AlCircle News Edited By "Staff Editor"
Limerick mayor calls for forum as uncertainty continues over Aughinish Alumina
Limerick Mayor John Moran has called on the Irish government to establish a forum to improve communication with stakeholders as uncertainty continues over the future of Aughinish Alumina, Europe's largest alumina refinery. In a letter to Taoiseach and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke, Moran proposed creating a forum involving workers, trade unions, suppliers and the wider community to help address concerns surrounding the refinery and prepare for any future decisions. The proposal comes as debate continues over whether the Russian-owned refinery should face sanctions after reports emerged in March alleging that alumina produced at the plant may have been linked to sanctioned manufacturers supplying weapons used in Russia's war against Ukraine. The Irish government...
BALCO warns stakeholders against cyber fraud and impersonation attempts
Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), a subsidiary of Vedanta Aluminium Metal Limited, has issued a public advisory urging citizens, employees, business partners and other stakeholders to remain alert to cyber fraud involving the unauthorised use of the company's identity. The company warned that cybercriminals might register similar-sounding websites, domains and email addresses to BALCO’s name, brand, products and services in an effort to trick users into giving away sensitive information. BALCO says these fraudulent communication channels are usually used to steal confidential, personal, financial or commercial information, spread malware and commit other types of online fraud. The company clarified that it has no association with any unauthorised websites, domains or email...
Europe’s aluminium scrap market in Q1 2026: Exports outpace imports & Russia’s share continues to remain small
Europe remained a major supplier of aluminium scrap to the global market during the first quarter of 2026. Although discussions on retaining more scrap within the region continued, export volumes remained much higher than imports. Demand from overseas secondary aluminium producers, together with Europe's well-developed recycling industry, kept scrap moving out of the region throughout the quarter. Eurostat data (HS/CN 7602) show that the EU-27 imported 168,346 tonnes of aluminium waste and scrap from countries outside the bloc during January-March 2026. Imports remained almost unchanged during the first two months of the quarter. January imports stood at 54,817 tonnes, followed by 54,658 tonnes in February. Volumes increased slightly in March to 58,870 tonnes, making it the strongest...
Joint TOYOCHEM-Asahi can coating technology honoured at 2026 National Invention Awards
TOYOCHEM has announced that a can coating technology developed jointly with Asahi Breweries has received the Invention Award at the 2026 National Invention Awards. The technology is used in Asahi's "Draft Beer Can" ("Nama Jokki Kan"). Two TOYOCHEM engineers who worked on the project attended the award ceremony held on June 15, 2026, at The Okura Tokyo. Interior coatings are widely used in beverage and food cans to prevent corrosion and stop metal ions from coming into contact with the contents, which can affect flavour. TOYOCHEM has supplied these coatings for canned beer for many years using its polymer design technology. The award-winning technology differs from conventional can coatings because it makes use of a phenomenon that has traditionally been treated as a manufacturing defect....
Aditya Birla Group plans a $1.26B investment to triple the capacity of its alumina refinery in Odisha
India's Aditya Birla Group has proposed an additional investment of USD 1.26 billion to expand the capacity of its Kansariguda alumina refinery in Odisha to 3 million tonnes per annum, according to the Odisha government. The expansion will be executed by the group's aluminium company, Hindalco Industries. With the additional investment, the total proposed investment in the refinery will increase to about USD 2.1 billion. The project is intended to increase the refinery's alumina production capacity from 1 million tonnes per annum to 3 million tonnes per annum. The proposal comes as Hindalco is also pursuing the expansion of its subsidiary Aditya Aluminium's aluminium smelter and captive power plant at Lapanga in Odisha. The proposed brownfield project would increase aluminium production...
UMS and Renault Trucks mark decade of partnership supporting Guinea's bauxite industry
UMS United Mining Supply (UMS) and Renault Trucks have marked 10 years of partnership supporting mining logistics operations in Guinea, where a fleet of Renault K Trucks is used to transport bauxite from mining sites to port facilities. The partnership, which began in 2016 with the support of local distributor TGH Plus, has grown over the past decade, with 600 Renault Trucks delivered to support UMS's mining and industrial logistics operations. Today, 350 Renault K Trucks are deployed across the company's bauxite transport activities in Guinea. Operating in the Boké region, one of Guinea's principal bauxite mining areas, the trucks transport ore between extraction sites and export terminals. The fleet operates around the clock under demanding conditions, with each truck travelling more...
H+H Herrmann + Hieber provides material handling solutions for heavy-load industries
Modern manufacturing requires efficient material handling systems in industries dealing with heavy products like aluminium extrusion, aluminium strip and foil manufacturing, steel processing, automotive manufacturing and mechanical engineering. Conveyor systems, automated storage solutions and material flow technologies help manufacturers transport, store and manage heavy loads, helping to improve production efficiency, reduce downtime and streamline internal logistics. Germany-based H+H Herrmann + Hieber is one of the companies active in this segment. The company designs and supplies application-specific material handling and conveyor systems for heavy industrial operations. With more than 60 years of experience, the company has implemented over 1,200 material flow projects in a wide...
Albarrie to showcase technical fabrics for aluminium extrusion at Aluminum Düsseldorf 2026
Albarrie, a manufacturer of nonwoven technical fabrics, will participate in Aluminum Düsseldorf 2026, which will be held in Düsseldorf, Germany, from October 6 to 8, 2026. The company will exhibit its products for the aluminium extrusion industry. Nonwoven technical fabrics are used in aluminium extrusion plants to handle hot aluminium profiles during production. They protect the surface of aluminium profiles as they move through the production line and are also used in filtration and environmental control systems at extrusion facilities. Albarrie manufactures nonwoven technical fabrics for industrial applications. In the aluminium extrusion industry, the company supplies heat felts, roller covers, separator belts, filter bags and containment products used during production. Freshly...
China Hongqiao expects higher first-half profit on stronger aluminium alloy prices
China Hongqiao Group expects its net profit for the first half of 2026 to increase by approximately 39 per cent compared with the same period last year, according to a filing with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The company said the anticipated earnings growth is primarily driven by higher selling prices for its aluminium alloy products, which supported profitability during the six months ended 30 June 2026. Separately, Shandong Hongqiao Aluminum Industry expects its first-half net profit to increase by 69.72 per cent to 81.04 per cent year-on-year, reflecting continued strength in the aluminium market during the reporting period. China Hongqiao is one of China's largest aluminium producers, with operations spanning alumina, aluminium and aluminium alloy products. Explore: The most...
Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry honoured with 2026 Metal Caster of the Year recognition
Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry (WAF) has been named the 2026 Metal Caster of the Year by the American Foundry Society (AFS) and Modern Casting magazine. The award is regarded as the highest recognition in the North American metal casting industry. The American Foundry Society, established in 1896, represents the North American metal casting industry, which is valued at about USD 50 billion and includes thousands of foundries across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The annual Metal Caster of the Year award is presented to a company that demonstrates excellence in manufacturing, innovation, leadership and service to the industry. WAF received the award for its strategic acquisitions, progress in digital transformation, investment in modernising its facilities and equipment, innovative...
Designer Guillaume Bloget develops aluminium and cork kayak inspired by French lakes
Industrial designer Guillaume Bloget has designed an aluminium kayak featuring a folded double-wall structure and a cork seat during a research-creation residency organised by France's Rhizome Association. The project, named Sharp, was inspired by the lakes surrounding the association's workshop. Bloget said the local environment led to the concept of creating an aluminium kayak with a hydrodynamic hull designed to deliver smooth gliding performance on the water. The kayak's structure is formed through a folding process that creates a double-wall aluminium body, which the designer said makes the vessel unsinkable while maintaining a lightweight construction. Explore: The most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report – Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036:...
EGA restarts alumina production at Al Taweelah refinery in Abu Dhabi
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has restarted alumina production at its Al Taweelah alumina refinery in Abu Dhabi, marking another step in restoring operations at the company's integrated aluminium production complex. EGA said alumina production is expected to reach 50 per cent of the refinery's capacity within days. The company expects to have the technical capability to ramp up to full production by the end of 2026, although the pace of further increases will depend on supply chain conditions and the optimisation of its alumina sourcing strategy. The company noted that the ramp-up of aluminium production at the adjacent Al Taweelah smelter is not dependent on the refinery reaching full operating capacity. Explore: The most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report –...
Wychavon launches campaign to increase aluminium foil recycling
Wychavon District Council has launched a new campaign in partnership with Alupro to encourage residents to recycle more aluminium foil and other aluminium packaging through its kerbside recycling scheme. The initiative, titled "Foil in Love with Recycling", follows the introduction of kerbside collection for aluminium foil and aims to improve public understanding of best recycling practices, address common misconceptions and increase aluminium collection rates across the district. As part of the campaign, residents are being advised to separate used aluminium trays and cooking foil from other waste, scrunch the foil into a ball and place it in their green recycling bins. The awareness programme includes social media campaigns, advertisements at petrol stations, on waste collection...
Turkey's Zahit Aluminium expands extrusion capacity with new 47-MN press
Zahit Aluminium has commissioned a new 12-inch, 47-MN extrusion press at its production facility in Andana, Turkey. The company said the press has been operating successfully for several months, delivering stable performance and reliable production of aluminium profiles for structural, architectural, framing and photovoltaic applications. The extrusion press was supplied by Italy-based Danieli Breda and is equipped with isothermal extrusion technology to maintain controlled temperatures at the press exit and ensure consistent product quality throughout the production process. The new press processes 1,500 mm billets with dead-cycle times of less than 17 seconds, including the burp cycle. It also incorporates Danieli Breda's ESED 4.0 energy-saving system, which helps reduce electricity...
Alba awards Konecranes contract to upgrade 5 auxiliary cranes
Konecranes has secured a contract from Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) to modernise five auxiliary cranes at the company's aluminium smelter in Bahrain. The order was placed in January 2026. Delivery of the equipment is expected by the end of 2026, and installation is due to start in early 2027. The project will improve crane operations in Alba’s Casthouse and Mould Shop, where molten aluminium is turned into finished products. The auxiliary cranes help keep materials moving and support uninterrupted daily production in these areas. The modernisation programme includes upgrading the hoist and trolley systems of all five cranes to a heavy-duty configuration to improve reliability and support safe, continuous production. Konecranes will supply new heavy-duty trolley units with an M8 duty...
Australia and India sign uranium export agreement to strengthen clean energy partnership
Australia and India have signed a uranium export agreement designed to enhance energy security and deepen bilateral cooperation in clean energy, critical minerals and infrastructure development. Under the agreement, Australia will supply uranium to support the fuel requirements of India's nuclear energy sector, helping the country expand its clean energy capacity. Following negotiations in Melbourne, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the agreement is strategically important for reducing India's dependence on fossil fuels and supporting its transition to cleaner sources of energy. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the partnership would create new opportunities in the areas of energy transition, green hydrogen and low-carbon aluminium production, further strengthening...
Argentina removes anti-dumping duties on Chinese aluminium tubes
Argentina's Ministry of Economy has terminated anti-dumping (AD) duties on aluminium tubes imported from China, following the conclusion of a sunset and changed circumstances review. The decision was formalised through Resolution No. 883, issued on 3 July 2026, bringing to an end the review process that was launched in November 2025. The measure applies to unalloyed aluminium tubes and tubes manufactured from 3xxx and 6xxx series aluminium alloys under IRAM Standard 681, with an external diameter of 130 mm or less, including products supplied in coil form. Precision drawn tubing made from the 3xxx series remains excluded from the scope of the decision. Explore: The most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report – Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036:...
Ireland says alumina export controversy will not overshadow EU presidency
Ireland's Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, has rejected suggestions that the controversy over alleged alumina exports from Aughinish Alumina in Limerick to Russia has overshadowed the start of Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Speaking in Strasbourg, Byrne said the issue was on the European agenda but was not dominating discussions, despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky raising concerns during the opening ceremony of Ireland's EU presidency at Dublin Castle. His comments came after the European Parliament approved a non-binding motion calling for alleged alumina exports from the European Union to Russia to be included in future sanctions. While the amendment did not specifically mention Aughinish Alumina, it was intended to encourage...
