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.
Alumex’s newly launched manufacturing facility includes HPDC and Balcony Assembly Line Machinery
Alumex PLC, a pioneering force in the aluminium extrusion industry, celebrated a major milestone with the inauguration of its much-awaited 'Ascend' facility on September 26, 2024, in Sri Lanka. This state-of-the-art production centre marks a new era in efficiency and technological progress, showcasing Alumex's steadfast commitment to innovation, quality, and sustainability. Aluminium High Pressure Die Casting machine Equipped with cutting-edge technologies, including Aluminium High Pressure Die Casting (HPDC) and specialised Aluminium Balcony Assembly Line machinery, the facility enhances Alumex's manufacturing capabilities to meet unique requirements for international clients and capture new opportunities in both existing and emerging global markets. The new Aluminium High Pressure Die...
Editor's Pick: Aluminium, the quiet alchemist transforming our everyday life from packaging to construction
The world of aluminium has always left me astonished. Every day, this "green metal" pushes the boundaries of possibility, silently weaving its way into every aspect of our lives. Like a quiet alchemist, aluminium strengthens and supports the modern world, blending into the fabric of our daily routines yet playing an indispensable role. It holds up our bridges and buildings, transforming the visions of architects and engineers into durable, sustainable realities. On the roads, aluminium lightens vehicles, boosting fuel efficiency, and in the skies, it shapes the wings of aircraft, making travel faster and greener. Our electronics also rely on it—aluminium is the "invisible guardian" within our phones and laptops, cooling and protecting them. Even in our homes, it wraps leftovers and frames...
Baowu Aluminum completes trial run of 7-series alloy coils, eyeing aerospace application
Baowu Aluminum Hot Rolling Plant has achieved a significant milestone with the successful trial rolling of its first batch of 7-series alloy coils. Targeting high-value aerospace applications, the plant overcame complex challenges with new processes, ultimately achieving a successful trial roll of the 7-series alloy coils. Image Source: Made in China The hot rolling plant collaborated closely with the manufacturing management department throughout the process, ensuring efficient coordination. By actively monitoring equipment status, managing key parameters, and solving emerging issues, the teams worked tirelessly to keep the project on track, resulting in this successful trial. This accomplishment broadens Baowu Aluminum Industry’s product portfolio, marking a crucial step into the...
Dongxing Aluminum bags the "Green Aluminum Product Evaluation Certificate" for its products
On October 11th, Dongxing Aluminum Company achieved a significant milestone as 20,000 tonnes of its electrolytic primary aluminium liquid received certification from the Green Product Evaluation Centre of the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association. With this certification, Dongxing Aluminum's product officially earned the designation of "Green Aluminum," marking a major step forward in its commitment to sustainable practices in aluminium production. In December 2022, the China Nonferrous Metals Green Product Evaluation Centre introduced a new concept of "green aluminium" in its group standard, Guidelines for Evaluation and Trading of Green Aluminum. This initiative aligns with the aluminium industry's low-carbon development strategy and responds to current market demands. According...
BYU-Toyota partnership increases welding efficiency for aluminium sliding doors on Sienna
BYU has collaborated with Toyota to develop a more efficient welding technique for the sliding doors of the Toyota Sienna. Traditionally, resistance spot welding has been used, a method suited to steel. However, the new process, called refill friction stir spot welding, adapts this principle specifically for aluminium's unique chemical properties. Image Souce: Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo This innovation is especially timely as car manufacturer’s shift towards lighter aluminium components instead of steel. According to a release from BYU, the new technique consumes 40 times less energy, emits fewer emissions, and results in welds that are 10 times stronger. “Toyota has been using the cleanest technologies they have available to them, but what BYU research is bringing to them is a technology...
meviy launches anodised aluminium sheets ideal for 3D CAD designers in clear & black finishes
meviy, a cutting-edge parts procurement platform developed by the MISUMI Group, has introduced anodised aluminium (pre-finished) sheets to its sheet-metal service lineup. The newly added aluminium sheets are ideal for projects involving 3D CAD designs, ensuring both versatility and precision. Image Source: QualityDigest These high-quality, prefinished sheets are now available with lead times as short as five days, offering a rapid, efficient solution for users in need of anodised aluminium components. Available in clear and black finishes, they deliver an attractive, corrosion-resistant surface while preserving aluminium's lightweight strength. To achieve the best results when using meviy's anodised aluminium sheets in projects, it's essential to consider several key factors: Prefinished...
Alumina price in China arrives at RMB5209/t, reflecting a W-o-W hike of 5.23%; A00 aluminium ingot price gains RMB230/t
The price progress of alumina in the Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) has continued to maintain its upward trajectory, arriving at RMB 5,209 per tonne as of today. The alumina price has hiked by RMB 41 per tonne and W-o-W the price has grown by 5.23 per cent from RMB 4,950 per tonne on October 29. Image Source: China Rare Earth Polishing Powder Region-wise price changes As per the SMM data, the prices have grown in all the provinces, with the highest in Lianyungang and Bayuquan, where it has surged by RMB 200 per tonne to clock at RMB 5,300 per tonne. The prices in Guangxi, Shanxi and Henan have escalated by RMB 75 per tonne and RMB 50 per tonne (Henan and Shanxi) to dock at RMB 5,125 per tonne, RMB 5300 per tonne and RMB 5,210 per tonne. As per the SMM data, the alumina prices in Shandong...
JISCO witnesses surge in double zero foil billet orders, expands export to South Korea
Jiuquan Iron and Steel Company (JISCO), since the beginning of the year, has steadily increased the sales of its double zero foil billet. Since the beginning of this year, the company's orders for double zero foil billets have steadily increased, recently receiving a batch of export orders for South Korea. JISCO has delivered 15,277 tonnes of double-zero foil products to major domestic manufacturers. This year, the product has gained strong support from end users, with sales surpassing 10,000 tons and exceeding the planned target. As the concept of green consumption gains traction, demand for these products continues to grow both domestically and internationally, offering a promising outlook. Wang Xiaogang, Associate Engineer in the Production Technology and Quality Department at Dongxing...
Ball Corporation acquires Alucan to expand sustainable aluminium packaging in Europe
Ball Corporation, a global leader in sustainable aluminium packaging for beverages, personal care, and home products, is strengthening its portfolio in extruded aluminium packaging by acquiring Alucan, a prominent European producer of extruded aluminium aerosol and bottle technology, on October 31st. The acquisition will include adding new manufacturing facilities in Llinars del Vallés (Barcelona), Spain, and Lummen, Belgium. Image Source: Ball Corporation The acquisition supports Ball’s strategic commitment to making sustainability more accessible for its customers through scalable aluminium packaging solutions. The addition of these new plants will allow Ball to meet the increasing demand for sustainable packaging across Europe. Equipped with advanced technology, both facilities are...
Kárahnjúkar hydropower plant: Powering Iceland’s industrial future with clean energy
With the rising demand for hydropower as an alternative to fossil fuels, Iceland undertook the development of the Kárahnjúkar hydropower plant in the eastern Highlands to support the Alcoa aluminium smelter, built simultaneously. Image source: Stantec Iceland's largest industrial development Together, these projects represent Iceland's largest industrial development to date. With an annual output of 4,600 GWh, this $1.2 billion (€1.1 billion) venture took five years to complete. The construction includes 73 kilometres (45 miles) of tunnels, five dams, and three reservoirs. The Icelandic government strongly supports hydropower, seeing it as essential to its economic growth strategy, particularly for powering energy-intensive industries. While investors explore new hydropower projects,...
Alba teams up with ARRAY Innovation for AI-powered efficiency in aluminium smelting
Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), the world's largest single-site aluminium smelter, has entered into a strategic partnership with Bahrain-based ARRAY Innovation, a leader in AI and digital cloud solutions. The partnership, formalised at the Gateway Gulf Investment Forum's second edition, focuses on advancing Alba's digital transformation journey under the Industry 4.0 framework. Alaa Saeed, ARRAY Innovation Founder and CEO, said, "We're excited to partner with Alba on their Industry 4.0 initiatives, leveraging the depth of ARRAY's Quantitative Development and software engineering expertise to provide Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Data Analytics solutions. Array is on a mission to build advanced enterprise software, analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning...
SMM alumina price continues its upward trend, arriving at RMB5168/t; A00 aluminium ingot price adds RMB50/t
The average alumina spot price in China has opened the week with a surge of RMB 59 per tonne to settle at RMB 5,168 per tonne. As per the Shanghai Metals Market (SMM), the alumina price has continued its record-breaking climb, reflecting a W-o-W hike of RMB 268 per tonne or 5.46 per cent. Image source: Made in China The prices have highlighted growth in all the regions, with the highest in Lianyungang and Bayuquan, where it has spiked by RMB 200 per tonne to peg at RMB 5,100 per tonne. In Guizhou as well the alumina price has expanded by RMB 75 per tonne to settle at RMB 5,100 per tonne. In the Henan region, the price has increased by RMB 60 per tonne to arrive at RMB 5,160 per tonne. In Shandong and Shanxi, the prices have hiked by RMB 50 per tonne to clock at RMB 5,150 per tonne and RMB...
Egyptalum achieves the ASI Performance Standard V3 Certification for production and supply of primary aluminium products
The Aluminium Company of Egypt (Egyptalum) has achieved ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) Certification for its production and supply of primary aluminium products. This certification encompasses a range of products, including ingots, wire rods, billets, T-bars, slabs, primary foundry alloys, flat-rolled products, and extrusions. Image source: ASI Egyptalum’s certified processes at its Nag Hammadi facility include casting, rolling, and extrusion. The certification also covers raw material and finished product transportation at the Safaga port, along with carbon anode manufacturing and industrial gases and compressed air production. With an annual production capacity of 320,000 tonnes of primary aluminium, Egyptalum’s facility also supports downstream activities, including producing flat...
Upstream weekly recap: Alumina price surpasses the RMB 5000 mark; Metro Mining hits record Bauxite production in Q3 2024
This week has seen significant developments in the upstream sector of the aluminium industry, which includes bauxite, alumina, and primary aluminium. Notably, the average spot price for alumina in China surpassed RMB 5000 for the first time on Wednesday, settling at RMB 5,007 per tonne before rising further by RMB 49 to reach RMB 5,056 per tonne. In addition, Metro Mining Limited reported a remarkable operational update for the third quarter of 2024, achieving record bauxite production. The company shipped 2.13 million wet metric tonnes (WMT) during the quarter, representing a substantial increase of 50 per cent from Q2 2024 and a 32 per cent rise compared to Q3 2023. Meanwhile, Aluminium Corporation of China Limited (Chalco), the country's largest aluminium producer, disclosed its...
Study finds paper-aluminium laminate a sustainable alternative to plastic-line takeout containers
With the growing demand for packaging with reduced plastic content and more eco-friendly materials, many organisations are developing sustainable solutions featuring aluminium as one of the key ingredients. In response to this demand, Hamed Zarei and his team designed and evaluated various paper-aluminium laminates, testing their strength and durability against traditional polyethylene-aluminium packaging. Image source: Hamed Zarei As per the research published in ACS Omega, substituting plastic layers in takeout containers with paper could improve sustainability. Through mechanical testing and computer simulations, researchers explored paper-aluminium laminate designs that maintain durability and functionality. Zarei's team initially created two types of paper-aluminium laminates – A...
Pro-Ject's new turntable with aluminium gimbal is a fusion of premium sound & high-end engineering
Pro-Ject Audio Systems has unveiled The Classic Reference turntable, touted as an extensively enhanced version of its Classic EVO or a refined successor to the VPO 175 limited edition. This model features the EVO 9 AS HG tonearm, equipped with high-precision ABEC 7 bearings encased in a substantial aluminium gimbal, ensuring smooth, resonance-free performance. Source: EssentialInstall The turntable also incorporates an internally-damped, S-shaped aluminium armtube with a removable headshell, allowing users to easily swap cartridges as desired. The high-mass aluminium alloy platter, damped with a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), effectively reduces unwanted resonance. The turntable comes with a clamp and leather record mat for additional stability, enhancing resonance control and providing...
Assan Alüminyum invests in clean energy, acquires new solar power plant in Karaman
Assan Alüminyum, a leading global producer of flat-rolled aluminium, has enhanced its sustainability initiatives by acquiring a solar power plant in Karaman. Spanning 11.37 hectares, the facility boasts a clean energy generation capacity of 10 MWp, underscoring the company's dedication to renewable energy production and reducing its carbon footprint. Image source: Assan Alüminyum About the acquisition The acquisition aligns with Assan Alüminyum's newly released Decarbonisation Roadmap , which sets the company's goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. This solar plant will play a crucial role in reaching key roadmap milestones, aiding in the reduction of Assan Alüminyum's carbon footprint by offsetting its Scope 2 market-based emissions. "With this solar power plant, we are...
Fife Aluminium doubles production space with Glenrothes Facility to meet rising demand
Fife Aluminium and Metal Company, a specialist in architectural aluminium and metal products, has more than doubled its production space by relocating to Glenrothes. Founded in 2016 by Dale Robertson, the company has moved from its original Lochgelly location to two new units within Queensway Business Park. Image source: Paul Malik/DC Thomson With a rising demand for its products, Dale recognised the need for expanded facilities to accommodate the growing order volume. Now operating with a team of five, the company offers a wide range of products, including fascia and soffits, cladding and pressing, rainwater systems, and vision skylights. The new space also features displays, allowing customers to see their offerings up close. With over 30 years of experience in metalwork, Dale Robertson...
