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.
Aluminium Deutschland: Aluminium Recycling Association appoints Helmut Greiner as new Chairman
Helmut Greiner, the Managing Director of Amag Casting GmbH, has taken over the role of Chairman of the Aluminium Recycling Trade Association within the Aluminum Germany (AD) industry association, succeeding the long-serving former Chairman, Thomas Reuther, who previously served as a board member at Trimet Aluminum SE. Ralf Köring, the Managing Director of Speira Recycling Services GmbH, has also been elected Deputy Chairman of the AD Aluminium Recycling Trade Association. Helmut Greiner said, "I am looking forward to the exciting and challenging task. At this point, I would like to express my thanks to my predecessor, Thomas Reuther, for his many years of commitment." "Aluminium recycling guarantees a sustainable supply of primary materials and contributes to Europe's independence in the...
Samsung SDI secures landmark battery supply agreement with Hyundai
On October 23, 2023, South Korea’s Samsung SDI Co. announced that it had entered into its first supply agreement with Hyundai Motor Co. for electric vehicle (EV), marking its role as Hyundai's third domestic battery supplier in South Korea, following LG Energy Solution Ltd. and SK On Co. This seven-year supply agreement will diversify Hyundai's battery technology by introducing prismatic batteries. Hyundai has primarily relied on pouch-type batteries to power its electric vehicles (EVs). According to the terms of the agreement, Samsung will provide Hyundai with its latest model, the sixth-generation prismatic batteries (P6), which will be manufactured at its Hungary plant. Deliveries to Hyundai's assembly lines in Europe are set to begin in 2026, as disclosed in a Samsung regulatory...
Tragic explosion claims six lives at recycled aluminium casting workshop in Southern China
According to reports on October 21, 2023, a tragic incident occurred at a factory in southern China, resulting in an explosion that claimed at least six lives. A devastating explosion occurred on October 20 in a factory workshop. The death toll was raised to six when four individuals were initially reported missing but were later found dead, as reported by the local Chinese media sources. The explosion site in Pingguo, Guangxi Province, was determined to be a recycled aluminium casting workshop, as confirmed by China's state broadcaster CCTV. It was determined that the explosion was caused by high-temperature molten aluminium. Preliminary investigations indicated that the leakage of high-temperature molten aluminium triggered the blast into a cooling pool during the aluminium rod casting...
Circular economy breathes new life into e-waste: Dell Technologies
Chris Buchanan, the client solutions director of Dell Technologies South Africa, found it consistently astonishing how little awareness there is regarding the pressing environmental concern of electronic waste (e-waste). According to a recent survey conducted among Gen Z and Millennials, 60 per cent of adults are unfamiliar with the concept of e-waste, and 57 per cent are unaware of its significant contribution to pollution. E-waste encompasses any electronic device featuring a plug, battery, or cable, including electronics that have outlived their usefulness. Annually, on the 14th of October, the world observes International E-Waste Day, a global initiative to increase awareness surrounding the growing issue of electronic waste and advocate for responsible e-waste management. He further...
GCC's green investment drive may pave the way for a $13 trillion economy by 2050
According to a recent Gulf Investment Report 2023 published by Century International Holdings, investing in green and sustainable projects can boost the Gulf countries' gross domestic product (GDP) to $13 trillion by 2050. This figure is double the initially projected $6 trillion regional GDP. While the combined GDP of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states has already surpassed $2 trillion and is expected to reach $6 trillion by 2050, the new $13 trillion estimate could be attainable if these nations adopt a green growth strategy. Key areas of focus to realize this potential include the production of green and blue hydrogen. The report highlights that the region could attract as much as $300 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) if it takes swift action to position itself as the...
China's EV and RE sector boom rescues aluminium demand amid property market crisis
Despite the enduring crisis in the building and construction sector, the robust demand from China's electric vehicles (EV) and renewable energy (RE) sectors has contributed to an upswing in the demand for aluminium, as reported by ING Think. Chinese aluminium prices have shown more resilience than global prices for most of this year. While London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium prices have experienced an over 8 per cent decline this year, prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) have risen by around 1 per cent year-to-date. The continuous demand for aluminium in China has remained steadfast throughout the year, driven by the growing demand from the green sector, despite the nation's lacklustre economic recovery. China experienced a surge in the inflow of aluminium due to an arbitrage...
Russian aluminium giant contemplates phasing out loss-making units: Interfax
The Russian aluminium industry leader is currently evaluating potential shutdown options for a number of its unprofitable facilities due to the combination of low aluminium prices and financial setbacks resulting from the implementation of an "exchange rate" export duty, as reported by Interfax, the Moscow headquartered Russian news agency. Interfax has received information from an undisclosed source indicating that the closure of unprofitable production facilities is unavoidable in light of the current prices on the aluminium exchange. The aluminium powerhouse has yet to officially respond to inquiries regarding the potential closure of several of its plants. However, a representative from one of its stakeholders, holding a 25.72 per cent stake in the aluminium company, stated that the...
Gillespie & Powers Inc. secures contract to supply Aluminum Dynamics with casthouse furnaces and equipment across North America
Aluminum Dynamics, the newly formed aluminium operations of Steel Dynamics, Inc., has contracted Gillespie & Powers Inc. along with their strategic partners Hustler Conveyor Company, American Pulverizer Company, and ETA Engineering for the supply of their furnace equipment, pre-treatment equipment and air pollution control equipment for their recently announced, state-of-the-art facilities in Columbus, Mississippi, Gila Bend, Arizona, and San Luis Potosi, Mexico. This package includes shredders, conveyors, hot and cold air pollution control equipment, melting furnaces, holding furnaces and treatment equipment up to the casting table of various sizes and configurations. It is designed to produce automotive, can and common alloy aluminium sheets of the highest quality to Aluminum Dynamics...
PipeHawk PLC wins contract to supply automated assembly systems for JVM castings
On October 18, 2023, PipeHawk PLC announced that its subsidiary, QM Systems Ltd, had secured a contract with JVM Castings Ltd. This contract involves designing, manufacturing, and supplying a suite of automated systems for inserting and assembling self-piercing and clinch nuts into various automotive aluminium castings. PipeHawk, a company headquartered in Hampshire, England, specialising in technology for the automotive, rail, aerospace industries, and highways, stated that this contract is expected to generate approximately GBP800,000 in revenue for QM. The project is slated for completion within PipeHawk's fiscal year, ending on June 30. The project will leverage QM's most recent automation process, which combines assembly with error-proofing mechanisms to ensure the accurate...
Aluminium inventories at Japanese ports declined 3.4% in September: Marubeni Corp.
Aluminium inventories at three major Japanese ports, Yokohama, Nagoya, and Osaka, as reported by Marubeni Corp on October 16, 2023, decreased by 3.4 per cent to 348,300 tonnes by the end of September, down from 360,700 tonnes in the previous month. A table indicates the aluminium inventories measured in tonnes at the major ports: Ports September 2023 August 2023 September 2022 Yokohama 153,000 160,200 157,600 Nagoya 175,700 179,700 203,100 Osaka 19,600 20,800 19,000 Total 348,300 360,700 379,700 Japan, the world's third-largest economy, depends on imported aluminium to meet its demand due to limitations in domestic production, however, Japan's estimated per capita aluminium consumption has reached 13 kilograms annually. In 2022, the nation's aluminium imports surged to an impressive...
Powys County Council's innovative digital recycling trial aims to reduce waste
Powys County Council is conducting a pilot program using digital technology to promote the recycling of beverage containers. The trial, known as the digital deposit return scheme (DRS), is taking place in and around the town of Brecon, beginning in July and concluding at the end of this month. Powys is by far the largest county in Wales. Powys County Council is the local authority for Powys, one of the administrative areas of Wales. In this initiative, registered participants use a mobile app to scan a QR code attached to beverage containers before placing them in their home recycling bins, designated recycling machines or returning them to a participating store. As a reward, they receive a 10-pence cash incentive, which they can either keep or contribute to a local food bank. Each...
Rusal to introduce PEFA aluminium alloy ingots in Japan
The Russian aluminium giant Rusal is expanding its presence in the Japanese market by introducing its "PEFA" aluminium alloy ingots. The resulting alloy, called PEFA (Primary Equivalent Foundry Alloys), contains 20 per cent aluminium scrap added to the aluminium melt during production. One significant benefit of these ingots is their compatibility with the widely accepted standard A356.2, a versatile aluminium alloy ingot. This strategic move aligns with the growing demand for environmentally friendly raw materials as part of initiatives to achieve carbon neutrality. Ayumu Murakami, Rusal's Japan President, confirmed that discussions with several domestic users are already underway. The demand for PEFA is increasing, especially in the environmentally aware European market, which...
UK's AEM secures fresh funding for sustainable EV motor production expansion
The Advanced Propulsion Centre in the UK has provided funding for a project to expand the production of an innovative electric motor that doesn't rely on rare-earth elements. Advanced Electric Machines (AEM), a sustainable motor manufacturer, is leading the SIMPLE project (Scaled-up Innovative Motor Production for Lower Environmental Impact) initiative. This project involves establishing a dedicated pilot production line to manufacture their patented SSRD passenger car motor technology. Traditional electric motors often utilize rare-earth elements like neodymium in their permanent magnet design, which is commonly found in electric vehicles. However, extracting these naturally occurring materials can have detrimental environmental impacts. AEM asserts that the widespread adoption of their...
EU and US join forces to probe Chinese steel and aluminium, tariffs possible
The European Union is gearing up to investigate excess capacity in China's steel industry, potentially leading to a 25 per cent tariff being imposed on imports from the second-largest global economy. Furthermore, aluminium is under scrutiny within the EU, with officials considering a 10 per cent tariff on shipments from China and other non-market economies. This investigation forms part of a political accord with the United States, which is set to be unveiled during an upcoming bilateral summit in Washington next week. The agreement will also involve the removal of specific existing US tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from the EU. Sources within the EU who are familiar with the plan anticipate its announcement on October 20 by US President Joe Biden, European Commission President...
Novelis and Airbus strengthen partnership with extended collaboration agreement
Novelis, a leading sustainable aluminium solutions provider and world leader in aluminium rolling and recycling, has officially announced the renewal of its longstanding partnership with Airbus. This contract renewal marks the continuation of their highly successful and collaborative relationship, which has endured for over three decades. Steve Fisher, the President and CEO of Novelis Inc., said, "The agreement enhances the long-term partnership between Novelis and Airbus and exemplifies our leading role in providing innovative aluminium products and solutions for the commercial aerospace industry. We are excited to continue working with Airbus while advancing the development of valuable products at our Koblenz and Zhenjiang sites." Novelis has secured a contract to provide Airbus with...
Discover the leading aluminium extrusion manufacturers in the USA
Extrusion is a metal shaping process that involves forcing a workpiece through a die to alter its cross-sectional profile and achieve a desired shape. There are several variants of extrusion, such as direct extrusion, indirect extrusion, cold extrusion, and hydrostatic extrusion, each tailored to specific applications. In extrusion, a piston or plunger is employed to apply compressive force to the workpiece. Aluminium and plastic are among the most frequently extruded materials. In this process, tubes, hollow pipes, frames, doors, windows, and structural components are commonly fabricated. The North American aluminium extrusion market has experienced notable growth, largely propelled by increasing demands across various sectors, including construction, consumer goods, machinery and...
Closed-loop recycling triumphs for majority of recycled cans in Australia: IAI
A recent study commissioned by the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) revealed that a significant portion of aluminium cans recycled in Australia is effectively looped back into the manufacturing process to produce new aluminium cans, thereby closing the recycling loop for these containers. The Australian Aluminium Council made this study's findings public, offering insight into the complete lifecycle of used beverage cans (UBCs). As per the data presented in the study, Australia consumes more than nine billion aluminium cans annually, which is anticipated to rise by 25 per cent from 2020 to 2030, reaching a staggering 11 billion cans yearly. However, the limited domestic recycling capacity has raised concerns about the fate of these cans, as highlighted in the research. Marghanita...
Idra expands customer base with Ford and Hyundai deals
Italian aluminium casting machine manufacturer Idra, a key supplier to Tesla, has expanded its customer base by securing deals with Ford, Hyundai, and a European automotive company. These automakers are exploring the use of gigapresses, massive casting machines that Tesla has pioneered for producing large single pieces of vehicle underbodies. Gigapresses enhance production efficiency, reducing the workload for robots. These casting machines create front and rear underbodies integrated with battery packs to form a three-piece chassis for battery electric vehicles (BEVs). During an industry event, Idra showcased its "gigapress 6,100," which exerted a clamping force of over 6,000 tonnes and featured the Ford brand. Additionally, Idra has been testing an even larger gigapress, the "9,000,"...
