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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Material research from Hydro has led to the development of a new high-performing aluminium alloy for applications that require high-strength aluminium solutions. The alloy will be particularly useful for next-generation cars, where weight and cost reductions are the key drivers. Developed at Hydro’s innovation and technology center in Finspång, Sweden, the Hydro High Strength 400 aluminium alloy (HHS 400) is unique to the automotive industry and now available for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) qualifications. “In addition to cost and weight reductions, this alloy can help carmakers improve passenger safety in the vehicle,” says Nunzio Cuppoletta, automotive market director for Hydro’s business area Extruded Solutions. High-strength aluminium solutions are important as the...
According to the China Customs data, the country in 2017 had exported 5.08 million tonnes of aluminium semi-finished products all around the globe, out of which aluminium extrusion export was at 826,000 tonnes, aluminium plates, sheets, and strips at 2.08 million tonnes, aluminium foil at 1.16 million tonnes, aluminium tubes and pipe at 136,000 tonnes, and aluminium structures at 879,000 tonnes. In 2016, China's total aluminium semi-finished products (aluminium bar, rod, and profile, aluminium wire, aluminium plate, sheet, and strip, aluminium foil, and aluminium tube) exports had stood at 4.07 million tonnes (approx.). This indicates that the aluminium semi-finished products export volume from China increased by around 25 per cent year-on-year in 2017. Industry consultancy CRU observes...
Novelis, the global leader in aluminium rolling and recycling broke ground on the expansion of its automotive aluminium manufacturing facility in Changzhou, China. The $180 million plant expansion will double the production capacity of heat-treated aluminium sheet by 100,000 metric tons. The expansion was done to meet the growing demand for automotive aluminium sheet in Asia. The facility will be equipped with a high-speed slitter, and a fully automated packaging line for better operation performance. The project is scheduled to be complete in 2020 in line with key customer's vehicle-launch plans and is expected to create another 160 jobs. The expansion will boost Novelis’ innovative aluminium solutions to enable automotive manufacturers to develop the next-generation of safer, stronger...
Automotive body parts manufacturer Minth Automotive Europe plans to invest EUR 100 million in the construction of an automotive parts factory in Loznica, Serbia, where it will produce roof base carriers, vehicle covers, aluminium door frames and car batteries. Minth Automotive Europe has signed an agreement with Serbian Economy Minister Goran Knezevic that will employ around 1,000 people. Apart from the Economy Minister, the director of Cheerplan HK Limited, Chin Yong Huon, the director of Minth Automotive, Ching Li Wong, and the mayor of Loznica, Vidoje Petrovic co-signed the agreement. Minth Automotive Europe is a part of Minth Group, one of the leading global suppliers of auto parts for passenger vehicles. The Group mainly exports to Australia, Europe, North America, Japan, and...
A new research from National University of Science and Technology MISiS suggests that aluminium composites could be enhanced to the quality of titanium alloys and used in the aerospace industry. They have claimed to find a way to double the strength of composites obtained by 3D printing from aluminium alloy powder. Titanium is used in heavy duty metal alloy applications like aerospace and spacecraft application as the metal is about six times stronger than aluminium. Researchers consider aluminium to be an apt alternative to titanium because it is lightweight with a density of 2700 kg/m3 which is 1.7 times less dense than titanium. It is also much more mouldable, making it suitable for 3D printing. The researchers have developed a new composite that maintains the lightweight of aluminium...
ALRO, one of the largest vertically integrated aluminium producers, by capacity, in Europe, continues its USD 61 million investment programme for 2018 in high value-added and very high value-added aluminium products. The company focuses on extending client portfolio, enhancing the hot rolled products quality and reducing energy dependency.ALRO is committed to supplying high value-added products to the aerospace and automotive industries. "We continue to implement our complex investment strategy which covers three major areas: products quality and production mix with a focus on sophisticated markets, operational efficiency and cost control, as well as increasing the market share", said Marian Năstase, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ALRO. ALRO is upgrading the cold rolling mill no....
Aluminium alloy wheels, made by aluminium alloy, are mostly used in both passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles. But the use in passenger vehicles is more than in commercial vehicles, with the sales proportion at about 94 per cent in 2017. {newsStudioGallery} China and Europe are the two main consumption places with market shares nearly 28.66 per cent and 24.65 per cent respectively, as of 2017. Other regions also enjoy a major market share in the global region. Thanks to light-weight, better heat conductivity, and anti-corrosive properties for which the demand for aluminium alloy wheels has been growing uninterruptedly. According to a report, the global automotive aluminium alloy wheels market size is expected to reach US$ 15, 400 million by 2025 from US$ 12,700 million in 2017, at a...
ALUMINIUM 2018- the 12th World Trade Fair & Conference begins today at Messe Düsseldorf, Germany. From 9 to 11 October 2018, the Exhibition Centre on the Rhine is going to become the global marketplace of the aluminium industry. Some 1,000 exhibitors from around the world are in Düsseldorf and the exhibition area has expanded to 80,000 square metres. The mega aluminium industry event, being organized by Reed Exhibitions Deutschland GmbH and Project ALUMINIUM would host exhibitors from across the entire aluminium industry’s supply chain. Spread across six exhibition halls, global players, specialists and young innovative companies will showcase the industry’s complete range – from aluminium production to machines and plants for processing to semi-finished and finished goods and recycling....
China's leading manufacturer of aluminium processing products China Zhongwang Holdings Co., Ltd, together with its subsidiary “Group”, has inked an agreement with Jaguar Land Rover for the supply of aluminium extrusion products to Jaguar Land Rover UK as a Tier 1 supplier. China Zhongwang said the contract is the first cooperation between the two companies, which also marks the official entry of Zhongwang Group into the supply chain of overseas auto manufacturers. As a key supplier of high-speed rail car aluminium extrusion products, Zhongwang has committed to promoting transportation lightweighting and has accumulated experience in alloying from aluminium alloys to welding technology. The Group is the supplier of all-aluminium body frame for both Chery's electric vehicle "eQ1" model, and...
Amsterdam-based global producer of aluminium semi-finished products Constellium N.V. has proudly announced its new Alplan TM Beyond Precision product line, to support increased demand for high-performance aluminium plates. The Alplan TM product line consists of specialty rolled plates with up to 15 times better flatness compared to industry standards, up to 40 per cent less material needs and up to 90 per cent reduction in part rework compared to a mill finish plate. The key benefits of Alplan TM product line include: It assures to provide excellent mechanical properties with outstanding shape stability and tight dimensional tolerances that support weight reduction, scrap, and cost savings. It would enable Constellium’s customers to accelerate their production, by saving manufacturing...
( Continued from Part-1 ) India India holds the second position in the list of top 5 primary aluminium producers in the world. According to the annual reports of the three major aluminium producers in India, the total aluminium production stood at 3.39 million tonnes in 2017. Aluminium production in the country is currently outpacing the demand leading to an increase in exports. India's aluminium production is forecast to be stable at 3.42 million tonnes in the current FY. India's aluminium export Domestic consumption of primary metal also showed an increase, from about 1.58 million tonnes in 2014-15 to 2 million tonnes at present. As forecasted by a 2016 report by Crisil, a research service, apparent aluminium consumption in India would grow from about 3.3 million tonne currently to 5.3...
Aluminium demand by the automotive industry is projected to more than double by 2025, driven by increasing growth in Asia, a senior executive at Novelis Inc, the world’s largest manufacturer of rolled aluminum products, said on Thursday, 04 October 2018. “Typically what we see is an increase of aluminium percentage of the (automotive) body, which is why we’re projecting to grow from 1.5 million tonnes of aluminium demand this year to 3.5 million tonnes a year in 2025,” Pierre Labat told Reuters. “We will continue to add new products in the years to come which make the value proposition of aluminum very compelling for strength and light weight,” said Pierre Labat, Vice President of Global Automotive at Novelis. according to Reuters report, of the estimated 1.5 million tonnes of global...
The production base for the primary aluminium sector has long started shifting towards east for the availability of raw materials, power and labour. The production base lies in the east while the market lies in the west. However, most of the Asian countries are now shifting their focus towards developing the manufacturing sector encouraging value added applications of the metals they produce. This has been further reinforced by the protective trade policies in the west that are levying steep tariffs on products imported from east especially China. The Asia Pacific region roughly produced 42 million tonnes of primary aluminium in 2017 ( IAI statistics). China produced about 36 million tonnes of it and India contributed about 3.2 million tonnes and Australia and New Zealand produced about...
ALUMINUM USA (ALU USA), the event dedicated to the aluminum industry and the Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC), dedicated to helping the industry discover aluminum extrusion as the preferred material process, today announced a sponsorship agreement. ALU USA offers an exhibition and conference for all things aluminum: products, technologies and investments in the United States. ALUMINUM USA takes place September 12-13, 2019 at the Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee. The Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) brings an educational component to ALUMINUM USA with Extrusion Design University (EDU), which debuted in 2018 to positive reviews. “We are delighted to announce our relationship with AEC,” said Michael Mandl, Group Vice President, ALUMINUM USA. “Working with AEC aligns us with key...
Aluminum Association president and CEO Heidi Brock issued a statement expressing disappointment as the Section 232 aluminium tariffs were not addressed during United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). She opined that this was the perfect opportunity for the U.S. to work with Canada and Mexico to provide a full exemption from the 232 aluminium tariffs without quotas on aluminium imported from those countries. She urged the U.S. to include the issue before the final agreement is signed. She reiterated the significance of the integrated North American supply chains for the three countries and said that it is their collaboration for which they have been able to meet growing aluminium demand year over year. The U.S. aluminium industry has some of the most competitive and innovative...
Norwegian aluminium producer Norsk Hydro ASA reportedly declared late last week to expand its automotive aluminium production at a plant in Cressonia, Pennsylvania, which would expectedly create 60 family-sustaining jobs over the next three years and retain an additional 1,307 jobs. The expansion will take place on a property of 96,000-square-foot, adjacent to an existing facility that will provide new manufacturing capabilities needed to compete in the automotive market. According to the report, Hydro will also invest some of its money to upgrade the existing facility’s infrastructure as well as purchase and modernize some equipment. This entire project of Norsk Hydro is estimated to involve more than US$ 100 million. Charles Straface, business area president for Extrusion North America...
Aluminium semi-finished imports by the USA increased in July despite on-going trade disruptions between the US and its exporting countries. The USA imported 105,000 tonnes of aluminium Plates, sheets, bars, etc. from the global market in July and for the period from January to July the amount stood at 838,000 tonnes, according to the latest Mineral Industry Survey report from US Geological Survey. Aluminium scrap exports by Brazil stood at 2920 tonnes in July 2018, up from 368 tonnes in June 2018. The figure represents a growth of 693 per cent month-on-month. Canada, the leading supplier of aluminium to the USA, exported 18,700 tonnes of aluminium Plates, sheets, bars etc. to the US in July 2018, from 18,300 tonnes in June 2018. The total export for the seven months in 2018 stood at...
Arconic announced today that it has reached an agreement to sell its Texarkana, Texas rolling mill to Ta Chen International, Inc., a U.S. subsidiary of aluminium and stainless steel distributor Ta Chen Stainless Pipe Co., Ltd. Under the terms of the transaction, Arconic will sell Texarkana for approximately $300 million in cash, plus additional contingent consideration of up to $50 million. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2018, subject to receipt of certain regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The Company expects to record a gain on the sale. “The strong market conditions for industrial products gave us an opportunity to sell an asset that has been idled for several years,” said Tim Myers, President of Arconic’s Global Rolled Products...
