use of complex aluminium scrap streams. The investment will fund automated sorting, processing and melting equipment at EP.AL.ME., which Metlen describes as Greece’s largest independent recycled aluminium producer. The project will allow the facility to process more complex scrap, including post-consumer aluminium recovered from end-of-life products. The expansion will connect EP.AL.ME. more closely with Metlen’s Aluminium of Greece facility. EP.AL.ME. will manage the collection, sorting and pre-processing of aluminium scrap, while Aluminium of Greece will provide the production scale needed to incorporate recycled metal...
Germany’s aluminium foil export market is showing a shift after two years of steady recovery. The upward trend that had returned after the 2023 downturn failed to hold, with shipments slipping again even as some markets continued to show resilience in H1 2026. The change becomes clearer when the recent history is put together. Germany exported 151,000 tonnes in H1 2022, but the volume dropped to 138,000 tonnes in H1 2023, down 8.6 per cent. Exports then began to recover, reaching 141,000 tonnes in H1 2024, up 2.2 per cent, and 144,000 tonnes in H1 2025, an increase of 2.1 per cent, according to ITC data. In H1 2026, however, exports fell back to 140,000 tonnes, down 2.8 per cent year on year. The decline is relatively modest, but it marks a break in the recovery - raising the question of...
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The Government of India has introduced new rules to bolster kitchen safety and product integrity. Effective March 14, 2024, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has mandated the ISI mark on all stainless steel and aluminium utensils sold in the country. Under this order, adherence to Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) criteria is now compulsory. Non-compliance will incur penalties, underscoring the government's commitment to consumer safety. These stringent standards are designed to ensure that kitchenware meets high-quality benchmarks, reflecting BIS's dedication to preserving culinary diversity while enhancing product reliability and consumer protection. Aluminium utensils are essential in both household and professional kitchens. They are prized for their...
Solek, a leading renewable energy company from the Czech Republic, has formed an alliance with Degraf, a major manager of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Under this alliance, they plan to recover and reuse raw materials (aluminium, copper, etc.) found in photovoltaic (PV) solar panels. This year, they plan to dispatch 8.6 tonnes of photovoltaic modules for environmentally responsible recovery. This initiative aims to recover valuable equipment, parts, and materials such as aluminium and copper cables from these modules. "Given the increase in the generation of end-of-use photovoltaic panels, we are advancing in the installation of capacities that allow them to be recycled in compliance with the highest international standards. For this reason, the work we are doing with...
Indonesia unveiled Southeast Asia's first electric vehicle battery manufacturing facility on July 3, 2024, as a landmark for the region's automotive industry. The facility boasts the world's largest nickel reserves and the sixth-largest producer of bauxite. Situated in Karawang, West Java Province, the plant was owned by HLI Green Power and was inaugurated on July 3, 2024. This groundbreaking initiative is a joint venture involving Indonesia Battery Corporation, South Korean automaker Hyundai, and leading battery manufacturer LG Energy Solution. The move signifies Indonesia's strategic leap into the forefront of electric vehicle technology, leveraging its abundant nickel resources to propel the green energy transition forward. During the ceremony, Indonesian President Joko Widodo said,...
Kyocera AVX has recently launched the new AEF Series wet aluminium V-chip electrolytic capacitors for industrial and consumer electronics applications. Designed to meet the demands of high-density PCBs, these capacitors are qualified to industrial endurance levels. The series offers versatility with 11 case sizes ranging from 0608 to 1216. Capacitance values span from 2.2μF to 470μF, and voltage ratings range from 6.3VDC to 400VDC. The new AEF Series wet aluminium electrolytic capacitors from Kyocera AVX feature low DCL and ESR, allowing for higher tolerance of ripple currents. They maintain low impedance across a wide range of temperatures from -40°C or -55°C to +105°C, ensuring reliability. With extended lifetimes of up to 6,000 hours at +105°C and rated voltages, the series currently...
As of July 5, China’s domestic A00 aluminium ingot price concluded the week at RMB 20,270 per tonne, with average prices hovering around RMB 20,250 to 20,290 per tonne, found the Shanghai Metals Market survey. Compared to the previous day, the price descended by RMB 110 per tonne but still stood 0.60 per cent higher week-on-week. Throughout the week until July 4, the ingot price subsequently shot up by RMB 270 per tonne, starting at RMB 20,110 per tonne and reaching RMB 20,380 per tonne. At the end of the week, it decreased but did not affect the positive weekly trend. Today, the spot contract is likely to be traded at a discount price of RMB 70-30 per tonne, with an average of RMB 50 per tonne. Region-wise analysis: The price of A00 aluminium ingot dwindled across all the regions of...
In its 2023 ESG summary overview, PepsiCo, the American multinational food, snack, and beverage corporation headquartered in Harrison, New York, revealed that it has projected to fall 2 per cent short of its ambitious target of designing 100 per cent of its packaging for recyclability, compostability, biodegradability, or reusability by 2025. The company attributes this shortfall to a unique set of challenges. Despite the setback, PepsiCo has made some progress in reducing its environmental footprint. Compared to its 2020 baseline, the company reported a 1 per cent reduction in the use of virgin plastic from non-renewable sources per serving across its global beverages and convenience foods portfolio. However, the absolute tonnage of virgin plastic derived from non-renewable resources...
Alupro, the aluminium packaging recycling organisation, has been named the newest sponsor of this year’s LARAC Wales Conference. Throughout the day, delegates will have the chance to explore Alupro’s award-winning consumer engagement campaigns. These include their school-age awareness programs, Masters of Infinity, and B-influencers, with a particular focus on the MetalMatters initiative. Set to take place on July 9th at the Leonardo Hotel in Cardiff, the event will unite hundreds of local authority representatives to discuss crucial topics on waste management and recycling services. Since its inception in 2012, MetalMatters has been a game-changer, adopted by 114 councils across the UK and significantly boosting household metal packaging recycling rates. “Wales currently sits third in...
SolarDuck, a Dutch-Norwegian company, has installed its offshore floating solar (OFPV) project Merganser with the support of RWE. The pilot project aims to test and demonstrate the structural, mooring, and electrical designs and acquire knowledge about manufacturing, assembly, offshore installation, and maintenance methodologies required for large-scale commercial deployment of OFPV. Merganser has a capacity of 0.5-megawatt peak (MWp) and is located in the Dutch North Sea, approximately 12 kilometres off the coast of Scheveningen. The scalable concept consists of six interconnected platforms that can withstand extreme offshore conditions. The floating platforms were successfully connected to the mooring system at a 20-meter water depth. RWE will continue to provide its offshore know-how...
The world's alumina production once again crossed the 12 million tonnes level in May 2024 (31 calendar days), close to the output in March 2024, reflecting a month-on-month increase of 2.43 per cent. During the same period last year, the world's alumina output was also above 12 million tonnes but slightly less than this year, showing a marginal difference of 0.19 per cent. However, it is to be noted here that although the output in May 2024 nearly matches the production of last year but the overall trend of this year through the five months demonstrated much positive than in the previous year. Thus, the year-to-date world's alumina production of 2024 totalled 58.974 million tonnes, up by 2.52 per cent from 57.522 million tonnes in the earlier year, found the International Aluminium...
Singapore-based Winning International Group, a renowned Chinese Capesize specialist, is set to enhance its seaborne trade from West Africa to China with a significant new order. The company has commissioned six very large ore carriers (VLOCs) at an estimated total cost of nearly $700 million, a substantial investment that underscores their commitment to the industry. This new order follows Winning's previous acquisition of two VLOCs from CSSC's Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding yard last September. The latest sextet has been ordered from Hengli Heavy Industry, with industry insiders indicating that deliveries will commence in the second half of 2027. Each vessel is priced at approximately $116 million. Winning owns and operates one of Singapore's largest bulk carrier fleets, with almost 100...
LME aluminium opened at US$2,547 per tonne in the previous trading day, hitting a high of US$2,552 per tonne and a low of US$2,518 per tonne, and closed at US$2,527 per tonne, down US$22.5 per tonne or 0.88 per cent from the previous closing price. On Thursday, July 4, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price went up by US$6 per tonne or 0.24 per cent and US$6.5 per tonne or 0.26 per cent to settle at US$2,492.50 per tonne and US$2,493.50 per tonne. As per the LME price graph, 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price increased by US$4 per tonne or 0.15 per cent and US$4.5 per tonne or 0.17 per cent to settle at US$2,540 per tonne and US$2,541 per tonne. December 25 bid price and December 25 offer price also moved up by US$3 per tonne or 0.11 per cent...
According to the latest report, Japanese aluminium buyers have agreed to pay an 8 per cent lower premium for primary aluminium shipments for Q3 2024, ending September 30, than the previous quarter. The news came after five sources directly involved in quarterly pricing talks reported. The last offer by global producers for Q3 was $185 to $190 per tonne, compared to which the current premium is 36-37 per cent lower, standing at $118 to $119 per tonne. As opposed to the previous quarter's premium of $128 per tonne, the third-quarter premium agreed upon is 7.8-7 per cent less, following two quarters of rising premiums. In Q2 2024, Japan's primary aluminium shipment premium was 35 per cent higher sequentially, while that in Q1 was 27 per cent more. "We have settled the deals at $118 and $119...
Nocs Design, the Sweden-based studio renowned for its intricately crafted audio accessories emphasising minimalism, has introduced its latest wireless speaker, succeeding the acclaimed hand-crafted Monolith speaker. The Nocs Monolith Aluminium speaker, a testament to their meticulous craftsmanship, is the outcome of extensive research to eliminate the usage of recycled plastics. Speaker featuring CNC-machined aluminium According to founder Daniel Alm, the result is a speaker made from a single block of CNC-machined aluminium, achieving a sophisticated appearance. Notably, the speaker is fully recyclable, demonstrating Nocs' commitment to sustainability. Daniel Alm mentioned that significant time and effort were invested in achieving perfect symmetry for driver positioning within the...
Aluminium demand in North America, stemming from the automotive, aerospace, construction, and packaging industries, is undergoing an upward movement, fuelled by a concerted move towards sustainability by manufacturers. The aluminium industry in North America is categorised by product type and end-user sectors. Aluminium castings, primarily serving the transportation sector, lead in demand among all product types, followed by flat-rolled products supporting the packaging industry. According to AL Circle’s report “ Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2024 ,” North America accounted for approximately 21.5 per cent of the global aluminium flat-rolled product use and 8.25 per cent of extrusion use in 2023. Demand analysis In the first quarter of 2024, North America, including the United States...
Lhyfe, one of the world’s pioneers in producing green and renewable hydrogen, and Fives, a world leader in industrial combustion, have announced signing a memorandum of understanding to provide a complete decarbonised offer for industry, from hydrogen production to combustion. This offer speeds up energy transition by facilitating the use of hydrogen in process industries without needing to modify all the equipment. Lhyfe will produce and supply green hydrogen, and Fives will provide optimised and safe solutions for its use in industrial combustion processes. In recent years, hydrogen combustion, which emits no CO 2 , has emerged as one of the most promising solutions for reducing the carbon footprint of industrial processes. For example, a secondary aluminium furnace that today produces...
Since initiating their partnership last year, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and RECAPP, Veolia's digital recycling solution, have completed over 14,000 collections from schools and homes. About the collaboration The collaboration, aimed at fostering aluminium recycling among UAE youth, began with 12 schools near EGA's Jebel Ali and Al Taweelah operations. It has since expanded to encompass 20 educational institutions and includes home collections as well. UAE citizens and residents consume approximately 660 million aluminium beverage cans each year. Shockingly, only a third of these cans are currently recycled, starkly contrasting the over 95 per cent recycling rates in leading recycling nations. Shockingly, more than 440 million aluminium cans find their way into UAE landfills...
As a breakthrough achievement, the Talum, InovaIT, and Comland consortium has finished the ambitious two-year project Aluminij 4.0, which aims to revolutionise aluminium production. The project heralds a new era for Talum, integrating cutting-edge technologies such as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Automation. This transformative initiative, which aligns closely with our strategic objective of achieving 'zero defect' production standards for castings, has seen the implementation of self-driving forklifts and the automation of production lines. These advancements have significantly enhanced the traceability of material flow, boosted productivity, and elevated product quality. Aluminij 4.0 marks a significant technological leap for...
Speira's substantial industrial investment in Norway's Vestfold province is materialising with the installation of a new furnace, costing over NOK 400 million. The project, set to integrate the furnace into Speira's Holmestrand foundry, is slated for completion by summer 2026, marking a significant expansion effort. Speira's supervisory bodies have so far approved a NOK 414 million investment for a new furnace dedicated to recycled materials at their foundry in Holmestrand. This furnace has been a long-desired addition to the Holmestrand site, enabling it to process an additional 22,000 tonnes of scrap annually. "This investment secures a large number of jobs in Holmestrand for the foreseeable future. The old furnace has been in place for 50 years, and the new one is expected to last at...
