AlCircle News Edited By "Pratyusha Chatterjee"
A writer with 5+ years of experience in the communication industry, Pratyusha Chatterjee has indulged in content from the business, lifestyle, travel industries and more. Apart from news and content, Pratyusha is immensely fond of participating in cultural events and managing them.
Apple and Tsinghua collabs to optimise revolutionising aluminium production through low-carbon recycling
In 2022, Apple and Tsinghua University introduced the ‘Carbon Neutral Capacity Improvement Project’ to train younger pupils on environmental protection and low-carbon transformation. Carbon neutrality is a vast and convoluted system inclusive of pivotal technologies, engineering, systems, and governance. Image Source: https://www.tsinghua.edu.cn Through this project, on one hand, students could study relevant practices on campus and, on the other, go to the ground zeroes of factories and businesses for field summer exercise, subsequently attaining an in-depth understanding of the practical applications of carbon neutrality, technological innovation and management. This year, Tsinghua University students created research groups focused on improving energy efficiency through digitalisation,...
Classic looks, cutting-edge power—Mazda's first generation MX-5 can now go electric within moments
UK-based EV technology firm Electrogenic has introduced an electrification kit tailored for the first-generation Mazda MX-5, with a focus on aluminium-centric innovation. This 'plug-and-play' solution allows Mazda MX-5 enthusiasts to transform their petrol-powered roadsters into aluminium-chassised electric vehicles while preserving the car's lightweight aluminium structure and enhancing performance. Image Source: https://www.frfmotors.com/ Central to the kit is a 42kWh battery pack, cleverly distributed between the front, beneath the aluminium bonnet, and the space formerly occupied by the fuel tank. Impressively, the boot remains untouched, maintaining its original storage capacity. The vehicle is driven by a compact motor generating 120kW of power, channelled through a single-speed...
Alcoa, a titan in the aluminium industry, triumphantly retains performance despite multiple ups and downs in 2024
Pittsburgh-based Alcoa Corporation is a global leader in the bauxite, alumina, and aluminium industry. With a market capitalisation of US$7.807 billion and an enterprise value of US$8.057 billion, the company's operations span the entire aluminium value chain, making it a significant player in the global market. Global footprint Alcoa's operations extend across nine countries, primarily in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Iceland, Norway, Spain, and the United States, wherein the enterprise directly and indirectly owns 27 operating locations and employs over 13,000 people. Operations are divided into two reportable upstream segments — alumina and aluminium. The alumina segment encompasses global bauxite mines and alumina refineries, aligning the global brand as one of the world's largest...
SMM: Aluminium ingot prices stabilise after a volatile week, provinces show mixed movements
As the first week of the last month concludes, the price of primary and secondary aluminium ingots in the Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) stretches towards stability despite the week-long ups and downs. On Thursday, December 6, the price of a00 primary aluminium ingot was listed within a range of RMB 20,380-20,420 per tonne. The week started with an average price of RMB 20,380 per tonne and ended at RMB 20,400 per tonne, ultimately gaining RMB 20 within a five-day span. Image Credit: iStock The spot contract, set to be traded on December 6, is expected to maintain premium pricing, with a premium of RMB 10-50 per tonne and an average of RMB 30 per tonne. Provincial prices of primary aluminium The average A00 aluminium ingot pricing decreased in all the provinces, with prices depicted as RMB...
Anil Kapoor dazzles in his triple-roled first Viva ACP ad with style for varied virtual spaces
Veteran Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor stars in his first advertisement for Viva ACP after being chosen as the brand's ambassador in October 2024. The advertisement presents the actor in a triple role, with one character as a Viva expert and two characters as customers with different aluminium composite panel requirements, wherein the experts guide the other two characters in choosing from the wide range of products according to their individual preferences. Image Source: Youtube (@vivacompositepanels) "Our aim has always been to offer high-quality, innovative solutions that cater to all segments of society, whether for residential, commercial, or specialised applications. This TVC, featuring our Brand Ambassador- superstar Anil Kapoor, is a testament to our commitment to providing...
Anglesey's economic revival guaranteed with revelation of £578M plan with 1,200 job prospect
The old Anglesey aluminium plant at Holyhead is all set to get revamped into a low-carbon campus, and it is calling for 1200 new job openings in the near future. Stena Line, which announced the purchase of the former Anglesey Aluminium site in September 2022, have had the intention to use the site to facilitate an extension of Stena's existing operations at the Port of Holyhead. The revelation has now pointed out that the business plans to create a modern campus to revitalise the long-disused site and create circa 200,000 square metres of development as part of a low-carbon campus, generating £578 million GVA, jobs, and opportunities. Image Source: https://ravenwing93.co.uk/ The new campus, following the work undertaken on the site to date, which has included clearing the dilapidated...
Trailblazing tech: M1 Skis' aerospace-grade aluminium design promises durability and sustainability
The world of skiing is on the brink of a technological revolution, thanks to the innovative minds at Metal1 Skis (M1 Skis). This company, led by Brian Rosenberger, a veteran of the aircraft industry with a wealth of experience and knowledge, is set to disrupt the traditional ski industry with its groundbreaking all-aluminium ski design. Inspired by the precision and durability of aircraft manufacturing, M1 Skis has developed a ski milled from a solid block of aerospace-grade aluminium. "Aluminium is harder by an order of magnitude than the ice a ski will encounter," says Rosenberger. This revolutionary approach eliminates the need for multiple materials and complex construction processes, resulting in a lightweight, durable, and eco-friendly ski. The rugged aluminium construction makes...
Aluminium prices jump 10.7% Y-o-Y: China's trade policy drives market shift
The primary and secondary aluminium ingot pricing in the Shanghai Metals Market is on a high-jumping spree as the week progresses towards closing. The average price of a00 aluminium ingot on Thursday, December 05, was listed as RMB 20,550 per tonne, within a limited range of RMB 20,530-20,570 per tonne, up by 190 RMB to the prior day's pricing. The pricing of a00 primary metal was RMB 18560 per tonne on December 05 2023, indicating a 10.7 per cent price gain Y-o-Y. Image Source: http://www.usetco.com/ Aluminium ingot price hike and the reason behind The recent announcement by China's Ministry of Finance to terminate export tax rebates for aluminium and Copper, effective December 1, is expected to have a profound impact on global metal markets. This policy shift, which is likely to...
Vietnam's Nam Dinh gets a green signal $90M investment for high-tech aluminium alloy plant
The board members of Nam Dinh province's (Vietnam) industrial parks have granted approval for the investment in the development of an alloy factory by Kam Kiu Aluminium Products Group Limited, a leading aluminium extruder in Hong Kong (China). The total investment for the construction, which is going to be on close to 12.3 hectares in Mỹ Thuận Industrial Park, is estimated to be US$90 million. The factory, once operational, will be handled by Joint Wise Corporation, a subsidiary of Kim Kiều Aluminum Group. Image Source: https://images.jdmagicbox.com/ The plant will manufacture green aluminium alloy bars, high-quality electronic materials, and automobile accessories among others such as short aluminium bars for extrusion processes, aluminium computer keyboard accessories, aluminium...
Indonesia's strategic move: From bauxite to billets, a vertical integration play is on
In a significant development for the global aluminium market, Indonesia is poised to become a major player in the industry, driven by its vast reserves of bauxite and a strategic partnership with China. Image Source: https://leadthecharge.org/ According to recent data, Indonesia's bauxite reserves stand at an impressive 1 billion tonnes, making it an attractive destination for aluminium producers. The country's ambitious plan to produce everything in-house, from bauxite to billet, is a key element of the government's broader electric vehicle (EV) strategy. Indonesia aims to produce 600,000 EVs by 2030 and has partnered with four Chinese EV companies - Neta, Wuling, Chery, and Sokon - to build an EV production and export hub in the country. The partnership is expected to bring significant...
Polls declare UK ought to lean towards intensified recycling initiatives in 2025
From November 22 to November 24, a poll, designated by Alupro and conducted by Yonder, on 2000 UK adult citizens disclosed that the majority are in favour of the government to urgently focus on the recycling programme in the upcoming calendar year. Close to 7 out of 10 participants have said that the country should come up with an extended producer responsibility (EPR) system, which actively brings forth highly recyclable substances such as aluminium. EPR directs brands and retailers to subsidise the total net cost of collecting, sorting, treating, and recycling packaging waste. Recent past of initiatives Of the total Briton poll-takers, 69 per cent acknowledged aluminium to be the ideal substance to drive forward a circular economy in which every packaging, as and when possible, is...
Indian aluminium market sees uptick as China sustains robust demand; transnational influences weigh in
In a recent development in the Indian aluminium industry, prices rose by 0.12 per cent to settle at INR 242650 per tonne, driven by sustained demand from China, the world's largest aluminium consumer. As a lump sum quantity of the non-ferrous metal is being exported to the neighbouring country, there is a domestic demand-supply mismatch during the ongoing financial year. The uptick in prices was, however, tempered by ongoing uncertainty surrounding potential U.S. tariffs, which continue to cast a shadow over the market. Meanwhile, in Japan, premiums for January-March shipments of primary aluminium skyrocketed by 31-49 per cent from the previous quarter, reflecting concerns over tightening supply in Asia following China's cancellation of a 13 per cent export tax refund on semi-manufactured...
Mumbai's Metal Fairs: A 3-Day trendsetting extravaganza of innovation, networking, and business
From November 27 to November 29, 2024, the amalgamation of four metal fairs — International Exhibition for Metallurgical Technology (METEC) India, Tube India, wire India and India ESSEN WELDING & CUTTING took place in Mumbai's Bombay Exhibition Centre (NESCO). This marked the return of the fair to the Mumbai chapter after a significant 2-year hiatus, with over 18,000 visitors expected. The event provided an excellent platform for networking and business opportunities, underscoring the city's importance in the metal technology and manufacturing industry. This year's trade fair has seen a remarkable global participation from aluminium industry among others, with companies from over 22 countries including France, Austria, United Kingdom, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Brazil, Canada, China,...
This Indian metro adopts advanced aluminium third rail for efficiency and eco-friendliness!
Kolkata Metro Railway's plan to replace steel third rail with advanced aluminium ones turns into reality as the Indian Railway's division successfully completes the third phase of the upgrade. Sanctioned in 2012, the project was to include an advanced aluminium third rail instead of the prior steel ones primarily to downsize energy losses and voltage drops, ushering to faster acceleration and receded headways for metro trains. The significant upgrade on the Blue Line (from Dakshineshwar to New Garia stretching 32kms) with an advanced aluminium third rail is a green energy initiative to modernise the city's metro commuting channel, boosting efficiency and reducing operational costs and then cohesively aiming to augment energy efficiency and sustain the country's green energy objectives....
Hydro collabs with Axpo Nordic in a long-term power supply contract proving its actions towards zero emissions commitment by 2050
Hydro Energi AS has signed a decade-long power purchase agreement (PPA) with Axpo Nordic, where the latter will deliver 263 gigawatt-hours per annum to Hydro’s Norwegian aluminium plants starting from 2026 and throughout the subsequent 10 years. Image Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/norskhydro/albums/ The 2026 to 2035 contract calls for a cumulative supply of 2.63 terawatt-hours of electricity to aluminium and renewable energy corporation Hydro, wherein Axpo will provide electricity to Hydro in the Swedish price area SE2. Long-term contracts are not just a necessity, but a strategic move for Hydro to maintain its leadership in global low-carbon aluminium production. The role of renewable power in this endeavour cannot be overstated. It plays a pivotal role in producing aluminium in...
SMM pricing stabilising after months of rapid hike; aluminium ingot follows the trend
The price of alumina, as well as primary and secondary aluminium ingot, is stabilising from the leaps of hike in the Chinese metals market. Image Source: Advanced Ceramic Materials (ACM) Corporation Alumina pricing: Averaged and provincial On Monday, December 2, as the week and the month started, the average price of alumina gained RMB 6 per tonne and stood at RMB 5,731 per tonne. In contrast, prices in provinces like Shanxi, Guizhou and Guangxi remained unfazed from the previous week's closing price. The provincial price of alumina in Shandong and Henan has gained another RMB 10 and RMB 15 per tonne to the prior pricing and was listed as RMB 5,700 per tonne and RMB 5,740 per tonne, respectively. However, two provinces, namely Lianyungang and Bayuquan, are listed as the highest-priced...
Urban mining: The promising path in the US to closing probable mineral gaps
The United States Federal Government has strategised to tackle the import gap of metals, including aluminium, with an enhanced focus on recycling. According to mining.com, the Department of Energy (DOE) has announced that it will invest US$ 22 million to exalt Golden Aluminum's recycling operations in Colorado. Image Source: https://globalscraptrading.com/ The department is also in search of building from scratch opportunities for an electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling chain. It has allocated financial aid for the latest scrap sorting technology and processing capacity. In the stance of B2U Storage Solutions, they have even considered transporting used batteries. What is urban mining? Urban mining is the process of exploring, extracting and refining metal from anthropogenic stocks...
Aluminium ingot pricing, both primary and secondary, on the downward slope on SMM listing
On Tuesday, November 26, the average price of A00 aluminium ingot in the Shanghai Metals Market stood at RMB 20,600 per tonne, with a fall of RMB 70 to yesterday's price. The price change was witnessed to be 1.1 per cent lower M-o-M and merely 0.3 per cent higher W-o-W. Image Source: https://image.made-in-china.com/ The pricing declined in most provinces, with prices depicted as RMB 20,490 per tonne (-100) in Gongyi, RMB 20,520 per tonne (-70) in Foshan, RMB 20,590 per tonne (-70) in Wuxi, RMB 20,640 per tonne (-60) in Hangzhou, RMB 20,550 per tonne (-70) in Chongqing and RMB 20,600 per tonne (-70) in Shenyang. Prices in Tianjin and Linyi were also listed at a decreased price of RMB 20,550 per tonne (-150) and RMB 20,600 per tonne (-90), respectively. The range of A00 aluminium ingot...
