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.
COVID-19 lockdown: Australia’s loss-making aluminium smelters appeal for exemption
Australia's loss-making aluminium smelters have warned their possibility of returning might get reduced post joining the society for COVID-19 lockdowns and appealed government to exempt them. A scruple of industries, including police, resources and healthcare workers have been told to keep working through the epidemic because they are deemed "essential" to the community or the economy. Rio Tinto, Alcoa, Rusal and Alumina Ltd., the constituents of the Aluminium council has asked to join the ranks of "essential" industries and argued for their entire supply chain to also win an exemption The council in a joint statement with the Australian Workers Union said:'' Our sites rely on these small to medium-sized businesses, who supply specialist skills, products and services for the continued...
MB&F introduces aluminium time display watch dedicated towards man’s best friend: The HM10 Bulldog
The luxury watch comes in a rounded shape, compact body of titanium or red gold measuring 54mm x 45mm x 24mm. The two esteemed aluminium time-display eyes rotate to show hours and minutes. Its heart is an all-new manual-winding in-house movement beating at 2.5Hz. The watch is designed in a unique shape as it has a body, for legs, a big head, two eyes, a brain, and jaws. It is named MB&F Bulldog. The full title is Horological Machine No.10 Bulldog. The design came to MB&F founder Max Büsser while he was daydreaming during a trip to Japan. Mr Büsser said: “What you see now in front of you is more or less exactly what I saw at the time and it was the first time I actually saw a watch in my mind, just like that.” HM10 Bulldog is available in two editions this year, one with a titanium case...
Ukraine’s bauxite import remains strong during 2017-19: Growth of 4.69% projected in 2020
Ukraine has been raising the import of aluminium ore Y-o-Y, thus sending a positive message to the global bauxite/aluminium industry. The total bauxite import during 2017-19 stood at 15.48 million tonnes, whereas the import estimation for 2020 stood at 5.80 million tonnes when added the volume stands at 21.28 tonnes. The total foreign revenue expenditure reflects at $909.45 million for bauxite importation during 2017-20. Ukraine in 2017 raised imports of bauxite in natural terms by 21.8% compared to 2016, to 4.86 million tonnes, in monetary terms by 36.9%, to $212.34 million. In January-July 2018 some 45 tonnes of bauxite were re-exported to Poland for $5,000, whereas in January-July 2017 some 22 tonnes of bauxite were re-exported to Poland for $1,000 and 140 tonnes worth $9,000 to...
The “Corona” crisis: Hindalco Industries temporarily curtails operations
The world's largest aluminium rolling company and one of biggest producers of primary aluminium in Asia, Hindalco, has temporarily closed down or curtailed operations of some of the Aluminium production facilities, following the directives of the state governments due to COVID-19. The minimized operations are being administered by a lesser number of staffs as a part of the ongoing effort to practice social distancing. The company has adopted several measures to safeguard the health and safety of the workforce. Hindalco’s subsidiary Novelis in the US has also partially closed down some of its plants as the outcome of temporary shutdown measures of US automakers in response to the “Corona” crisis. Hindalco said: “Novelis has temporarily ramped down aluminium supply for the automotive market...
Low carbon Aluminium plant is on planning as upcoming project for DUBAL Holding
The Dubal Holding Company has been in concern for setting up multiple projects in the UAE; a low carbon aluminium plant is at high priority as communicated by the CEO of Dubal Holding today. The Dubai government’s investment arm for power and energy, commodities, mining and industrial projects is under the consideration of Dubal Holdings During the AGM press statement, Abdulnasser Bin Kalban said: “the investment firm is actively pursuing the development of an integrated aluminium rolling facility that will produce aluminium with low CO2 footprint. He said the projects "will support infrastructure and investment strategy for a potential future assembly line for an electrical vehicle facility to support the UAE Green Economy." He added, “Additional projects under study include an...
RB16: Red Bull built a lighter design with aluminium alloy
The post analysis report concludes that the Red Bull Racing has developed an adventurous design for RB16’s front wheel suspensions of the top three Formula1team. The designs of both Red Bull and Mercedes were more valiant in designing the front suspension, whereas Ferrari remained a bit more conservative. In the analysis of the RB16, it has come out that the latest chassis of Adrian Newey, it is stated that the suspension has been designed completely new, "and the nose has become narrower and squarer". The usage of aluminium alloy also indicates that the team desperately searched for a lighter design, with success. From a mechanical point of view Red Bull's solution is fair, but it's the best compromise to generate much less air resistance with the chassis in the long run. The new design...
Tiwai Point Aluminium smelter in New Zealand exempted from “Corona-virus” outbreak lockdown
The Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter, employing about 1000 Southlanders, has been exempted from the countrywide four-week lockdown in New Zealand. The aluminium smelter was launched in 1971 and has been running continuously. As decided the smelter has been kept out of the lockdown process, as it will keep its production persistent. Confusion over what services would be considered essential and permitted to remain open during the lockdown period led to a clarifying press release from the National Crisis Management Centre (NCMC) on 24 th March night. The NCMC guidelines indicated that dairies would remain open, most liquor stores would close and the Warehouse would not receive the exemption it had claimed to have earlier in the day on 24 th March. Industrial businesses received special focus:...
Nordex secures mega-corporate wind order for aluminium giant Alcoa
Nordex, the European company that designs, sells and manufactures wind turbines has secured an order for the 400 MW Øyfjellet wind farm in northern Norway from a un-famed German investment house linked to a corporate power purchase agreement (PPA) with metals group Alcoa. Electricity generation from the mammoth wind farm will deliver energy for the aluminium giant's smelter plant in the nearby industrial town of Mosjøen, as well for the local community. The Øyfjellet project was developed by Eolus Vind, one of the largest developers in the Nordics, and will feature 72 of the OEM’s N149/5.X turbines in the 5MW class on 105-metre steel towers. Nordex Chief Sales Officer Patxi Landa said: “With Øyfjellet being such a large and prestigious project, we are delighted that our new customer,...
European Aluminium shows dis-satisfaction against the US anti-dumping investigation targeting certain European countries
European Aluminium sincerely regrets the US anti-dumping investigation into common alloy aluminium sheet from Croatia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain and Turkey. European Aluminium oppose the injurious dumping and subsidisation allegations and strongly urges the US authorities not to impose additional trade barriers but rather to work together with the European Commission to address subsidised Chinese overcapacity. This is the root cause of the challenges faced by the aluminium industries in Europe and the US. Gerd Götz, Director General of European Aluminium said: “We are very concerned about the possibility of having additional trade barriers between the US and Europe. Instead of imposing additional duties on each other, we should work together to address the...
The Ducab Group of UAE declares profit up by 5% in 2019
The manufacturer of high-performance aluminium cables in UAE, The Ducab Group, recorded a 5% gain in profits for 2019. The company, owned by Dubai and Abu Dhabi governments is yet to release the breakdown of the financials. Ducab, which operates six manufacturing facilities across four sites in the UAE, has an installed capacity of 115,000 metal tonnes of high, medium, and low-voltage cable solutions, upgraded production of 175,000 tonnes of copper rod and wire per annum. This is backed up by 50,000 tonnes per annum of aluminium rod and overhead conductors. Ducab exports 60% of its overall production worldwide. Dr Ahmad Bin Hassan Al Shaikh, Chairman said: “We are proudly flying the flag for “Made in UAE” products across the world, with Ducab cables and accessories now used in more than...
Aluminum Industry of Canada "cheers" Francois Legault for recognizing the Industry as “indispensable”
On 23 rd March’20, Francois Legault ordered the closure of all non-essential businesses and businesses as early as 11:59 p.m. 24 th March’20, in the hope to cut off the widespread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The government has admitted the “strategic” nature of the aluminium industry, allowing it to continue its activities. However, the industrial and mining complexes must minimize their activities. The aluminium industry was delighted on Monday to be counted among the "indispensable" companies which will be able to continue operating, even though in a limited way, beyond 24 th March’20 evening. The Aluminum Association of Canada has assured that its members intend to comply with this instruction, in effect until 13 th April’20. The Association said: "This contribution to the national...
The “Corona” epidemic hits out at aluminium casting maker RYOBI in Carrickfergus, 560 workers send to temporary lay-off
Ryobi, the aluminium casting maker has temporarily pulled down its Carrickfergus operation and send all of its 560 staffs on temporary lay-off until 3 rd April’20. This news was communicated to the employees by a senior person of the company at its Northern Ireland headquarters on 23 rd March’20. The company was founded in Japan more than 70 years ago and it is considered as the global leader in aluminium die-casting. It makes it the largest manufacturer in the north hit by the coronavirus pandemic, and comes as the entire European automobile industry has effectively shut down until mid-April. The Unite union, which represents many of the Ryobi workers, confirmed it had spoken to management. It said it was looking at details of the terms and conditions being offered to the workers under...
Indonesia’s Aluminium household articles export market shows inconsistency during 2017-20
The Indonesian government has been in a continuous process to encourage increasing the production of domestic aluminium. But still, the export market of Indonesia’s household articles has been inconsistent throughout 2017-19; as well the 2020 prediction has shown a steep slow down. In 2017 the total export the aluminium household articles recorded 3978 tonnes and the foreign revenue generated stood at $14.33 million. The export in 2018 captured de-growth of 16.26%, as the total volume of export, stood at 3330 tonnes. The revenue generation was reflected at $12.79 million, a steep fall of 21.34% on Y-o-Y. In 2019 the export market of Indonesian aluminium household articles grew by 51.08% showing a positive trend after a long time, as the total export stood at 5031 tonnes. The total foreign...
“Corona-virus”: UC Rusal’s Windalco Alumina in Jamaica declares safety measures
UC Rusal, the Global Aluminium Producer, has been operating Windalco Alumina in St Catherine has declared safety measures in relation to the spread of COVID-19. The company came out with clear communication that in order to ensure the health and safety of all employees effective 17 th March’20, employees from head office and staff who are not involved in the production process will be working from home. The rest of the operations will remain to be continued without any interruption. The company outlined that exceptions will only be made in the instance when the tasks cannot be performed without coming to the office. As per a company spokesperson: “Only those employees whose presence is indispensable to ensure the production is uninterrupted will be present at the production sites.” The...
Damco Aluminum Delfzijl Coöperatie seeks refuge in green electricity but Covid-19 creates uncertainty
Karel Oldenburger, General Manager, commented “If those piles have just been produced and lifted out, they have another dangling point. That is aluminium at its best.” Oldenburger has been working at Damco Aluminum Delfzijl Coöperatie, or Aldel for more than a decade. He has the experience of bankruptcies in 2013 and 2017 and the 304 melting furnaces were largely turned off. The post-bankruptcy as recent as in 2017, one of the most important employers in East Groningen seemed to be closing its doors permanently. The company will be celebrating its 40 th Anniversary next year. Production has now been scaled up to 225 ovens that are in daily use - at least for the corona crisis. A party such as Aldel, which is at the front of the chain, is now also beginning to notice the consequences. "We...
Metro Mining to resume mining at Bauxite Hills in mid-April due to COVID-19 challenges apart from the wet season
Metro Mining has made public that it will resume mining at the Bauxite Hills Mine in early April’20, as formulated, with the first vessel to commence loading two weeks later. In general mining operations activities are kept in halt at the Bauxite Hills during the December-March wet season period. Though perfect dates are always subject to weather situations, long-term forecasts have indicated that the restart is expected to be smooth. Metro has confirmed the shipping schedule for the 2020 first quarter of operations is now finalized, and all production planned until the end of June’20 is spoken for and anticipates producing and shipping about 1million tonnes of bauxite during this period. Metro’s MD and CEO Simon Finnis said that while it may seem like a business, as usual, the company is...
Jordan’s import of Aluminium Bar Rods and Profiles tends positive during 2017-20
The termination of the safeguards imposed on the import of aluminium bar rods and profiles by Jordan in later part of 2019, has shown much more positive growth over the import demand. The projected import for 2020 for aluminium bar rods and profiles for has been in five figures as the volume is estimated at 10,100 tonnes. The year 2017 was recorded with 6198 tonnes as the safeguards on aluminium bar rods and profiles were imposed on the previous year. The total amount expended for the import stood at $18.82 million Jordan’s aluminium bar rods and profiles import in 2018 had seen growth by 35.89%, as the total volume of import stood at 8323 tonnes and the revenue expended was $22.51 million. In 2019 though there was a bit downfall as the total import was recorded at 8244 tonnes with...
Canyon Resources on course for Minim Martap Bauxite project PFS in the second quarter amid COVID-19 epidemic
Canyon Resources Ltd is relentless of development at its 100% owned Minim Martap Bauxite Project in central Cameroon, Africa, with the conveyance of the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) on course. The study of the maiden ore reserve for the project is anticipated to be delivered in the second quarter of 2020. Managing director Phillip Gallagher said: “We know we are in unprecedented times and that everyone is in some way affected, however, as a business we are in a strong position to continue to deliver on the project whilst protecting our people. “This has been the result of careful contingency planning and having selected the right people and organizations globally to partner with for the delivery of the PFS.” The PFS is reinforced by Minim Martap’s portrayed mineral resource of 892 million...
