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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Aluminium extrusion supplier Dajcor Aluminum is making nearly $19.6 million investment to set up its first manufacturing facility in the USA. This will create up to 265 full-time jobs in Eastern Kentucky. Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin made the announcement on Friday, May 10. "We are excited for another major jobs announcement in Eastern Kentucky, where we have a strong, skilled workforce ready to serve any industry’s needs,” Governor Matt Bevin said. Dajcor Aluminum, based in Canada, manufactures and supplies extruded, fabricated/machined and anodized aluminium components and assemblies for automotive, renewable energy, medical equipment, transportation, building trades, military, recreation, and consumer-product industries. “Dajcor Aluminum has selected an excellent location for its first...
Currently Aluminium flat rolled products accounts for about 32% of the global aluminium usage followed by extrusions at 31%, castings at 22% and wire rods at 8%. Flat rolled products demand will continue to grow driven by substitution trend in transport and growth in packaging driven by can stock and foil in emerging markets. Aluminium FRP demand for cars is expected to grow from 1.5 million tonnes in 2018 to 3.5 million tonnes a year in 2025. That indicates the growing significance of rolling mills and more and more investments happening in Greenfield and Brownfield projects. Leveraging on the growing demand from automakers for aluminium sheet in Body-in White applications, the top aluminium downstream producers have invested heavily on rolling expansions. We are listing here the top...
As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, producers of aluminium wire and cable in China saw higher operation rates in April as warmer weather and progressing power projects drove producers in the east and north to step up production. The rate stood at 42.5 per cent in April, up 2 percentage points from March, down some 2 percentage points from the same period last year, showed an SMM survey. Operating rates across Chinese producers of aluminium wire and cable is expected to grow to 48 per cent in May. In other China news, operating rates across aluminium sheet/plate and strip manufacturers increased in April on improved orders. Average operating rates across Chinese manufacturers stood at 75 per cent last month, up 2 percentage points from March and 4 percentage points from the same period...
Slovenian aluminium products manufacturer Impol has launched a new automotive production line worth 6.5 million euros at its subsidiary TLM in Croatia. This would help the company to expand its cold rolling mill production as well as the production of a wider variety of new products. The facility will manufacture aluminium sheets for the automotive and aerospace industries. Impol’s CEO Andrej Kolmanič said: “[This] is an important investment to attract and serve final customers who consume the biggest amount of aluminium products and require the highest quality standards.” Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek, Slovenian Ambassador to Croatia Smiljana Knez and the Croatian Economy Ministry State Secretary Mario Antonić inaugurated the new production line. “The investment demonstrates that...
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) certifies two additional Hydro Aluminium Extruded Solutions operations against its standards for responsible production, sourcing and stewardship of aluminium. Hydro Aluminium Extruded Solutions operations for extrusion and profiles at the sites in Bellenberg (Germany) and fabrication of aluminium Lichtervelde (Belgium) have received certification against ASI Performance Standard. Hydro now has certified 9 operations across four countries, including Hydro corporate office and a joint-venture – Alunorf – with Novelis, ASI said. Fiona Solomon, Chief Executive Officer at ASI said “ASI congratulates Hydro on this further achievement and the demonstration of their ongoing commitment to certify their operations to the ASI Performance Standard. Clearly...
Aleris Corporation reported results for Q1 2019 ended March 31 on May 8. The company reported a net loss of US$33 million compared to net income of $5 million in Q1 2018. The company reported a record first quarter adjusted EBITDA of US$85 million compared to US$54 million in 2018. Adjusted EBITDA was positively impacted by improved rolling margins and favourable metal spreads. Commenting on the results, Sean Stack, Aleris Chairman and CEO said, "We are off to a strong start this year with record first quarter Adjusted EBITDA, significant growth in aerospace and continued growth in commercial shipments from our new automotive assets in North America." “With our multi-year aerospace agreements in place and committed automotive volumes in North America, we expect to continue this momentum...
Stocks of 6063 aluminium billet extended their gains today across five consumption areas. Aluminium billet inventories increased some 1,600 tonnes from Sunday, May 5 to stand at 96,500 tonnes as of Thursday May 9. Inventories in China gained this week as buyers stood on the sidelines, according to Shanghai Metals Market. Changzhou, Jiangsu and Huzhou, Zhejiang recorded growth by 5,00 tonnes and 2,000 tonnes from Sunday May 5 to stand at 8,000 tonnes and 12,000 tonnes. In Nanchang, Jiangxi, aluminium billet stocks rose by 6,00 tonnes to stand at 8,300 tonnes. In Foshan, Guangdong, and Wuxi, Jiangsu, the billet stocks reduced by 1,300 tonnes and 2,00 from Sunday May 5 to stand at 51,800 tonnes and 16,400 tonnes today. In another update from SMM, the average price of Aluminium Alloy (ADC12)...
Novelis Inc., the world leader in aluminium rolling and recycling, published results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2019. Net income dropped 5.5% year-on-year to $103 million for the fourth quarter. For the full year, net income came in at $434 million. Excluding tax-effected special items, the company grew its full year net income by 11% to $468 million, and fourth quarter net income 29% to $130 million, driven by a record Adjusted EBITDA for both the quarter and full year. Steve Fisher, President and Chief Executive Officer, Novelis, said: "Our year-end financial results are the best in company history, reflecting a continued focus on further improving operational efficiencies and customer centricity.” Net sales stood at 3.1 billion for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019, up 1%...
China’s exports of unwrought aluminium and aluminium products increased 12.9 per cent year-on-year in the first four months of 2019, showed data from China Customs released on Wednesday May 7. Total exports came in at 1.94 million tonnes. Unwrought aluminium and aluminium products export from China stood at 498,000 tonnes in April. The figure was down 48,000 tonnes or 8.8 per cent from March’s export of 546,000 tonnes. Exports in April increased 10.4 per cent from April 2018. In another update from Shanghai Metals Market, China exported 245,100 tonnes of aluminium sheets/plates and strips in March. Exports rose 4 per cent from a year ago and 42 per cent from February, according to data from China Customs Export of aluminium sheets/plates and strips in March shrank 0.3 per cent from...
Hilde Merete Aasheim has reportedly assumed the position as Hydro’s new President and CEO with an intention to boost profitability and speed up the company’s drive to become a leading provider of advanced, low-carbon products and solutions, based on a more sustainable footprint through the value chain and lifecycle of aluminium. “Customers are increasingly seeking advanced solutions with the lowest-possible impact, from building and construction to automotive, packaging and electronics. This enables us to commercialize our best-in-class footprint and leading positions within process technology and product innovation,” said Aasheim in a statement. As per the report, Aasheim has also started taking several measures in support of her business agenda, which include renewing company’s...
According to an update from Shanghai Metals Market, Shanxi Chinalco Huarun is set to commission 52 more electrolytic baths, in a bid to reach to full production of its phase-one aluminium alloy project. As per the report, Shanxi Chinalco Huarun intends to achieve this by mid to late June. Previously, April 22, it had put 40 electrolytic baths into use, learned SMM further. The commissioning of 52 more electrolytic baths will bring the total number to 92, with a capacity totalling at 125,000 tonnes. Till August 31, the project will enjoy a preferential electricity price of RMB 0.286 per kWh. Nonetheless, from September the prices will not be higher than RMB 0.3 per kWh. SMM learned there is more capacity in the pipeline, with construction likely to complete by the end of this year. The...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, domestic demand for photovoltaic (PV) aluminium extrusion is expected to rise in the next two months due to speed-up installations of new solar power plants before the lower feed-in tariff (FiT) subsidies take effect on July 1. According to a statement by the National Development and Reform Commission on April 28, China will cut the FiT for newly-operated PV power plants by RMB 0.1 to 0.15 per KWh. This adjustment will bring the subsidies to RMB 0.4 per kWh, tax included for Category I region of northern China, to RMB 0.45 kWh for Category II region of the western and central China, and to RMB 0.55 kWh for the rest of the country for Category III zone. However, for village-level poverty alleviation solar PV power projects, the FiT will remain unchanged...
On more cargo arrivals in China post Labour Day Holiday from May 1 to May 4, stocks of 6063 aluminium billet across five major consumption areas recorded a growth on May 5, found Shanghai Metals Market. The inventories thus, stood at 94,900 tonnes after rising by some 2,700 tonnes from April 25. After seven consecutive weeks of decline until April 25, 6063 aluminium billet inventories finally marked a rise yesterday. As of April 25, inventories had fallen some 6,400 tonnes from April 18, to come in at 92,200 tonnes, SMM data showed. Coming back to today’s inventory status, Changzhou, Jiangsu and Huzhou, Zhejiang registered a growth yesterday by some 1,000 tonnes and 2,000 tonnes from April 25 to stand at 7,500 tonnes and 10,000 tonnes respectively. Recording the highest jump, the billet...
China Zhongwang Holdings Limited, a world-leading fabricated aluminium products developer and manufacturer, has announced results for the first quarter of 2019. The Group has reported revenue of RMB6.2 billion in Q1, up 74.1% year-on-year. Gross profit for the quarter increased 62.3% year-on-year to RMB1.8 billion. Net profit stood at RMB618 million, up 15.4% year-on-year. The Group's total sales volume stood at 262,025 tonnes, up 101% from 130,385 tonnes in the same period last year, due to strong demand for aluminium alloy formwork and fabricated products from transportation segment. Increased capacity utilisation of flat rolling and industrial aluminium extrusion could also be attributed for the rise in sales volume. Mr. Lu Changqing, Chairman and President of China Zhongwang , said,...
Novelis Inc., the world leader in aluminium rolling and recycling has announced changes to its executive leadership team to further focus on enhancing its manufacturing capabilities, building up in-house talent and improving its operations. Tadeu Nardocci has been promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Manufacturing Officer, effective June 3, 2019. He is currently working as Senior Vice President and President, Novelis South America. He will be responsible for executing global manufacturing standards to in order to meet the business objectives of the company. He will report to Steve Fisher, Novelis' President and CEO and will remain based in São Paulo. Nardocci will assume the Manufacturing Excellence responsibilities from Nick Madden, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing...
Aluminium rolled products — plates, sheets and strip have, for many years, formed a large volume of aluminium products shipped annually all over the world due to the increasing consumption of aluminium rolled products in packaging, automotive and other industrial sectors. To cash on this growing aluminium rolled products market, Sweden has been increasingly exporting aluminium plates, sheets and strips to various parts of the market, found our available third-party data. In 2018, Sweden had exported 90,297 tonnes of aluminium plates, sheets and strips, which in 2019 is estimated to rise to 91,734 tonnes, up 1.6 per cent. In 2016 and 2017, Sweden’s aluminium plates, sheets and strips exports were at 72,718 tonnes and 85,152 tonnes. This indicates that the country’s export has been growing...
Braidy Atlas has collaborated with the BMW Group to create sustainability and technical/qualification for the future supply of automotive aluminium sheet. Once the rolling mill begins production, Braidy Atlas will supply the automaker with 5000x and 6000x series aluminium sheet. Braidy Atlas is a partnership of Ashland, KY-based Braidy Industries and United Company RUSAL. This is the first new U.S. greenfield rolling mill in 37 years. Craig Bouchard, Chief Executive Officer of Braidy said, “Our low-cost, high-quality, low-carbon footprint allows material improvement in global supply chain costs for BMW as a key customer.” The plan includes a comprehensive closed-loop recycling strategy leveraging Braidy Atlas’ logistically optimal location in Ashland, Kentucky and in close proximity to...
Registration is open for the Aluminum Extruders Council’s (AEC) Extrusion Design University 2019 (EDU ’19), scheduled for Thursday, September 12, 2019, at Music City Center in Nashville, TN. Co-located with Aluminum USA (ALU USA), September 12–13, 2019, EDU ’19 will feature 12 one-hour educational sessions covering aluminum extrusion topics arranged in three topic-specific tracks, including Architecture, Automotive and Industrial/Engineered Products. AEC is offering a $50 discount for those who register by June 15, 2019. This is the second year AEC is offering the educational event that is geared toward designers, engineers, architects, specifiers and others who are interested in learning more about aluminum extrusions. Aluminum extruders who are new to the field or want a refresher may...
