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.
French automotive foundry MBF Aluminium takeover bid postpones to February 9
The deadline granted for takeover bid to the French automotive foundry MBF Aluminium in Saint-Claude (Jura) which has been in receivership position since 4th November’20, has been postponed from 20th January to 9th February by the Dijon commercial court. In the recent weeks, four interested candidates came to visit the facility site, while no takeover proposal came up as of yet, but two letters of intent have been submitted. One from the American group Seiko, which would retain only 167 of the 266 employees, the other from the French competitor GMD, which took three more weeks to build its own. Adeline Munarolo, Director General, MBF Aluminium said: “By GMD's admission, it was the government that supported their visit.” The study by the Roland Berger firm suggested that the French sector...
NEPA Jamaica to declare its decision on controversial Bauxite mining permit for Noranda soon
The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) of Jamaica commented that in another two months a conclusive decision could be ready on whether Noranda Jamaica Bauxite Partners II (NJBP II) receives an environmental permit to mine in sections of western St Ann and eastern Trelawny. Since May 2018, the Government of Jamaica has been pondering over the application. The proposal to mine in the SML 173 area, next to the Cockpit Country protected area, has been met with strong pushback from environmental lobbyists, interest groups and individuals. On 27 th January 2021, Peter Knight, CEO, NEPA, explained to the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC) that the process has not stalled, as wide consultations continue on the environmental impact assessment report. He...
Croatia’s export of Aluminium Structures during 2018-20 signifies a drop in demand
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Croatian authorities should find a balance between short-term priorities of economic support amid the COVID-19 pandemic and medium-term priorities of restoring fiscal space and raising productivity and growth through green and digital public investment. "Despite the difficulties of this year, Croatia is faring better than many other countries with a similar degree of tourism-dependence. Rises in unemployment have been contained thus far thanks to strong policy support. Yet, significant challenges persist due to the resurgent pandemic," said by the head of the IMF team in a statement. The nation at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe on the Adriatic Sea has recorded 6008 tonnes export of aluminium structures during 2018-19...
All-round naval specialist PIRIOU delivers 250th Aluminium Vessel
The all-round naval specialist PIRIOU has just delivered a 55m FPSV to JANA MARINE SERVICES, a Saudi Arabia provider of best-in-class integrated Marine Services to Offshore Oil & Gas Industry. The vessel built by PIRIOU VIETNAM with a sea proven PIRIOU design, a dozen of vessels of this model were already delivered to various operators in the offshore oil industry. Several modifications were brought to this vessel to answer the ship-owner specifications - especially increased speed- which was achieved by implementing a new propulsion system, making this vessel performance truly unique. On 25 th January 2021, the delivery of the aluminium vessel took place PIRIOU VIETNAM’s shipyard. The ‘JANA 21’ shall be exploited in the Arabian Gulf waters. This order from JANA MARINE SERVICES follows...
Boeing approves Burloak Technologies for AM Aluminium components
The American multinational corporation Boeing has approved Ontario, Canada based Burloak Technologies, a division of Samuel, Son & Co. for additive manufacturing aluminium AlSi10Mg components to the Boeing BAC 5673 specification. Burloak Technologies stated that it is the world’s first additive manufacturer to achieve this qualification. Burloak and Boeing are now working to apply the BAC 5673 specification to multiple programmes for existing and future components. Peter Adams, Burloak’s founder and Chief Innovation Officer, said: “This approval marks the completion of a qualification process that included a rigorous evaluation of Burloak’s capabilities by Boeing. We would like to thank Boeing’s additive manufacturing team for its collaborative approach.” “Together, we developed a...
CME Western Australia applauds appointment of Ivan Vella as CEO of Rio Tinto - Aluminium Business
The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia (CME) applaud Ivan Vella’s appointment as Rio Tinto’s Chief Executive Officer for aluminium business. Paul Everingham, CEO, CME said: “Mr Vella – who is the Chamber’s President – would carry a wide range of skills and experiences into his new role.” Mr Ivan Vella is currently Rio Tinto’s Interim CEO for Iron Ore. “I’ve worked closely with Ivan for several years, but particularly since he was appointed President of CME in April last year,” Mr Everingham said. “Ivan is an outstanding operator, whose intimate knowledge of the WA mining and resources sector has been invaluable to CME.” “He took over as Interim Iron Ore Chief Executive during a time of significant change for Rio Tinto and has shown a great deal of leadership in that...
Salzburg Aluminium Group begins 2021 with a top start, secures € 21 million order value
Salzburger Aluminium Group concluded 2020 better than the automotive industry average, as the Group’s sales revenue recorded around € 155 million with a positive EBIT. The internationally successful manufacturer of high-quality aluminium components for the automotive, commercial vehicle and railway industries started 2021 by bagging a major order for lightweight car components worth more than € 21 million driving the company with a top start. The customised parts made of special aluminium are produced using a rheocasting process. Rheocasting parts are progressively in demand due to the trend towards e-mobility and the need to reduce the weight of vehicles because less weight means more range. SAG has also secured a major order in the railway industry: the production of thousands of...
Nigeria’s import of Aluminium Bar Rods and Profiles during 2019-20 exhibits robust growth; 2021 predicted with 23% de-growth
Nigeria has entered into a recession after its GDP plunged for the second consecutive quarter. Africa’s biggest economy is in recession for the first time since 2016. The recession four years ago was its first in a generation, and the country emerged from it the following year. However, growth has been fragile and COVID-19 has hit the economy hard, amid low oil prices. The continent’s top oil producer and exporter rely on crude sales for 90% of foreign exchange earnings. The African nation on the Gulf of Guinea has recorded with 44,574 tonnes of aluminium bar rods and profiles import during 2019-20 and the expenditure occurred for the import stood at $99.75 million. The import for 2021 is analysed to be at 28,744 tonnes and the expenditure to stand at $60.78 million. Nigeria’s import of...
NALCO’s expansion project in Odisha is on course: Minister of Mines, India
Pralhad Joshi, the Indian Union Minister of Coal and Mines has reassured that the proposed preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the brownfield expansion project of Nalco’s captive power plant (CPP) and smelter at Angul in Odisha is on track. In a recent letter to Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Steel who was seeking NALCO capacity expansion progress, on which Joshi said: “There is no change in the brownfield plans of the company.” "I have been informed that there is no change in the proposed expansion projects of NALCO at Angul district of Odisha. These projects are very much on priority. Preparation of detailed project report is underway and the company will do due diligence on their feasibility, based on the report," Joshi said. "Ministry of Mines is taking all steps for...
Showa Denko to sell out its Aluminium division to US investment firm Apollo
On 28 th January 2021, the Japanese multinational organization Showa Denko KK stated that it would sell out its aluminium division to American investment firm Apollo Global Management as the manufacturer measures to divest assets. Showa Denko distinctively plans to sell out its aluminium rolling business for electronic components and the aluminium can business. However, the company did not reveal the details of the deal, but as per the sources it is assumed to be valued around $480.31 million. The process of selling off the subsidiary is a part of the company’s business portfolio restructure following the $9.2 billion acquisition last year of Hitachi Chemical, a supplier of materials for semiconductors, displays and lithium-ion batteries. Global private equity firms such as Apollo, KKR...
Adbri secures exclusive lime supply contract extension with South32 Worsley Alumina refinery
Australia’s pioneering construction materials and industrial mineral manufacturing company, Adbri, has announced its contract extension with South32 alumina refinery. The five-year deal comprises of the exclusive supply of lime to the South32 Worsley Alumina refinery in Western Australia. The contract extension to May 2029 is driving the supply relationship with the refinery to over 40 years. The gross revenue over the term of the contract to 2029 represents approximately $224 million, which is subject to volume and price adjustments over this period, on materially similar commercial terms. Nick Miller, CEO, Adbri, said: “We are pleased to extend our long-term relationship with South32’s Worsley Alumina refinery.” “The extension of the contract demonstrates the strength of our Western...
Ecuador’s import of Aluminium Stranded Wire during 2018-20 reveals enterprising growth
Ecuador countered a worst economic downturn in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but is all set to rebound in 2021 as domestic and external demand gradually revives. Though, aspects of numerous risks linger which includes high unemployment, weighing on household spending, limited fiscal space to boost the recovery, and policy uncertainty ahead of February 2021 elections. FocusEconomics panellists project GDP to expand by 3.7% in 2021, which is up 0.6% points from last October’20 forecast. In 2022, the panel sees GDP growth moderating to 2.4%. The west coastal Latin American nation’s import of aluminium stranded wire during 2018-19 was recorded at 2995 tonnes and the revenue expenditure stood at $5.10 million. The import for 2020 remained at 2566 tonnes and the earning accounted to $3.23...
Lindian Resources inks MoU with China Railway Group for infrastructure development of Bauxite mining project
Lindian Resources, the ASX-listed West African bauxite mining company has finalized the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Chinese giant, China Railway Seventh Group that will build a feasible infrastructure road map to support the development acceleration and kick-start bauxite production of the Perth-based company’s project in Guinea. Lindian said: “Zhengzhou-headquartered China Railway Seventh Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of state-owned construction enterprise China Railway Group Limited which is listed on the Hong Kong and Shanghai stock exchanges, has a proven track record in infrastructure project delivery throughout Africa.” As per the terms of the MoU, both parties will consider towards entering a formal agreement to devise an infrastructure development plan for Lindian’s...
Aluminium glazing specialist Norwich Aluminium growing at top speed
The Norwich-based glazing manufacturer Norwich Aluminium Limited has moved to new 80% larger premises and recruited additional five new staffs as it pursues to hold its market share in the UK construction sector. Norwich Aluminium began its journey six years ago by Alex Warren. He was working in the glazing industry at the time and then he spotted an opportunity to move into aluminium, a material that was growing in popularity for commercial and architectural glazing. Warren set up the company in a unit on White Lodge Trading Estate in Norwich next to other established brands such as Screwfix and SIG, by re-mortgaging his house. He said: “Using my knowledge of the PVC-U market, I could see the growing opportunity in aluminium. I knew that if I wanted to leap, I had to react quickly to...
EGA accomplishes major periodic refurbishment of Al Taweelah Potline 3
Emirates Global Aluminium has accomplished a major periodic refurbishment of its Potline 3 at Al Taweelah, one of the longest and most productive potlines in the world. The reduction cells (or ‘pots’) in which aluminium is smelted mandate re-lining after several years of production. During the refurbishment of the 444 reduction cells in Potline 3, EGA installed steel collector bars with copper inserts, designed within the company to improve performance. Copper has the best electrical conductivity of any metal. Its use in the collector bars reduces power consumption and unit greenhouse gas emissions and enables increased productivity as the reduction cells can be run at higher amperage. As extra voltage becomes available in the power supply system, this will also open opportunities to...
Cardiff-based Aluminium fabricator Dudley's invests £96,000 in machinery
The Cardiff-based aluminium fabricator Dudley's Aluminium has injected £96,000 in machinery as it pursues to work on multiple important projects across the UK. The company has procured a Phantomatic M3 CNC machining centre, featuring three controlled axes allowing processing on three sides of the work-piece, as well as an electronic double mitre saws complete with a metal swarf extractor and connection kit. The machines have been purchased from Emmegi, a supplier of advanced equipment for aluminium, light-alloy and steel fabricators, to enhance Dudley’s existing major CNC machining centre. CNC machining is a process used in the manufacturing sector that involves the use of computers to control machine tools. Colin Shorney, Managing Director, Dudley’s Aluminium, said: "We are pleased to...
South American nation Uruguay’s export of Aluminium Foil during 2018-20 displays an upward trend
South America has been one of the worst-hit continents from the Covid-19 pandemic, globally. Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, and Peru have reported major flare-up. However, Uruguay stands out as having successfully kept the spread of the virus restrained. Despite some recent increase in new daily cases over the past month, Uruguay has consistently kept its positive test rate under 2% since June’20. The South-eastern nation of South America has recorded 1256 tonnes of Aluminium Foil export during 2018-19 and the revenue earned from this export stood at $5.80 million. The export for 2020 remained at 871 tonnes and the earnings accounted for $4.32 million. When the export and earnings for 2020 get assorted with the existing two years, it demonstrates 2127 tonnes and $10.12 million...
Britain’s Aluminium recycling specialist firm ALWIN secures COVID-19 funding
The British Aluminium recycling specialist firm Alwin has stated that a financing deal for new machinery has supported the organization to secure its future. The aluminium recycling firm said: “Close Brothers Asset Finance funded the purchase of a truck, forklift and crane through a Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme facility.” David Rowlingson, Managing director said: “It’s been a very difficult time for our sector and we are grateful Close Brothers Asset Finance stepped in and funded the assets we needed.” “We are proud to be family-run and employ around 40 people, all of whose futures were secured with this funding.” Alan Cardy, Dealer Manager for Close Brothers’ transport division, said: “With so many businesses adversely affected by Covid-19, we see it as our...
