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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Shanghai Metals Market found that 6063 aluminium billet stocks, across five major consumption areas in China, have recorded a decline by 7,600 tonnes to 129,200 tonnes on Thursday, October 17, followed by two consecutive rises after the Chinese National Day holiday. Recovering consumption is one of the reasons for this decline, according to SMM. Since the Chinese market resumed after the National Day holiday, aluminium billet inventories were found increased by 35,400 tonnes and then 1,600 tonnes to come in at 136,800 tonnes, as of last Thursday, October 10. The chart below indicates the current status of aluminium billet inventories across China in more details: The inventories in Wuxi, Jiangsu have dropped by 3,300 tonnes to stand at 19,200 tonnes, while that in Huzhou, Zhejiang; and...
Italy delivered about 213314 tonnes of aluminium bar, rods and profiles to the global market in 2019, unchanged from 2017. The top export destinations of aluminium bar, rods and profiles in 2018 were Germany (21640 tonnes), Turkey (13480 tonnes), Poland (8764 tonnes), Slovenia (8146 tonnes), France (7869 tonnes), and India (7601 tonnes) among others. According to recent estimates, Italy exported 80266 tonnes of aluminium bar, rods and profiles in 2016, which increased by 165.4% or 132756 tonnes to total at 213022 tonnes in 2017. The country’s estimated exports stood at 213314 tonnes in 2018. The aluminium bar, rods and profiles export volume is estimated to stand at 215984 tonnes in 2019, up 1.25% from 2018 and 1.39% from 2017. Italy total export was valued at US$181 million in 2016. The...
Texarkana Aluminum, a fully-integrated aluminium rolling mill in North America, has reportedly received an incentive check of $94,987.74 from Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO) for an energy efficient lighting initiative. The mill has installed more than 200 LED fixtures, which involved more planning and work than simply replacing bulbs. The project team concentrated on areas of the mill that were dark at the floor level with high bay lighting. Calum Donnachie, Texarkana Aluminum's COO, said: We're always looking for ways to improve upon how we operate, even down to the light bulb. This is just one example that will not only positively impact our bottom line, but also positively impact our work environment." According to the mill, the SWEPCO incentive will help cover some of the...
Germany’s aluminium powder and flakes import from Austria has been found incessantly rising since 2016, according to the global export-import data. But from Russia, the import has been found declining over the past two years. In 2016, Germany’s import from Austria was approximately at 2,811 tonnes, which in the next year jumped by about 170 per cent to 7,596 tonnes. The trend continued in 2018 as well when Germany imported around 11,333 tonnes of aluminium powder and flakes from Austria, up 49 per cent year on year. This year the global export-import data estimates Germany’s import volume from Austria to rise by 14.49 per cent to come in at 12,976 tonnes. From Russia, Germany’s aluminium powder and flakes import is likely to continue to decline this year from 11,059 tonnes in 2018 to...
Indian state government-owned oil and gas company, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOC), is reportedly developing metal-air batteries that will produce energy by oxidising metals such as iron, zinc and aluminium. This is to forestall dependence on lithium imports once electric vehicles and renewable energy projects take off in a big way, said IOC chairman Sanjiv Singh. These batteries cannot be recharged, but motorists can replace plates to power them almost instantly, eliminating the need for charging infrastructure. Besides, the metal-air batteries have high energy density. If a normal lithium-ion battery can travel the vehicle up to 300 km, these batteries can take it to 500 km. The cost-effectiveness of these batteries will, however, depend on the scale of operation. Also, the...
Sen. Ron Wyden has questioned the relationship between the Kentucky aluminium mill and the previously sanctioned Russian aluminium company Rusal. He addressed a letter to Craig Bouchard, CEO of Braidy Industries and questioned whether Braidy Industries had established a relationship with Rusal before the removal of U.S. sanctions against the company. Rusal was formerly owned by Russian oligarch Demetri Deripaska, who was a close ally of Putin. A number of companies controlled by Deripaska including Rusal were sanctioned by the U.S. in April 2018 as part of the Countering America's Adversaries through Sanctions Act. Sanctions on Rusal were removed after Deripaska cut down his stake to less than 50 per cent, and his voting rights to less than 35 per cent. Democrats voted against the lifting...
As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, inventories of aluminium billet continued to rise by 1,600 tonnes as of Thursday, 10 October 2019, after increasing 35,400 tonnes over the National Day holiday. Stocks of 6063 aluminium billet across five major consumption areas in China stood at 136,800 tonnes. Inventories of aluminium billet in Foshan, Guangdong and Wuxi, Jiangsu stood at 72,400 tonnes and 22,500 tonnes as of Thursday, an increase of 3,000 tonnes and 2,100 tonnes from Tuesday, October 8. Stocks in Changzhou, Jiangsu increased 400 tonnes to stand 14,400 tonnes. But the inventories of aluminium billet in Huzhou, Zhejiang and Nanchang, Jiangxi declined 1,000 tonnes and 2,900 tonnes from Tuesday, October 8 to 15,000 tonnes and 12,500 tonnes today. The price of aluminium alloy (A356)...
Dudley’s Aluminium, the Welsh fabricator has won the Overall Partner Award at the Willmott Dixon Supply Chain Awards for their work as a Wilmott Dixon Partner. Dudley’s Aluminium was awarded the accolade for their work to date and more recently the Taff Vale Redevelopment, a large window and curtain walling package. The Taff Vale Redevelopment is a £38 million project which has helped Dudley’s Aluminium to secure this award. The Supply Chain Awards celebrate the partners of Willmott Dixon and highlight their successes. Dudley’s Aluminium was chosen for their exceptional professionalism, honesty, and performance in design. Dudley’s aluminium scored highly on every aspect of performance and have received praise for self-sufficiency onsite and producing an ‘excellent quality product’. Colin...
Zarbana Aluminum Extrusions LLC has begun the expansion of its extrusion plant by purchasing land and a US$4.9 million building and installing a huge “state-of-the-art” extrusion press. On Oct. 3, Vienna Enterprises LLC, a Zarbana affiliate, purchased a plant in the industrial park operated by Buckeye Transfer Realty, plus 60 acres of adjacent land. “It’s a big deal for the area,” says Lee Stoneburner, president of Buckeye. “They’re going to be putting in another extrusion press that probably will be one of the largest in North America,” he confirms. In May, the extrusion plant’s operations manager, Dave Baco said the company would build a 60,000-square-foot addition “on the end of the building” that would house a 20-inch press, “which will be the largest state-of-the-art extrusion press...
France’s exports of total aluminium including scrap to the US came in at 14,100 tonnes in the first six months of 2019, with a year-on-year decrease of 50.87% or 14,600 tonnes, according to the latest Mineral Industry Survey report from the US Geological Survey. In June 2019, exports of aluminium to the US stood 59.51% lower than the same period last year. Exports registered 1,810 tonnes. Exports to the US reduced by 13.81% from May’s export of 2,100 tonnes and by 34.42% from April’s export of 2,760 tonnes. Exports of aluminium semi-finished products (plates, sheets, bars, etc.) to the US stood at 10,900 tonnes in January-June 2019, representing a drop of 41.08% or 7,600 from 18,500 tonnes in January-June 2018. In June, France exported 1,260 tonnes of semi-finished products to the US,...
According to the latest report from Aluminum Association, aluminium net shipments (including exports) by domestic U.S. and Canadian facilities totalled an estimated 967,058 tonnes during August, a decrease of 5.4 per cent from the August 2018 total of 1 million tonne. Shipments of aluminium mill products or aluminium semi-finished products dropped 4.3 per cent from the previous year to 635,029 tonnes in August, while shipments of aluminium ingot for castings, exports and destructive uses contracted 7.5 per cent year-over-year, totalling 33,203 tonnes. Through the first eight months of 2019, preliminary producer shipments totalled an estimated 7.3 million tonnes, 1.8 per cent less than the same period of 2018. August inventory levels totalled an estimated 1 million tonne, falling 2.4 per...
Pennex Aluminum recently completed a $23 million expansion of their Leetonia, Ohio facility. The 175-employee facility specializes in aluminum fabrication and extrusions for the automotive, construction, HVAC, landscaping, and off-road vehicle markets. The company, which is part of Pennsylvania-based Metal Exchange Corporation, was founded in 1979 and acquired the Leetonia plant in 2010. The primary focus of the investment will be new equipment focused on increasing the company’s offerings and meeting market demands. Upwards of 50 new jobs will also accompany the expansion. Syncing with the completion of the project is the 40th anniversary of Pennex being purchased by MEC. Making everything possible is a local school district agreement that provided Pennex with a 15-year tax abatement in...
In September 2017, a HRL Laboratories team published a paper announcing that they had succeeded in 3D printing a traditionally non-weldable, high-strength aluminum alloy. A feat of ingenuity, the team functionalized an incredibly crack-prone material with average yield strengths up to 580 MPa. Two years later, the material used by HRL in this experiment became the first additive manufacturing aluminum alloy registered with the historic Aluminum Association. Known as Aluminum 7A77.60L, this metal powder for 3D printing is now available to buy directly from HRL. By commercially releasing the material to the market, HRL has now achieved what it set out to do: “HRL’s goal in developing materials has always been to make sure designers have the opportunity to use the highest performing...
Shinhwa Group, an automotive parts manufacturer in South Korea, announced it will make a new $42 million investment in manufacturing operations in Auburn, Alabama. The company will initially manufacture drive shafts for vehicles made by Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama in Montgomery and Kia Motor Manufacturing Georgia. Shinhwa will provide parts for other car manufacturers in the near future. “Shinhwa’s decision to invest $42 million and create 95 jobs in Auburn is great news for Alabama,” said Alabama Governor, Kay Ivey. “Alabama has become an important player in a changing automotive industry, and Shinhwa’s plans to open its first U.S. plant in Auburn is proof of our success.” “The Shinhwa Group has become a leader in the aluminium die casting industry because of our willingness to...
Turkey’s exports of aluminium semi-finished products (plates, sheets, bars, etc.) to the US increased by 148.9% in June compared with the same period last year. Imports stood at 5,650 tonnes in June, from 2,270 tonnes in June 2018. Aluminium products exports to the US reduced by 0.53% from May’s export of 5,680 tonnes but rose by 41.25% from April’s export of 4,000 tonnes. Turkey exported 34,000 tonnes of aluminium semi-finished products to the US in the first six months of 2019, from 9,290 tonnes exported in the first six months of 2018. This indicates an increase of 265.98% year-on-year, according to the latest Mineral Industry Survey report from the US Geological Survey. On the import side, Turkey’s imports of aluminium semi-finished products from the US stood at 2,690 tonnes in the...
According to a recent report, Pyrotek Inc. is likely to complete construction in November of a new manufacturing facility in Dubai, which will serve and supply the rapidly growing aluminium smelting operations in the region. By January 2020, Pyrotek is scheduled to occupy the facility. The first phase of construction will reportedly provide 66,000 square feet of floor space. The construction contractor is Pax-Kent International LLC based in Dubai. Nigel Clear, Pyrotek’s General Manager in the region, said: “This plant will grow our footprint in the heart of one of the major global aluminium smelting regions. It’s also very close to EGA (Emirates Global Aluminium). Combined, EGA is the biggest aluminium producer in the Persian Gulf.” The new Pyrotek plant will concentrate on manufacturing...
Hydro has invested Euro 30 million in two modern production lines. The new production lines will increase quality and stability for aluminium foil products in the coming months, as product volumes from older production lines due for closure is shifted to new and modern lines. Sales director Stefan Knabben in Hydro’s Rolled Products business area said, “The production line we are shutting down in the Grevenbroich plant represent only a minor part of our foil production portfolio. We will definitely fulfill all contracts and are eager to continue offering our foil products from new and modern production lines.” The company recently announced a comprehensive restructuring of its rolling business. The restructuring includes the already planned closure of parts of the foil production at...
According to a recent report, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has decided to officially impose the highest rate of anti-dumping duties on aluminium products from 16 Chinese producers. While six Chinese exporters will face the duty of 35.58 per cent, eight between 18.16 per cent and 35.39 per cent, the final two will face a rate of less than 10 per cent. The anti-dumping duties will be imposed on those aluminium products which are used for making industrial machines and structures, aluminium doors, wattle walls, storage cabinets and interior and exterior decorations and in construction as well. In January, the MoIT had investigated into aluminium imports from China and its impact on domestic manufacturers following the regulations from the World Trade Organisation and Foreign...
