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.
Germany floats 40 more hydrogen buses; roof-mounted with aluminium alloy frame holding light weight cylinders
As part of the largest ever order for hydrogen-powered buses in Europe, the German city of Wuppertal will soon put the final instalment of vehicles on the road. In 2018, Wuppertal joined forces with the nearby city of Cologne to order 40 modern buses powered by hydrogen fuel cells from Belgian manufacturer Van Hool NV. According to Andreas Meyer, Head of Technik Bus for WSW mobil GmbH: “Regionalverkehr Köln GmbH (RVK) is already running 30 of the hydrogen buses, and Wuppertal Stadtwerke (WSW) will soon put the remaining 10 on the road.” “The launch of our hydrogen bus fleet is a major milestone. We see it as the beginning of large-scale adoption of hydrogen technology – not just for WSW, but in Germany, across Europe and around the world,” said Meyer. “Commercial vehicles like buses will...
Mi Portable Electric Air Compressor rolls-out in India, manufactured from High Precision Aluminium alloy
Xiaomi formally unfolds the Mi Portable Electric Compressor in India after rolling out the teaser over the weekend. The instrument is floated under crowdfunding and tagged with a price of INR 2299 or $30 approx. The portable electric compressor is the same as it is sold in the Chinese market. The black coloured gadget is expected to commence shipping from 10 th August’20. The cylindrical-shaped Mi Portable Electric Air Compressor is manufactured from aluminium alloy using high-precision technology. The portable electric compressor is designed in a way to get used with a vast range of nozzles. It is encased in a compact body so that it can be mobilised anywhere. Once fully charged, methodically, the Mi Portable Air Compressor can easily inflate 215/60/R17 car tyres for five, it can refill...
British start-up Langen Motorcycles desires to bring back two-strokes, engine made of aluminium
There was a time when racing bikes sounded a lot more like enhanced lawnmowers. In the 80s, two-strokes like Yamaha’s fabled RD250 dominated the domestic racing scene in many countries, and now, a British start-up is attempting a sort of two-stroke renaissance. Langen Motorcycles from Manchester in the UK is hoping to complete a limited production run of modern 250cc two-stroke performance bikes. The bike, referred to as simply ‘The Two-Stroke’, draws power from a 250cc V-twin motor made by Italian company Vins. The engine is capable to meet modern emission standards while still producing eye-watering power figures. At a claimed 76PS, the Langen bike will be a whole 50% more powerful than the recently launched Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R. It will also weigh just 112kg compared to the 25R’s...
Australia: Tomago Aluminium’s Workplace Giving Fund collects more than $2 million for charities
The fundraising program during COVID-19 epidemic has remained crucial towards maintaining a community focus that has delivered an integral platform for the workers at Tomago Aluminium. An employee initiative that has been active for more than 30 years, the Tomago Workplace Giving Fund has collected more than $2 million for charities and is not slowing down, despite the impact of COVID-19. The fund's most recent recipients are Soul Café, Carrie's Place, Got Your Back Sista and headspace Newcastle, each receiving $10,500, a quarter-share of a total of $42,000 raised by the company's workforce and matched dollar-for-dollar by management. Katie Burns, the Communications Advisor, said: “Charity representatives had attended two-morning tea presentations a week apart to comply with social...
Colombia’s export of Aluminium scrap during 2017-20: Volume remains unsettled, earnings drips
Colombia has a thriving market economy based primarily on oil, mining, agriculture, and manufacturing. The country's GDP in 2013 was US$226 billion and per capita GDP was US$10,100, placing it as a middle-income country. Colombia's finance ministry projected an economic contraction of 5.5% for this year, a revision from its previous estimate of a contraction of 1.5% to 2%. In response, the Fiscal Rule Advisory Committee widened the government deficit limit for 2020 to 6.1% of GDP. The nation’s aluminium scrap export during 2017-19 reflects unsteady as the export volume stood at 25,318 tonnes and the revenue earning exhibited $31.35 million. The scrap export for 2020 has been projected at 8908 tonnes and earning to remain at $7.78 million. However, when the analysed export volume and...
New Zealand Govt should acquire Tiwai Point Aluminium smelter: Social Credit Party
New Zealand’s political party Social Credit has called the government to intervene and acquire Rio Tinto’s Tiwai Point aluminium smelter and convert it to a State-Owned Enterprise (SOE), issuing non-tradable shares to every New Zealand citizen. Social Credit Party has also advised that Govt. should offer just $1 for the purchase and then plough money into installing advanced emission control equipment to stop aluminium getting into the air and the food chain and cleaning up the environment and the leftover waste products. The plant could also be reformed to lift it to the world-class standards. The investment could be realized very easily and would not involve any cost to taxpayers, by using a process similar to the $60 billion the Reserve Bank is creating currently to buy government...
India’s Commerce and Industry Minister: 12 sectors with vast potential to axe import dependency, encourage exports; Aluminium spotted among
Piyush Goyal, Commerce and Industry Minister, Govt. of India on 13 th July’20 stated that certain sectors have been spotted with vast potential for India to slash its import dependence, encourage exports and endorse domestic manufacturing. The Minister stood for 12 sectors; aluminium industry is incorporated among the recognized sectors. Mr Goyal added: “COVID-19 pandemic has taught a big lesson that over-dependence on certain geographies can cause a lot of difficulties in the time of stress.” While addressing the AGM of Bombay Chamber of Commerce, Piyush Goyal said: “In our ways, we have identified sectors where import substitution or export potential is there in a big way and I am sure that we can all work together to make this happen. We are looking at more sectors and I would urge all...
French collective to take legal action against mining companies in Guinea
Guinea is nowadays one of the bauxite exporting countries in the world. More and more voices are being raised about mining by companies. The Collective for the Transition in Guinea (CTG), intends to initiate legal action against them very soon for more "clarifications". During a press conference organized on 11 th July’20, in France, the CTG cited the name of one of the mining companies which are in its sight, to which besides, it would require clarifications: "At the heart of this system, there is UMS, which is a conglomerate, which engages in rather dubious practices. UMS is one of our targets, because the rules of contract, of exploitation, must be healthy, transparent and democratic, and that also, the populations suffer and die from pollution, the absence infrastructure, misery in...
Greece import of Aluminium scrap has grown with rapid pace during 2017-20
Greece is a developed country with an economy based on the service (80%) and industrial sectors (16%), with the agricultural sector contributing an estimated 4% of national economic output in 2017. The economy of Greece is the 51st largest in the world with a nominal gross domestic product of $209.853 billion per annum. In terms of purchasing power parity, Greece is the world's 53rd largest economy, at $336.486 billion per annum. The aluminium scrap import of Greece has gained its speed during 2017-19 rapidly, as the total import volume stood at 97,806 tonnes and the expenditure stands at $132.25 million. The estimated import for 2020 has been analysed at 62,745 tonnes and the revenue expenditure to surge at $77.95 million. When the projected import volume and expenditure of 2020 gets...
Tiwai Point smelter shutdown: Making solar panels to Tesla battery Gigafactory projects or another smelter are among ideas proposed
The moment Tiwai Point aluminium smelter shutdown news got publicized, ideas cropped up from manufacturing of Solar Panels to attracting Elon Musk to erect a massive Tesla battery Gigafactory. On 9 th July’20, Rio Tinto announced its planning for the eventual closure of New Zealand Aluminium Smelters following a strategic review. The expected date for the closure is 2021 and it would direct loss of 1000 jobs and another 1600 jobs indirectly connected to the smelter. Dr Anna Berka, Lecturer in management, entrepreneurship and innovation at Massey University said: “New Zealand had years to plan for the closure but the Government still seemed to have been caught out, and there did not seem to be a transition plan in place for employees.” ”It’s the dependency, and the leverage, therefore,...
Fight against COVID-19: Vedanta boosts preventive measures for its staffs in Jharsuguda
The Vedanta’s Jharsuguda plant has boosted preventive measures to safeguard its employees, families and business partners against the deadly COVID-19. The company is working in close coordination with the Jharsuguda District Administration to ensure business continuity with limited manpower and resources. CN Singh, CEO, Vedanta Ltd., Jharsuguda says, “The health and safety of our employees, families, business partners and communities are of utmost import to us. We are in strict adherence to all guidelines and protocols of the land, and will continue to use our experiences and learning from the pandemic to safeguard our people to the best of our abilities.” The company has tied up with the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar, for COVID-19 testing. All travel from...
US-India trade deal: Piyush Goyal to meet Wilbur Ross on July 14th, India stands on its demand from exemption of extra duty on Aluminium
India and the US are expected hold a meeting on 14 th July’20 to strengthen bilateral trade, with commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal and US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross arranged to join in for discussions through a video conference, as per our sources. The limited trade deal between the two nations has been in the works for a few months now, as per our reports earlier, is dubious at this moment as both the states are fighting against COVID-19 epidemic. The bilateral trade discussion is coming up at a very vital time when India is solidifying a thorough strategy to target non-essential and sub-standards imports, explicitly from China. The India-US CEOs Forum is also expected to hold a meet on 14 th July’20 to further boost their engagement. There has been no official...
British automotive company LOTUS Cars to create 125 jobs in Norfolk
British Car manufacturer Lotus is to bring its steel fabrication and lightweight structures facilities together under one roof in Norfolk in a drive that will create 125 jobs. Headquartered in Hethel, the company will invest in its Hurricane Way factory in Norwich to create a new high-tech sub-assembly facility. It will make the aluminium extruded and bonded aluminium chassis for the Evora, Exige and Elise Lotus sports cars, along with manufacturing of aluminium components for other global car companies. The automaker has planned for 50 jobs initially, with a further 75 is also included in the plan. David Hewitt, Executive Director of Operations at Lotus Cars, said: "By bringing the aluminium chassis and steel sub-assembly manufacturing businesses together into one facility, we can...
CICU appeals to Govt. of India: Set forth vehicle scrappage policy to boost automobile sector, aluminium to be recycled
The automobile industry is stumbling under tremendous sales down-fall seeks Government to set forth vehicle scrappage policy to boost the sector. In a letter sent to the Prime Minister’s office, the industrialists stated: “The policy will not only help owners to get an incentive for old polluting vehicles with low value but will also boost the automobile sector which is facing a crisis due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.” Upkar Singh Ahuja, President and Pankaj Ahuja, General Secretary of Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertaking (CICU) said: “The announcement of the policy is hanging fire for a long time and if introduced, it would bring some relief to the automobile sector which is reeling under slowdown.” CICU organising secretary, JS Bhogal said, “The vehicle scrappage...
Indonesia’s Aluminium scrap import remains positive during 2019-20; export reflects low but indicates growth during 2018-20
The economy of Indonesia is the largest in Southeast Asia and is one of the emerging market economies of the world. Indonesia is a member of G20 and classified as a newly industrialised country. The aluminium scrap import of the island nation during 2019 was recorded with 159,742 tonnes and the foreign revenue expended on the import remained at $177.80 million. Indonesia’s aluminium scrap import market has been projected with growth by 17.12% Y-o-Y, as the import volume is expected to reach at 187,105 tonnes, surplus by 27,363 tonnes. The expenditure on the import volume would be outstretched to $205.45 million, rise by 15.55%. When the projected import volume and expenditure of 2020 is added with the previous year’s figures it stands at 346,847 tonnes and $383.25 million respectively....
McConnell Dowell gains Queensland Alumina waste line project, Rio Tinto remains vital
McConnell Dowell has signed a design and construction contract with Queensland Alumina (QAL). The construction company’s relationship with major shareholder Rio Tinto has remained vital. The construction company will be accountable for the delivery of a waste line replacement at QAL’s Parsons Point alumina refinery in Gladstone. Rio Tinto holds 80% stake in QAL, Australia’s first alumina refinery and producer of around 3.7 million tonnes of alumina per year. The project comprises the design of the new waste line; removal of the existing pipeline; enhancement of the support structures that include around 1400 piles within tidal and marine zones; and installation of the new waste line, 8.8 kilometres of DN 350 SCH 60 above ground steel pipeline. McConnell Dowell has initiated its work on...
Dutch multinational corp. Hunter Douglas “cease” aluminium production, Rotterdam staffs to lay-off
Manufacturer Hunter Douglas stops making aluminium itself in Rotterdam and among other things, sun protection in Rotterdam. Production is no longer beneficial. The shutdown of the production line will cause a layoff of 100 employees. Leen Reijtenbagh, CFO of Hunter Douglas said: “It doesn't pay. We will buy that aluminium later." Closing the production line at Piekstraat in Rotterdam South will cost a hundred employees their jobs. The works council is now considering advice. Union FNV is preparing talks about a social plan. "It is a huge blow to the staff, especially in these uncertain times," says Jan Meeder of FNV Metaal. The union still hopes that Hunter Douglas will come up with a new production line. Reijtenbagh advocates: “We are engaged in the production of aluminium ceiling...
Trudeau counsels US against levying illogical tariffs on Canadian Aluminium
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that he was anxious about reports that US was considering to re-impose tariffs on Canadian aluminium. On 8 th July’20, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: “US companies would suffer if the Trump administration hits Canadian metal imports with tariffs that lack any justification, on Wednesday.” While speaking to the reporters, Trudeau said he looked forward to congratulating US President Donald Trump on US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) which came into force on 1 st July’20, replacing the 26-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). As we had reported Trudeau did not travel to Washington on 8 th July to attend a meeting with Trump and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador marking the launch of the new trade deal. Prime...
