AlCircle News Edited By "Sarnali Chakraborty"
Sarnali Chakraborty is a content writer with 2 years of experience. She has written articles on various genres like technical, creative, medical, to name some. Here in Alcircle she will be curating articles on the metal industry, writing newsletters and other online and offline content.
Real Alloy achieves dual ASI certifications for its operations in North America
On Friday, December 16, Aluminium Stewardship Initiative announced that Real Alloy has successfully been certified with the ASI Performance Standard V2 (2017) and Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard V1 (2017) for its wrought alloy and cast alloy factories located in Coldwater North Michigan and for recovering aluminium scrap at its Coldwater South plant (USA). REAL Alloy's global corporate headquarters in Ohio (USA) has also received a dual ASI Certification for its central, strategic, and administrative management duties. Molten aluminium, deox cones, and specification alloy sows are the main products of the recycling plant, whilst a large variety of specification alloys for use in the car industry are produced in the casting facility. As well as core strategic, administrative, and service...
Vedanta launches its Sustainable Development report ‘Accelerating to Net Zero’ for FY2022
On National Energy Conservation Day, Vedanta Aluminium, the largest aluminium producer in India, released its Sustainable Development (SD) Report for FY 2021–22, titled 'Accelerating to Net Zero.' The report summarized the organization's performance concerning critical sustainability dimensions, including economic performance, supply chain management, climate change & energy management, air quality & emissions control, water management, biodiversity management, waste to wealth, safety, health & well-being, people excellence, community welfare, etc. Additionally, under the Taskforce for Climate-related Financial Disclosures, or TCFD framework, Vedanta Aluminium released its first climate change report titled "Road to Net Zero Carbon." Through this report, the corporation wants to educate...
A00 aluminium ingot price in China slumps by RMB80/t; Alumina spot price went up by RMB2/t
On Friday, December 16, the A00 aluminium ingot price in China slumped by RMB 80 per tonne to stand at RMB 18,840 per tonne, with the average prices standing between RMB 18,820 per tonne and RMB 18,860 per tonne. The spot contract price is expected to be traded at a premium price of RMB 100 to RMB 140 per tonne. The price in Shenyang and Linyi has slipped by RMB 90 per tonne and RMB 80 per tonne to halt at RMB 18,810 per tonne and RMB 18,840 per tonne. As per the SMM data, the A00 aluminium ingot price in Wuxi and Hangzhou has descended by RMB 75 per tonne to peg at RMB 18,850 per tonne. In Gongyi and Chongqing, the prices recorded a fall of RMB 40 per tonne to reside at RMB 18,680 per tonne and RMB 18,870 per tonne. In Foshan and Tianjin, the prices shrunk by RMB 50 per tonne, stopping...
Aluminium in shipbuilding: Top 10 projects in 2022
Aluminium has a long history in the boat-building industry. Although aluminium weighs less than other metals, its strength is nevertheless similar, and it is considered an excellent material for maritime applications because of this combination. The use of aluminium makes the construction of hulls and superstructures possible, simultaneously making them strong and lightweight. An aluminium hull is suitable for blue sea sailing due to its strength, resistance, and ability to withstand hammering. Due to its inherent resistance to rust and corrosion, aluminium stands out from other metals and materials and produces long-lasting, attractive results. This is the main reason why aluminium extrusion and fabrication are often used in many sectors of the maritime industry. Aluminium is regarded as...
City of York Council and Alupro launches festive-themed aluminium foil recycling competition
In a move to encourage school students towards recycling, the City of York Council, in collaboration with Alupro, launched a festive-themed competition for primary school students. With the council now able to collect aluminium foil at the kerbside, the project seeks to improve public awareness of the value of recycling, particularly during the holiday season when package quantities rise. Children were asked to draw a festive A4 poster using old (but clean) aluminium foil. The best design will get a £50 cash reward, and their school will get vouchers worth £500 for eco-friendly materials and projects. The competition started on November 28 and will continue till December 31. “At Christmas, aluminium foil can be found all around your home. From mince pie and roasting trays, to foil...
ASI enlists Hammerer Aluminium Industries under the Performance Standard V2 (2017) Certification
On Wednesday, December 14, Aluminium Stewardship Initiative announced that Hammerer Aluminium Industries (HAI) Extrusion SRL achieved the ASI Performance Standard V2 (2017) Certification for the production of extruded aluminium profiles at its plant in Chisineu-Cris, Romania. The business manufactures extruded profiles for heat sinks, heat exchangers, electrical systems, and machine and system engineering. Four extrusion lines at the HAI facility have an annual manufacturing capacity of about 22,000 tonnes. TÜV Rheinland Cert GmbH conducted an impartial, outside audit of the Hammerer Aluminium Industries Extrusion SRL business. “In view of our high motivation to continuously improve our business processes along the entire value chain and to make them sustainable, we are very proud to have...
LME aluminium benchmark price loses US$2/t to US$2,388/t; SHFE price expands by US$44/t
LME aluminium opened at US$2,418 per tonne on Tuesday, with its high and low at US$2,485 per tonne and US$2,407 per tonne, respectively, before closing at US$2,454 per tonne, an increase of US$43.5 per tonne or 1.8 per cent. On Tuesday, December 13, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price climbed down by US$2.5 per tonne or 0.10 per cent and US$2 per tonne or 0.08 per cent to halt at US$2,387 per tonne and US$2,388 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price inched down by US$1 per tonne or 0.04 per cent and US$2 per tonne or 0.08 per cent. December 23 bid price and December 23 offer price slipped by US$3 per tonne to halt at US$2,503 per tonne and US$2,508 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock came in at 496425 tonnes. Live warrants and...
Mark Cavagnero Associates uses horizontal aluminium sunshade for the Marcus Hall project in US
The George and Judy Marcus Hall (Marcus Hall) for the Liberal and Creative Arts, by Mark Cavagnero Associates, is a fusion of glass, concrete, and steel. The 75,000-square-foot academic building combined a substantial concrete foundation with a rectangular volume of thin, recycled aluminium sheets. Cavagnero chose aluminium insulated panels and a horizontal aluminium sunshade for the project due to their noncorrosive properties despite considering San Francisco's generally mild weather and temperature conditions. The site's proximity to the Pacific Ocean, the resulting marine airflow, and the city's famous fog were also considered. While the building envelope's energy efficiency was prioritised in the choice of construction materials and systems, the structure's aesthetic appeal was also...
Wight Aluminium attributes strong workforce for its 50 years of longevity
Wight Aluminium, one of New Zealand's largest aluminium fabricators, commemorated the creation of its first batch of aluminium window frames, which occurred 50 years ago. The Whanganui-based aluminium fabricator attributed its journey to a strong base of employees and knowledge. "It grew from doing [...] residential and smaller scale buildings to now, the wide range of the work we do, including some pretty big stuff. For us, celebrating 50 years in business is in large part a celebration of our team, past and present - all those who have been with us along the way," said Wight, the managing director of the company. The business was founded in 1965 as a construction firm by Gavin Wight's grandfather, and in 1972, its factory at Tower Crescent on Durie Hill produced its first batch of...
Average alumina spot price in China gains RMB15/t to RMB 2,897/t; A00 aluminium ingot price dips to RMB 18,920/t
On Tuesday, December 13, the average alumina spot price in China went up by RMB 15 per tonne to halt at RMB 2,897 per tonne. The price in Shandong and Bayuquan has climbed up by RMB 35 per tonne and RMB 30 per tonne to settle at RMB 2,850 per tonne and RMB 2,930 per tonne. On the same day in Guangxi, the alumina price recorded a growth of RMB 15 per tonne to peg at RMB 2,815 per tonne. As per the data, prices in Henan and Shanxi moved up by RMB 10 per tonne to clock at RMB 2,960 per tonne and RMB 2,940 per tonne. In Guizhou, the price grew by RMB 5 per tonne to halt at RMB 2,810 per tonne. Only in Lianyungang, the price remained restrained at RMB 2,875 per tonne. On the other hand, China’s A00 aluminium ingot decreased by RMB 40 per tonne to settle at RMB 18,920 per tonne, with the...
24th edition of Arabal attracts global aluminium biggies
The 24th edition of the Arab International Aluminum Conference (Arabal) hosted by Egyptalum from November 29 to December 1, 2022, was a massive success at the Nile Ritz Carlton in Cairo, Egypt. With around 22 exhibitors, the event was attended by top companies like Sohar Aluminium, EGA, Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), Mozal Aluminium, etc. The theme of this year's event was "Enabling a more sustainable future," and it included insights from top industry stalwarts from every segment of the aluminium supply chain, including smelters, producers, technology providers, financiers, and end users. Arabal is the region's premier aluminium event and offers a prime setting for networking and exchanging answers to the world's problems. The event was attended by top industry experts like Abdulnasser Bin...
Aluminium billet inventories grow by 2,600 tonnes W-o-W to 71,600 tonnes
On Thursday, December 8, the social inventory of aluminium billets was 71,600 tonnes, up 2,600 tonnes from the previous week but down 4,300 tonnes from the previous Monday, December 5. The inventory increased by 4,300 tonnes from November's end but decreased by 13,900 tonnes from the prior year. Aluminium billets can be produced immediately by continuous casting, extrusion, or hot rolling an ingot or bloom. The figure below provides further information on the current state of aluminium billet inventories in China: As per the SMM reports, the aluminium billet inventories had increased in almost all the major provinces. The inventories in Foshan and Huzhou had ascended by 3,900 tonnes and 1,000 tonnes to settle at 48,300 tonnes and 8,000 tonnes. On the other hand, in Wuxi and Changzhou, the...
Biden administration strongly condemns WTO's rejection of Trump imposed tariffs on aluminium and steel
The World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled on Friday that the 2018 tariffs placed on foreign aluminium and steel by then-President Donald Trump were unjustified, which was unaccepted by the Biden administration. The Biden administration took action to avoid the tariffs, but it disagreed with the WTO's judgement and said it exceeded its power by rejecting levies because of national security concerns. Reports indicate that WTO's ruling won't significantly affect the world. If the United States challenges the decision, it will be ineffective since the WTO's Appellate Body has not been operational for three years due to the United States blocking the nomination of new judges. "The United States strongly rejects the flawed interpretation and conclusions. The United States has held the clear and...
LME aluminium price loses US$15/t to US$2,453.50/t; SHFE price slips to US$2,728/t
LME aluminium opened at US$2,499.5 per tonne last Friday, with its high and low at US$2,517 per tonne and US$2,470 per tonne, respectively, before closing at US$2,470 per tonne, a drop of US$30 per tonne or 1.2 per cent. On Friday, December 9, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price slipped by US$14.5 per tonne or 0.58 per cent and US$15 per tonne or 0.60 per cent to settle at US$2,453 per tonne and US$2,453.50 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price slumped by US$8.5 per tonne or 0.34 per cent and US$10 per tonne or 0.40 per cent to close at US$2,487.50 per tonne and US$2,488 per tonne. December 23 bid price and December 23 offer price dipped by US$7 per tonne or 0.27 per cent to peg at US$2,553 per tonne and US$2,558 per tonne. LME...
Kickstarter launches AZIO Cascade 98 featuring aluminium body and a full-frame number pad
The New-York based American Public Benefit Corporation Kickstarter recently launched its full-size aluminium mechanical keyboard, titled AZIO Cascade 98. This keyboard is the company's first low-profile keyboard with a full-size number pad. The thin profile keyboard, which has a 98 per cent layout and an RGB backlight, can be utilised for both wirelessly and wired devices. “Cascade 98 is the perfect board for anyone who wants to make their keyboard just a little more personal. With an array of customization options, you can swap out switches or keycaps to match your style and preferences. The Cascade 98’s ergonomic compact design includes a full-size number pad and a dedicated row of Function keys. To minimize input errors, the Cascade 98 features the traditional large size “0″ key on the...
Downstream weekly recap: Gestamp takes over one-third part of Gescrap ; Chinese aluminium is subject to new tariffs by the US and EU to combat climate change
The global aluminium industry’s most vital segment is the downstream part, which converts aluminium into manufacturing feedstock. This week the segment witnessed limited but significant events. Gestamp, a Spanish producer of automotive components, had acquired one-third of Gescrap, a company that recovers and recycles scrap metal. It was indicated that eliminating carbon emissions from the whole supply chain would significantly influence the decrease of mineral extraction from iron and aluminium. Aluplast-ZTG, an Altest firm with operations in Bulgaria, purchased second Nitrex nitriding equipment to fulfil the clients' demand for its extrusion profiles used in residential and commercial construction. The extruder installed new extrusion presses, which significantly increased its...
WTO panel revokes US imports duties on aluminium and steel, upholds in favour of Switzerland
The panel in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute resolution processes in which Switzerland contested the restrictions put in place by the US on aluminium and steel since 2018 released its final report on December 9, 2022. The tribunal favoured Switzerland after concluding that the US regulations are against the GATT. The panel listened to Switzerland's legal defence. In its findings, the board concluded that the US measures had violated multiple GATT rules and were not justified by the security exemption outlined in the agreement. Invoking national security concerns, the United States (US) imposed extra taxes of 10 per cent on certain imports of aluminium products and 25 per cent on certain imports of steel products from March 23 2018. Switzerland started WTO dispute settlement...
Top 10 ASI certifications under the downstream aluminium sector in 2022
Dedicated to maximising the contribution of aluminium to a sustainable society, Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) is an international multi-stakeholder and non-profit organisation which aims to promote sustainability along the whole value chain for aluminium. They have established specific criteria to audit and verify the transparency and sustainability of aluminium across all phases of its production and transformation. And in 2022, the downstream sector of the global aluminium industry witnessed a lot of ASI certifications and membership, pointing towards the fact that sustainability is eventually becoming the need of the hour. In addition to demonstrating accountability, ASI certifications can boost stakeholder and customer trust in aluminium goods by proving our performance to a...
