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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Alcomet, a Bulgaria-based company that is principally engaged in the production of aluminium rolled and extruded products, reported a drop in non-consolidated net profit in the first half of 2019. Non-consolidated net profit stood at 5.5 million levs ($3.1 million/2.8 million euro) in H1, as compared to 8.0 million levs in H1 2018. The company said its revenue dropped from 197.4 million levs to 184.4 million in H1 2019. Production of rolled and extruded products came in at 33,968 tonnes in the first six months of 2019, as compared to 34,999 tonnes in the first six months of 2018. Production of extruded was 11,681 tonnes, while rolled products output was 22,287 tonnes. Sales of extruded products increased by 1.54% year-on-year in the first half of 2019. Sales increased from 12,038 tonnes...
Dr. Stuart Wiesner has been appointed Managing Director of Rheinfelden Alloys with immediate effect. He succeeds Hilmer Kirschner, who is leaving the company at his own request. “Since he arrived at Aluminium Rheinfelden, Dr. Wiesner has played a key role in making the company a technology leader,” says Erika Zender, CEO of parent company Aluminium Rheinfelden. “I’m delighted we were able to find such an ideal candidate to fill this position. It is an important step in the company’s new strategic direction. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Hilmer Kirschner for his service and wish him every success in future.” Dr. Wiesner joined Aluminium Rheinfelden in late 2014 as department head for Product and Business Development at Rheinfelden Alloys. In that role, he significantly...
Lawson Products Inc. has designed the Blue-Kote™ soft material application flap disc for grinding aluminium and all nonferrous metals at high speed with minimal clogging or loading at repair shop and OEMs. It also keeps the work surface temperature low for quality finishing. Lawson Products Inc. is an industrial distributor of maintenance and repair supplies. Under the Kent Automotive brand, they supply products and services to collision and mechanical repair shops as well as OEMs. The abrasive disc simultaneously grinds and finishes, eliminating the need for product changeover. The disc cloth’s net structure resists clogging on soft materials. The disc has a sanded surface that stays cooler and prevents burning the work surface. The disc is designed for use in pre- and post-weld...
Hazelett Corporation is a manufacturer and supplier of continuous casting machines for the global metal industries like aluminium, copper, zinc and lead operating in more than 24 countries. The company recently celebrated its 100 years in business. Its continuous casting technology is used in metal manufacturing worldwide to cast metals into strip and bars. Currently over 100 Hazelett twin-belts continuous casting machines are in use in different facilities. “As a family business, Hazelett has the luxury of taking a longer view; one that encourages investment in research and development, building long-term relationships, preserving our environment, and contemplating the legacy we leave future generations,” said to David Hazelett, President, Hazelett Corporation. The founder of Hazelett C....
Kaiser Aluminum Corporation, a leading producer of semi-fabricated specialty aluminium products, announced second quarter and first half 2019 results. For the second quarter 2019 , the company reported net sales of $375 million, from $415 million last year, reflecting an 8% decrease in shipments and a 2% decrease in average selling price. Value added revenue declined slightly to $209 million. Adjusted consolidated EBITDA stood at $48 million, down $7 million YoY. Net income was $19 million, compared to net income of $21 million. Excluding the impact of non-run-rate items, adjusted net income was $23 million. For the first half of 2019 , net sales were $771 million, reflecting a 5% decrease in shipments and a 1% increase in average selling price. Value added revenue increased 4% to $428...
Vietnam’s aluminium profile manufacturers from the north have formed an association and it made it first public appearance in Hanoi on July 23. It was during a workshop on the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) held in Hanoi that the announcement was made regarding the Association. The workshop was organized as a part of a launching event for businesses to discuss opportunities and challenges for the aluminium profile sector. The event highlighted the benefits of a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the EU countries. Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the Association Vu Van Phu said Vietnam’s aluminium exports to the EU make up only five per cent of its total aluminium import. The European Union signed a landmark free trade deal with Vietnam in June, the first of its kind...
The Bogolsovsk Cable Factory (BCF), a Joint Venture between RUSAL and the ELKA-Cable Company, has started production of cabling and wiring products with an aluminium alloy core. The factory will produce three types of wire and cable, including oil submersible cables, self-supporting insulated wires and flexible wires for use in industrial facilities. “Commissioning of the factory's second workshop and the launch of the main machinery enabled BCF to move from the production of semi-finished aluminium products to the production of cabling and wiring products with an aluminium alloy core. These products have the competitive advantage in Russia as currently there are no analogues being produced in the country,” RUSAL said through its press release. The aluminium alloy processing capacity of...
Japan exported 19,500 tonnes of aluminium including scrap to the US in January-April 2019, compared to 12,600 tonnes exported in January-April 2018, an increase of 54.76% year-on-year, according to the latest Mineral Industry Survey report from US Geological Survey. In April, exports stood at 7,200 tonnes, up 137.62% from 3,030 tonnes in April 2018. Aluminium semi-finished products export rose 20 per cent year-on-year to 15,000 tonnes in the four-month period. In April, exports stood at 4,690 tonnes, from 3,020 tonnes in April 2018. Exports of aluminium scrap came in at 4,470 tonnes in the first four months of 2019. Japan’s imports of total aluminium from the US stood at 11,400 tonnes in the first four months of 2019, 8.57% higher than the corresponding period of 2018. Imports were 2,760...
China’s central authorities have barred 11 provinces and cities from allowing foundry capacity expansion, in order to improve air quality. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) on July 25 jointly released a notice to the governments of Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, Shandong, Henan, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui and Shaanxi. The notice bans foundry capacity addition across Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and nearby regions, the Fenwei plain and the Yangtze River Delta. Local governments have been ordered to inspect capacity swap plans strictly to ensure the shutdown of obsolete facilities and construction of new facilities. In another update from Shanghai Metals...
Ma’aden Aluminium has announced the decision to digitalize their Automotive Sheet plant by implementing software solution Manufacturing Execution System (MES) by 8Sigma. 8Sigma has developed its own solution 8Sigma MES and has proved their expertise by working on some of the key projects in the metal sector. The project is a part of Ma’aden’s plan for a multi-million-dollar investment towards digitalizing the production processes in the rolling mill that produces aluminium coils for the automotive industry. The agreement signed in July says that the first phase of 8Sigma MES solution will be implemented in the Ras Al Khair plant and will be operational during 2020. MES will enable the factory's staff and management to have a quick and real-time overview on all production phases starting...
Japan is Asia's top importer of aluminium as it has stopped producing primary metal altogether shifting its focus towards value added applications and in secondary recovery. The premiums for primary metal shipments Japan pays each quarter over the London Metal Exchange cash price set the benchmark for the Asia region. However the country is a key producer of aluminium rolled products. The two major rolled product manufacturers in the country are Kobe Steel and Aluminium and UACJ Corporation which make aluminium plates, pre coated sheets and various rolling products for value added applications. Let’s analyse Japan’s foreign trade trends for aluminium rolled products in 2018 and in the first four months of 2019. {newsStudioGallery} Japan has a trade surplus for aluminium rolled products....
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the inventories of 6063 aluminium billet have increased on Thursday, July 25, by some 1,600 tonnes to stand at 82,700 tonnes. Poor downstream consumption could be a reason for this weekly rise in aluminium billet inventories. In the last two weeks, on July 11 and July 18, the aluminium billet inventories had recorded drops by some 1,700 tonnes and 400 tonnes to stand at 81,500 tonnes and 81,100 tonnes, respectively. Today, the billet inventories in Foshan, Guangdong; and in Wuxi, Jiangsu have grown from 41,700 tonnes and 12,300 tonnes, as of July 18, to 43,400 tonnes and 14,600 tonnes respectively, found Shanghai Metals Market. However, in other three major markets like Changzhou, Jiangsu; Huzhou, Zhejiang; and Nanchang, Jiangxi, the inventories have...
The global aluminium powder market is clearly growing buoyed by the automotive paints and sealants and other industrial pigments sectors. According to a research study, the market in 2017 was valued at US$ 3 billion and is likely to reach US$ 3.92 billion by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of 3.4 per cent during 2017-2025. China and India are estimated to be the two primary piggybacks in the coming time to stimulate the market. In India, aluminium powder is widely used for various purposes across numerous industries, including metallurgy, chemicals, paints & pigments, explosives, and construction. Additionally, there has been the increasing use of powder for the production of coating paints which has further propelled its demand across the automotive industry. By 2023, the consumption...
Constellium today reported results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019. For the second quarter of 2019 , the company reported shipments of 413 thousand tonnes, up 4% year-on-year on higher shipments in the Packaging and Automotive Rolled Products segment, partially due to the consolidation of Bowling Green. Revenue increased 4% to €1.5 billion, due to improved price and mix and the consolidation of Bowling Green, partially offset by lower metal prices. Net income stood at €17 million. Adjusted EBITDA rose 8% YoY to €167 million on improved results in the Aerospace and Transportation segment. For the first half of 2019 , total shipments increased 5% to 826 thousand tonnes. Revenue stood at €3.1 billion, up 7% YoY. Net income increased to €41 million. Adjusted EBITDA stood at €302...
2a S.p.A., an Italian die-casting company, plans to invest US$15 million to expand its foundry in Auburn in eastern Alabama, which caters to major automobile and heavy truck makers. With this expansion 2a USA will double the Auburn facility’s current die-casting area and create more than 50 jobs. 2a’s parent company, headquartered in Santena, near Turin, is Italy’s biggest family owned high-pressure die-casting firm. It specializes in the die casting of large, complex aluminium parts that are coated, machined, assembled and painted according to customer requirements. “2a has earned a reputation for technical innovation, and its decision to expand its Alabama manufacturing operation is a testament to its skilled workforce in Auburn,” Governor Kay Ivey said in a press statement that...
Norsk Hydro’s Chief Financial Officer Eivind Kallevik has attributed the slowdown in German auto and construction sector for the missed result expectations in the second quarter. This has lowered aluminium demand and dragged the sale of Hydro in this quarter. Share prices for the company however rise on reports of increased production. This was further worsened by lower aluminium prices, alumina and aluminium production curtailment and the effects of a cyber-attack. Oslo-based Norsk Hydro missed expectations in the second quarter Tuesday after it reported a drop in underlying profit to 875 million Norwegian krone ($101 million). Hydro CFO said that demand weakness was acute in Europe and particularly in the biggest European economy Germany.The German central bank's monthly report...
In Europe, as flexible packaging market is expected to grow from $28.22 billion in 2016 to $ 41 billion by the end of 2021 at a CAGR of 7.76%, the United Kingdom emerges as a large consumer of aluminium foils. According to the global export-import data, the United Kingdom in 2016 imported 66,025 tonnes of aluminium foil, which in 2017 grew 46 per cent to 96,586 tonnes. In 2018, the country’s import volume remained flat at 96,448 tonnes, while this year is expected to see a growth of 4.2 per cent to 100,499 tonnes. Unique characteristics like strength, formability, and barriers properties are playing the most important role in consistently stimulating the use of aluminium foil. It is largely used in flexible packaging, container applications, automotive and heat exchange components,...
Gränges, a leading global supplier of rolled aluminium products for heat exchanger applications and other niche markets, reported sales volume of 92.9 ktonnes (99.1) in the second quarter of 2019. Net sales dropped to SEK 3,188 million (3,443). Adjusted operating profit stood at SEK 257 million (301), while adjusted operating profit per tonne amounted to 2.8 kSEK (3.0). Profit decreased to SEK 171 million (214) in the second quarter of 2019. Gränges’ CEO Johan Menckel said: “The softer market conditions that we experienced in the first quarter continued in the second quarter of 2019. Lower market demand resulted in a sales volume decline of 6 per cent to 92.9 ktonnes. The adjusted operating profit declined by SEK 44 million to SEK 257 million and included costs for the US expansion...
