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.
Bulgaria’s export of Aluminium scrap during 2018-20 remains strong, revenue generation significantly drops
Bulgaria is ranked 19th among 45 countries in the Europe region, and its overall score is just above the regional average and well above the world average. Bulgaria has been making steady progress in economic freedom for more than a decade, and this year, its economy has finally entered the ranks of the freest. However, Bulgaria's economy declined by 10% in the second quarter of 2020, according to preliminary data announced by the National Statistical Institute (NSI) on 4 th September, exceeding the statistics body's earlier flash estimate that put the drop at 9.8%. The Balkan nation’s aluminium scrap export during 2018-19 was recorded at 64,049 tonnes and revenue generation remained at $78.39 million. The export for 2020 has been marked at 31,340 tonnes and earnings to stand at $29.92...
GAE 2020: Just one day to go!! Get registered now, be the part of game-changing event
Just one more day to go, Alcircle team is ready to welcome you for the first-ever online “Global Aluminium Expo 2020”, a platform where you can share success stories, explore new business opportunities, and meet and greet some old and some new customers. As travel is restraint and so meeting people physically, while thinking of it, we came out with this extraordinary initiative to bring all the aluminium value chain associates under one umbrella for networking and business development; be rest assured, the event will be a source centre to gather the rich and right information on the current market condition of the aluminium industry to help you make the right business decision at the time of unprecedented crisis. GAE 2020 will deliver opportunities to meet the industry leaders’ virtually...
Black-out at Nalco’s Captive Power Plant affects its Aluminium production
The 1200-MW capacity Captive Power Plant of Nalco in Angul has failed several times for the last few days, causing a blackout situation and the supply of electricity is highly interrupted, as all the eight units malfunctioned. The Navratna CPSE Company under Ministry of Mines, Government of India, has reported that its production of aluminium has been affected. At least 80 pots of the Nalco's smelter plant here have gone down as power supplies from its captive power plant (CPP) and the State grid have been disrupted owing to technical failures. Nalco has a total of 960 pots. Electricity failure during the last few days has raised many question marks on the Nalco's power backup system. The potlines consist of 4 lines with 240 pots in each. It is calculated that approximately 11 tonnes of...
Midhani gets land clearance to set up Aluminium plant for Indian defence unit in Andhra Pradesh
The District Administration of Nellore in Andhra Pradesh, the south-eastern coastal state of India, has eventually cleared the land issues for Aluminium Plant for defence unit, which was proposed by Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI). The proposed land has been at Bodduvaripalem, district Nellore and it has been transferred to Utkarsha Aluminium Dhatu Nigam Limited, a joint venture between Midhani and Nalco. The company is getting ready to start its unit as the officials registered 110 acres of land with the initiation of the District Collector. Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited, the defence public sector unit of India planned a greenfield aluminium alloys production plant at Bodduvaripalem, however, the land acquiring issues barricaded the INR 2,000 crore project. The foundation stone laying...
LPM Group lands in Mexico by acquiring Fata Aluminium Foundry Plant in Saltillo
The LPM Group is a specialized in design and construction of machines and equipment for aluminium and magnesium low pressure and gravity die casting, with its presence in China, Germany and the United States, continues its overseas journey and this time lands in Mexico. The company with its headquarters in Bovolenta, Italy, has acquired 100% stake of the American company Fata Aluminum, which in turn fully controls the Fata Aluminum Foundry, with a plant in Saltillo, capital of the State of Coahuila. The LPM Group produces machines and plants for the casting of aluminium and magnesium alloys and boasts partnerships with some of the top and biggest international players in the automotive market. The company was assisted in the acquisition by the lawyer Alessandro Polettini of Legalitax and...
Noranda Bauxite: Observes Jamaica’s 2020 National Tree Planting Day by planting 2,020 trees
Noranda Jamaica Bauxite Partners II (Noranda Bauxite) plants 2,020 trees to observe Jamaica’s National Tree Planting Day on 2 nd October. Noranda Bauxite’s participation in this event is indicative of the longstanding partnership that exists between agriculture and mining in St. Ann, Jamaica. Most of the trees will be planted on selected lots across the company’s mining lease areas in St. Ann by approximately 50 Noranda Bauxite management and trade union employees. The company will also be joined in its planting efforts by representatives of the Forestry Department, the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), and the Noranda Community Councils. It is said that 500 trees will be distributed to its employees for planting in the communities in...
Lotus secures backing from UK Government to develop next-generation Light Weight Electric Vehicle Architecture
An engineering venture that is leading towards innovations in lightweight structures for electric vehicles has been supported by the UK Government. The LEVA project - Lightweight Electric Vehicle Architecture program is being led by sports car manufacturer Lotus and will use UK-based engineering and digital manufacturing to showcase pioneering electric vehicle chassis and powertrain concepts. The Norfolk-based firm is also working with supply chain partner Sarginsons Industries. It will seek to harness the ‘light-weighting’ potential of an aluminium alloy developed and patented at the Brunel Centre for Advanced Solidification Technology (BCAST) for use in future advanced automotive architecture. Professor Shouxun Ji of BCAST, said: “The alloy won a national innovation award in 2017...
Audi Hungaria: Closed Loop Aluminium for vehicle production plays vital role
Audi Hungaria uses around 38,000 tonnes of aluminium per year for automobile production. As aluminium production consumes a lot of energy, Audi Hungaria will be managing the material in a recycling loop. This will save valuable energy and resources. With the aluminium closed-loop, aluminium scrap from production will be returned to the supplier, who uses it to produce original quality aluminium coils and returns them to Audi. This closes the loop and ensures sustainable production. Sustainable production that conserves resources is very important to Audi Hungaria. The company is constantly working to decarbonize its site. Alfons Dintner, Chairman of the Board of Directors of AUDI HUNGARIA Zrt, said: “We are not only reducing CO2 emissions from factories, but we are also implementing...
New Day Aluminium rolls-out a series of strategic initiatives at Noranda Alumina refinery in US
New Day Aluminum Holdings, and its parent company, DADA Holdings, are in discussions with several potential global partners on various strategic initiatives to materially expand its capabilities and further secure the long term sustainability of Noranda Alumina, its Louisiana-based alumina refinery. These initiatives range in scope from a major shift in its bauxite residue capabilities on its path to becoming a zero-residue refinery, to several potential ventures with major industry players to continue to build on Gramercy’s metallurgical and non-metallurgical product capabilities and capacities. While most of these initiatives are associated with its refinery, some would potentially involve the company’s Jamaican bauxite operations and speciality businesses in the U.S. and Europe. David...
Built on Aluminium mono frame Vanderhall to debut all-electric three-wheeled roadster in Australia
Vanderhall, the US-based motor works company will debut its three-wheeled all-electric roadster in Australia towards the latter half of 2021. The attention-getting, retro-styled Edison² is sitting somewhere between a trike and a small sportscar, whereas to drive the vehicle, one does not require a motorbike licence or for the driver to wear a helmet. Edison² will be priced above $60,000 depending on how the Australian dollar performs next year. The product is amazing. With more than 300km estimated driving range, the Edison² has a 28.8kWh battery and can be charged on AC points in around 6 hours. Built on an aluminium mono frame with an ABS composite body, it is fitted with two motors – both on the front axle – that each output 52kW power, and F1-inspired pushrod suspension to give the...
Packaging producer and recycler “Visy” breaks records as production boosts, consumers switching from plastic packaging to aluminium
Visy, the global leader in packaging and resource recovery achieved record growth in August, as consumers switching from plastic packaging to aluminium among others. Visy said: “Sales in August were up by a third on the same month in the previous year, and by 28% over the July figure.” The company says it was the highest month-on-month growth since the death of founder Richard Pratt in 2009. Since then the company has been run by his son, Anthony Pratt. Pratt said: “Lockdown meant consumers were not drinking beer out of plastic cups at events – but were drinking it out of glass and aluminium at home and having it delivered in cardboard packaging – and that all contributed to the record rise in revenue.” Visy is in business for 70 years, with over 5000 employees and is operating in more...
Kuwait’s import of Aluminium Structures during 2018-20 unfolds rapid growth
Kuwait is a country full of wealth created from the small petroleum-based economy as well as a leading position in the financial service for GCC countries. These industries combined have led Kuwait's dinar to be the highest valued currency in the world. FocusEconomics analysts forecast a contraction of 5.1% in 2020, which is unchanged from last month's forecast, and growth of 2.7% in 2021. The Western Asian country’s import of aluminium structures during 2018-19 was recorded at 3031 tonnes, which occurred with a relevant expenditure of $19.83 million. The estimated import for 2020 has been analysed with 3590 tonnes and expenditure to reach $21.37 million; however, when import volume and expenditure gets assorted with the previous two years it exhibits 6621 tonnes and $41.42 million...
Sanjeev Gupta’s ALVANCE Aluminium Group accomplishes acquisition of Duffel recycling and rolling mill in Belgium
British tycoon Sanjeev Gupta’s international low-carbon aluminium business, ALVANCE Aluminium Group, part of sustainable industry leader GFG Alliance, has accomplished its acquisition of the Duffel aluminium recycling and rolling mill near Antwerp in Belgium. Duffel is a leading European producer of premium aluminium rolled products and a pioneer in the European automotive body sheets (ABS) market, which was founded in 1946. The plant can process 250ktpa and currently reuses around 104ktpa of aluminium scrap material, taking ALVANCE closer to its aim of reaching 1mtpa of capacity. The acquired plant in Belgium will be renamed ALVANCE Aluminium Duffel. This marks a significant bolstering and expansion of ALVANCE’s downstream portfolio and its ambition to be a leading supplier of...
South Africa’s Bauxite import volume during 2017-20 reflects an unsteady market
South Africa's gross domestic product (GDP) has fallen for the fourth consecutive quarter, putting the country in a severe recession. The GDP fell by just over 16.4% between the first quarter and second quarter of 2020, resulting in an annualised growth rate of -51%. Although for decades manufacturing has employed more people and produced a greater proportion of gross domestic product (GDP) than mining has, the mining sector continues to form the core of the South African economy as mining-centred holding companies invest in other economic activity. The Southernmost African nation’s import of bauxite during 2017-19 was recorded at 14,466 tonnes and the bauxite import for 2020 is expected to remain at 2822 tonnes, however, when the import volume gets added with the preceding 3 years it...
Vedanta Aluminium smelter expansion, Odisha High Court issued stay order on the public hearing
The Indian Aluminium giant Vedanta Aluminium Ltd’s proposal to expand its aluminium smelter plant in Odisha’s Jharsuguda district saw multiple twists and turns on 29 th -30 th September’20. Notwithstanding, the final decision has been deferred until 5 th October, while Vedanta being permitted to participate in the hearing. Initially, the Odisha High Court first issued a stay order on a notification issued by the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) for the public hearing in Jharsuguda on 29 th September. On 30 th September, the High Court permitted the public hearing to take place by relaxing the stay, which was done via video conferencing. In its hearing via video conferencing, the court stated that no one appeared for the state government as well as the OSPCB, probably due to...
Mining Industry Indonesia’s smelter grade alumina refinery project is targeted for completion in 2023
The BUMN mining holding or Mining Industry Indonesia (MIND ID) is still working on several strategic projects even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, one of which is the Smelter Grade Alumina Refinery (SGAR). This project is a collaboration between PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminum (Inalum) and PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (ANTM). The composition of Inalum's share ownership in SGAR is recorded at 60%, while the remaining 40% is owned by ANTM. The two of them formed a subsidiary called PT Borneo Alumina Indonesia (BAI). Orias Petrus Moedak, President Director of MIND ID said: “The project, which is located in Mempawah, West Kalimantan, will connect the supply chain between the bauxite mineral ore from ANTM's IUP and Inalum's aluminium smelter.” “So far, Indonesia often exports raw bauxite which is processed...
Google’s upcoming flagship mobile phone Pixel 5 will be made of aluminium
Google’s consumer devices brand Pixel is coming up with its upcoming flagship mobile phone Pixel 5, to be made up of aluminium, as shown off in the official renders. The specs sheet and official renders, WinFuture’s Roland Quandt noted that the Pixel 5’s “housing” is made of 100% recycled aluminium. It has been also assumed that it was just about the frame of the phone, which would be similar to the Pixel 3 and Pixel 4, and that there would be a glass rear. The Pixel 5 will set itself apart from the Pixel 4a 5G with its build. The rear cover of the Pixel 5 will be made from aluminium and will be covered with Gorilla Glass 6. It has also been reported that the greenish colour that Google will be releasing the Pixel 5 in will be called Sorta Sage. Note to readers: AlCircle brings two-day...
France export of Aluminium Powder and Flakes during 2018-20 unfolds enterprising growth
FocusEconomics Consensus Forecast panellists expect French industrial output to contract 8.7% in 2020, which is down 2.9% points from last month's forecast. For 2021, panellists expect industrial output growth at 4.9%. In form of powders, Aluminium powder and flakes are used for several applications such as the manufacture of slurry, explosive and detonators, thermite process used for the manufacture of Ferro-alloys and for specialised welding applications such as rails, pyrotechnic to manufacture crackers, sparkles and other pyrotechnic products. The Western European nation’s Aluminium powder and flakes during 2018-19 have been recorded at 9730 tonnes and revenue income occurred with the export stood at $20.86 million. The export for 2020 has been marked at 6490 tonnes and income to be...
