A major police operation in India’s Uttar Pradesh has exposed an inter-district network allegedly involved in stealing electricity transformers and selling their internal metal components, including aluminium wire and copper binding, to scrap dealers. Police in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, have busted an inter-district transformer theft gang and arrested eight people, including a scrap dealer accused of purchasing stolen materials. The operation led to the recovery of aluminium wire, copper binding, transformer coils and cash allegedly generated through the sale of stolen electrical components. The gang reportedly operated across several districts, including Kanpur Dehat, Unnao, Lucknow and Fatehpur. A joint team comprising Chaubeypur police, the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit and West...
Ford has produced more than 5,000 large aluminium unicastings at its Shelbyville Technical Center as it advances manufacturing preparations for the Fathom midsize electric truck, scheduled to launch in 2027. The castings are being used for process testing and prototype assembly at the company's Louisville Assembly Plant. The Fathom will feature two large aluminium unicastings that replace 146 individual structural parts, significantly simplifying the vehicle's architecture. Ford says the approach reduces vehicle mass and improves overall energy efficiency, while introducing a different method of assembling vehicles through its new Universal Production System. The two large structures form the front and rear sections of the vehicle. By consolidating numerous components into fewer castings,...
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Egil Hogna, Executive Vice President for the Extruded Solutions business area in Hydro, has decided to leave. Hydro Extruded Solutions is a manufacturer of extruded aluminium profiles. Egil is likely to take over as CEO for Norconsult, a Norwegian consultancy firm. The process to find a new leader for the Extruded Solutions business area has started. Hogna will continue as executive vice president until a new leader is in place, until 1 st December’20, at the latest. Hilde Merete Aasheim, President and CEO, Hydro: “Egil Hogna has played a vital role for Hydro as head of Extruded Solutions, demonstrating strong leadership skills, and taking firm actions to position the business for the future.”
At its Die Casting Technology centre in Germany, toolmaker Heck + Becker carries out casting tests for tool acceptance testing and fine-tuning innovative casting processes. It does this with the help of a fully automated die casting cell with a clamping force of 3,200 tonnes. Around 150 tonnes of aluminium, a year are processed here in small batches that are up to 3,000 parts. The company purchased a new melting furnace for this die casting unit in 2019, with keeping the top priority of improved energy efficiency and increased melting capacity. Previously, a natural gas-fired furnace had been used for melting and an electrode furnace for holding, which together kept the aluminium at a temperature of about 670 °C around the clock. As well as high energy consumption, the gas-fired furnace...
The aluminium extrusions market in Sri Lanka is anticipated to drop 40 per cent, owing to the hit on the property sector by the COVID-19 pandemic, said Lanka Aluminium Industries Plc in a stock exchange filing. “We expect the market size for aluminium extrusions by approximately 40 percent and remain so until a permanent solution for Coronavirus is found,” said the company. Lanka Aluminium closed its factories due to curfews on March 19, and since then the sales slowed down. The company reported that there were, in fact, no sales in April and May. However, on May 11, production recommenced at some of the factories with restricted staff. Dealers around the company also re-opened but reported lower demand and sales. In the March 2020 quarter, Lanka Aluminium generated revenues of 397...
According to the United States Geological Survey data, the US aluminium crude metal and alloys exports to Mexico recorded a month-on-month hike of 55.67 per cent in February 2020 to stand at 9,200 tonnes. In January, the US’ exports to Mexico were 5,910 tonnes after plunging by 3.7 per cent from 6,140 tonnes in December 2019. In November last year, the United States had exported 6,870 tonnes of aluminium crude metals and alloys to Mexico, which represents the fact that the exports in December had also registered a month-on-month fall of 10.63 per cent. The above data also indicates the fact that the United States aluminium crude metal and alloys exports to Mexico grew in February after two consecutive months of downfall. Year-on-Year, the United States exports in February 2020 were down...
Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. The economy of Belarus is the world's 72nd largest economy by GDP based on purchasing power parity (PPP), which in 2019 stood at $195 billion or $20,900 per capita. The manufacturing industry, which includes sectors such as metallurgical, light, food, chemical & petrochemical, and mechanical engineering, contributes 37% of the GDP of Belarus. The country’s export market for aluminium bar rods and profiles has been reflecting a stable growth during 2017-19, as the total export stood at 104,105 tonnes and the revenue earning was recorded at $377.03 million. The projected export for 2020 has been analysed at 47,523...
Hydro announced that it has planned to restructure its operations in the UK due to challenging market conditions. The restructuring is expected to be completed by end 2020. The company has also decided to close the aluminium fabrication business unit in Bromyard. The Bromyard plant has 56 employees. “The activities currently performed in Bromyard will be moved to the Bedwas site in South Wales, enabling streamlining of both materials and operations,” the company said. Hydro will conduct the process in accordance with established agreements with unions and UK legislation.
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the aluminium billet inventories in China have continued to decline this week ending Thursday, May 28, driven by healthy demand and limited arrivals of stocks to warehouses. SMM data shows the aluminium billet inventories have decreased by 15,600 tonnes over the week across five major consumption areas to stand at 77,100 tonnes. Last week, on May 21, the aluminium billet inventories were at 92,800 tonnes after declining by 20,000 tonnes from the week ago. This means the decline this week has slowed down by 4,400 tonnes. The chart below indicates the current status of aluminium billet inventories across China in more details: So, as the above chart shows, Foshan has seen the highest fall of aluminium billet inventories by 9,900 tonnes to stand at...
The Bahamas is comprised of 700 islands and over 2000 rocks and cays, sprinkled over 100,000 square miles of ocean. The Bahamas has a predominantly market economy that is heavily dependent on tourism and international financial services. The gross national product (GNP) per capita is one of the highest in the region. The most important economic sector is financial services, which places the Bahamas among the world's leading financial centres. Major industries include tourism, banking, cement, oil refining and transhipment, salt production, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, and spiral-welded steel pipe. The island nation’s aluminium structures import has shown a steady move during 2017-19 as the total import volume has been recorded at 1967 tonnes and foreign revenue expended stood at $16.88...
RUSAL a leading global aluminium producer made public that it has started producing anodes for cathodic protection (CP) for the oil and gas, shipbuilding and other heavy industries to protect critical structures and metal objects from corrosion. The move forms part of RUSAL’s strategy to produce more value-added products (VAP) from aluminium alloys with enhancing performance attributes. The anodes will be manufactured at the Volgograd aluminium smelter. The smelter will produce five types of anodes from Zn-Mn aluminium alloy, which delivers upgraded product performance and long-lasting protection of metal objects from corrosion in hostile and challenging operating environments. The initial capacity of the site will be 50 tonnes per month; however, this can be increased if demand for the...
According to the United States Geological Survey data, the US aluminium crude and alloy imports from Australia saw a downfall in February by 51.75 per cent month-on-month to stand at 9,650 tonnes. Year-on-year, the imports were down by 49.74 per cent. In February 2019, the US aluminium crude and alloy imports from Australia were 19,200 tonnes. In January 2020, the United States aluminium crude and alloy imports from Australia were 20,000 tonnes, up 71 per cent from 11,700 tonnes in December. In November 2019, the imports were 13,600 tonnes, meaning December saw a drop of 14 per cent from the previous month in the United States aluminium crude and alloy imports from Australia. The United States total aluminium crude and alloy imports in January and February combined were 29,400 tonnes,...
Endurance Adler SpA, Italy (EA SpA), the step-down subsidiary of Endurance Technologies Limited and a direct subsidiary of Endurance Overseas Srl, Italy has acquired Grimeca Srl, Italy with effect from 21st May, 2020. The company has acquired a 100% stake in Grimeca for Euro 2.25 million. Endurance said the acquisition will help the company to strengthen technological prowess in the braking systems. Endurance expects the acquisition to provide impetus to the growth opportunities for the Company’s braking business in India, both for domestic and export markets. The company has paid Euro 0.9 million for the 100% stake in Grimeca and Euro 1.35 million for technical know-how and intellectual property rights of braking systems and chassis components, and the “G Grimeca” brand. Grimeca, which...
Shanghai Metals Market, after surveying 41 major aluminium processors in 12 provinces revealed that the average operating rates increased 1.3 percentage points on weekly basis to 78.8 per cent last week. This growth was primarily driven by sustained strong consumption from the construction and medical sectors. Demand for aluminium foil used in air-conditioners, beverage and beer packaging was found increased too, leading to the hike in aluminium processors’ operating rates. However, on the other hand, the impact from weaker export orders has emerged, according to SMM, especially for aluminium plates/sheets, resulting in lower operating rates at aluminium producers. Operating rates of primary alloy producers remained stable at 55 per cent, whereas operating rates at aluminium wheel plants...
Hulamin Operations (Pty) Limited has joined Aluminium Stewardship Initiative as a new Production & Transformation member. This brings the total number of members working toward a responsible aluminium value chain to 121. “Hulamin has an organisational culture that places great value on its shareholders, employees, communities and other key stakeholders, with a clear understanding of the close connection between the health of these key stakeholders to that of the business. We believe that all we have in place will be enhanced by joining ASI. It will add credibility to Hulamin as a responsible and sustainable producer of aluminium products,” said Debra Jackson, Chemical & Environmental Specialist. “We view the certification processes of the ASI Performance Standard as an opportunity to...
Shanghai-listed Ningbo Xusheng Auto Technology stated that it plans to invest 1.92 billion Yuan into the construction of an intelligent automation production plant, designed with an annualised capacity of 10 million light-weight aluminium alloy auto parts. Ningbo Xusheng Auto Technology Co., Ltd. is a China-based company majorly engaged in the research, development, manufacture and sales of die-cast precision aluminium alloy auto parts and industrial parts. The project, adapting to the development of new energy vehicles and lightweight market, will be equipped with automatic production lines for die casting, extrusion, and machining. Process technologies such as smelting, die casting, extrusion and machining will be adopted. Construction of the project will be starting in July’20 and...
Reynaers Aluminium has reportedly appointed Mr Steve Hubbard as a new operations director. Hubbard comes with more than 30 years of experience in driving operations through process efficiency and best practice implementation. On being appointed by the Reynaers Aluminium, Hubbard said, “These unprecedented times make for difficult trading conditions across almost every sector. Reynaers’ has a strong history and position as a well-respected leader within the industry, being well placed to support customers and I’m excited to be embarking on a significant new chapter in my career and playing a meaningful role in the company’s future growth. He also said. “Through my position, I will be leaning on my experience to drive process efficiency and further strengthen Reynaers’ operations,...
China’s aluminium billet inventories, across five major consumption areas, expanded decline this week ending on Thursday, May 21, by 20,000 tonnes to stand at 92.800 tonnes, according to Shanghai Metals Market. Stable shipments from warehouses in contrast to limited arrivals could be attributed to the extended decline in China’s aluminium billet stocks. Last week between May 6 and May 14, the inventories had shrunk by 19,300 tonnes to come in at 112,800 tonnes, following a rise in the previous week by 2,700 tonnes to 132,100 tonnes. The chart below indicates the current status of aluminium billet inventories across China in more details: So, as the above chart suggests, Foshan has seen the highest downfall in aluminium billet inventories this week. The stocks there are standing at 53,100...
Aditya Birla Group as the owner of Hindalco and, therefore, Novelis secured its position as the world’s largest producer of value-added aluminium products with the completion of the $ 2.8 billion acquisition of Aleris in 2019, though the approval from the U.S. Justice Department has been pending ever since the deal was announced in March last year. Novelis and Aleris combined are said to control some 60% of the U.S. automotive aluminium sheet market, raising fears the supreme position would see too dominant a position for the merged company. Hindalco and Novelis are a global company with 49 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia with revenues of some $12.3 billion last year. Aleris is much smaller with 13 facilities across North America, Europe, and China and revenues...
The Geological Survey of the United States found that after December 2019, the US aluminium crude and alloys exports to Canada fell in February 2020. The decline, as recorded by the USGS data for February, was 8.71 per cent or 740 tonnes month-on-month to come in at 7,760 tonnes. In contrast to this, the decline in exports was higher in December, as the United States had exported 6,920 tonnes in the said month, down by 15.71 per cent or 1,290 tonnes from November. In January 2020, the United States’ crude metal and alloys exports to Canada were 8,500 tonnes, registering a hike of 22.83 per cent or 1,580 tonnes from the month ago. In November 2019, the exports were 8,210 tonnes, down by 7.95 per cent or 710 tonnes month-on-month. In October, however, the amount of export from the US to...
