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.
Brexit: Maker of decorative Aluminium trims for auto industry “Northern Automotive Systems” to lay-off 130 employees
The British firm Northern Automotive Systems Limited has confirmed the news of reduction of 130 staffs at its plant in Gilwern by the end of the year. The impact of Brexit on the firm’s operations at its only facility in the UK is forcing the organization to shrink its 280 strong workforces down to 150, as a measure of high cost-cutting. The facility produces decorative aluminium trim for the automotive industry, was positioned at risk in October, however, it is understood more than half of those took voluntary redundancy. NBHX Trim Group, which owns the company, said: “We are carrying out a restructure as we aim to become more attractive to customers and economically more stable.” A spokesman for the Gilwern site said: “In response to changing conditions and customer requirements,...
The New Aluminium container plant in Quebec “Stobia” begins production
On 8 th December’20, the new production plant for aluminium food containers and packaging products “Stobia” located on Chapais Street in Jonquière, Quebec begins its production. William Allard, the president of the new company explains that Stobia wants to find its place in the food processing, restaurant and grocery markets. The objective for the first year of activity is to manufacture 100 million containers. Stobia proffers a wide range of products that start from take-out food containers, through classic aluminium plates, to serving dishes. Allard said: “Our products have been designed taking into account the needs of the Quebec and Canadian markets. We are the only Quebec manufacturer of this type of product. In the past, the market we serve was dependent on foreign distributors who...
Piaggio Vehicles introduces new variant of diesel cargo Ape’ Xtra, tooled with Aluminium clutch
Piaggio India Pvt Ltd., the small commercial vehicle manufacturer in the Indian market, introduced a new variant of its cargo three-wheeler Ape' Xtra range with a larger deck, to provision towards the rise in demand for the last-mile supply of goods amid the COVID-19 outbreak at an initial price of INR 265,000 (approx.) Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd (PVPL) said: “Piaggio's Ape'Xtra range is already available with 5 feet and 5.5 feet deck and the latest Ape' Xtra LDX + comes with 6 feet deck length.” PVPL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Italian Piaggio Group. Diego Graffi, Chairman and MD, Piaggio Vehicles, said: "Our new BSVI performance range has been a huge success in the market due to superior specs than competing products. Ape'' Xtra LDX +, with longer deck size, will enable our...
Costa Rica’s export of Aluminium scrap during 2018-20 unveils significant growth
The economy of Costa Rica is expected to shrink 5% by end of this year, as the country is hit hard by COVID-19 outbreak and the central bank stated it as the steepest decline since 1982 for the Central American nation. Costa Rica’s export of aluminium scrap during 2018-19 has been recorded at 18,178 tonnes and the earnings generated about the import remained at $6.76 million. The export of 2020 will be reaching at 15,507 tonnes and earnings to stand at $7.87 million. However, when the export volume and earnings of 2020 get assorted with the existing two years, it denotes 33,685 tonnes and $14.63 million respectively. The Central American nation’s export of aluminium scrap in 2018 stood at 6963 tonnes and the earnings accounted for remained at $2.64 million only, whereas, in 2019 the...
Canada can drink Canadian beer out of Canadian cans: President and CEO of Aluminium Association of Canada
In the recent aluminium tariff “trade war” between the US and Canada, the common beer became a sign of the entire fiasco. It commenced on 6 th August when the US announced a 10% tariff on aluminium from Canada. However, this was the second time in three years that such a tariff had been imposed by the US, with the Trump administration claiming that Canada had immorally increased its exports and become a “threat to US national security.” The owner of a small Ottawa brewery, said: “As It Happens that the tariff was costing his company an extra two cents for every can because no beer cans are manufactured in Canada. Statistics Canada data from 2018 shows that Canada imports more than two billion beer cans annually.” “So we brew our own beer, we smelt the aluminium, but we import the beer...
Aluminium alloy research creates hope of benefit for manned space missions
Dr Matheus Tunes in support with Microscopes and Ion Accelerators for Materials Investigations researched a new alloy that will toughen aluminium without increasing its weight materially. The spacecraft which are blast-off from earth requires being light; however, it still needs the précised amount of fuel to reach the orbit. If it is bulky, the amount of fuel required would be restrictive. Once a spacecraft is outside of the earth’s protective magnetic field, it may then be exposed to potentially destructive amounts of solar radiation, which becomes more important for any long-duration mission such as to Mars. Now developing spacecraft from aluminium is one solution as aluminium is a light yet strong material. Alloys enhance aluminium become harder via precipitation strengthening, but...
Former Malaysian Transport Minister “Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy” acquires 10.18% stake in Aluminium extrusion firm P.A. Resources
Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy has cropped up as the largest shareholder of aluminium extrusion firm P.A. Resources Bhd after acquiring a 10.18% stake in the group. The former Malaysian Transport Minister’s wholly-owned, Interlink Matrix (M) Sdn Bhd, acquired 228.38 million shares from P.A. Resources’ non-independent non-executive Chairman Datuk Ng Tong Hai. This delivered Chan Kong Choy an indirect interest of 10.18%, on top of his 0.04% direct holdings in the company. On 4 th December’20, the group said in a filing at Malaysian stock exchange: “The acquisition of shares was according to a share sale and purchase agreement entered into between Ng and Interlink Matrix on Nov 10, financed by a loan from Public Bank Bhd.” On 1 st December’20, the shares exchanged hands, leaving Ng with a total...
“AlCircle Bridge”: An initiative to support sellers in stressed times
The year 2020, has been a year of happenings, a year full for negative trends starting from World War III rumours, Earthquakes, Cyclones, Locust attack, Bushfires, Worldwide economic downturn and the novel Coronavirus. The COVID-19 pandemic has alone been the biggest source of worry for people, claiming close to 1.54 million lives worldwide, and still going strong, even as the world struggles to come up with its vaccine. The hardest-hit segment from COVID-19 is the manufacturing sector. The lockdown that followed brought the manufacturing facilities to a standstill, derailing the entire global supply chain. Looking into this situation, AlCircle is launching “AlCircle Bridge” , an initiative to support owners of plant & machinery who are compelled to sell their assets but are finding it...
Latvia’s import of Aluminium Bar Rods and Profiles during 2018-20 reveals an uneven movement
Latvia’s GDP is set to shrink by 4.3% in 2020, before growing by 2.4% in 2021 and 4.0% in 2022. Activity rose rapidly in the third quarter of 2020 after containment measures had been withdrawn. However, the recovery has been disrupted by the recent tightening of containment measures in response to a renewed virus outbreak and is projected to resume at a slow rate when the restraints are relaxed. The European nation on the Baltic has recorded 8543 tonnes of Aluminium Bar Rods and Profiles import during 2018-19, with the expenditure of $35.64 million. The import for 2020 is expected to reach at 4115 and expenditure to stand at $16.22 million. When the import volume and expenditure of 2020 gets summed with the preceding two years, it signifies 12,658 tonnes and $51.86 million respectively....
Largest cable manufacturer of Sri Lanka “Sierra Cables Plc” posts praiseworthy performance in Q2
The largest and the most outstanding aluminium and copper cable manufacturer in Sri Lanka with an international presence, Sierra Cables posted praiseworthy results for the second quarter, registering a positive growth for the company and the economy. As per the company: “Operating in a challenging economic climate, the Group posted revenue of Rs 2.2 billion during the first half of 20/21 with a net profit of Rs 70 million. Company yielded an Rs 87 million net profit during the first half, indicating an 8% year on year growth.” “During the second quarter, the Group posted revenue of Rs 1.5 billion, indicating a considerable growth of 104% over the first quarter, registering a strong streak of resilience and recovery from pandemic related economic conditions.” Fitch Ratings endorses Sierra...
Bauxite mining resumes at Ivory Coast, following the halt due to election-related violence
The first bauxite mine of Ivory Coast has resumed its operations; subsequently, it was suspended for months due to election-related violence, as stated by the CEO on 5 th December’20. The mine started its operation previous year in the east-central Moronou region is a centrepiece of Ivory Coast's ambitions to break-off itself towards dependence on agricultural commodities. Bauxite production discontinued in August as violence escalated in the build-up to the 31 st October presidential election. Moumouni Bictogo, CEO, Lagune Exploitation Bongouanou (LEB), referring to workers from Europe, Asia and the United States, said: "Work has resumed, the expatriates have returned." He also added: “Security has been reinforced, adding that the stoppage and problems over the novel coronavirus have...
The Alteo Alumina refinery takeover: Mayors of Bouc-Bel-Air and Gardanne agree to stop “upstream”
A time at odds on the environmental aspect of the future of the Alteo alumina plant in Gardanne, the mayors of Bouc-Bel-Air and Gardanne in a joint press release on 5 th December’20 stated that they place their trust in the project to continue the activity of the mining industrialist United mining supply (UMS). “It turns out that the solidity of the UMS file does not suffer from any possible comparison on the financial, industrial, environmental dimensions and in terms of support for employees”, consider the councillors. The mayor of Bouc-Bel-Air, Richard Maillé, also expresses his opinion on the prospective buyer in a joint letter with the mayors of the neighbouring towns of Simiane-Collongue and Cabriès addressed to the receiver that they reaffirm their desire to see the Mange-Garri...
Icelandair first time works on dismantling a Boeing 757; Aluminium to be sorted for recycling
The flag carrier airline of Iceland, Icelandair has for the first time started the work of dismantling a Boeing 757, locally in Iceland. It is TF-FIJ, Boeing 757-200 that will slowly but surely be dismantled. The work is part of reducing the fleet by older 757 and it will be carried out by the company's mechanics in a hangar at the airport at Keflavik. This aircraft was on a verge of large maintenance that was supposed to take place in the first quarter of next 2021, but the economy suggested that a lot of money was saved on rather chopping it up and getting rid of it, rather than taking this main service. The first aircraft that the company itself dismantles is almost 27 years in service, now parts of the aircraft will be delivered to the Icelandic Aviation Museum in Akureyri, while the...
Vedanta Aluminium playing a vital role in India’s progress
Anil Agarwal’s Vedanta Aluminium is the largest producer of aluminium in India. The green metal is a sovereign decisive influential commodity and stands second in the list of preferential metals in the world. The characteristics and utility of aluminium prioritize it as a metal of choice and it is adapted for profound usage in key sectors like defence, aerospace, automobile and infrastructure. It plays a key role in the government's visionary initiatives- Make in India, Smart Cities, Power for All, indigenous space programs etc. The aluminium sector delivers opportunities for over 800,000 (approx.) people directly and indirectly and with such advantages, it justifies being considered as a major industry, corresponding to the steel sector. Vedanta's endeavour to enlarge its production of...
ALVANCE Aluminium Duffel triumphs VCK Business Excellence Award
The British metal magnate, Sanjeev Gupta’s ALVANCE Aluminium Duffel has been awarded the VCK Business Excellence Award by the Flemish Centre for Quality. They won the award for their quality roadmap that they have advanced in recent years. The ALVANCE Aluminium Duffel quality story started in 2017 with a cost of poor quality (COPQ) of €10 million. The organisation put together a multidisciplinary team and injected hugely in its quality culture. This year they are heading towards a 50% reduction of COPQ. These efforts are now rewarded with the Business Excellence Award. Dirk Inghels, Director Quality & HSE of ALVANCE Aluminium Duffel said: "Achieving the VCK award is great external recognition for the efforts made by the employees in implementing our quality roadmap. Since 2017 we have...
Singapore’s export of Aluminium Structures during 2018-20 proclaims rapid growth
The economy of Singapore ranks as the most open in the world, 3rd least corrupt, most pro-business, with low tax rates and has the third-highest per-capita GDP in the world in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP). However, the trade and industry ministry revised its full-year forecast for Singapore to register an economic contraction of between 5% and 7% in 2020. The sovereign island city-state’s export of aluminium structures during 2018-19 was recorded at 2793 tonnes and the revenue earnings remained at $21.20 million. The export for 2020 has been marked at 5060 tonnes, with earnings to stand at $25.55 million. When the export volume and earnings for 2020 are summed with the existing two years, it denotes 7853 tonnes and $46.75 million respectively. Singapore’s export of aluminium...
Austal floats first Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard cape class Aluminium monohull vessel
The Australia-based global shipbuilding company, Austal, has floated the first Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG) Cape Class vessel into the water. The Cape Class Patrol Boat will magnify the country’s border protection capabilities along with the existing Coast Guard fleet. Stuart Young, National Security Minister, said: “This launch is a significant step, bringing us closer to taking delivery of these naval assets for our Coast Guard. We look forward to the continued progress in the journey of getting these assets to Trinidad and Tobago.” The Cape Class is a 58 metre all aluminium monohull patrol boat distinctively built to combat the full range of maritime security threats. The vessel has a long 4,000 nautical mile range and 28-day patrol cycle with a crew of up to 22. The vessel...
Bauxite mining to commence soon at Nyinahin in Ashanti Region: President of Ghana
The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo has stated that a bauxite company will soon commence work at Nyinahin in the Atwima Mponua District in the Ashanti Region, which will benefit for all. While addressing a durbar at Nyinahin at the end of his three-day campaign tour of the region, he said: "This bauxite nearly became the personal property of one individual, but we are going to ensure that the entire country benefits from the resources, especially the people of Nyinahin," Akufo-Addo added: “A bauxite company had completed their preparatory works and that soon workers would arrive at the site to commence business which would, in turn, create job opportunities for the youth and also accelerate the development of the area”, however, he did not mention the name of the company....
