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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The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) put sanctions against a network of front companies and agents on July 18, 2019, who are involved in the procurement of aluminium materials for sanctioned elements of Iran’s nuclear program. The sanctioned individuals and entities are based in Iran, China, and Belgium and have acted as a procurement network for Iran’s Centrifuge Technology Company (TESA), which plays a crucial role in Iran’s nuclear program developed by Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI). TESA was already sanctioned by Treasury s on November 21, 2011. This global network is comprised of seven entities and five individuals. “Treasury is taking action to shut down an Iranian nuclear procurement network that leverages Chinese- and...
Apex Aluminum Extrusions, a premium North American aluminium extruder, has appointed Tony Da Silva, MBA, P.Eng., as Vice President of Engineering. He will report directly to Bill de Koning, Chief Operating Officer of Apex Aluminum Extrusions. Bill de Koning said: “Tony has proven himself to be instrumental in the growth and expansion of aluminum extrusion factories. Tony has successfully implemented capital expansion projects in the tens of millions of dollars: his knowledge, experience in combination with his hands-on capabilities makes me very confident that Tony will bring continued success to our team and to our assertive growth objectives.” With 170,000 square foot aluminium extrusion facility the company delivers custom extrusions, mill finish aluminium and anodized aluminium. Tony...
Global automotive parts manufacturing company Nemak, headquartered in García, announced on Tuesday, July 16, that it planned to close down its aluminium casting plant at Windsor by mid-2020. This decision is a result of the early phase-out of an export programme with a customer in China, according to Nemak. Armando Tamez, CEO of Nemak, said in a media release, "Given our outlook on capacity utilization and volumes in Windsor, we have made the decision to end production at this facility." About 90 per cent of the 400,000 cylinder engine blocks produced annually in Nemak’s Windsor plant was destined for Cadillac vehicles at GM's Shanghai plant. So, the early phase-out of the export programme is expected to reduce Nemak's use of the plant to less than 10 per cent of capacity. Currently, the...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, demand for photovoltaic-use (PV-use) aluminium extrusion is likely to stay strong across China in the second half of the year, as the National Energy Administration (NEA) released on Thursday, July 18, the remaining quotas for residential solar qualifying for a 2019 subsidy, which was at 1.27GW. The NEA revealed on its website that some 2.23GW installed capacity of PV projects was eligible for national subsidies till June-end of 2019. The total approved quotas for the year is 3.5GW. The rooftop market performed well in the first half of the year, recovering from the sluggish trend on China’s announcement of its plan to curtail subsidies on May 31, 2018. Customs data showed China’s export of PV modules in June came in at 5,974.36MW after registering an...
South Korea's imports of aluminium including scrap from the US stood at 105,000 tonnes in the first four months of 2019, 31 per cent higher than the corresponding period of 2018. Imports were 27,300 tonnes in April as compared to 22,100 tonnes in April 2018. Aluminium semi-finished imports from the US came in at 11,500 tonnes in January-April 2019. That was up 4.5 per cent from 11,000 tonnes in the same period of 2018. In April, aluminium semi-finished imports from the US registered 2,740 tonnes, a drop of 1.4 per cent from 2,780 tonnes in the same period last year. Imports declined by 10.4 per cent from March’s import volume of 3,060 tonnes. Imports of aluminium scrap were 93,400 tonnes in the first four months of 2019, from 69,000 tonnes in the first four months of 2018. This records an...
Gränges’ production plant in Shanghai, China, has been certified against Aluminium Stewardship Initiative’s (ASI) Performance Standard for responsible production, sourcing and stewardship of aluminium. The facility produces aluminium strips and plates for the auto industry. Shanghai plant is set up for direct chill casting, hot rolling, cold rolling, and finishing, with a current production capacity of 120 thousand tonnes. Johan Menckel, Chief Executive Officer at Gränges, said: “Achieving this ASI certification is an important milestone in our sustainability commitment and ambitious sustainability agenda and it is a great recognition for our sustainability efforts. The certification verifies that our aluminium products are produced responsibly and sustainably and it is a first step...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, inventories of aluminium billet in China have recorded further decline this week, as stocks in Foshan of Guangdong province has dipped significantly. Across five major consumption areas, the stocks of 6063 aluminium billet have decreased by some 400 tonnes over the week to stand at 81,100 tonnes, as of July 18. On last Thursday, July 11, the stocks hovered at 81,500 tonnes after declining from 83,200 tonnes week-on-week. In Foshan, Guangdong, and Nanchang, Jiangxi, the billet inventories have registered a drop from 47,900 tonnes last week to 41,700 tonnes and from 6,400 tonnes to 5,100 tonnes, as of July 18. In other major markets like Wuxi, Jiangxu; Changzhou, Jiangsu; and Huzhou Zhejiang, the inventories have, however, increased today by 3,400...
Taiwan’s exports of total aluminium including scrap to the US came in at 27,500 tonnes in the first four months of 2019, 290% higher than the corresponding period of 2018, according to the latest Mineral Industry Survey report from US Geological Survey. In April, aluminium exports to the US stood at 7,630 tonnes, an increase of 132% from 3,290 tonnes in April 2018. Taiwan exported 27,100 tonnes of aluminium semi-finished products to the US in January- April 2019, from 6,280 tonnes exported in January- April 2018. This records an increase of 331.53% or 20,820 tonnes year-on-year. Exports of semi-finished products increased by 142% in April compared with the same period last year. Exports to the US stood at 7,560 tonnes in April 2019, from 3,120 tonnes in April 2018. On a month-on-month...
According to a regulatory filing on Monday, Braidy Industries still lacks about US$300 million in private investment to fund construction of its Kentucky aluminium rolling mill. The filing also says that half of Rusal’s US$200 million investment in the mill is dependent on Braidy’s ability to raise US$300 million from other investors and secure construction financing. Braidy says in the statement that it has “received indications of interest from prospective investors in excess of this ($300 million) amount, (but) these prospective investors currently are not committed to make any investments.” Braidy Industries chairman and CEO Craig Bouchard expressed optimism about the project in a statement: "Our progress building one of the largest mills in the world has gone faster than any project...
Following the recommendation from commerce ministry’s investigation arm Director General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), the Government of India may reportedly apply a provisional anti-dumping duty between US$ 28.67 per tonne and US$ 199.53 per tonne on imports of aluminium and zinc coated flat products from China, Vietnam, and Korea. The ministry recommended this after conducting a thorough probe, through which it could conclude that there had been a significant increase in imports of the good from these three countries in absolute terms. Aluminium and zinc coated flat products are used in infrastructure projects, solar power plants, roofing, and white goods. DGTR also stated that these products came into India at below their normal values because of which the domestic industry suffered...
Montenegrin aluminium company Uniprom has reportedly opened a silumin alloys production unit worth 10 million euro or $11.3 million at its local aluminium smelter KAP. The news arrived after the government officially announced about the opening of the manufacturing unit on Monday, July 15. At this new unit which will have dozens of employees, Uniprom will produce aluminium alloys in the form of small ingots, said the government in a statement. "The new factory will make a product that can go directly to the halls of automotive or aviation giants. Every new product in Montenegro is a step towards new jobs," Prime Minister Dusko Markovic said during the opening ceremony. In March 2019, the owner of Uniprom Veselin Pejovic had declared that the company was investing about 26 million euro in...
Henan Zhongfu High Precision Aluminum Products Co., Ltd has become a new Production & Transformation member of Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI). The company, established in 2013, is a high end aluminium alloy new material manufacturer and is wholly owned by Henan Zhongfu Industrial Co.,Ltd. Henan Zhongfu High Precision Aluminum Products Co., Ltd’s produces aluminium can body stock, can end stock, can tab stock and aluminium foil stock for food, beverage and other product sectors. It is mainly dedicated to world class quality of aluminium strip and sheets. “We are very glad to join ASI. We will make proactive efforts to implement and support ASI Standards to achieve sustainable development of aluminium production,” said General Manager, Wenchao Ma. Zhongfu Industrial Co., Ltd.,...
Bahrain, one of the leading aluminium exporters to the US, accounted for 4% of all aluminium imports by the US during the first four months of 2019. Bahrain exported 71,000 tonnes of aluminium (crude metal and alloys and aluminium semi-finished products) to the US in January-April, from 64,900 tonnes exported in January-April 2018. That was up 9.4% year-on-year. Aluminium exports by Bahrain stood at 18,700 tonnes in April 2019, down 12% from 21,200 tonnes in April 2018, according to the latest Mineral Industry Survey report from US Geological Survey. Crude metal and alloys export increased 12.98% or 5,800 tonnes year-on-year in the four-month period. Export rose from 44,700 tonnes in January-April 2018 to 50,500 tonnes in January-April 2019. In April, exports to the US stood at 12,500...
Hebei Sitong New Metal Material Co., Ltd. has joined Aluminium Stewardship Initiative as a Production & Transformation member, ASI announced on Thursday, 11 July 2019. The company, founded in 1998, focuses on R&D, production and sales of functional intermediate alloy, new materials and aluminium alloy wheel lightweight in China. “Our company believes that membership in ASI will help promote and enhance the confidence of our customers and stakeholders; we also believe that membership in ASI will help our company to establish and improve responsible production, purchasing and material management in the metal supply chain,” the company said. Hebei Sitong New Metal Material Co., Ltd. has passed the certification of AS9100D aerospace quality management system, IATF16949 automobile quality...
Aluminium bar rods and profiles market has been fairing high across the globe over the past few years, thankfully due to massive infrastructural advancements and refurbishment. By 2020 global aluminium extrusions market for the building and construction sector are likely to account for almost 74 percent of the overall market share to continue its dominance as the key revenue generator. The global export-import data reveals that amidst the uptrend of aluminium bar rods and profiles market, France’s import of the product is seeing a continued year-on-year rise. Its import from Spain, which is one of its key aluminium bar rods and profiles suppliers, is also growing both in terms of volume and cost. Let us now see how France’s aluminium bars rods and profile import from Spain is trending...
Hindalco Industries Ltd. Mouda Unit has become a new Production & Transformation member of Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI). This brings the total number of members to 95. “As a global metals business across the aluminium and copper value chains with operation in 13 countries, sustainability has a place at the very core of Hindalco operations”, said Mr. Gerald Francis (Head-Sales & Marketing). 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. Mouda facility, located in central India, is a world-class foil manufacturing hub on its way to achieve excellence in processes and products. The unit produces bare foil for pharmaceutical and food...
Inductotherm Group wrapped up its five day exhibition at the Thermprocess/GIFA show in Düsseldorf on Saturday, June 29th with resounding success. “We’ve been attending the GIFA and Thermprocess shows for decades and it’s always been a great opportunity for us to meet with our customers from around the world. No matter how much the world digitizes, there’s nothing more important than establishing and maintaining personal relationships with our customers and partners,” says Gary Doyon, CEO of Inductotherm Group. Messe Düsseldorf welcomed over 72,500 visitors from 118 countries, including China, India, Turkey and Russia, in the most international show of its kind for the thermal processing industry. “At the show we had 70 product managers from 21 countries, speaking over 30 languages to...
The U.S. imports of crude metal and alloys decreased from 1.64 million tonnes in the four-month period of 2018 to 1.21 million tonnes in the four-month period of 2019, which indicates a 26 per cent decrease year-on-year. Crude metal and alloys imports stood at 314,000 tonnes in April, down 18 per cent year-on-year. Imports of crude metal and alloys registered a 0.64 per cent growth month-on-month, according to the latest Mineral Industry Survey report from US Geological Survey. Imports were 312,000 tonnes in March 2019. On the export side, the U.S exported 83,600 tonnes of crude metal and alloys in January-April 2019 as compared to 103,000 tonnes in January-April 2018. This records a drop of 19 per cent on the year. Crude metal and alloys export dropped 15 per cent or 3,700 tonnes...
