ABB has secured two orders from China’s Southwest Aluminum to supply integrated automation and digital technologies for two six-high aluminium cold rolling mills, supporting the manufacturer’s wide-strip production expansion and upgrade. The projects involve a 2,500 mm two-stand mill and a 3,000 mm single-stand mill, with both lines expected to be fully commissioned and operational by the end of 2027. Chongqing-based Southwest Aluminum is a subsidiary of the Aluminum Corporation of China (Chinalco). The orders build on the longstanding cooperation between ABB and the aluminium producer, with the latest projects focusing on process stability, control precision and production performance. Explore insights and forecasts for the aluminium flat rolled products (FRP) market from our...
India-based PG Foils Limited plans to establish a downstream aluminium manufacturing facility in Bahrain, focusing on electric vehicle (EV) battery foil and pharmaceutical foil production. The proposed investment is expected to expand the kingdom’s aluminium downstream capabilities and strengthen its manufacturing base. Bahrain’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce signed a letter of intent with PG Foils for the project. The agreement was signed by Industry and Commerce Minister Abdullah bin Adel Fakhro and PG Foils Joint Managing Director Sahil Shah during the fourth edition of the Gateway Gulf expo, which opened on November 1 in Manama. Explore: The most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report – Aluminum Foil Market Report Forecast Till 2035 Hosted by the Bahrain...
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Constellium reported results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2019. For the fourth quarter of 2019, the company reported revenue of €1.4 billion, down 2% year-on-year. The decrease was due to lower metal prices and lower shipments in the Aerospace and Transportation segment, partially offset by the consolidation of Bowling Green and improved price and mix. Shipments were slightly down to 368,000 tonnes. Net income increased to €22 million. Adjusted EBITDA stood at €121 million, up 15% on improved results in the Packaging and Automotive Rolled Products and the Aerospace and Transportation segments. For the full year of 2019, shipments increased by 4% YoY to 1.6 million tonnes on higher shipments in the Packaging and Automotive Rolled Products. Revenue came in at €5.9...
Shanghai Metals Market found a further rise in 6063 aluminium billet inventories across five major consumption areas on Thursday, February 20. According to the data, the stocks rose by 22,500 tonnes over the week to come in at 193,100. On last Thursday, February 13, the billet stocks increased by 23,800 tonnes from February 6 to stand at 170,600 tonnes. The steady arrivals of stocks amidst low consumptions by aluminium end-users due to production curtail or suspension for the epidemic coronavirus outbreak boosted the billet stocks. The below chart indicates the current status of aluminium billet inventories across the major Chinese cities in more details: In Foshan and Wuxi, the inventories this week rose by 6,100 tonnes and 12,300 tonnes to stand at 72,500 tonnes and 41,300 tonnes,...
Century Aluminium Company with its aluminium smelter in Grundartangi, Iceland, has made public of its rollout for Natur-Al™ low-carbon aluminium products. Natur-Al™ aluminium products are manufactured at the ASI-certified Norðurál Grundartangi aluminium plant in Iceland, facilitating energy from 100% renewable sources, permitting the plant to emit CO₂ levels below one-fourth which is considered as the industry average. It can also be counted as 4 tonnes of CO₂ emitted in per tonne of aluminium produced, which is one of the lowest CO₂ emittances in the world. The quantity of CO₂ emitted is to be validated by independent third parties, making easier life-cycle evaluation for consumers. Natur-Al™ ZERO is a completely neutralized, refined, carbon-neutral aluminium product line. The company...
Shanghai Metals Market estimates a drop of 10 percentage points in operating rates of aluminium sheet, plate and strip manufacturers in February, to the lowest when compared to the same month in the past three years. The average FRPs operating rates in January declined by 9.22 percentage points month-on-month and 2.6 percentage points year-on-year to 62.3 per cent in January. Large-scale producers saw a decrease of 9.84 percentage points, while medium and small-scale manufacturers witnessed a plunge of 9.25 and 11.72 percentage points, respectively. Most of the producers remained shut a week more than previously expected due to the coronavirus outbreak, as they could not resume operation unless the local authorities approved. But still the producers saw their capacity utilisation rates...
The US export of metals, alloys, and crude market shows stability with a total volume of export recorded at 73,500 tonnes during July-October’19. The total exports from January-October’19 stood at 197,000 tonnes. There is a steep de-growth of 21.82% when compared with the previous year. The year 2018 the US export of metals, alloys, and crude reflected at 252,000 tonnes. In July’19 the export volume stood at 18,300 tonnes, whereas in August’19 there was a rise of 4.91% in export volume, which accounted for 19,200 tonnes. The month of September’19 showed a downturn of 9.37% from its previous month and the volume of export stood at 17,400 tonnes. Again a 6.89% of inclination in export has been recorded in October’19, with a total volume of 18,600 tonnes. During September’18 the export...
COIL, the world leader in aluminium anodising, has launched its new website, to upgrade direct sales of premium quality products marketed under the ALOXIDE® brand and to deliver e-commerce services for new user experience. The new ALOXIDE® website www.aloxide.com provides a new showcase for the Company, highlighting COIL's unique know-how and high-quality product range. COIL is the worldwide reference for anodised aluminium with an exceptional dimensional capacity in the widest range of gloss, textures and colours. ALOXIDE® is available in a complete range of anodic film thicknesses covering technical applications through to high-end architectural facades. The new website has been completely redesigned, puts special emphasis on ALOXIDE®, a range of pure and authentic anodised aluminium...
The United States had been seeing a slowdown in aluminium plates, sheets and bars imports since July 2019, while October was of no exception. From 105,000 tonnes in September, the import volume in October dropped to 99,800 tonnes, down 5,200 tonnes or 4.95 per cent. In July and August 2019, the United States had imported 117,000 tonnes and 115,000 tonnes of aluminium plates, sheets and bars, representing the fact that the country’s imports in August were down by 2,000 tonnes by volume or 1.7 per cent. In September, the downfall was higher, recording a drop of 10,000 tonnes by volume or 8.69 per cent. Year-on-year, the United States imports in October registered a fall of 16.13 per cent or 19,200 tonnes by volume. In October 2018, the United States imports of aluminium plates, sheets and...
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) announced Ma’aden Aluminium has become a new Production & Transformation member of the ASI. This brings the total number of members working toward a responsible aluminium value chain to 114. Ma’aden is a supplier of primary and rolled product solutions to domestic and global markets. The company in 2009 established a joint venture with Alcoa to build the world’s most efficiently integrated aluminium project in Saudi Arabia. The project includes a bauxite mine, a refinery, a smelter and one of the world’s most advanced rolling mills. ASI is a global, multi-stakeholder, non-profit standards setting and certification organisation that aims to recognise and foster the responsible production, sourcing and stewardship of aluminium. “ASI membership will...
On 14 th February’20, the European Commission declares the opening of an anti-dumping investigation into aluminium extrusions emerged from China. The investigation follows a complaint launched by European Aluminium whose member companies are negatively impacted by the dumping of Chinese exports of aluminium extrusions. European Aluminium supports the Commission’s step and desires the swift adoption of appropriate anti-dumping measures. Gerd Götz, Director General of European Aluminium said: “Increasing amounts of under-priced Chinese exports are dumped on the EU market, with harmful consequences for European aluminium producers. In the past year, production lines and entire plants closed, with significant job losses as a result. We ask the EU to be proactive rather than wait until it is...
Tesla has developed a new aluminium alloy for die casting of parts for electrical cars. Besides delivering high yield strength, it can also maintain a high conductivity. This is backed up by a new patent application filed by the car manufacturer. The materials team of Tesla led by alloy expertise Charles Kuehmann has created aluminium alloys for die casting. An extract from the patent of the car manufacturer reads like: “It may be desirable to produce cast aluminium alloys with high yield strength such that the alloys do not fail easily while also containing sufficient conductivity for various applications. The aluminium alloys may be used in different automotive parts, including rotors, stators, busbars, inverters, and other parts. Current cast alloys do not well serve these parts the...
As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, Stocks of 6063 aluminium billet across five major consumption areas in China stood at 170,600 tonnes as of Thursday February 13, an increase of 23,800 tonnes from February 6. The inventory expanded 46,800 tonnes between January 23 and February 6. The chart below indicates the current status of aluminium billet inventories across China in more details: Inventories of aluminium billet in Foshan and Wuxi stood at 66,400 tonnes and 29,000 tonnes on Thursday, up 7,200 tonnes and 5,500 tonnes from February 6. Stocks in Changzhou, Huzhou and Nanchang rose 400 tonnes, 4,000 tonnes and 6,800 tonnes to stand at 19,200 tonnes, 34,000 tonnes and 22,100 tonnes. The aluminium alloy (ADC12) price on Friday, 14 February 2020, remained unchanged at RMB 15,000 per...
AMAG, a leading Austrian premium supplier of high-quality aluminium cast and flat rolled products for highly varied industries, has been conferred the “Accredited Supplier” award from European aircraft manufacturer Airbus at the Airbus Material & Parts Supplier. AMAG becomes the only aluminium rolled product supplier to receive this award. The company was awarded for its outstanding delivery reliability and excellent product quality and forms part of Airbus’ Supply Chain & Quality Improvement Program (SQIP). “We are delighted to receive this third award and would like to thank Airbus for our excellent partnership over many years. We see this success as an incentive to continue working on our performance, and consequently on developing our business relationship. Our joint projects for the...
STAS and Rio Tinto publicised on 13 th February’20 an agreement for commercially viable of an advanced compact filtration technology (ACF) for aluminium cast houses. The ACF technology built by Rio Tinto and it will be now manufactured and sold under license by equipment manufacturer STAS worldwide. This innovative filtration technology was developed in the early 2000s at Rio Tinto’s Arvida Research and Development Centre (ARDC), located in Quebec, Canada. ACF technology is an optimal filtration solution that can eliminate more than 90% of inclusions in liquid aluminium. It is used to manufacture products intended for critical applications, such as high value-added aluminium sheets and plates used to produce cans. Rio Tinto ventured with STAS to design and manufacture the prototypes of...
The United States tariffs of 10 per cent and 25 per cent on derivative aluminium and steel imports reportedly took effect on Saturday, February 8, 2020. In late January, US President Donald Trump had declared to raise the tariffs to cover nails, staples, and other downstream products, calling this step an absolute necessary. Trump explained foreign producers of these derivative articles increased shipments to the United States, threatening the US national security. Some economists, however, are of the opinion that such tariffs may hurt the US manufacturing sector and the overall economy. "This latest action was significant because, explicitly for the first time, Trump was imposing new tariffs to help an industry suffering because of his previous tariffs," wrote Chad Bown, a senior fellow...
Novelis Inc., the world leader in aluminium rolling and recycling, reported net income of $107 million in Q3 FY2020, compared to $78 million in the prior year period. Excluding tax-effected special items, net income stood at $132 million, up 31 per cent year-on-year on higher Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA increased 7 per cent year-on-year to $343 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2020, primarily driven by portfolio optimization efforts, operating cost efficiencies, and favourable foreign exchange, partially offset by less favourable recycling benefits due to lower aluminium prices. Net sales decreased 10 per cent year-on-year to $2.7 billion in Q3 FY2020, driven by lower average LME aluminium prices and local market premiums. Shipments of flat rolled products were in line with the...
Hindalco Industries Limited, a global leader in aluminium and copper, announced consolidated results for the third quarter ended 31 December 2019. The company’s consolidated revenue stood at INR29,197 crore compared to INR33,213 crore in the same quarter last year. Total EBITDA came in at INR3,676 crore in Q3 FY20, down by 10 per cent year-on-year from INR4,080 crore. Consolidated Profit before Exceptional Items and Tax was INR1,487 crore in Q3 FY20. That was down by 23 per cent from INR1,931 crore in the prior year. Profit After Tax (PAT) dropped by 24 per cent to stand at INR1,062 crore in Q3 FY20. Revenue from aluminium business declined 9 per cent year-on-year to INR 5,467 crore in Q3 FY20, due to lower realisations. EBITDA stood at INR 1,036 crore in Q3 FY20 compared to INR 1,252...
Indian Railways braced for world-class aluminium coaches. Piyush Goyal, Minister of Railways and Commerce, India, led the occasion to award a Transfer of Technology (ToT) contract to a Korean company for the development of potentialities for production to the commissioning of aluminium-bodied coaches. The complete overhaul of Indian Railways train coaches, as well as the procurement of full train rakes from foreign suppliers for Indian Railways, is not in the Railway Ministry’s plan. However, the ToT has been awarded by the Modern Coach Factory in Rae Bareli to acquire the capability to make world-class aluminium coaches. The ToT includes development, designing, manufacturing as well as testing of aluminium body passenger coaches of eight variants. Out of the eight variants, five variants...
China debuts the first mission in late January, one of the largest and sensitive radio telescopes in the world after a three-year trial period. The spherical radio telescope with five hundred meters of aperture, or FAST for the intimate ones (Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope), would help to learn more about the genesis and the evolutions of the universe, and incidentally to spy some aliens. In the remote county of Pingtang in Guizhou during the year 2011, the construction began. The diameter is half Kms and it is marked as the second-largest radio telescope in the world after the Russian RATAN-600, and the largest with the single satellite dish. The device is made up of more than 4,400 Aluminum panels, operated by around 2,000 mechanical winches. It is also considered...
