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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According to the latest report from Aluminum Association, imports of aluminium ingot, scrap and mill products into the U.S. and Canada (excluding crossborder trade) totalled 330,215 tonnes in May 2018, off 20.8 per cent from the May 2017 total of 416,851 tonnes. Including scrap, which accounted for roughly 56.3 per cent of reported aluminium exports in May, exports totalled 267,619 tonnes, up 7.2 per cent over a year ago. Excluding scrap, exports totalled 117,027 tonnes, essentially unchanged from last year. Exports of scrap increased 13.5 per cent year-over-year in May. Through the first five months of 2018, imports were down slightly to 1.9 million tonnes, while exports were up 13.7 per cent to 1.3 million pounds. The export is driven primarily by scrap. U.S. exports of scrap, not...
Backed on narrow consumption by downstream consumers, inventories of 6063 aluminium billet in China have extended their growth across five major consumption areas. Over the weekend ended on Thursday, July 19, they have increased by 2,300 tonnes to reach at 70,800 tonnes, as shown by Shanghai Metals Market. The inventory in Foshan and Guangdong is seen at the highest at 42,000 per tonne, while in Wuxi and Jiangsu, and Huzhou andZhejiang, the inventories are standing at 5,600 tonne and 7,600 tonne, respectively. The below chart indicates the status of China’s aluminium billet inventories in more details: The price of aluminium alloys (ADC 12), on the other hand, has been showing a steady trend over the month at RMB 15,500 per tonne and registered no change since 3 rd of July until now. But...
Germany’s import of aluminium wires is estimated to grow again in the calendar year 2018 after a plunge in the previous year. According to the global export-import data, the import volume this year is expected to stand at 107,798 tonnes, while that in 2017, it was hovering at 7,12,33 tonnes after dwindling from 101,952 tonnes in 2016. The above data represents that the calendar year 2018 is expected to see 33 per cent growth from the year 2017 and 5 per cent from 2016. Along with volume, the import cost in Germany is estimated to grow as well. From US$ 202 million in 2017, the cost is expected to increase to US$258 million for obtaining 33 per cent more wires in 2018. While the cost in 2016 stood at US$240 million. According to the analysis by global data, the Netherlands will be the top...
On the face of a sharp decline in demand in the industrial extrusion sector owing to Beijing’s curb on solar power capacity growth and subsidy cuts, operating rate across 30 Chinese aluminium extrusion manufacturers shrank in June, according to Shanghai Metals Market. As per the data found by SMM research, the manufacturers operated at 62.44 per cent in June, with industrial extrusion sector down 13.45 percentage points to 50.25 per cent. Construction extrusion manufacturers, on the other hand, operated at 63.69 per cent, registering a small change in compare to May. The operating rate of large-scale manufacturers recorded at 68.69 per cent in June, while that of the medium-scale manufacturers and small-scale manufacturers came in at 58.16 per cent and 27.16 per cent, respectively. As...
During bilateral meetings in Washington DC with US Trade Representative Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and other important members, South Africa’s Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said that SA's steel and aluminium exports to the United States does not pose any threat to US national security. He said that South Africa’s exports of aluminium to the US accounted for about 1.6% of total US aluminium imports. South Africa has been supplying specialised aluminium sheet, coil, and plate for the automotive, battery, and aerospace industries in the US. Under such condition, “it is clear that SA does not pose a threat to US national security and the steel and aluminium industries, but it is a source of strategic primary and secondary steel used in further...
According to data from China’s General Administration of Customs on Friday, 13 July 2018, China’s exports of unwrought aluminium and aluminium product came to a total of 510,000 tonnes in June, 2018, the second highest figure ever in Chinese aluminium industry history. Unwrought aluminium and aluminium product exports were up 5.1 percent from 485,000 tonnes in May and up 10.9 percent from 460,000 tonnes in June 2017. Paul Adkins, Managing Director of consultancy AZ China, said, unwrought aluminium and aluminium product exports will remain high in July because of the weak currency and quiet domestic market, Reuters reported. The world’s top producer of aluminium exported 2.713 million tonnes of unwrought aluminium and products in the first six months of 2018, up 12.8 percent from 2.405...
On July 10, Switzerland launched a complaint at the World Trade Organisation against the US tariffs on imported aluminium and steel being the eighth WTO member to file such trade dispute complaint against the U.S. Under WTO rules, if the US is unable to settle the issue in next 60 days, Switzerland can escalate the dispute by asking the WTO to set up a panel of judges to adjudicate. As reported by the US Geological Survey, in April 2018, Switzerland exported 310 tonnes of semi-finished aluminium products like plates, sheets, and bars to the US, and from January to April 2018, the country recorded the total exports of 1190 tonnes of aluminium products. We analyse the total export of two major aluminium product ranges from Switzerland to the US: Bar Rods and Profiles and Plates, Sheets and...
Wisconsin Oven Corporation has manufactured and delivered four electrically heated enhanced duty walk-in ovens for aging aluminium parts. The company designs, engineers, and manufactures industrial ovens and other heating equipment. The aluminium aging ovens feature company’s patented high efficiency panel seams which provide 25% better insulating efficiency. Horizontal airflow will maximize heat up rates and temperature uniformity of the product. These ovens feature bi-parting, side hinged, horizontal swing doors at both ends for loading and unloading of the product. Source:www.wisoven.com “Here at Wisconsin Oven we understand that each of our customers have specific requirements for their application which is why we work with them to design an equipment solution that provides the...
Samuel, Son & Co., Limited, an Ontario based family-owned integrated metal manufacturing, processing and distribution company; announced the acquisition of Sierra Aluminum, a leader in the aluminium extrusion industry based at Riverside, California. Sierra supplies aluminium extrusions and related products and services to the end-user markets like construction and transportation sector. The acquisition is an important strategic step that moves Samuel's Manufacturing Division into a new and growing market segment. "Aluminum extrusions are a high-growth industry, making this an exciting opportunity for Samuel," stated Rod Crawford, President of Samuel Manufacturing. “Sierra Aluminum has a great reputation for its technical capabilities, and its commitment to quality and customer service....
New Zealand has been exporting a major chunk of aluminium alloy to Japan. The country’s export of aluminium alloy to Japan declined in 2017. Japan imported about 30501 tonnes of aluminium alloy in 2017, down 19 per cent from 37632 tonnes in 2016. New Zealand’s aluminium alloy export to Japan is estimated to decrease to 24896 tonnes in 2018. Let us analyse the patterns for aluminium alloy export by New Zealand. In 2016, the country exported about 67001 tonnes of aluminium alloy. The value of export was US$128 million for the same amount. In the year 2017, the amount increased to 67948 tonnes and the value of export stood at US$131 million. This year, New Zealand’s global aluminium alloy export is estimated to stand at 55827 tonnes and estimated value of export is likely to reach US$174...
As declared on July 10, 2018, Switzerland has launched a complaint at the World Trade Organisation against the US tariffs on imported aluminium and steel, claiming that this tariff is wrongly imposed on them. Hence, it is now the eighth WTO member to start such a challenge. The Swiss economy ministry said in a statement, "From Switzerland's point of view, the additional duties, which according to the U.S. have been introduced to protect national security, are unjustified." Under WTO rules, if the US is unable to settle the issue in next 60 days, Switzerland can escalate the dispute by asking the WTO to set up a panel of judges to adjudicate. In April 2018, Switzerlandexported 310 tonnes of aluminium plates, sheets, and bars to the US, and from January to April 2018, the country recorded...
exlabesa has selected SMS group to supply two 35 MN extrusion presses for aluminium profiles. exlabesa will install extrusion presses at the production locations in Doncaster, UK, and in Minden, Germany. Each extrusion press has production capacity of around 10,000 tons of aluminium profiles. exlabesa will replace the 20 MN extrusion press with the new 35 MN extrusion press at its plant in Doncaster. The press will extrude profiles for automotive, architectural, and industrial applications from aluminium billets with a diameter of ten inches (254 millimeters) and a maximum length of 1,400 millimeters. Commissioning of the extrusion press in Doncaster is planned for the beginning of 2019. The second extrusion press will expand company’s production capacity at its Minden works in Germany....
In the face of a looming trade war and international trade disruption, the Aluminium China 2018 exhibition and conference in Shanghai from July 11 to 13, will provide a positive global platform to reinforce China’s connections with rest of Asia and the world and explore business opportunities to drive aluminium industry growth. The event will bring together some 500 exhibitors and 24,000 visitors from more than 30 countries and regions. At the Asia Summit at Aluminium China 2018, representatives from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) will deliver their responses to the US tariffs on Chinese imports and plans to mitigate their impact. With a growing focus on the global aluminium industry, the 14th Aluminium China will put the spotlight on innovation and...
The recently imposed tariffs on aluminium it imports from Canada are slowly affecting the small and medium size aluminium product manufacturers in the US creating a concern over supply disruption and cost increase. Ampal Inc., the nation’s most productive aluminium atomizer whose parent company, U.S. Metal Powders Inc., is celebrating its 100th anniversary this weekend, has filed exclusion requests with the U.S. Department of Commerce. President Louise Ramsey Thomas has filed a request to pull off the tariffs on aluminium imports from Canada in the interest of a bigger community. The 40-employee family business has been in operation since 1981and currently produces more than 10,000 pounds of aluminium powder annually. Ampal has opened R&D lab and is planning a manufacturing line that...
Can-Eng Furnaces International Limited, a global supplier of high-quality furnaces, announced that the company has been contracted to design, manufacture, install, and commission an Aluminium Automotive Casting Heat Treatment system by an India based conglomerate in South Carolina. Can-Eng was chosen for this heat treatment project due to the unique Modular Design concept which offers efficient product, process, and production flexibility for its partner’s new line of Die Cast Light Weight Aluminium Automotive Components. “This Solution Treatment, Water Quench and Artificial Aging system are arranged to provide bothT5, T6 and Homogenizing Processes. The new system will service three distinct aluminium product groups with unique treatment cycles,” according to Can-Eng Furnaces. Can-Eng...
Even after endless criticisms from allies, United States President Donald Trump maintains a defensive stance towards his decision of imposing billions of dollars of tariffs on allies’ aluminium and steel exports. Since May 31, when the US had announced 25 per cent additional tariff on imported steel and 10 per cent on aluminium on the EU, Canada, and Mexico, the US had been facing tremendous backlashes from those countries. The European Union and Canada both slapped heavy duties on the US’ exports in retaliation. While the EU imposed tariffs on American goods worth US$ 3 billion, the Canadian government announced duties on goods of C$16.6 billion. Nonetheless, Trump and his administration have enough to defend their decisions. According to the Hill, Trump and his administration explained...
According to the latest survey report by Shanghai Metals Market, the purchasing managers’ index for the downstream processing industries of aluminium dipped to 46 in June from May’s 54.8. This indicates that the PMI in June stood below the 50 mark that separates expansion and contraction. In the background of slow season in June, June’s production index, particularly for the aluminium plate/sheet and ship industry, dipped straight from 72.7 in May to 40.9 in June, while the new order index dropped from May’s 42.2 to 29.9. This enormous drop was primarily due to orders decline for heavy, medium, and thin plates/sheets used in the petroleum and petrochemical industries, hot-rolled coils, construction-use panels, as well as aluminium plastic-composite panels. The PMI for aluminium foil...
Preliminary estimates from Aluminum Association indicate that the total aluminium demand in the United States and Canada (shipments by domestic producers plus imports) stood at an estimated 4.3 million tonnes through April 2018, up 4.7% over the same period of 2017. Demand for aluminium semi-fabricated (mill) products for the same period stood at 3 million tonnes, up 5.6% YoY. Demand for semi-fabricated (mill) products in the United States and Canada stood at an estimated 780,630 tonnes in April, up 6.3% over April 2017. Out of the mill products, shipments of aluminium sheet and plate stood at 940 million pounds, an increase of 5.1%. Extruded product shipments were up 10.2% YoY to 512 million pounds and estimated shipments of aluminium ingot for castings, exports and other uses totalled...
