AlCircle News Edited By "Debanjali Sengupta"
Debanjali Sengupta is a passionate content writer with 10 years of experience in Business writing, Web Content writing, Blogging, Editing and Research. She is responsible for generating and editing content for AlCircle Newsletter and other online and offline content for enhancing the brand value and its visibility among global users.
MX3D builds lightweight aluminium bicycle frame using WAAM technology
MX3D, the Netherlands, has reportedly built a lightweight aluminium bicycle frame – the Arc Bike II by using Wire-Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) technology. This is the second WAAM bike frame produced at MX3D, following the production of a stainless steel frame designed by the students of TU Delft. To make the aluminium bike frame design tailor fit to the proportions of the rider’s body, MX3D team has used generative design software. The design was then translated by MX3D’s proprietary software into instructions for its robotic welding arm, allowing the frame to be built with twenty-four hours. Then a smart fixture set-up was developed which would allow any custom WAAM frame to be prepared easily for riding. According to MX3D, their new aluminium bicycle frame is one of many structures...
US aluminium scrap imports dropped 10.31% Y-o-Y in H1 2019; Imports in June declined by 3.38% M-o-M
According to the data shared by US Geological survey, the United States’ aluminium scrap imports in the first six months of 2019 came in at 313,000 tonnes, down 10.31 per cent from 349,000 tonnes in the same period last year. Let us here analyse the monthly trend of the United States’ aluminium scrap imports throughout the first half of 2019 {newsStudioGallery} As per the data of US Geological survey, the country’s imports in June stood at 54,200 tonnes, after recording a decline of 3.38 per cent month-on-month. In May, the imports were at 56,100 tonnes, up 5.64 per cent from 53,100 tonnes in April. As the graph above shows the United States’ aluminium scrap imports in April were also higher than the previous month because in March the country’s import volume was at 51,400 tonnes, which...
Faraday Institution to fund Nextrode project for developing electrode for Li-ion electric vehicle batteries
Oxford University’s Nextrode project that is researching ways to make electrode for Li-ion electric vehicle batteries more efficient has been reportedly chosen by the Faraday Institution. Faraday Institution is a research charity backed by the UK government. Last week, the institution announced that it would fund £55 million for five battery projects, in a bid to improve the technology that sits at the heart of electric vehicles. Today, Li-ion batteries are mostly made using a process called slurry casting, whereby the active materials are mixed in wet slurry and coated onto thin foils of aluminium or copper, then dried and compressed. This process is highly effective for mass production but involves a great cost to the manufacturer for being developed through trial and error. Also,...
YT introduces limited edition of CAPRA 29 with raw aluminium finish
After the runaway success of the limited raw edition of CAPRA 27.5 last year, YT has now launched CAPRA 29 limited edition, 100 per cent carbon free. This is the only CAPRA that runs a coil as stock, swapping out the Fox Float for a DHX2 with an SLS spring. Besides, it features raw aluminium finish and 170 mm of suspension travel. Also, it weighs extremely light with durable alloy components, which turn this enduro goat into a metal beast that feels most at home on the roughest tracks and in the bike park. This aggressive aluminium bike has also slackened off the head angle and seat tube angle by 0.5° down to 65° and 75.5° respectively, matching it to the geometry of the carbon versions. The claimed weight is 14.6 kg in medium size, which puts it 100 grams heavier than the standard Comp...
Primary aluminium inventories further decline by 34,000 tonnes week-on-week
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the social inventories of primary aluminium have again plunged this week ended on Thursday, September 12, as some regions have seen greater deliveries. SMM data shows the stocks across eight major consumption areas, including SHFE warrants, have decreased by 34,000 tonnes from a week ago to come in at 972,000 tonnes. On Monday, September 9, the inventories were at 992,000 tonnes after declining by 14,000 tonnes from last Thursday, September 5; so, the inventories today have dropped by 20,000 tonnes from that on September 9. The chart below shows the current status of primary aluminium inventories in more details: The above chart suggests that the primary aluminium inventories in Wuxi, Jiangsu have declined by 9,000 tonnes week-on-week to stand at...
Alcon shifts from glass bottles to Ball aluminium cans for its craft beer range BRAUS
Alcon has reportedly launched its craft beer range BRAUS in aluminium cans designed to offer a unique consumer experience and easy to sort and recycle. To maintain its position as a craft beer with a special taste and attitude, Alcon chose Ball’s leading HD technology for its cans that would reflect the personality of each flavour through the facial illustrations on the cans. Extending the appeal one step forward, Alcon has also added Augmented Reality (AR) technology to the cans. Shoppers can also download the BRAUS mobile application from the App Store or Google Play Store and then point their camera at the beer label to see and hear the portraits come to life. Nikita Volkov, marketing director for Alcon, commented: “With craft beer becoming increasingly popular in Russia, as well as...
A00 aluminium ingot price grows by RMB80/t and price of alloy (ADC12) by RMB50/t on limited supplies
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the A00 aluminium ingot price has further expanded its rise for the third day in a row by RMB 80 per tonne to RMB 14,550 per tonne, as of September 12. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 14,530 per tonne and RMB 14,570 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a discount price of RMB 10 per tonne to a premium price of RMB 30 per tonne. The incessant rise in A00 aluminium ingot price this week could be because of the tight supply of primary aluminium in the Chinese market due to low arrivals of stocks in inventories. Domestic production dropped, while commissioning of new or recovered capacity remained slow, resulting in limited availability in the market. The growth in ingot price today of RMB 80 per tonne has touched upon the...
US bauxite imports up by 38% Q-o-Q in Q2 2019, but alumina imports down by 42%
As shown by the latest US Geological Survey data on bauxite and alumina imports in the second quarter of 2019, the United States imported 1.03 million tonnes of crude and dried bauxite, up 38 per cent from Q1 2019 and 13 per cent from the same period last year. With this, the US' total bauxite imports in the first half of 2019 came in at 1.77 million tonnes. {newsStudioGallery} According to the data, Jamaica accounted for 69 per cent of the imports by providing 713,000 tonnes, while Brazil accounted for 21 per cent by supplying 220,000 tonnes in Q2 2019. The imports of alumina, on the other hand, decreased quarter-on-quarter in Q2 2019 by 42 per cent to 364,000 tonnes, but up by 3 per cent from the second quarter of 2018. This brought the total alumina imports by the US to 987,000 tonnes...
China’s primary aluminium production in August declines by 3.48% Y-o-Y and 1.96% M-o-M
According to Shanghai Metals Market, China’s primary aluminium production in August came in at 3.01 million tonnes after declining 3.48 per cent year-on-year and 1.96 per cent month-on-month. This year-on-year and month-on-drop in domestic production could be attributed to the accidents in some smelters in Shandong and Xinjiang, resulting in production disruption. China’s total primary aluminium production from January-August also stood lower by 1.89 per cent year-on-year to 23.57 million tonnes, found SMM survey. Commissioning of new or recovered capacity remained slow. As of the end of August, primary aluminium capacity in operation declined to 34.9 million tonnes. Suspended and idling capacity stood at 5.8 million tonnes. Average operating rates across smelters also dropped by 4.7...
China’s daily average alumina production in August drops by 4,000 tonnes M-o-M
Shanghai Metals Market found the alumina output in China stood at 5.82 million tonnes in August, with metallurgical-grade alumina accounting for 5.57 million tonnes. Daily average production of metallurgical-grade alumina came in at 180,000 tonnes in August, down 4,000 tonnes or 2.2 per cent month-on-month. Lower output at Xing’an Chemicals, Henan Huiyuan, Henan Zhongmei, Bosai Group’s Shuijiang project, Shanxi Zhaofeng, East Hope’s Lingshi refinery, and SPIC Shanxi New Energy could be the reason for the drop in daily average alumina production. Because of sluggish alumina prices and bauxite supply tightness, these alumina producers had to cut their productions. In September, the total production is expected to reach 5.8 million tonnes, including 5.56 million tonnes of metallurgical-grade...
Hydro announces to sell its Romanian extrusion plant to Hammerer Aluminium Industries
According to a report, Hydro, on Tuesday, September 10, announced that it signed an agreement with Austria-based Hammerer Aluminium Industries (HAI) for the sale of its extrusion plant located in Romania. The decision to sell Hydro Extrusion is part of the overall review in Extruded Solutions aiming to optimise and streamline the portfolio. As per the report, the transaction is expected to be completed in the last quarter of 2019. Hydro Extrusion, part of the Extruded Solutions business area, has around 200 employees and produces around 20,000 tonnes of extruded profiles per year, mainly for the construction industry. Hammerer Aluminium Industries (HAI) supplies aluminium and aluminium-related products. It owns an aluminium extrusion factory in Santana, western Romania.
UK fabricator Abcell expands its product range with AluK aluminium windows and doors
UK-based fabricator Abcell has reportedly added AluK aluminium windows and doors to its impressive range of products. Already renowned for manufacturing specialised products like The Guardian™ Warm Roofs, The Global Conservatory Roofs, and the Warmcore Aluminium Bi-Fold Doors, Patio Doors and Windows, Abcell, partnering with AluK, will now be able to offer an even greater range of top-quality windows and doors. AluK is a global leader in the design and engineering of aluminium windows, doors, and curtain walling systems. Paul Ford, Abcell Managing Director, said, “The continued success that we have achieved over the years has been due to our ability to expand and diversify, providing the industry with the kind of quality products that they demand.” He added, “Adding AluK aluminium to the...
Casting and processing operation of aluminium semis affected in China due to tightened environmental curbs
According to Shanghai Metals Market, casting and processing operation of aluminium rod, coil, and plate producers in Gongyi, Jiaozuo, and Zhengzhou cities of Henan province are affected to varying degrees since September 4. The reason is the tightened environmental curbs by the local government to prepare for the 11th Chinese Ethnic Games taking place in Zhengzhou during September 8-16. The latest SMM survey indicates the actual impact of the output controls could be temporary, for about 10 days. SMM learned large logistics vehicles are not allowed to enter Zhengzhou. Also, checks against vehicles overloading are tightened since August 25, ahead of the Chinese Ethnic Games. In Huiguo county of Gongyi, the production that involves volatile organic compound (VOCs) emissions, such as...
A00 aluminium ingot price grows by RMB30/t on limited stocks in the market; Input costs remain unchanged
Followed by the decline in social inventories of primary aluminium by 14,000 tonnes, the average price of A00 aluminium ingot has recorded a growth of RMB 30 per tonne to RMB 14,420 per tonne on September 10, found Shanghai Metals Market. Primary aluminium stocks in Gongyi, Henan arrived limited last day which led to the decline in inventories and rise in ingot prices. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 14,400 per tonne and RMB 14,440 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a premium price of RMB 40 per tonne. Until the mid-August, the A00 aluminium ingot price remained sluggish, hovering below RMB 14,000 per tonne. On August 13, the ingot price recorded a sweeping growth of RMB 300 per tonne and since then had been ranging between RMB 14,250 per tonne and RMB...
Alcoa announces to implement new operating model to reduce overhead cost
Alcoa Corporation, a global leader in bauxite, alumina, and aluminium products, has reportedly announced today, on September 9, that it will implement a new operating model with effect from November 1, 2019. The company said the new model would result in a leaner, more integrated, operator-centric organisation that accelerates the company’s strategic priorities. As per the report, the restructuring of the operating model will help Alcoa reduce its overhead cost, promote operational and commercial excellence, increase connectivity between the company’s plants and leadership, ensure safety, and generate sustainable profitability. The Alcoa executive team will be narrowed down to seven direct reports to the CEO from twelve and business unit structure will be eliminated. Sales, procurement,...
Netherlands’ alumina imports from Jamaica and Ireland to grow in 2019 after a fall last year
The Netherlands is home to one of the notable aluminium smelting operations in the world - Delfzijl aluminium smelter in Farmsum, and is the ninth largest export economy in the world, of which aluminium accounts for US$ 1.74 billion on average. This indicates the requirement of a considerable amount of alumina in the Netherlands. {newsStudioGallery} Source: https://www.statista.com As the graph above shows the Netherlands' alumina imports have been rising consistently over the years, let us here analyse the country's imports trends from two of the most significant suppliers - Jamaica and Ireland. Jamaica has always been the top exporter of alumina to the Netherlands, irrespective of the fluctuation in volume. In 2016, the Netherlands had imported 276,788 tonnes of alumina from Jamaica,...
Primary aluminium inventories in China continue to fall over the weekend by 14,000 tonnes
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the social inventories of primary aluminium have extended decline over the weekend ended on September 9, as stocks in Gongyi, Henan have recorded a drop due to fewer arrivals. SMM data showed that the inventories across eight major Chinese consumption areas, including SHFE warrants, stood at 992,000 tonnes after declining by 14,000 tonnes from 1.006 million tonnes on Thursday, September 5. On last Monday, September 2, the inventories were at 1.016 million tonnes, which indicates that today the stocks have decreased by 24,000 tonnes week-on-week. The chart below represents the current status of primary aluminium inventories in China in more details: The above chart shows the primary aluminium inventories in Wuxi, Jiangsu have dropped by 8,000 tonnes to...
Federation of aluminium vessel manufacturers to appeal to the Government for GST reduction
According to a recent report, the federation of aluminium vessel manufacturers said on Sunday, September 8, that it should appeal to the Union Government for the reduction of the GST on aluminium vessels. Deputy Speaker Pollachi V. Jayaraman told the media that in the recent years, this industry has seen a dent due to levy of GST, shortage of workers, and hike in raw materials prices. So, the federation members have decided to appeal to the Union Government to reduce the GST on aluminium vessels. Deputy Speaker further said this demand would be recommended to the Union Government. He also told media that aluminium vessels are used widely in houses and hotels for cooking and various other purposes. They are mainly manufactured in Coimbatore, Chennai, Salem, and Madurai. About 150 people...
