A rolling-mill drive can trip even when its encoder passes a bench test. A refinery instrument can report erratic readings with no obvious process upset. Engineers may suspect the devices first, but the installed cables, mating interfaces and routing deserve the same scrutiny. Intermittent faults sometimes disappear the moment an assembly is touched. That uncertainty has an economic cost: investigation consumes maintenance time, and a missed control signal may delay equipment availability. This article concerns sensor, instrumentation, encoder, fieldbus and appropriately rated low-power auxiliary interfaces, typically carrying signals or modest loads—not power feeders. Main motor circuits, plant distribution, rectifier outputs and potline busbars are outside its scope. No connector type...
Pioneering ideas for an industry in transition A successful debut: With the launch of the ALUMINIUM Innovation Awards, ALUMINIUM 2026 created a dedicated stage for the industry's most outstanding innovation leaders for the very first time. In partnership with the International Aluminium Journal, companies were recognised whose ideas and technologies provide answers to the key challenges facing the global aluminium industry and set new benchmarks for its future. The strong response to the new initiative underlines its relevance: More than 70 submissions and over 9,700 votes cast in the public voting process made the Innovation Awards one of the most talked-about highlights of ALUMINIUM 2026 from the outset. The awards ceremony took place on 7 October and provided a fitting finale to the...
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According to the Shanghai Metals Market, China’s aluminium production in August (31 calendar days) amounted to 3.488 million tonnes, reflecting a steady trend compared to 3.5 million tonnes in the previous month and 8.16 per cent higher than in a year ago. The total output during January-September stood at 26.547 million tonnes, an increase of 2.2 per cent from the corresponding period of the last year. The daily average production of the metal was 112,500 tonnes across China in August’22 - majorly unchanged from 112,900 tonnes in July. This stable production could be accredited to steady product resumptions at companies like Gansu Liancheng, Guangxi Jili Baikuang, and Guangxi Investment Group Yinhai. According to SMM, 380,000 tonnes of capacity owned by Gansu Liancheng resumed, while new...
On 14 th September 2022, Anil Agarwal, the Chairman of Vedanta Resources stated that his company has new investments of more than USD$3 billion (INR 25,000 crore), as it has plans to expand its aluminium, ferrochrome, and mining businesses in Odisha. The founder of Vedanta Resources made this announcement while meeting, Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister of Odisha on the side-lines of the ‘Make in Odisha-2022’ roadshow in Mumbai. Anil Agarwal said, "We (Vedanta) stand testimony to what is possible if you Make it in Odisha. It is amongst the most favourable investment destinations in India, ably led by the stable governance, leadership, and vision of Naveen Patnaik, which is reflected in the state's Ease of Doing Business rankings.” According to the company, “With this quantum of...
On Thursday, September 15, the A00 aluminium ingot price in China hiked by RMB 160 per tonne to settle at RMB 18,790 per tonne, with the average prices ranging between RMB 18,770 per tonne and RMB 18,810 per tonne. The spot contract price is expected to be traded at a discount price of RMB 20 per tonne and a premium price of RMB 20 per tonne. As per the SMM data, the price in Foshan has increased by RMB 180 per tonne to settle at RMB 18,770 per tonne. The A00 aluminium ingot price in Gongyi, Wuxi and Chongqing ascended by RMB 170 per tonne to rest at RMB 18,720 per tonne, RMB 18,790 per tonne and RMB 18,830 per tonne. In Tianjin and Hangzhou, the prices climbed up by RMB 160 per tonne and RMB 150 per tonne, stopping at RMB 18,840 per tonne and RMB 18,810 per tonne. In Linyi and Shenyang,...
After remaining stable through the first half of 2022, operating rates of China’s molten aluminium casting billet enterprises declined in July and August, attributing to the decline in orders from downstream aluminium extruders, recurrence of the COVID-19, and power rationing in some areas. SMM survey found the average operating rates of domestic molten aluminium casting billet enterprises dropped by 3.51 percentage points M-o-M to 67.84 per cent in August 2022. The decline was contributed by central, east, and south-west China, with average operating rates fell 6.47 percentage points in east China, owing to poor demand in Shandong, which made many local billet factories and traders shift cargoes to Jiangsu, Zheijiang, and other regions. In addition, the rising cost of aluminium billets...
The Drinktec event scheduled to be held in Munich from the 12th to 16th of September would display the flagship product of the Guala Closures Group, an aluminium packaging company. The product in focus has been named Talog, a tamper-evident cap made of aluminium and a plastic tamper-evident band that separates into halves the first time the seal is broken. Talog has been accepted widely by various renowned water brands. Guala features another closure type called the Alu-Star, which is entirely made of aluminium and sports a tamper-evident ring that shatters into multiple pieces as the packaging is opened for the first time. The broken parts remain attached to the cap. Founded in 1954, the Guala Closures Group hailing from Italy, is one of the leaders in producing aluminium packaging...
On September 13, Alcoa declared that it is currently developing new aluminium alloys, named A210 ExtruStrongTM and C611 EZCastTM, to further optimise its supply division and establish itself as a successful American alloy provider. Among the two latest discoveries, the company has introduced a new high-strength, 6000 series alloy, A210 ExtruStrongTM, proving to be beneficial across a varied range of extruded solutions, like construction, transport, consumer goods and the industrial sector. The other aluminium alloy has been named C611 EZCastTM alloy, a high-performance material that does not need any specific heat therapy. The C611 EZCastTM alloy has been widely acknowledged this week, winning an international award at the 2022 International Die Casting Competition in Lexington that was...
Göksal Güngör will continue to be a President of the Global Aluminium Foil Roller Initiative (GLAFRI) for another term as being re-elected during the 6th Global Aluminium Foil Roller Conference (GLAFCO) in Istanbul. Alexander Dörsel of Speira (Europe), Patrick Lawlor of Gränges (USA), and Simon Chan of Xiashun (Asia) are re-elected as vice presidents by the General Assembly, and they will continue to serve on the GLAFRI Board. Mr Güngör also serves Assan Alüminyum as General Manager. For being re-elected in the position of President, he expressed his gratitude and said, “I am honoured and delighted to be re-elected as President of GLAFRI. Together with my colleagues on the Board, we will continue with many exciting projects, and we will kick-off new initiatives.” He also said that the...
Ecosystem Southland is in charge of a programme of action to ensure a thorough and integrated approach is followed to determine the level of contamination at the Tiwai aluminium smelter site and the necessary clean-up of the surrounding environment. According to the Environmental health and safety (EHS) assessment, the results show contaminants in drains and soil. It also reveals elevated levels of cyanide, fluoride, aluminium, arsenic, and PAHs in groundwater. New Zealand Aluminium Smelters (NZAS) has been requested by the regional council to take many actions to remediate the pollution that the firm discovered via its own reporting and a subsequent independent evaluation. The commission is requesting an enhanced, independent monitoring programme for the site. To clarify contamination at...
Ferrari has long been planning to introduce an SUV to its luxury car series to align pathways with its contemporaries. The dream has come true with the revelation of the first-ever SUV created for the brand Purosangue SUV. The lower chassis structure of the car has been forged entirely from a high-strength aluminium alloy. This new addition to the Prancing Horse’s 75-years old history doesn’t resemble a conventional SUV; rather, it is a four-door four-seater luxury car. Although this is the very first Ferrari model with four-door specifications, the brand has kept its standard while supplying the 6.5-litre naturally-aspirated V12 engine that generates a massive 533kW thrusting the vehicle to 100kph in 3.3 seconds. Ferrari claims the 8-speed dual-clutch transmission changes faster than the...
China’s domestic metallurgical-grade alumina production in August 2022 (31 calendar days) edged 1.4 per cent lower month-on-month to total 6.844 million tonnes, found the Shanghai Metals Market. However, on a year-on-year calculation, the August output stood 11.16 per cent higher, with an average daily production at 220,800 tonnes, down by 1.38 per cent from 223,900 tonnes in July. The operating capacity in August was 80.583 million tonnes, and the operating rate stood at 85 per cent. In individual provinces like Shandong, domestic alumina production stood at 2.17 million tonnes, up 2.3 per cent month-on-month. In Henan, the output increased as well by 6.9 per cent to stand at 789,000 tonnes. In Shanxi and Guizhou, alumina production fell by 5.5 per cent to 1.698 million tonnes and 1.3...
En+ Group, the largest producer of low-carbon aluminium and biggest independent renewable energy generator, announced the first year results on Net Zero strategy goals. In 2021, En+ Group was Russia’s one of the first companies to target becoming carbon neutral by 2050. The first lap of the goal was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 35 per cent by 2030. Despite geopolitical pressure and external challenges resulting supply chain disruptions, the Group could remain committed and initiate the drive. "Despite the current geopolitical situation, we will strive to continue pursuing our objectives. Their relevance is driven by our sales markets. Sales of aluminium with a low carbon footprint under the ALLOW brand grew by 44% last year and came close to 1 million tonnes. Thanks to...
A00 aluminium ingot price has plunged by RMB 80 per tonne to halt at RMB 18,630 per tonne, as the Shanghai Metals Market recorded on Wednesday, September 14. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 18,610 per tonne and RMB 18,650 per tonne, with spot contracts trading at discount prices of RMB 50 per tonne and RMB 10 per tonne. The provinces in China have witnessed a downfall in aluminium prices today, with A00 aluminium ingot prices decreasing the highest in Wuxi and Hangzhou by RMB 70 per tonne to RMB 18,620 per tonne and RMB 18,660 per tonne, followed by RMB 60 per tonne slump in Foshan and Chongqing to RMB 18,590 per tonne and RMB 18,660 per tonne. The price of aluminium in Tianjin has recorded an RMB 50 per tonne drop to settle at RMB 18,680 per tonne. The aluminium...
LME aluminium opened at US$2,298 per tonne on Tuesday and closed at US$2,306 per tonne, up 1.03 per cent. On Tuesday, September 13, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price increased by US$21 per tonne or 0.91 per cent to close at US$2,309 per tonne and US$2,309.50 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price went up by US$16 per tonne or 0.69 per cent and US$17 per tonne or 0.73 per cent, to rest at US$2,325 per tonne and US$2,326.50 per tonne. December 23 bid price and December 23 offer price surged by US$63 per tonne or 2.68 per cent and 2.67 per cent to stop at US$2,410 per tonne and US$2,415 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock closed at 332900 tonnes. Live warrants and Cancelled warrants were recorded at 258775 tonnes and 74125 tonnes....
EGA, the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates, excluding the oil and gas sector, honoured the arrival of the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China, Zhang Yiming, to the company's Jebel Ali site in Dubai, UAE. The Managing Director of EGA, Abdulla Jassem Kalban, hosted the Ambassador and his associates. Emirates Global Aluminium exports the raw material for aluminium making to China, which is bauxite. China is the largest single market for EGA's bauxite that it ships to China from its mining operation in the Republic of Guinea. Only the previous year, EGA secured a US$616 million worth of goods and services deal from fifty-five different companies hailing from all across China. The Chinese Ambassador, Yiming, sounded positive when he said: "I am very pleased to see...
On September 13, Constellium SE declared it is providing aluminium Auto Body Sheet solutions for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class models manufactured in China, Europe or South Africa and exported globally for purchase. Constellium supplies aluminium required to mend the roof, tailgate, fenders and hood of the Mercedes-Benz car. Aluminium is the most suitable option for constituting lighter and more agile vehicles and is crucial for developing a modern vehicle design that ensures safety and durability. Constellium provides Mercedes-Benz C-Class with its flagship corrosion-resistant Surfalex® solution for the outer closures to yield extraordinary surface quality for precision designs. Constellium Securalex® adorns the inner closure parts adhering strictly to the most important pedestrian safety...
Rising energy prices continue to affect China. As per the reports, Yunnan, a province in southwest China instructed aluminium producers to use less energy this week. Although local prices have not been significantly affected, Yunnan's move indicates that rising energy prices greatly influence the production of aluminium throughout the world. Reports stated that from September 13 to September 14, the aluminium producers were ordered to reduce their energy use by around 10 per cent of their everyday consumption. Following a directive from the Dali Power Supply Bureau, a division of the Yunnan Power Grid, the enterprises already reduced their power usage from September 10 to September 12 by 5 per cent compared to regular use. Low rainfall in the area this year, which generally accounts for...
The world's leading metals and mining corporation, Rio Tinto, has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Volvo Group to create a strategic partnership where the Anglo-Australian multinational company will supply responsibly sourced low-carbon products and solutions to Volvo Group. In order to reduce Rio Tinto's carbon footprint, Volvo Group's sustainable autonomous haulage solutions will be piloted. The multi-materials partnership will empower Rio Tinto to progress sustainability commitments in its operations and supply chains. However, it will support Volvo Group, one of the world's most significant transport and infrastructure providers, in its ambition toward a net-zero future. The partnership targets to secure supplies of materials, including low-carbon aluminium, lithium,...
Romco Metals has decided to raise US$50 million in debt and equity to enhance its output by more than five times to 100,000 tonnes annually, as was mentioned by the CEO of the company. Romco recycles scrap aluminium in Nigeria and Ghana and has advanced on a project that will generate green hydrogen for powering its furnaces. The CEO of the UK-based recycling plant assured that in the next five years, Romco would have seven new plants operating in Africa to meet escalating demand for aluminium. The enterprise has recently started recycling copper. The recycling plants of the company located in Ghana and Lagos utilise compressed natural gas to power furnaces producing a consolidated 18,000 tonnes of aluminium ingots each year. Romco founder and CEO Raymond Onovwigun commented: "We are...
