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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Preliminary estimates from Aluminum Association indicate that aluminium demand in the United States and Canada (shipments by domestic producers plus imports) stood at an estimated 8.54 million tonnes through August 2018, up 2.5 per cent from the same period of 2017. YTD demand for semi-fabricated (mill) products was up 2.3 per cent to 6.1 million pounds. Apparent consumption (demand less exports) in domestic markets was slightly up to an estimated 7.5 million tonnes. Exports of aluminium ingot and mill products from the U.S. and Canada (excluding cross-border trade) totalled 1 million tonnes through August, up 17 per cent over the same period of 2017, while imports were off 7 per cent to 2.6 million tonnes. Demand for aluminium semi-fabricated (mill) products in the United States and...
The Odisha government on Thursday cleared a big ticket project proposal of Hindalco Industries Ltd worth Rs 5,000 crore. The State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) in its meeting on Thursday recommended a proposal of Hindalco Industries Limited to set up an aluminum flat rolled product unit of 0.375 MTPA at Sambalpur, an official statement said. This proposal is to set up the unit in the premises of existing aluminium smelter plant of Hindalco at Lapanga in Sambalpur district. The land requirement will be 300 acres for the downstream unit. The project has been re- recommended to High Level Clearance Authority headed by CM Naveen Patnaik. Four other investment proposals have also been cleared by the authority. Employment potential of Hindalco project is 550 people.
Taiwan imports considerable amount of aluminium alloys to supplement domestic production and make value added products. Taiwan manufactures about 819,000 tonnes of aluminium domestically in four main categories: Secondary Aluminium Alloy, Casting, Rolling and Extrusion Industries. The country’s imports were mainly driven by UAE and Russia in 2017. Taiwan's import of aluminium alloy from UAE increased year on year. The country imported about 104638 tonnes of aluminium alloy in 2017. The trend is expected to continue through 2018. Russia exported about 41712 tonnes of aluminium alloy to Taiwan in 2017, an increase of 2.59% from 2016 total of 40660 tonnes. Taiwan’s imports of aluminium alloy from Russia estimated to decline to 35660 tonnes in 2018, down from 6052 tonnes in 2017. Qatar, China...
LB Aluminium Bhd announced in a filing with Bursa Malaysia that its 51%-owned subsidiary Citajaya Kuasa Sdn Bhd has subscribed for two million new shares, representing an 80% stake in Contras Build Sdn Bhd for RM2 million. The remaining 49% of Citajaya is held by Datuk Seri Gan Yu Chai. The company announced in January that it would diversify into property development in a bid to increase its income. The LB Aluminium Group has been delivering world-class products and services in the aluminium industry since its inception in 1985. Their key expertise is in the manufacturing, marketing and trading of aluminium extrusions, sheets and coils, and ceiling metal tee products Meanwhile, the remaining 20% of Contras is held by three different individual owners. Following completion of the share...
Another step is taken to turn Braidy Atlas LLC $1.6 billion state-of-the-art aluminium rolling mill into a reality. The company has selected Industrial Project Innovation LLC (IPI) to serve as construction manager, with assigned roles like program planning, construction management, project cost, and schedule control among other leadership responsibilities, according to a statement of Russ Braasch in a news release. Conveying his deep gratitude, Russ Braasch, owner and operations manager for IPI further said: “We are honoured Braidy Industries chose us to work with them on the management of such a significant project that will have an enormous positive economic impact on eastern Kentucky." Braidy Atlas will be the first greenfield aluminium rolling mill in the US in 35 years. Company...
Yunhai Metal’s listed company reportedly declared that the company’s controller Mei Xiaoming would like to transfer part of its shares to Baosteel Metal, a subsidiary of Baowu, to which Yunhai will also entrust part of the voting rights. Market participants see this transaction as Baowu’s intention to expand its market shares in a new materials sector and strengthen its position as an automotive sheet supplier, Kallanish notes. According to the announcement, the control of the company may change after the completion of the transaction process. The purpose of this transaction is to accelerate the strategic layout of the company and promote the application of light alloys. However, a formal agreement has not been signed yet. Yunhai Metal’s primary products include aluminium and magnesium...
South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry (DIT) announced yesterday, October 24, about its receipt of exemption on 161 aluminium and 36 steel products from the US aluminium and steel imports under Section 232 tariffs by the Commerce Department. The product exemptions are reportedly applicable only to those companies whose buyers in the United States had made requests to the Commerce Department for an exemption from the Section 232 duties. For aluminium, the products exempted include aluminium foil and plate, and sheet and strip. This move is expected to contribute towards securing jobs in companies producing these products. Minister Rob Davies has extended his gratitude to the South African and US companies, as well as Members of Congress that had lobbied for the exemption of South...
Automotive components manufacturer Sundaram-Clayton Ltd (SCL) has opened a new machined castings foundry at Oragadam, near Chennai, in Tamil Nadu. The new facility, which was inaugurated by Young Key Koo, Managing Director and CEO of Hyundai Motor India Ltd, has been established with an investment of over INR150 crore With production capacity of 8,000 tonnes, the new machined castings foundry will meet the growing demand for company’s products from the automotive industry and will primarily serve Hyundai Motor. "At SCL we are committed to work as closely with the customer as possible,'' said Lakshmi Venu, the Joint Managing Director of SCL."This facility reinforces our drive to serve our customers by cutting down supply times because of the proximity to their factories and gives us a...
The Aluminum Association, in cooperation with the Aluminium Association of Canada, reported primary aluminium production in North America (U.S. and Canada) was at an annual rate of 3.83 million tonnes during September 2018, advancing 11,272 tpy (+0.3%) over the August 2018 rate of 3.82 million tonnes. The production rate in the U.S. was up 4.4 per cent m/m, while the Canadian rate fell 1.0 per cent. On a YoY comparison, the North American annual rate was down 2.8 per cent from September 2017. Actual production in September 2018 totalled 314,921 tonnes. According to the Association, net new orders of aluminium mill products or semi-finished products for September 2018 dropped 9.6 per cent from August 2018. Orders for flat roll products (sheet, plate, can stock and foil) were off 8.3 per...
According to the report by Reuters, the lightweight aluminium products manufacturer Arconic Inc’s board of directors is mulling US$11 billion worth acquisition offer which it received last Friday from buyout firm Apollo Global Management LLC. Apollo’s offer values Arconic at between $23 and $24 per share, one of the sources familiar with the matter said. Arconic shares ended trading on Monday at $21.45. Arconic had $6.3 billion in total debt and cash of $1.46 billion as of the end of June. Another bidding group, comprising buyout firms like Blackstone Group LP, Carlyle Group LP, Onex Corp and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, is yet to submit an offer for Arconic, the sources said. But it is not clear whether the group will submit a bid to rival Apollo’s in the coming days or not....
The proposed Braidy Industries aluminium rolling mill complex near Ashland, Kentucky, will reportedly receive a US$4 million grant from the federal government to finance the construction process. An Associated Press news story says the money has been awarded by the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet’s Division of Abandoned Mine Lands to the Northeast Kentucky Regional Industrial Park Authority, the owner of the land for the Braidy mill. The fund will be used to prepare a reclaimed coal strip mine to support the company's planned mill. The company also received a significant boost from taxpayers when the state gave it $15 million through an unusual direct investment in 2017. The funding announcement was jointly made by the U.S. Representative Hal Rogers, U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell...
Leading aluminium value-added company Kaiser Aluminum Corporation announced third quarter and first nine months financial results. For the third quarter of 2018 , the company reported net income of $22 million, or $1.29 per diluted share, compared to net income and earnings per diluted share of $20 million and $1.16, respectively for the prior year period. Adjusted net income, excluding the impact of non-run-rate items, was $24 million or $1.43 per diluted share in Q3 2018, compared to adjusted net income of $16 million, or $0.90 per diluted share in Q3 2017. The improved year-over-year results primarily reflected the impact of a lower corporate tax rate in 2018, partially offset by temporary tariff costs on internal cross-border transactions. Kaiser reported net sales of $393 million,...
Operating rates across producers of aluminium plate/sheet strip and foil are likely to fall to 66% in October, a month of traditionally low demand for aluminium, as exports are likely to drop nearly 10% on the month. Rates across foil producers are estimated at 87%, and at 63% across producers of plate/sheet and strip. Consumption of primary aluminium is unlikely to pick up this year as poor orders and cash flow issues close some processors in east China and Shandong, and as construction projects suspend in the heating season. While November will conitnue to be a month of high demand for aluminium semis, the current markets across real estate, transportation and home appliances are likely to account for poor orders across producers of aluminum plate/sheet, strip and foil during...
Increasing Australian aluminum imports to the US have created ample ingot supply, which market sources believe is causing wider discounts on P1020. "There is some Australian product coming in, I wouldn't say it's a massive volume, but we've definitely seen some uptick in that market," a port source said Wednesday, adding "it kind of seems like some shippers are getting their feet wet and testing the water." The port source expected imports to tick up, "so [shippers] will be looking more and more into that lane." The latest trade data from the US Census Bureau, accessed through Trade Data Monitor, showed that Australian imports of unwrought, unalloyed aluminum have been steadily rising. Australian imports grew from 1,996 mt in March to 7,781 mt in August. By comparison, imports from...
According to the report from Shanghai Metals Market, poor consumption in the downstream automobile sector eroded operating rates across Chinese secondary aluminium plants year-on-year in September, even as the traditional high season set in. Shanghai Metals Market found operating rates across secondary aluminium producers averaged at 58.25 per cent last month, down 5.05 percentage points from the same period last year. Compared to August, it dropped 5.13 percentage points in September. Working days picked up from August across downstream die-casting plants as they ended summer breaks in September. This accounted for month-on-month increase in operating rate. However, actual demand failed to rebound on the year, with few downstream plants restocking before the National Day holiday and the...
Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin expects the state of Kentucky to become a center for excellence in engineering and manufacturing, partially on the successes of a booming aluminium industry. Kentucky produces about 40 per cent of the aluminium produced in the U.S. Already, 40 percent of the aluminum produced in the U.S. is made in Kentucky and it has all the potential to become a prime location for downstream industry that fabricates aluminium into cars, trains, airplanes, home appliances, electronics and many other applications. "There’s no state in America that has attracted more aluminum mills, steel mills, smelters (or) foundries than has Kentucky in the last couple of years," Mr Bevin said. "Because, if we can get them here and we can produce the raw materials here, then the people who heat...
On Friday, October 12, Hydro declared its plan to install a 4,500-tonne 10” aluminium press line at Cressona, Pennsylvania. The aim is to serve the traditional automotive and distribution segments. Hydro also announced to install a 7,000-tonne dual container 12”/14” press line in the West region to serve the electric vehicle, transportation, and commercial building and construction segments. Jack Pell, Vice President of Automotive Business Development for Hydro Extrusion North America, said: “We are very excited about Hydro’s continued investments in North America.” “This new equipment merges state-of-the-art billet heating and quench capabilities with larger billet diameters and enables us to produce larger extruded aluminum shapes with thinner walls from stronger alloys – the ‘holy...
The production of aluminium slugs starts with loading furnaces with raw aluminium in the form of aluminium ingot, followed by a hot/cold rolling process, stamping, annealing, surface finish, and selection and packaging. Aluminium slugs are eco-friendly and recyclable and thus, successfully securing a key position in various industries like packaging, where they are impact extruded to make extruded aerosol cans, automotive cans, aluminium collapsible tubes and more. Healthcare, paint, food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, and many other industries, at the same time, are also looking at an increasing use of aluminium slugs owing to rust resistance property and lighter weight that further give an advantage over other types of metal slugs and extended the scope for the global market, including...
