AlCircle News Edited By "Rupankar Majumder"
A professional with a technical background, specialising in producing insightful content centred around metals, particularly aluminium, passionately engaged in the intricacies of the recycling sector.
Fehrmann Tech Group on-boards 3D printing intellects Mahendran Reddy and Stefan Ritt as Vice Presidents to support expansion
At the end of December 2021, Mahendran Reddy had been relocated from Singapore to Hamburg to establish a similarly successful network of research institutes, suppliers, customers and like-minded professionals for the Hamburg based Fehrmann Tech Group on a global level in the designation of Vice President Global Ecosystem Development since January 2022 as the company has already established in Germany. Mahendran Reddy is an internationally acclaimed personality, who among other things known for his successful establishment of the NAMIC (National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster) in Singapore. However, as Business Development Director, he was diligently involved in directing the adoption of additive manufacturing in the Asian industry and expanding the AM ecosystem thereby...
100% recycling aluminium used water brand Re: Water appoints Lee Roberts as Commercial Director
The world’s first 100% recycled aluminium spring water bottle brand Re: Water has announced that it has appointed Lee Roberts as Commercial Director. On 21 st February, Lee Roberts will be joining the business from his current role as MD at commercial consultancy Canvas Partnerships, where he secured “high-profile listings” for Re: Water at events including the G7 Summit and COP26. In the newly developed role, Lee will focus on growing the Re: Water brand and support it to ‘advance the fight against single-use plastic.’ Roberts is carrying over three decades of senior commercial experience and “oversaw landmark deals” with AB InBev and Pepsi during his time as commercial director at The O2. Ben Richardson, the Co-founder of Re: Water said, “Bringing Roberts – who had a wealth of...
Vedanta Aluminium secures ranking in Dow Jones Sustainability Index 2021
The largest producer of green metal in India, Vedanta Aluminium Business, has secured 4th rank among global aluminium producers in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) family. The Dow Jones Sustainability Indices is a global benchmark that shadows the performance of the world's leading companies in terms of economic, environmental and social criteria. Moreover, more than 10,000 companies from around the world across various industries undergo annual evaluations of their sustainability practices, which are both industry-specific and financially material, out of which only top-ranked companies within each sector are selected for inclusion in the DJSI family. Rahul Sharma, the CEO of Aluminium Business, while speaking about Vedanta’s vision said, “Vedanta Aluminium’s Dow Jones...
Gränges appoints Fredrik Spens as President for European operations
Fredrik Spens will take charge as President of Gränges Europe affecting from 1 st March 2022, succeeding Jörgen Rosengren who has held the position on an interim basis. However, starting the same date, Fredrik will also be a member of the Group Management Team of Gränges. A Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, Fredrik Spens presently is the Managing Director of Gränges Finspång, a role he has occupied since late 2020. In previous to that, he was Vice President for Sales and Marketing in Gränges Europe and before joining Gränges in 2017, Fredrik was the Head of Product Area Primary Products within Sandvik Materials Technology, the most recent of a series of senior positions at Sandvik. He also has a background at...
Novelis rolls out ‘Net Zero Lab’ to develop carbon-neutral solutions for aluminium production
On 14 th February 2022, the American industrial aluminium company, Novelis Inc., which is also recognised as the world leader in aluminium rolling and recycling inked a long-term collaboration agreement with HES-SO Valais-Wallis in collaboration with EPFL of Energypolis Campus, a Swiss innovation and research hub, as well as energy distributor OIKEN, to commence a joint research and development (R&D) laboratory to progress carbon-neutral solutions for aluminium production. The Net Zero Lab Valais named R&D lab will be established at Novelis' facility in Sierre, Switzerland. The Sierre site, the broader Valais region and Switzerland itself are an ideal fit for the planned initiatives due to the availability of renewable energy and strong research institutions, as well as a firm commitment...
Kenya’s import of aluminium bar rods & profiles during 2019-21 demonstrates creeping movement; 0.40% minimal growth estimated for 2022
The Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya, Patrick Njoroge during the end months of 2021stated that the economy is anticipated to grow by 6.4% in 2021 and 6.0% for 2022. East Africa’s biggest economy has manifested resilience to the Covid shock, with output in the first half of the year rising above pre-pandemic levels. The nation with a lower-middle-income economy in the African continent, Kenya imported aluminium bar rods and profiles of 14,069 tonnes during 2019-21 demonstrating a creeping movement in the demand flow. In 2019, Kenya imported aluminium bar rods and profiles of around 4228 tonnes, whereas, in 2020, the import witnessed a growth of 13.29%, as the import volume escalated to 4790 tonnes, keeping the internal demand on the rise. The import of aluminium bar rods and profiles...
Commodity trading giant Trafigura alerts aluminium stockpiles to fade
The Singapore-based multinational commodity trading giant Trafigura Group Pte Ltd. has delivered a sheer caution for aluminium buyers that extensive dearth of one of the most universally used metals of the world witness to fade away of stockpiles by 2024. Aluminium is a heavily demanded metal after steel, as it is extensively utilized in all means from cans to cars to aeroplanes. The silvery metals demand has escalated as the global economy recoils from the deadly Covid pandemic, whereas an energy supply set back in Europe and China has grooved supply. This has resulted in the prices of aluminium breaking its 13 years record and anticipate of even more gains will add to the trouble of high inflation confronting consumers and central banks. Philippe Mueller, The Head of aluminium trading...
Coal India to scale up supply to non-power sector, a sign of relief to the aluminium industry
The continuous grievance and follow up which came from the non-power sectors majorly from the aluminium and other manufacturing industry bodies in regards to the continuous challenges of coal supply dearth since August 2021, the Indian state-owned Coal India Limited (CIL) on 12 th February 2021 stated that it will further scale up supplies to this sector. Coal India in a statement said, “Currently supplying around 3.4 Lakh tonnes of coal per day to the non-power sector (NPS) which is the company’s average supply to this segment. With more than 37 million tonnes (MTs) of coal at its pitheads, CIL aims to further step up supplies to this sector.” The Indian aluminium industry and other industry bodies representing fertiliser, textile, sponge iron and captive power producers had written...
Vedanta Aluminium to join forces with the construction industry for gainful application of fly-ash and bauxite-residue
India’s largest producer of aluminium and value-added products, Vedanta Aluminium will join forces with cement, construction and infrastructure industries for the gainful application of its by-products - fly-ash, the fallout in thermal power generation and bauxite-residue, the aftereffect of producing alumina from bauxite. During a national-level webinar, which was organized in association with global industry experts and contenders from the cement industry, the company also endeavoured interest from cement manufacturers for establishing integrated cement plants or cement clinker grinding/blending/processing units conjoining to its plants in Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Aluminium is a ceaseless process industry, while the accessibility to the company's operations will provide cement producers...
British aluminium shipbuilder ‘Wight Shipyard Co.’ merges with multinational shipbuilder OCEA
The leading aluminium shipbuilder of Britain, Wight Shipyard Co. has declared an all-share merger with the multinational shipbuilder OCEA to develop a combined group to capitalise on the fast ferry and offshore renewable energy markets opportunities. However, the deal is lined up to accomplish in March 2022 and The Wight Shipyard Co.to emerge nearly double in size, securing and providing significant job opportunities at the East Cowes, IOW, UK yard. Peter Morton, the CEO of Wight Shipyard Co., while speaking on the merger commented, “This is a transformational deal for The Wight Shipyard Co. and the Isle of Wight, confirming the resurgence of the shipbuilding industry in the United Kingdom.” The British shipbuilder, The Wight Shipyard Co. has expeditiously developed a significant...
EGA to set up pilot plant for transforming bauxite residue into environment-friendly soil
On 10 th February 2022, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) made public that it will commence construction of a pilot plant where bauxite residue, a waste material from alumina refining would be transformed into soil products that can be utilized for greening and other eco-friendly purposes in the UAE. However, the metal company stated, “EGA’s pilot plant, which will be in Al Taweelah in Abu Dhabi, is expected to be operational in 2023.” EGA’s pilot plant is conceptualized to be an elemental in the world, which follows five years of research & development (R&D) by EGA in association with The University of Queensland’s School of Agriculture and Food Sciences. The revolutionary procedure transposes bauxite residue in its entirety in hours into environmentally and plant-friendly soil. As per the...
Rusal develops a new aluminium alloy for anodising at Bratsk Aluminium Smelter
The Russian aluminium giant, Rusal has developed an optimised 5xxx series aluminium alloy for further anodising and commenced its production at the Bratsk Aluminium Smelter (BrAZ). The Technical Directorate of Rusal masterminded a general assessment of the alloy and organised its mass production. Moreover, the production of optimised 5005A alloy slabs will be launched, used by rolling mills to anodise coils and sheets. Presently, these products are only available to import, while the production of the new alloy in industrial volumes will provide Russian consumers with the 5xxx series, facilitating the development of high-processed products including facing panels, spotlights, and electrolytic capacitors. However, the domestic market demand for the 5xxx series alloy is estimated to be...
Nicaragua’s import of aluminium cans during 2019-22 illustrates a fluctuating movement
The economy of Nicaragua demonstrates a mixed economic system that includes a variety of private freedom, combined with centralized economic planning and government regulation. However, the country’s economy and the implementation of government programs have shown some improvements, still almost half of the population lives in poverty. The economy of Nicaragua is heavily focused primarily on the agricultural sector. The largest country in the Central American isthmus, Nicaragua imported 8412 tonnes of aluminium cans during 2019-21, although, the import graph demonstrates fluctuating movement due to the domestic demand creation. In 2019, Nicaragua imported 2998 tonnes of aluminium cans, which depicts a reasonable import volume for beverage packaging, whereas, in 2020, the imported...
AT Systematization bags worth $10 million contract for production of aluminium profiles
AT Systematization Bhd’s (ATS), the fully owned manufacturing unit of AT Precision Tooling Sdn Bhd (ATP) has set foot into a value contract with Maschinenfabrik Rieter AG (Rieter) towards the production of aluminium profiles for Rieter’s Card and Ringspun sector, which amounts to $10 million. On 9 th February 2022, during the filing in Bursa Malaysia, the stock exchange of Malaysia, based in Kuala Lumpur, ATS stated, “The period for production validity is between Jan 1, 2022, and Dec 30, 2023.” However, the company also added, “The value contract is not expected to have any material impact on the net assets of the group for the financial year ending 31st March 2022.” On 5 th July 2019, ATP had inked a basic purchase agreement with Rieter, for the manufacture and supply of high-quality...
India’s largest aluminium die-casting company ‘Endurance Technologies’ Q3 profit descends to INR 95 crores
The leading auto component manufacturer Endurance Technologies reported that the company’s profit after tax (PAT) reduced to half, which amounted to INR 94.6 crore in the December quarter (Q3FY22) due to infirm operational performance. The aluminium auto parts & equipment company had posted a PAT of INR 190 crore in the previous financial quarter (Q3FY21). Endurance Technologies consolidated revenue from operations was slashed 7% year-on-year (YoY) at INR 1,889 crore against INR 2,041 crore in the existing year quarter. However, EBITDA shrunk 41% Y-o-Y at INR 210.7 crore, while margins contracted 640 bps at 11.1% during the quarter. The management of Endurance Technologies said, “The market, this year, is subdued with headwinds in the form of weak rural demand and higher cost of...
Anrak Aluminium gearing to commission alumina refinery in India
The joint venture of Ras-Al Khaimah Investment Authority (RAKIA) and Penna Group of Companies, Anrak Aluminium Limited (AAL) following several implicates is hard-pressed in making efforts to commission its 1.5 million tonne alumina refinery set up at Rachapalli, which is around 80 km away from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The company, went into the turbulent situation with a loan of INR 3,461 crore it borrowed from a consortium of banks led by SBI, has eventually manifested to commission the refinery set up at Rachapalli in Makavarapalem Mandal, about 80 km from Visakhapatnam in 2013 with an estimated Capex of around INR 6,000 crore. As per our sources, “The management has already imported 'adequate' quantity of bauxite ore to operate the refinery, which was lying idle following...
Rusal’s Aughinish alumina refinery expansion opposed by local groups
The groups of local campaigners in Limerick, Ireland stated their protest for any expansion of Rusal owned Aughinish alumina’s refinery, as the alliance raised their voice for the objectionable environmental risk to the Shannon estuary and the health of local people. On 7 th February 2022, Pat Geoghegan, the spokesperson of Cappagh Farmers Support Group, commented during the virtual protest meeting, “The expansion being sought by the operation of Russian owners, Rusal, and it would lead to a further build-up of toxic material at the site near Askeaton, Co Limerick.” The expansion of the largest alumina refinery in Europe is contemplated as strategic infrastructure development, so the company endeavoured planning approval from ‘An Bord Pleanála’, Ireland’s national independent planning...
Rio Tinto desires to keep Tiwai aluminium smelter functioning beyond 2024, Meridian Energy denies any discussions
The global mining and metal giant Rio Tinto, who is the majority owner of Tiwai Point aluminium smelter in New Zealand has shown signs of its desire to keep the aluminium smelter functional beyond 2024, but the major power supplier to NZAS, Meridian Energy denies any discussions over a fresh new agreement. Chris Blenkiron, the CEO of New Zealand Aluminium Smelter (NZAS) sought a definitive avenue to pursue operating and contributing to the local and domestic economies beyond 2024, when the smelter had been programmed to shut down, resulting in the dismissal of 1000 jobs. “We are working closely with Ngāi Tahu, Southland and key industry leaders to find the best way to achieve this,” Blenkiron said. “NZAS also has the potential to play a significant role in helping New Zealand’s...
