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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South Africa’s exports of total aluminium (crude metal and alloys and aluminium semi-finished products) to the US stood at 39,400 tonnes in the first half of 2019, indicating a drop of 59.47 per cent from 97,200 tonnes in the first half of 2019. Aluminium exports from South Africa to the US edged lower by 25.39% year-on-year in June 2019, as updated by US Census Bureau. Exports came in at 7,260 tonnes as compared to 9,730 tonnes in June 2018. But aluminium exports increased 53.49 per cent from May’s exports volume of 4,730 tonnes. South Africa exported 6,760 tonnes of crude metal and alloys to the US in January-June 2019 as compared to 69,500 tonnes in January-June 2018. Exports recorded 62,740 tonnes or 90.27 per cent fall year-on-year. Crude metal and alloys export stood at 2,290 tonnes...
The proposed acquisition of Aleris by Novelis has been approved by the European Commission under the EU Merger Regulation on condition that Novelis would sell Aleris' aluminium automotive body sheets business in Europe. “To address the Commission's competition concerns, the parties offered to divest Aleris' entire aluminium automotive body sheet business in Europe, including its production plant in Duffel, Belgium. In order to preserve its viability, the Duffel plant's divestiture will also include other products currently manufactured at that plant,” The European Commission said in a statement. Novelis, a subsidiary of Hindalco Industries Limited, is a global manufacturer of semi-finished aluminium products and recycler of aluminium. It operates several manufacturing facilities across...
Headquartered in Stockdorf, Germany, the automotive supplier Webasto has reportedly begun the production of battery packs at its Schierling site, Regensburg district, for electric vehicles of a European bus manufacturer. As per the report, the company will also start manufacturing a self-developed standard-battery system for commercial vehicles in the Regensburg district from the beginning of 2020. Webasto said it already invested eleven million euros in the development of this multi-product line. “We have successfully entered this market with our innovative future mobility products and the first buses with Webasto batteries will shortly take to the streets of major European cities,” says CEO Holger Engelmann. Three years ago, Webasto decided to diversify its business into the field of...
Hydro has expanded its research and development capabilities with the launch of an aluminium research lab in Finspång, Sweden. The Extrusion Test Center will allow Hydro to “test new types of aluminium alloys and their extrudability for eventual use in applications that are innovative and which can help customers reduce their carbon footprint.” Work on the building and installation of the machinery was completed in August. Egil Hogna, EVP responsible for Hydro’s Extruded Solutions business area said: “Research and application development has always been one of our strong points as a supplier of innovative aluminium solutions, and with sustainability now the key word in our industry, we need to speed these efforts to meet market needs.” The center has a new aluminium extrusion press and...
Two congressmen on the House tax-writing committee have requested Trump administration to exempt Israel from steel and aluminium tariffs. Republican Brad Schneider, D-Ill. and David Schweikert, R-Ariz., requested Robert Lighthizer, the U.S. trade representative, in a letter Wednesday to remove Israel from the tariff list and add to a list of exempted countries like South Korea, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada and Mexico. They argued in the letter that since Israel exports a tiny portion of U.S. total imports of steel and aluminium — 0.0005 per cent and 0.12 per cent exactly, the exemption will not impact the domestic aluminium producers. “While these numbers may seem small, the fact remains that the U.S. is a major trading partner for Israel and any disruption in the economic...
According to the preliminary estimates from Aluminum Association, aluminium demand in the United States and Canada (shipments by domestic producers plus imports) totalled an estimated 7.5 million tonnes from January to July 2019, an increase of 1.3 per cent over YTD 2018. Demand for semi-fabricated (mill) products in the United States and Canada totalled 5.4 million pounds though July 2019, up 2.0 per cent YoY. Demand for semis stood at an estimated 765,663 tonnes in July, up 1.2 per cent over July 2018. Shipments of aluminium sheet and plate stood at 429,098 tonnes in July, up 2.5 per cent YoY. Extruded product shipments declined 1.2 per cent YoY to 220,446 tonnes. Estimated shipments of aluminium ingot for castings, exports and other uses stood at 239,950 tonnes in July, up 4.2 per cent...
The latest customs data shows China’s exports of aluminium foil extended declines in August by about 13.32 per cent month-on-month and 9.85 per cent year-on-year to come in at 98,100 tonnes. Poor overseas orders could be primarily attributed to the lower exports last month. In July, China’s aluminium foil export had dropped by about 2.39 per cent from its previous month. This indicates that the percentage of monthly decrease in export volume grew in August. The export volume of aluminium foils under four out of the total five HS codes saw a month-on-month decline of 13-16 per cent, while exports of product under HS code 76071120 climbed 9.06 per cent. On a yearly basis, the total export between January and August remained 5.04 per cent higher.
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) has reportedly launched Aluminium Alloy 1200 (AA 1200), adding one more downstream product to its existing product range. This alloy is similar to alloy AA 1100 and has a wide application in the manufacture of LED lamp cap. Tapan Kumar Chand, chairman and managing director of Nalco said, ‘’At Nalco, we continue to diversify and focus on expanding our markets with new product launches. In a competitive environment, this new product AA 1200 will help develop new markets and increase the Company’s profitability. The Smelter Team at Angul has worked hard to introduce a quality product that will add to the Company’s growing stature in the national and global market.’’ This commercial aluminium alloy grade 1200 has high corrosion resistance and boasts...
Germany’s exports of aluminium semi-finished products (plates, sheets, bars, etc.) to the US came in at 52,900 tonnes in the first half of 2019, with a year-on-year increase of 164.5% or 32,900 tonnes, according to the latest Mineral Industry Survey report from the US Geological Survey. In June, exports of semi-finished to the US soared 247.31% from the same period a year earlier. Exports stood at 11,600 tonnes in June as compared to 3,340 tonnes in June 2018. Aluminium semi-finished exports increased 3.57% from May’s export volume of 11,200 tonnes. Germany exported 54,400 tonnes of total aluminium including scrap to the US in the first six months of 2019, an increase of 132.48% from 23,400 tonnes in the first six months of 2018. Imports of aluminium semi-finished products from the US...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the inventories of aluminium billet in China have recorded a fall this week after straight four weeks of increase. Data shows the stocks of 6063 aluminium billet across five major consumption areas are standing at 112,400 tonnes after declining by 700 tonnes, as of Thursday, September 26. On last Thursday, September 19, the billet inventories were at 113,100 tonnes after rising by some 6,000 tonnes week-on-week. The chart below indicates the current status of aluminium billet inventories across major Chinese markets in more details: The inventories in Foshan, Guangdong have dropped by 3,300 tonnes from last Thursday to stand at 52,000 tonnes, while that in Wuxi, Jiangsu and Changzhou, Jiangsu have plunged by 400 tonnes and 1,000 tonnes to come in at...
According to a recent report, Vedanta is considering to set up an aluminium flat rolled products plant with an estimated capital expenditure of INR 2,500 crore. This is part of a plan to expand its portfolio of value-added products, said a senior official. The capex will be part of Vedanta’s INR 15,000 crore investment plans to take the aluminium capacity from the current 2 million tonnes to 3 million tonnes in the next 3-4 years. CEO at Vedanta Aluminium and Power Ajay Kapur said, "We are looking at producing rolled products and entering the sheets market. For this, we are currently talking to Chinese players to see if we can bring a plant here." As per the report, the plant will be set up at Vedanta’s either of the two aluminium facilities in Chhattisgarh or Odisha. Kapur said Vedanta...
Japan’s exports of aluminium semi-finished products (plates, sheets, bars, etc.) to the US stood at 22,800 tonnes in the first half of 2019, representing an increase of 25.97% or 4,700 tonnes from 18,100 tonnes in the first half of 2018, according to the latest Mineral Industry Survey report from US Geological Survey. {newsStudioGallery} Exports of these products to the US climbed 41.99% year-on-year or 1,180 tonnes in June. Exports came in at 3,990 tonnes in June as compared to 2,810 tonnes in June 2018. On a month-on-month comparison, aluminium semi-finished exports increased 3.1% from 3,870 tonnes. Japan’s exports of total aluminium including scrap to the US stood at 30,400 tonnes in the first six months of 2019, an increase of 66.12% year-on-year. Japan had exported 18,300 tonnes to...
According to a recent report, BM Aluminium has announced that Smart Systems customers can place orders online for LogiKal software directly to Smarts. LogiKal is the leading software for the glazing industry to enable users to process single or multiple profile aluminium systems to complete estimations, quotes, CAD design, CNC links & manage production at all levels. As per the report, customers need to download and install the latest version of LogiKal to access the new function. They can contact BM Aluminium’s technical team as well who will complete the set up and configure the online ordering interface. BM Aluminium says the interface is user-friendly. It allows customers to amend, add or delete items before the order is sent to Smarts. Managing Director Dean Hodges explained:...
Hydro’s five aluminium extrusion operations in Austria, France Germany, and Belgium have been certified against Aluminium Stewardship Initiative’s (ASI) Performance Standard for responsible production, sourcing and stewardship of aluminium. The company’s aluminium extrusion operations at Nenzing (Austria), Toulouse (France), Rackwitz and Uphusen (Germany), along with the aluminium tubing operation in Lichtervelde (Belgium) have been certified against ASI Performance Standard. “ASI certification is part of our strategy, and we will continue following up. It’s because consumers want sustainable materials from companies that do business the right way – and this is what Hydro is all about,” said Executive Vice President Egil Hogna, who is responsible for Hydro’s Extruded Solutions business...
Silberline, a global supplier of aluminium effect pigments announced last week about an undergoing expansion of their Tamaqua, Pennsylvania production facility. The company held a dedication ceremony for its expanded waterborne aluminium pigment facility. The association’s Manager of Statistical Programs – and staff executive for the Pigments and Powder Division – Hank Sattlethight was present at the ceremony and announced the multimillion-dollar investment. After the expansion of the production capabilities to produce pigments compatible with waterborne coating systems, Silberline will become the leading waterborne compatible aluminium pigment manufacturer in North America. “Silberline is proud to announce the investment in our North American operations to create more environmentally...
Kaiser Aluminum Corporation, a leading producer of semi-fabricated specialty aluminium products, announced the appointment of Leo W. Gerard to its Board of Directors. Gerard brings several decades of knowledge and experience in the metals industry. Gerard served as International President of the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union, AFL-CIO, CLC (formerly known as the United Steelworkers of America, AFL-CIO, CLC) (the “USW”) from 2001 until his retirement in July 2019. Jack A. Hockema, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman said: “We are pleased to welcome Leo as a member of the board. Leo brings several decades of knowledge and experience in the metals industry and will be a great asset to the Company as...
Plascore, Inc., a manufacturer of lightweight composite products and a global leader in engineered core, will invest $5,973,290 to construct a new 80,000 square foot facility in Zeeland, West Michigan. The expansion will create approximately 35 jobs over three years. Plascore has witnessed an increase in demand for its machined aramid and aluminium products. As a result, the company continues to purchase new equipment and expand its production capacity. “We at Plascore are thrilled at the opportunity to grow here in West Michigan,” said Olaf Huebner, Vice President of Operations at Plascore. “Thank you to the City of Zeeland and Lakeshore Advantage for supporting our growth.” The City of Zeeland approved an Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption over 12 years to support the company’s new...
Saudi Arabia’s exports of total aluminium (crude metal and alloys and semi-finished products) to the US stood at 34,600 tonnes in the first six months of 2019, an increase of 3.38% from 33,470 tonnes in the first six months of 2018, according to the latest Mineral Industry Survey report from US Geological Survey. {newsStudioGallery} In June, aluminium exports stood 143.52% higher compared with the same period of 2018. Exports to the US increased from 3,203 tonnes to 7,800 tonnes in June 2019. Exports climbed by 38.79% from May’s export volume of 5,620 tonnes. Crude metals and alloys export to the US registered 11,900 tonnes in the first half of 2019. That was down 54.75% from last year’s total volume of 26,300 tonnes. In June, exports decreased by 30.59% year-on-year. Exports to the US...
