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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Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) sought new trade protections against Chinese imports on Tuesday through its Aluminum Extrusions Fair Trade Committee (AEFTC), while filing a circumvention petition against China Zhongwang Holdings Ltd and its affiliates of evading anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties by shipping aluminium extrusions through Vietnam. They urged that extrusions shipped by Zhongwang’s Vietnamese affiliates should be subject to the same US import duties as Chinese extrusions. They alleged that after Zhongwang’s fake extrusion pallets were caught evading AD/CVD duties by Commerce Department in December 2016, the company shipped substantial quantities of these pallets to its affiliate in Vietnam, Global Vietnam Aluminum Co., Ltd. The company is claimed to be changing the shape...
Materion Corporation has secured a contract from UTC Aerospace Systems for the supply of AlBeMet for MS-177 long-range, multi-spectral imaging (MSI) sensor. “The MS-177 sensor gives the U.S. military long-range capabilities to see with greater clarity than previous technologies”, Materion said. Materion produces AlBeMet, a metal matrix composite that combines the high modulus and low density characteristics of beryllium with the fabrication and mechanical property behaviors of aluminium. AlBeMet is used extensively in optical, structural and electronic housing components in aircraft, satellite and commercial applications, it said. According to Materion Corporation press release, “the sensor is currently undergoing integration testing and qualification for the Northrop Grumman RQ-4B Global...
Czech Republic-based producer Metal Trade Comax Group said Tuesday January 9 that the company has acquired German aluminium producer Oetinger Aluminium for an undisclosed sum. Oetinger Aluminium specialises in the production of high quality aluminium alloys. Oetinger supplies its products mainly for the automotive industry. The company produces around 180,000 tonnes per year of aluminium casting alloys in solid and liquid form at the Weissenhorn and Neu-Ulm locations in Southern Germany. Metal Trade Comax with its headquarters in Velvary produces around 200,000 tonnes of steel and aluminium products annually. The company also has aluminium recycling business with a capacity of 30,000 tonnes per year.
Maxion Wheels, a division of IOCHPE-MAXION S.A., has announced the formation of a new legal entity, Maxion Wheels Aluminium India Private Limited, for light vehicle aluminium wheels production in Pune, India. The company will produce low pressure die cast aluminium wheels with a high-end wheel finish. Maxion Wheels will initially build a 25,000 square meters manufacturing plant with annual capacity of two million wheels beginning production expected for the third quarter of 2019. The company will increase annual production capacity to four million wheels in the coming years. Pieter Klinkers, Chief Executive Officer, said: “Maxion Wheels is committed to serving its customers’ growing demand for light vehicle aluminium wheels, especially in India where market growth is outpacing available...
Hansens Aluminum which is planning to start operations in 2019 from its new plant within the Henderson County Riverport Industrial Park is expected to create 90 jobs. The planned 75,000 square-foot facility, to be built on 10-acres of land will connect this area to a global automotive industry. It has been built on Hansens' reach as an international supplier of aluminium automotive components. Hansens Aluminum is a South African company established in Port Elizabeth in 1956, has supplied to domestic customers as well as customers in Germany, Spain, the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Mexico and China. "The (Henderson County) facility will house extrusion presses, as well as CNC machine centers," said Donna Crooks from Kyndle, this region's economic development agency. Hansens company...
According to the Product Complexity Index (PCI), aluminium bars are the 177th most traded product and the 741st most complex product. Aluminium bars represents 1.5% of the total imports of Belgium. Belgium’s imports of aluminium bar rods and profiles, which was down in the second half of last year, is projected to increase slightly in the first half of 2018. According to available export-import data, Belgium imported 59948 tonnes of aluminium bar rods and profiles in the first half of 2017. The country imported aluminium bar rods and profiles worth USD194 million. Belgium’s imports of aluminium bar rods and profiles reduced to 58854 tonnes and cost of this product stood at USD 179 million in the second half of last year (estimated). In H1 2018, the total import volume of aluminium bar...
On the eve of the Italian mission – the most important Italian mission concerning metallurgy – METEF’s president Mario Conserva, has issued the following statement: "Indo-Italian MetalHUB is a joint initiative by the three major Italian metallurgy associations, which together have dedicated research and exploration to the growing Indian market. The Road-show is designed by ArtValley in cooperation with Al Circle. The mission, composed of various companies, will be headed up by Maurizio Sala, president of Amafond, Mauro Cibaldi, president of Deral and representative of Assomet, and Mario Pomari, delegate for the three associations and who, in particular, will speak to the importance of the substantial impact that the industrial development of aluminium has on the Indian market." Also...
India’s leading automotive component manufacturer and aluminium die-casting producer Endurance Technologies Ltd has bagged an order from Hyundai Motor India. The order worth INR 42 crore involves supply of aluminium die casting parts from its Aurangabad facility during 2018-19. Ramesh Gehaney, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director of Endurance Technologies told the same to ETAuto. Endurance Technologies supplies automotive component to Hyundai Motor India, one of the key customers of the company. The company has also earmarked investments of INR 275 crore for capacity expansion, R&D, and new projects during FY 2018-19. The company will spend INR 120 crore on its factories in Italy and Germany. Bajaj Auto, Royal Enfield, Renault-Nissan, Daimler, Fiat Chrysler, BMW and Tata Motors...
The Aluminum Association has announced the addition of two new member companies – Vulcan Inc. and Lethiguel Inc. Vulcan Inc. joins as a producer member – any firm that makes or fabricates aluminium – and Lethiguel Inc. joins as an associate member – any firm that supplies the industry with goods and services. The new additions bring the association membership total to 115 companies with 55 producers and 60 associates. “We are excited to welcome Vulcan Inc. and Lethiguel Inc. as the newest members of the Aluminum Association,” said Heidi Brock, President & CEO of the Aluminum Association. “2017 was a busy and significant year for our industry, and it’s important we continue to bring new voices to the table as we prepare for the opportunities ahead of us in 2018. Both Vulcan and Lethiguel...
Hindalco Industries Ltd. has reportedly submitted bids for the leading aluminium rolled products manufacturer Aleris. The non-binding offer valued at around US$2.5 billion (including debt) has been made by the India aluminium giant’s U.S. unit, Novelis Inc., sources preferring anonymity said. However, there is no certainty that Novelis would proceed to make a binding offer for the Ohio-based aluminium rolled products company, and other firms could also come up with similar bids. Aleris, owned by Oaktree Capital Group LLC and Apollo Global Management LLC, had earlier agreed to a buying bid from the Chinese-origin Zhongwang USA LLC. The deal was valued at US$2.3 billion. It got called off in November last year after the U.S. officials raised a series of national-security concerns. Novelis,...
Aluminium powder and flakes are used as/for pigments and coatings for decorative purpose. The products are finding more and more application in automobile exterior and electric parts. The data shows a downward trend for aluminium powder and flakes export in Germany. The largest part of aluminium powder and flakes is exported to the USA, Poland, France and Spain. As shown in the data, Germany exported 20490 tonnes of aluminium powder and flakes in 2015 as compared to 18470 tonnes in 2016. The total revenue from the export was USD 89.94 million and USD 90.25 million respectively. In 2017, aluminium powder and flakes export by Germany is estimated to reach 17444 tonnes and the revenue from export is estimated to be about USD 100.94 million.
Aluminium alloy export by the United Arab Emirates to China has tripled in the 11-month period of 2017. From 661 tonnes in January to 2,038 tonnes in November, the Gulf country has sold more than 14,188 tonnes of aluminium alloy billets to the world’s biggest aluminium consuming market during January-November 2017, up 85.77 per cent from the same period previous year. The volume exported accounts for around 23 per cent of the total aluminium alloy imported by China. The month-on-month increase in aluminium alloy export by the UEA to China is represented in the below graph: Data Source: Shanghai Metals Market The UAE is the global leader in the export of aluminium alloys. The country has doubled its export capabilities in the last 5 years. Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) – a joint venture...
Braidy Industries has purchased 204 acres of land for the construction of $1.3 billion aluminium rolling mill in northeastern Kentucky. According to EastPark chairman and Boyd County Economic Development Director Nickie Smith, the company has paid around $900,000 for the acquisition of land at EastPark Industrial Center. The construction of new aluminium rolling mill is expected to start in early April. Braidy Industries expects the production at the mill to roll out in 2020. Kentucky Power President and COO Matt Satterwhite said: “Today’s land acquisition marks another tangible event that further cements Braidy Industries’ commitment to invest, construct and create valuable, high wage jobs, here in eastern Kentucky, a commitment we here at Kentucky Power have never questioned.” In...
According to the latest report from Aluminum Association, shipments of Aluminum Extruded Products (extruded shapes, pipe & tube, and rod & bar) by U.S. and Canadian producers totalled an estimated 215 thousand tonnes during November 2017, an increase of 5% over the November 2016 total of 205 thousand tonnes. Month on month, shipments decreased 9% from the amount in October 2017. YTD shipments through November 2017 totalled 2.47 million tonnes, up 2.6% over the same period of 2016. Estimated shipments of Aluminum Drawing Stock, Bare Wire and Rod & Bar by U.S. and Canadian producers totalled 47 thousand tonnes during November 2017, off 2.6% from November 2016. Month on month, shipments decreased 8.1% from the September 2017 total of 51.7 million tonnes. YTD shipments through November 2017...
RUSAL announced that LMZ SKAD has increased its aluminium wheels production. The company expects to increase the number of wheels produced by 27% YoY to 1.1 million wheels per year in 2017. The company is planning to launch more than 10 new models of aluminium wheels to the market in 2018. In April 2017, RUSAL acquired a share of the foundry and mechanical production facility SKAD (SKAD), which is a producer of aluminium alloy car wheels, located in Krasnoyarsk. The implementation of RUSAL’s Production System and efficient processes have improved SKAD’s major business operations alongside the expansion of its product mix. This year, RUSAL has planned to expand and upgrade its equipment. Additional casting lines and processing machines will allow the Company to raise production by another...
According to a Xinhua News Agency report, Shanghai has issued strict safety check against copper, aluminium and steel products manufactured by scandal-hit Japanese firm Kobe Steel Ltd and imported by China. After Kobe Steel’s revelation in October that about 500 of its customers had received products with falsified specifications, it lost quality certifications for its products at a number of domestic plants. According to the News Agency, Kobe shipped in 451,000 tonnes of metal products to China through its Shanghai units over September 2016 to August 2017. Of that, data on 1,420 tonnes of aluminium sheet and 116 tonnes of copper sheet had been tampered, as shown by data from Shanghai Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau. While Kobe’s Shanghai units have been in touch with their...
Soon Lian Holdings, a supplier of aluminium alloy has signed a deal with Halliburton Far East to buy a single-storey deserted factory at Tuas for S$7.8 million. The property has a built-in area of about 4,800 square meters and a land area of about 9,800 square meters. The company is planning to vacate its existing premises and its directors are of the view that the new property would be an appropriate substitute to serve as a facility for the group's storage and fabrication of aluminium alloy materials as well as to house their administrative and sales offices. Since, the previous premises was too big for its business, they feel the new property is perfect for their current business. "The built-in area of the (new) property, which is approximately 39 per cent smaller than the existing...
IBC Advanced Alloys and NioCorp Developments Ltd. announced the successful manufacture of several aluminium-scandium alloy ingots. These test-pours occurred at IBC's Wilmington, Massachusetts Engineered Materials facility using scandium purchased commercially by NioCorp. The ingots, representing a range of scandium content, will now undergo chemical analysis and other metallurgical testing to confirm the microstructure and performance of the alloys. This testing is the basis for commercializing Aluminum-Scandium alloys. "I am very pleased with the successful execution by Chris Huskamp and his team of this initial production campaign, and we look forward to reviewing the results of follow-on testing to confirm material specifications," said Major General Duncan ("David") Heinz (USMC,...
