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.
Strike at Alcoa’s Mosjøen aluminium smelter to escalate further if the ongoing labour dispute continues
Despite several meetings with Industri Energi and Norsk Industri, the collective agreement between the two companies to secure a new labour deal failed, due to which some employees at Alcoa's Mosjøen aluminium smelter in Norway went on strike on Monday, August 22. However, Alcoa's Lista plant in Norway is not currently part of the ongoing strike. In a more considerable labour dispute that affects other areas of Norway's industrial sector, Alcoa said that 17 of the 550 employees at the Mosjøen smelter failed to report to work on Monday. If the strike continues on Wednesday, the number will rise to 35 members. A reduction agreement that applies to Alcoa's factory specifies what will happen if a strike gets out of control, including delivery halts, temporary output cutbacks at the smelter,...
Unwrought aluminium alloy ranks as the most exported commodity from Bahrain in July '22
Information & eGovernment Authority reported that in July 2022, Bahrain's exports of goods and services of domestic production surged by 29 per cent to BD421 million ($1.17 billion) from BD327 million recorded same month a year ago. Unwrought aluminium alloy, worth BD162 million, was the most exported commodity in July 2022, followed by unalloyed aluminium wire, worth BD18 million, and agglomerated iron ores and concentrates, worth BD89 million. In July 2022, the value of imports climbed by 12 per cent to BD468 million from BD418 million in the same month the year before. 68 per cent of the value of imports came from the top 10 nations, while 32 per cent came from the other nations. Brazilian imports to Bahrain were BD71 million; China came in second with BD67 million; and the UAE...
Hydroformed aluminium chassis braces the Model-F e-bike from Electric Bike Company
The California-based Electric Bike Company launched its much-awaited foldable e-bike, dubbed Model-F, featuring hydroformed aluminium chassis. The Model F sports a low-step through the frame and 24-inch wheels instead of the bigger cruiser's 26-inch wheels and the smaller 20-inch wheels often seen on other folding electric bikes. Hydroforming involves pressing room-temperature material into a die with high-pressure hydraulic fluid. A hollow aluminium tube is put within a negative mould that mimics the final shape to hydroform aluminium into the frame rail of a car. The 3′′ broad tyres are likewise a compromise between narrower street tyres and cushier fat tyres, more appropriately classified as balloon tyres. The bike is slightly more portable when folded thanks to the reduced diameter...
LME aluminium price grows by US$11.5/t to US$2,387.50/t; SHFE price slips by US$9/t
LME aluminium opened at US$2,405 per tonne on Monday and closed at US$2,388.5 per tonne, down US$5 per tonne or 0.21 per cent. On Monday, August 22, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price went up by US$11.5 per tonne or 0.48 per cent to settle at US$2,387 per tonne and US$2,387.50 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price for the same day stood at US$2,380 per tonne and US$2,380.50 per tonne, after experiencing a similar growth of US$7 per tonne or 0.29 per cent. December 23 bid price and December 23 offer price also went up by US$8 per tonne or 0.33 per cent to rest at US$2,425 per tonne and US$2,430 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock was recorded at 273325 tonnes. Live warrants and Cancelled warrants came in at 172375 tonnes and...
Primary aluminium weekly recap: Sichuan power crisis reduces aluminium capacity by 395,000 tonnes; Fourth integrated aluminium industry may emerge in India
The global primary aluminium segment witnessed some important events this week. To begin with, by the end of September 2022, Slovalco Aluminium will shut down its primary aluminium manufacturing line. The Adani Group, backed by Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, revealed a $5 billion investment plan last week to develop an alumina refinery there. However, the international corporation with headquarters in Ahmedabad intends to build more than merely a sizable alumina refinery. The Sichuan province in China had been affected the worst due to severe power outrage brought on by the ongoing heatwaves. As a result of this, Chinese factories are lowering their operations to help cope with energy demands. On Monday, LME aluminium official settlement price opened the week with a decline of US$79 to...
Downstream weekly recap: Mahindra to launch Scorpio Classic with all-aluminium engine block sheds 55 kg; 100% renewable energy to power Hydro's aluminium extrusion facility in the US
This week the global aluminium downstream sector witnessed limited but significant events. To begin with, Mahindra Group announced the launch of its flagship Scorpio Classic featuring an all-aluminium engine block. With this, it can be highly touted that aluminium is definitely the metal of the future. Apart from this, Bharat Forge, an international maker of auto parts based in India, announced a consolidated net profit of INR 160.37 crore ($20.12 million) for Q1 FY23 on August 11, 2022. On the other hand, Hydro’s aluminium extrusion facility in Spanish Fork, Utah, became the first place in the country to run entirely on renewable energy. The City of Spanish Fork and the Utah Municipal Power Agency agreed on a long-term deal of eight years in July with the aluminium extrusion business to...
Sichuan power crisis sparks widespread blackout; Aluminium capacity falls by 395,000 tonnes
Sichuan province in China is facing severe power shortages brought on by the ongoing heat waves. As a result, 19 cities in Sichuan province (except Panzhihua and Liangshan) had their power cuts from August 15 and are expected to continue till August 20 to ensure that residents have a sufficient power supply. The province has already reduced its aluminium capacity by 395,000 tonnes and is expected to rise more in the coming days. According to the SMM survey, most of Sichuan's aluminium smelters have their own carbon facilities and only need to purchase 9,500 tonnes of prebaked anode monthly. SMM anticipates that this month's prebaked anode output will be affected little. However, many carbon plants are currently adopting a wait-and-see attitude and have decreased raw material purchases due...
Corex aluminium honeycomb, a core element for designing the train interiors
Post-pandemic, the use of aluminium honeycombs in the railway industry has increased significantly. To win back the passengers' trust, rail sector stakeholders have decided to improve the train's interiors by incorporating an aluminium honeycomb design from Corex Honeycomb. Due to its strength, sustainability, and lightweight, aluminium honeycomb offers a valuable solution for interior design training. The Corex aluminium honeycomb core is strong, lightweight, resistant to corrosion and 100 per cent recyclable, making it ideal for use in internal train applications like doors, floors, furnishings, galleys, sanitary modules, and partitions. Because the hexagon is one of nature's strongest shapes, the honeycomb cell shape was inspired by the hexagonal shape used to build beehive walls. Due...
LME aluminium price moves down by 0.08% to US$2,412/t; SHFE price declines by US$40/t
LME aluminium opened at US$2,404.5 per tonne on Thursday, with its high and low at US$2,440.5 per tonne and US$2,381 per tonne, respectively, before closing at US$2,405 per tonne, a drop of US$8.5 per tonne or 0.35 per cent. On Thursday, August 18, the LME aluminium cash bid price went down by US$3.5 per tonne or 0.14 per cent to close at US$2,410 per tonne. LME aluminium official settlement price slipped by US$2 per tonne or 0.08 per cent to rest at US$2,412 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price, on the other hand, inched up by US$1 per tonne or 0.04 per cent to come in at US$2,413 per tonne and US$2,414 per tonne. December 23 bid price and December 23 offer price crawled up by US$1 per tonne or 0.04 per cent to peg at US$2,458 per tonne and US$2,463 per tonne. LME...
Low-carbon aluminium chassis underpins Dell's ultra-thin and lightweight laptop, the XPS 13
Aluminium and its usage are increasing with time. From transportation to electronics, aluminium is being used almost everywhere. The XPS 13 laptop from Dell is entirely built using CNC-machined aluminium and glass for aesthetic appeal and endurance. Aluminium alloys used for Computer Numerical Control (CNC) turning and milling are machined aluminium. The use of CNC machined aluminium in electronics has increased significantly. Due to its excellent machinability and popularity in most manufacturing industries, aluminium is the most frequently machined material. The XPS 13 chassis is made of low-carbon aluminium produced using hydroelectricity, a renewable energy source. This reduces carbon emissions by 70 per cent compared to aluminium chassis made in conventional coal-powered facilities,...
China’s aluminium billet inventories plummet by 5,200 tonnes W-o-W to 116,300 tonnes
On Thursday, August 18, the aluminium billet inventories in China dropped by 5,200 tonnes W-o-W to settle at 116,300 tonnes, from 121,500 tonnes recorded last week. The inventory has increased in three major consumption areas and has decreased in two regions. The billets inventory stopped rising and began declining this week. Market participants are worried about the dryness during the rainy season and the probable recurrence of drastic production reductions caused by the power supply constraint that occurred last year. The figure below provides further information on the current state of aluminium billet inventories in China: Despite the weak market activity, the inventory in Changzhou, Huzhou, and Nanchang continued to rise. As per the SMM data, the inventory in Huzhou, Changzhou and...
Rio Tinto, EPIQ MECFOR and Propulsa join hands to create an effective self-cleaning filtration system
The Quebec aluminium industry has always been known for its urge to support the primary producers, equipment makers and suppliers in business by ensuring the latest innovations, open to suggestions and working together. However, in its latest success stories, the industry witnessed a significant collaboration between Rio Tinto, Propulsa and EPIQ MECFOR for successfully installing the first EPURA self-cleaning filtering system with a stand-alone carbon cartridge on an EPIQ MECFOR anode hauler. Over the coming months, this new technology will be tested at Rio Tinto's Grande-Baie mill. The commercialization of EPURA's patented technology is in its early stages. There are now two variants available: EPURA cabin and EPURA engine. The EPURA cabin system with a carbon cartridge is the one that...
A00 aluminium ingot price in China expands by RMB160/t to RMB 18,640/t; Alumina price dips by RMB1/t
On Thursday, August 18, China's A00 aluminium ingot price has gone up by RMB 160 per tonne to settle at RMB 18,640 per tonne, as recorded by the Shanghai Metals Market (SMM). The average price for the same is expected to range between RMB 18,620 per tonne and RMB 18,660 per tonne, with spot contracts to be traded at a discount price of RMB 20 per tonne to a premium price of RMB 20 per tonne. The price in Hangzhou has increased by RMB 170 per tonne to rest at RMB 18,680 per tonne. On the same day, the price in Shenyang and Tianjin surged by RMB 160 per tonne to score at RMB 18,590 per tonne. The price in Linyi and Wuxi also witnessed the same price increment to settle at RMB 18,690 per tonne and RMB 18,630 per tonne. As per the SMM data, the price in Chongqing ascended by RMB 150 per tonne...
Workers at Hydro Sunndal to go on another strike for the ongoing wage disparity
Following the disparity between the labour Union, Industry Energi, and employers’ organisation, around 655 members of the Industry Energi union who also work at Hydro Sunndal will go on a strike on Monday, August 22, if employers don’t start wage talks. Norsk Hydro’s aluminium smelter in Sunndal western Norway is the largest in Europe and is also a producer of low-carbon aluminium. In addition to the 1,422 workers that went on strike on August 15 after discussions with employers collapsed last weekend, the union said that 1,115 more workers planned to walk off the job. Production at the significant metal plant will be impacted by the Hydro Sunndal strike. "We are putting increased pressure on employers to start the negotiation process again," said Frode Alfheim Industri Union's leader. A...
Ferrari 400 Superamerica Series I Coupe Aerodinamico built using lightweight aluminium
The 1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Series 1 Coupe Aerodinamico falls into the rare category with extraordinary pedigree. This model is the only series 1 car constructed using lightweight aluminium. In particular, the 400 Superamerica Series 1 was inspired by Pininfarina's sensational Superfast II show car. Out of the 14 vehicles produced, only half featured aerodynamic headlights. Aluminium and its usage in the automobile industry are slowly becoming popular. Besides its lightweight nature, this versatile metal helps to consume less fuel, which is another reason it is popular in the transportation industry. The Ferrari 400 Superamerica Series 1 also features large displacement engines, such as a 3,967 cc V12 that produced 320 horsepower (239 kW/324 PS). The vehicle has covered only 25,000...
LME aluminium price augments by US$52.5/t to US$2,442/t; SHFE price mounts to US$2,716/t
LME aluminium opened at US$2,409 per tonne on Tuesday and hit a high of US$2,459 per tonne before closing at US$2,396.5 per tonne, a drop of US$7 per tonne or 0.29 per cent. On Tuesday, August 16, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price augmented by US$51 per tonne or 2.13 per cent and US$52.5 per tonne or 2.19 per cent to halt at US$2,440 per tonne and US$2,442 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price were hiked by US$58 per tonne or 2.43 per cent to settle at US$2,441 per tonne and US$2,443 per tonne. December 23 bid price and December 23 offer price soared up by US$60 per tonne or 2.47 per cent and 2.46 per cent to peg at US$2,485 per tonne and US$2,490 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock for the same day closed at 275625 tonnes....
AlCircle launches new report "Future of Aluminium in Transportation Sector - An industry analysis with forecasts to 2027”
We all know that aluminium is a versatile metal. From construction to automobiles, the use of aluminium is widespread. Although aluminium has been used in the transportation industry for a long time, it has recently taken centre stage due to concerns about climate change, strict pollution control requirements, and the pressing need to make cars much lighter. The country that uses aluminium the most in the transportation industry is China. In 2022, the nation's expected utilisation of aluminium in different transportation uses was 10.5 million tonnes. To throw more light on how aluminium will be utilised in the transportation sector, AlCircle is pleased to announce the launch of its latest report titled, "Future of Aluminium in Transportation Sector - An industry analysis with forecasts to...
Brisbane’s latest office building uses architectural-grade aluminium to ensure design and durability
In Brisbane's developing Northshore Hamilton sector, Alspec's door and window frame solutions were chosen for a new commercial office building. Located at 385 MacArthur Avenue in Hamilton, the outside of the building will showcase aluminium framing from Alspec, as the metal ensures design flexibility together with sturdy and long-lasting componentry. Northshore Hamilton, which spans 304 acres of old dock property next to the Brisbane River, is being developed into a mixed-use zone with various recreation, business, and housing services. The new structure is the most recent improvement to the site's business and technology area. Alspec's well-liked Hunter Evo flush glazed frame was used for this construction. The system is sturdy and highly corrosion resistant since it is composed of...
