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.
ALUPCO announces acquisition of Jeddah Tower aluminium supply contract
Saudi Arabia - Aluminium Products Company (ALUPCO) has announced its agreement with United Arab Aluminum Company (UAAC) to supply aluminium for the Jeddah Tower project, an estimated 1000 mt tower with a probability of gaining the title of the world's tallest building. According to ALUPCO officials, this project represents a major advancement in modern architecture. It will serve as a notable landmark for both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the city of Jeddah. Headquartered in Dammam and with an additional plant in Jeddah, ALUPCO has a total capacity surpassing 85,000 tonnes annually. The tower is being developed as part of the first phase of the 5.3-million-square-metre Jeddah Economic Company City. At the time, construction of 63 of the 157 floors has been completed. Previously, ALUPCO...
Bridgnorth Aluminium invests £2 million in new technology after gaining 33% sales hike
Bridgnorth Aluminium, a leading manufacturer of flat-rolled aluminium coils, has invested a whopping 2 million Pounds(£) in technical advancement at its 66-acre Midlands site. The investment is part of a long-term growth plan targeting new markets. Bridgnorth is yet another entity affected by the UK's energy price hike in 2023. The company also lost a major customer when it decided to shift its production from Europe to China. However, the company had a successful comeback, with a 33 per cent sales increase in the ongoing fiscal year. Bridgnorth flat-rolled aluminium coils are used in pharma and household foils for packaging, lithographic printing plates, and battery foil stocks for electrification. Gerhard Trilling, General Manager of Bridgnorth Aluminium, said the 2024 order book was...
Viva becomes the first to bring German technology to India with its anodised aluminium panel range
Viva, in collaboration with Aloxide, has introduced a new range of anodised aluminium panels titled 'Pure Aura'. Asia's leading brand in Aluminium Composite Panels (ACP) has entered the world of anodised aluminium technology, delivering enhanced durability and corrosion resistance products. Anodised Aluminium Panels(AAP) are produced from aluminium sheets through an electrochemical process called anodisation. This process converts the aluminium surface into an aesthetically pleasing finish. Anodised aluminium panels offer superior durability, weather resistance, colour stability, and fire resistance compared to aluminium composite panels. While ACP is a cost-effective option for interior or short-term applications, AAP is ideal for high-traffic areas, harsh environments, or applications...
SMM alumina price exceeds RMB 4500 per tonne: Breaks all records of past thirteen years
The Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) price indicator for alumina on Thursday, October 17, shows a gain of RMB 57 per tonne, totalling RMB 4556 per tonne. In Shandong and Henan regions, the price reached average RMB 4550 per tonne (ranging between RMB 4450-4650 per tonne in Shandong and RMB 4500-4600 per tonne in Henan) in both provinces with an increase of RMB 75 and RMB 50 per tonne, respectively, whereas in Shanxi, the price touched RMB 4625 per tonne on an average (ranging between RMB 4550-4700 per tonne) with a cumulative gain of RMB 50 per tonne in the region. In Guizhou and Guangxi, the price is reflected as an average of RMB 4390 per tonne (+25) and RMB 4500 per tonne (+65), respectively. The unprecedented surge in alumina prices, compared to the last three years, can be attributed to...
US Department of Energy funds $975,000 in aluminium scandium nitride based computational research
A Charles Paillard-led research project from the University of Arkansas has been awarded $975,000 from the US Department of Energy to develop a cost-effective computational system. Two additional physics professors from the University, Laurent Bellaiche and Gregory Salamo, are the co-principal investigators on the project. The grant comes from the Department of Energy's Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). Paillard, research professor of physics and director of the Smart Ferroic Materials Center at the University, is delving deep into aluminium scandium nitride at an atomic level to fasten computers, which will consecutively prove energy efficient immensely. In the US, data centres account for 2 per cent of energy consumption and are predicted to rise as the...
A tribute to Ratan Tata: The unsung hero of India's aluminium industry
Ratan Tata, a global icon known for his ethical business strategic initiatives, investments, and a focus on sustainability and innovation, marks contributions to India's aluminium industry. Born on December 28, 1937, he played a crucial role in transforming the Tata Group into a global powerhouse in his tenure from 1991 to 2012. As he passed away on October 9, 2024 (at the age of 86), we reminisce on his copious contributions to the aluminium industry: Tata Aluminium : Between the 1990s and early 2000s, Ratan Tata realised the potential of the aluminium sector as a principal component of India's industrial growth. He formed Tata Aluminium as part of the Tata Group's diversification strategy. Later, the collaborative venture with Alcan (now part of Rio Tinto) was significant, which...
STOM's 22nd edition of the annual aluminium pour to be held on Oct 19
Sculpture Trails Outdoor Museum (STOM) is back with its annual aluminium pour. The 22nd edition of the event is all set to take place on October 19 in Solsberry, Indiana. Founder Gerry Masse, his entire team and artist interns bring alive the art of metal to the public. The day-long event usually starts at noon and concludes at 6 in the evening, where scrap aluminium is poured every hour in one of the two foundries under 3000 degrees of heat and then moulded into various shapes. People can experience the reality of aluminium production as they walk through the trail and feel the heat from the foundry, marvel at previously built structures, and witness sparks fly all over as aluminium fills the mould. The annual aluminium pour is not just a fun day out, but also an educational experience....
SunKiss products, packaged in aluminium bottles, all for eco-friendly beauty enhancement
In a pivotal time of green transition, a homegrown brand from UAE, SunKiss, has announced the introduction of aluminium refill bottles for its products to reduce single-use plastic wastage. The 'forever' aluminium bottles are designed for indefinite usage, providing customers with eco-friendly products for their suncare regime. As a part of a larger sustainability initiative, the usage of reef-safe ingredients and the exclusion of harmful chemicals, SunKiss' recent initiatives beam with the tagline 'reuse, refill, relove’. Founder Joanna Barclay believes maintaining qualitative products in an eco-friendly initiative brings the brand closer to its goal of sustainable skincare that is accessible to all. SunKiss is a collection of clean, conscious, premium sun care and lifestyle products...
KEL bags a whopping INR 39 crores electrical project from NALCO
Konstelec Engineers Limited (KEL), an engineering, procurement, and construction company, has acquired a whopping INR 39.63 crores contract from National Aluminium Company (NALCO), which they are to deliver within the next 12 months (from the date of LoA). The Letter of Approval (LoA) of the contract was signed on October 14, 2024, where the details of the aluminium electrical project work have been chalked out by both parties. The domestic project is scheduled to commence at the Alumina Refinery and M&R Complex in Damanjodi, Odisha, and the Visakhapatnam Port Facilities area. However, this is not the first time the companies have come together in business. On September 16, 2024, NALCO bestowed a deal of INR 12.58 Crores to KEL for aluminium instrumentation work, which is also scheduled...
Raytheon to develop state-of-the-art UWBGS with diamond and aluminium nitride technology for DARPA
Raytheon has acquired a pivotal three-year, two-phase contract with DARPA where they are to devise foundational Ultra-Wide Bandgap Semiconductors(UWBGS). The basic of the UWBGS, diamond and aluminium nitride technology, has revolutionised semiconductor electronics, enhancing power delivery and thermal management in sensors and other electronic applications. "This is a significant step forward that will once again revolutionise semiconductor technology," sported Colin Whelan, president of Advanced Technology at Raytheon. "Raytheon has extensive proven experience developing similar materials such as Gallium Arsenide and Gallium Nitride for Department of Defense systems. By combining that pioneering history and our expertise in advanced microelectronics, we'll work to mature these materials...
ALRO renews business relations in the North American market with a series of contracts
ALRO, a leading European integrated aluminium producer, is expanding its business in the North American market. The conglomerate has acquired a series of contracts scheduled to be delivered early next year. According to Florin Verboncu, General Director of Vimetco Trading, "The prospects for 2025 are optimistic. We already have contracts, especially for the North American area. The North American market has been a more difficult target in recent years for several reasons: the high cost of transportation, the competition from China and other very competitive areas." Chinese manufacturers dominated this market for years. However, being a well-known manufacturer on the continent, ALRO started to renew its acquaintance with its former clients. The disclosure came amidst Aluminium 2024, held...
Aluminium Deutschland paves effective path to revive Germany's aluminium industry
Aluminium Deutschland, IG BCE (a trade union in Germany) and IG Metall (a dominant metalworkers' union in Germany) have joined hands through the German Aluminium Alliance with five federal states intending to transition into climate neutrality and competitiveness for Germany's aluminium sector. European Aluminium has recently published its upcoming 5 years' top priorities which include 1. delivering an effective industrial strategy that boosts investment in Europe, 2. promoting green transition, 3. delivering internationally competitive energy prices and supporting industrial decarbonisation, 4. revitalising European Union's Trade Defence and Policy, 5. building coherent environmental practices through substance management framework. The German alliance is similarly based on 4 prioritised...
Alba's continuous efforts towards employee and contractor workers' safety yet again create history
On October 11, 2024, Alba (Aluminium Bahrain), the single-sited smelter, announced its two significant safety milestone achievements: the company's no on-site Lost Time Injury(LTI) inclusive safe-working hours touching 25 million and 8th consecutive summer without any heat-induced injuries and illness. Alba's CEO, Ali Al Baqali, has praised the employees and contractor workers for their pivotal role in achieving these safety milestones. He emphasised, "Our 25 million safe-working hours without Lost Time Injury (LTI) and 8th consecutive safe summer are not merely numbers on a page; they represent a culture of safety that has been meticulously woven into the fabric of Alba. This is more than just a milestone; it's a testament to the unwavering commitment and dedication of our employees and...
Novelis, leading aluminium production and recycling firm, affirms transition towards establishment of circular economy
Novelis, the world's leading aluminium flat-rolled products and aluminium recycler, is gearing up for high alloy recycling and strongly focuses on sustainable solutions for new industry standards. Novelis proclaims to effectively transition towards a circular economy as the company consistently promotes new closed-loop material cycles, collaborating intensively with clients, suppliers, and associates, recycling production and end-of-life product scrap. "Our priority to establish closed-loop material cycles and low-carbon aluminium solutions demonstrates that sustainability is at the heart of our corporate strategy," says SVP & President Novelis Europe while attending the Aluminium 2024 trade show in Dusseldorf, also stating, "Our product innovations and commitment to continuously increase...
Get frizz-free hair in a few minutes with this aluminium foil hack
Frizzy hair is an instant eyebrow-raiser, be it at a party, meeting, festivities or interview. If you face this and need an instant solution, it is not essential for you to carry hair treatment products only if you have a piece of aluminium foil on you. Recently, a wave of TikTok videos went viral where people rubbed aluminium foil on their hair, and voila, the frizz was gone. People hailed aluminium foil, a common food packing item found almost in every household, for saving them from awkward encounters and social embarrassments. To add viability to the hack, renowned beauty expert Jessica Harrington tried and confirmed the result. She said, "To test it out myself, I grabbed a piece of aluminium cooking foil about one foot by half a foot wide. I was working with day four hair, which...
Bonnell Aluminum apprenticeship proves crucial in carving potential workers' future
Bonnel Aluminum, a subsidiary of Tredger Corporation, has collaborated with the United States of America Department of Labour and Aluminum Extruders Council(AEC) to introduce an apprenticeship programme specially designed to upskill the potential aluminium extrusion workers. With national accreditation and potential funding from the DOL, the programme is also available to existing employees who want to focus on a specific trade career path. The initial programme came in 2023 with an agenda to recruit and groom industrial maintenance technicians in a two-year apprenticeship regime. Later this year, the second phase of the programme was announced, specifically designed to train the aluminium extrusion press operators and die shop technicians. The second phase is all set to roll out in 2025....
Merrychef launches aluminium griddled cook plate among other conneX 16 accessories
Merrychef has unveiled a range of new accessories for its conneX 16 highspeed oven, designed to enhance the cooking experience. These include a hardened anodised aluminium griddled cook plate, deep cooking trays, 9 x square mould, and linear, all of which offer unique benefits to chefs, operators and kitchen equipment buyers. Colin Lacey, VP and managing director of Merrychef, happily commented, "The range of accessories available with all of our high-speed ovens are a secret weapon for operators. Not only do they help to keep the oven clean and prolong the life of the equipment, but they allow chefs to create even more dishes than they ever thought possible, positioning the conneX 16 to do so much more than just deliver perfect toasted sandwiches and pizza. The trays allow for items such...
AFM study reveals unknown facts about alumina surface
The non-contact form of Atomic Force Microscopy(AFM) led by researchers from Vienna University of Technology(TU Wien) and University of Vienna has revealed unknown facts about the notably complex structure found on the surface of aluminium oxide. The research report states that the structure of the crystal on the surface differs from the atoms inside the material at hand, which pursue a stringent arrangement elevating the crystal's characteristic shapes. Professors Jan Balajka and Ulrike Diebold, among others, used a stiff qPlus force sensor-based nc-AFM method to reveal the precise atomic sequence of the α- Al2O3 exterior. The researchers uncovered that the rearranged surface allows the aluminium atoms to lance into the material and form chemical bonds with the oxygen atoms in the...
