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.
Indonesian based HK Metals Utama to prioritize on Aluminium extrusion market
PT HK Metals Utama Tbk (HKMU) will focus its business on the aluminium extrusion, as it sees the business potential that grows along with changing habits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jodi Priyono, Corporate Secretary, HK Metals Utama said: “This year the aluminium building materials sector is experiencing challenges that have never been imagined before, namely being hit by a pandemic and more or less the threat of an economic recession.” "The company focuses on several strategic points. First, it continues to strengthen its aluminium business line by focusing on extruded aluminium production lines, in this case seeing that demand is still better than other building materials," he explained in a virtual public expose on 24 th August’20. Jodi further said: “With the increase in social...
Sumitomo Corporation: Japan's aluminium premiums to hit $90/tonne in October-December quarter
Sumitomo Corporation, Japan’s one of the largest global general trading companies, and a diversified corporation forecast that the Japanese aluminium premium to rise to $90 a tonne in the October-December quarter, from $79 this quarter, as industry demand and stock-financing deals return, as stated by a company manager on 14 th August’20. Japan stands as Asia's biggest importer of aluminium and the premiums it agrees to pay over the London Metal Exchange (LME) cash price each quarter for primary metal shipments set the benchmark for the region. The aluminium premium of Japan for July to September came to $79 a tonne, down 3.7% from the prior quarter as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted manufacturing activity. Yasushi Miyachi, Manager of Sumitomo's light metals trading team, said: "But...
European Commission declares registration of imports for Chinese aluminium extrusions
On 24 th August’20, the European Commission declared that aluminium extrusions from China will be subject to registration by national customs authorities as of 25 th August’20 in the regards to the ongoing extrusions anti-dumping investigation initiated in February this year. European Aluminium hails this move and desires the Commission to adopt effective anti-dumping duties promptly. On 14 February’20, the European Commission made public the opening of an anti-dumping investigation into aluminium extrusions originating from China. The investigation follows a complaint by European Aluminium whose member companies are adversely impacted by the dumping of Chinese aluminium extrusions. Chinese imports of extrusions have reached a significant market share and Chinese imports of...
China’s third-largest Aluminium producer Hangzhou Jinjiang’s dream for Aveyron based SAM Technologies fades in 2 years
The surprising takeover of the Arche group's auto parts foundries by China's third-largest aluminium producer, Hangzhou Jinjiang, only lasted two years. The fall in diesel automotive sales and the promised investments which were not made in these factories are the major cause to be considered, as 90% of the production is supplied to Renault. It all began as a miracle in the declining industrial basin of Decazeville (Aveyron). It's an unexpected recovery given the offers of the last nineteen months. Sébastien Lallier, CGT union representative for the SAM Technologies auto parts foundry congratulated. This large factory, located in Viviez, and the other units of the Arche group in recovery, FVM in Meurthe-et-Moselle and Alfisa in Spain, were taken over by the Chinese group Hangzhou Jinjiang...
Estonia’s importation of Aluminium wires reflects enterprising market during 2017-20
The Northern European country Estonia globally ranks 18 th in ease-of-doing-business. The major industries that contribute to the nation’s GDP are engineering, electronics, telecommunications sector. The 2017 net debt to GDP ratio of Estonia was -0.6%, which means that the Estonian government has more assets than debts. Estonia's gross debt is very low anyway, as that low debt is the result of a government policy of paying back any borrowings as quickly as possible. Estonia’s import of aluminium wires during 2017-19 has been recorded with rapid growth and marginal fall, as the export volume remained at 35,141 tonnes and the revenue expended stood at $65.07 million. Aluminium wires import for 2020 has been predicted to be at 17,882 tonnes and expenditure to outreach at $27.5 million. When...
Defence and Aerospace sector, Jindal Aluminium’s next focus to expand: Pragun Jindal Khaitan
Jindal Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium extrusion company which controls domestic market share over 30% is expanding its focus on the defence and aerospace sector, as it forecasts these sectors to be more potential given the policy changes permitting private players, as per a senior company official. Bengaluru-based multi-million dollar company with 50 years of legacy is also the second-largest maker of aluminium flat-rolled products, taking 10-12% of the market share; and is the only manufacturer in the country equipped with 11 extrusion presses ranging from 6” extrusion press container to 12” extrusion press container. Jindal Aluminium products are consumed in more than 40 countries globally, contributing 15-20% of its topline sales annually, stated by Pragun Jindal Khaitan,...
Hydro Extrusion Poland Sp. Z.O.O in Łódź to absorb 100 new staffs for paint shop
The COVID-19 pandemic has not fickle the plans of Hydro Extrusion Poland Sp. Z.O.O. in Łódź, which employs 580 staffs and is looking for more 100 people. Hydro’s extrusion plant in Łódź has been operating for 21 years and has been manufacturing aluminium accessories for the automotive industry, mainly roof rails and decorative strips. The company employs specialists, engineers, operational and office workers and is constantly developing. Hydro Extrusion Poland plans to establish a new production line. It will be a paint shop that will directly affect the attractiveness of products that the company offers and one hundred people will be employed as production workers here. As per Hydro Extrusion Poland representative, the company emphasized that they take into account the Scandinavian work...
COVID-19 hardly to impact global Bauxite supply: GlobalData Consulting
The global bauxite production for 2020 has been predicted to shrink by 0.1%, to 344 mt, as per the UK headquartered data analytics and consulting company GlobalData, production is hardly affected by the interim halt of mines due to COVID-19 epidemic. GlobalData stated that the production in Australia is anticipated to rise by 1.9% to 107.2kt this year, accounting for almost a third of the global total. Australia, World’s largest producer of bauxite, Australia, also produces aluminium and steps up to focus at containing the spread of COVID-19 across the country’s mining regions expressed that bauxite operations have been marginally affected by COVID-19 disruptions. Australia’s largest bauxite mining firm Rio Tinto, reported production of 24.8Mt of bauxite in H1 2020, which reflects up by...
Rio Tinto files renewal for licence towards operating Iceland Aluminium smelter
Rio Tinto filed renewal of licence this week for its Iceland Aluminium smelter (ISAL). However, the current operating license for the smelter at Straumsvík, near Hafnarfjörður, does not expire until 1 st November’20, as reported by the Environment Agency's website. In July, the company filed an official complaint against Landsvirkjun, the National Power Company of Iceland and nation’s largest electricity generator to the Icelandic Competition Authority (ICA), alleging "anti-competitive conduct, through discriminatory pricing and long-duration power contracts". Rio Tinto stated: "Landsvirkjun's supply contracts bind customers to long-duration terms, rendering it impossible for alternative energy suppliers to either enter the Icelandic market or expand operations.” Landsvirkjun has stated:...
Friction Stir Welding: An innovative technology for Aluminium welding
Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is a promising technology for assembly aluminium parts since 1995. All aluminium alloys can be welded including high-strength alloys (2000, 6000 and 7000 series). This method is also used and very popular for assembly dissimilar materials, such as aluminium - copper, aluminium - steel, Al foundry parts. However, FSW remains a technology reserved for high added value applications involving expensive equipment. StirWeld, a French young start-up firm has developed an FSW head that fits existing machining centres or NC machine tool. This makes FSW accessible by all the manufacturing companies, especially SMEs, as most of the job-shops are already equipped with the NC machine tool. This new welding device requires only a few hours of training and becomes a true...
ETI rolls-out robust temperature measurement pair cased with extruded Aluminium
Britain’s largest digital thermometer makes, Electronic Temperature Instruments (ETI), has rolled-out two metal thermometers designed for some the severe environments in the catering and food processing industries. The CaterTemp and Therma K Metal hand-held thermometers come with IP67 protection, as they are designed to withstand being placed in up to a metre of water for 30mins at a time. Both thermometers are housed in an extruded aluminium waterproof case and are said to incorporate the latest microprocessor technology with durability, designed for reliability and ease of use in day-to-day catering and food processing application. The CaterTemp Metal thermometer measures temperature over the range of -49.9°C to 299.9°C. The instrument features a large LCD. The unit also incorporates an...
Peru’s export of Aluminium scrap reveals growth during 2017-20, remains underrated
The economy of Peru is an upper-middle-income economy as classified by the World Bank and is the 47th largest in the world by total GDP. The majority of its economy is driven by industries such as mining, manufacturing, fishing, and tourism. The Southern American nation’s export of aluminium scrap reveals growth during 2017-19, though it remains an underrated market, as the volume of export recorded was 21,383 tonnes and foreign revenue generation stood at $16.30 million. The forecasted aluminium scrap export for 2020 has been analysed at 9993 tonnes and earnings to reach $6.80 million. When the evaluated export volume and earnings of 2020 get added to the existing three tears it reflects 31,376 tonnes and $23.10 million respectively. Peru’s has recorded aluminium scrap export in 2017...
World’s biggest aluminium shipbuilder AUSTAL acquires land for US shipbuilding development
The Australia-based global shipbuilder Austal has acquired land in Mobile, Alabama to extend its naval shipyard capacity and capabilities. Austal has bought 15 acres of waterside facilities including a dry dock and deep water berthing capabilities on the Mobile River from Modern American recycling and Repair Services. The acquisition will succour a US$100 million investment by the company, supported by the US government. This will augment its current aluminium warship construction capabilities to include larger, steel-hulled ships. Austal is Australia’s largest defence exporter and the world’s biggest aluminium shipbuilder The shipbuilding firm paid less than US$10 million for the site, which is across the river from Austal’s existing 164-acre facility. The company has secured contracts...
Cameroonian Aluminium Company Alucam absorbs aluminium finished products firm Socatral
The Cameroonian Aluminum Company Alucam and the Cameroonian aluminium finished products firm Socatral will no longer be two separate organizations. The two entities have decided to merge. During the exceptional general meeting which was held on 30 th June’20, the shareholders of the two companies adopted without reservation the only item on the agenda, namely: the merger of Alucam and Socatral. Cathy Momha from the communications department at Alucam, explained: “This is a merger by absorption. Alucam has absorbed Socatral. Henceforth, Alucam forms a single entity. But the stakeholders are still finalizing the last elements relating to this operation. These are legal details and information systems, particularly concerning the language elements given the upcoming communication plan. For...
HINDALCO: The first company ever to achieve 100% red mud utilization worldwide
Hindalco Industries Ltd., a global leader in Aluminium, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with UltraTech Cement Ltd., part of the same group and India’s largest manufacturer of cement and concrete, to deliver 1.2 million tonnes of red mud (also known as bauxite residue) annually to UltraTech’s 14 plants located across 7 states. Hindalco is the world’s first company to achieve 100% red mud utilisation across three of its refineries. Red mud generated in the alumina manufacturing process is rich in iron oxides, along with alumina, silica and alkali. The cement industry has developed the capability to process red mud as a replacement for mined minerals such as laterite and lithomarge in its process. Hindalco is supplying red mud to UltraTech Cement plants where it has proved to...
Novel 3D-printed Aluminium device upgrades capture of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel plants
Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers from the Department of Energy have designed and additively manufactured an elementary aluminium device that upgrades the capture of carbon dioxide emitted from fossil fuel plants and other industrial processes. The solutions for lessening global emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases such as CO2 address the continued use of low-cost, domestic fossil fuel resources while mitigating potential climate impacts. ORNL’s device aims at a vital challenge in conventional absorption of carbon using solvents: the process typically produces heat that can limit its overall efficiency. By using additive manufacturing, researchers were able to custom design a multifunctional device that greatly improves the process efficiency by removing excess heat while...
Brazil’s importation market for Aluminium wires remains wavering during 2017-20
Brazil has a developing mixed economy that is the ninth-largest in the world by nominal Gross Domestic Product and eighth-largest by purchasing power parity in 2019. According to the International Monetary Fund, Brazils 2019 nominal GDP was R$6.826 trillion or US$1.868 trillion. The Latin American nation’s import of aluminium wires during 2017-19 was recorded at 25,424 tonnes and revenue expenditure stood at $64.58 million. The projected export for 2020 has been analysed to stand at 17,924 tonnes and expenditures to outreach at $34.60 million. When the evaluated import volume and expenditure of 2020 get summed with the previous three years, it depicts 43,348 tonnes and $99.18 million respectively. Aluminium provides a better conductivity to weight ratio than copper and therefore is also...
Canada Government braces aluminium traceability project to shield the future of the Canadian Aluminium Industry
The Aluminium Association of Canada (AAC) hails the Government's support through Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, contributing to the full recognition of the North American origin of its metal through its continental markets and integrated value chain such as the automotive industry. On 19 th August’20, Honourable Mélanie Joly, the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages announced the support, which is the culmination of more than two years of work by the industry. Jean Simard, President and CEO of AAC, highlighted: "In this period of economic and political uncertainty for the industry, the authentication of aluminium is a highly strategic approach to leverage the strengths of Canadian aluminium and consolidate its markets.” Thus, the system of...
