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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Advanced light-weighting technology developer Impression Technologies secured funding to develop and validate HFQ Technology. The project value is £ 9.5 million, with £ 4.8 million in funding through the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK Ltd (APC). Jonathan Watkins, Impression Technologies’ CEO said: “We are delighted that APC has chosen to back our HFQ Technology. We look forward to working together with Gestamp and the other consortium members in collaboration with our OEM and aluminium partners to further develop the HFQ Technology for mass production and to establish the technology as a global industry standard.” The company will lead the RACEForm Project with a World class consortium including Gestamp Washington UK Limited, Innoval Technology Limited, Imperial College London and Brunel...
S-FORM, a manufacturer and supplier of aluminium formwork system in South Korea, has inaugurated its first overseas facility named S-Form System Formwork (M) Sdn Bhd for the production of aluminium formwork system in Malaysia. The plant, situated in Bandar Sri Sendayan, will cater to the demand of the ASEAN market. The company expects the production of its plant to roll out from early next year. "This formwork fabrication plant will enable us to provide high quality, prompt delivery, accurate after sales service to Malaysian market as well as to establish a production base for export to South East Asian countries such as Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand.” "Companies such as IJM Land, Mah Sing and other developers are registering strong growth in Malaysia and S-Form would...
Serious concern over rising CO2 emission levels is prompting regulatory bodies all over the world to raise the average fuel economy standards for auto makers. In a bid to comply with those standards, auto makers are redefining their technology platforms and shifting to lightweighting in a big way. The journey which started a few years ago with replacing of heavy steel auto parts with small light metal castings and extrusions has transformed into a race to replace vehicle body parts with larger surface areas with light metal rolled products i.e. sheets. Winning the race from the forefront is aluminium and aluminium based rolled products! Aluminium rolled products consumption in the automotive industry is growing at a significant rate. Ford, Jaguar, BMW, Cadillac- you name them and they are...
Scandium International Mining Corp. (SCY) has instructed its EPCM contractor Lycopodium to commence critical path engineering on Nyngan Scandium Project in NSW, Australia. The company is expected to begin scandium production in first half 2019. SCY is focused on developing the Project into the world's first scandium-only producing mine. The addition of scandium into aluminium alloys produce stronger, lighter, heat and corrosion resistant, weldable aluminium products. Lycopodium will start on select critical path components including design and specification engineering on the high-pressure autoclave unit, associated flash and splash vessels and several specialized high-pressure input pumps. George Putnam, CEO of Scandium International Mining Corp. said, "This kick-off of detailed...
According to the latest foreign trade data from Aluminum Association, as derived from the U.S. Bureau of the Census, despite two consecutive drops month-on-month, U.S. aluminium imports were still up 25% YTD through September in comparison to the same period of 2016. Based on the growth rate through the first three quarters of 2017, it is expected that the total aluminium import would be about 17 billion pounds by the end of the year, which will be 18% more than the total import in 2016. The growth in import in the U.S. can be witnessed across virtually all product categories. But, semi-fabricated imports have increased 17.4% over the first three quarters of 2016. Aluminum sheet imports for the first three quarters of 2017 were up 19.5% in comparison to the same period of 2016. Import...
SolidCAM UK Ltd, the leading UK reseller of SolidCAM and InventorCAM suite of CAD/CAM software for manufacturing from SolidCAM, announced the move of its Technology Centre to a more spacious workshop within the premises of alimex UK Precision in Aluminium Ltd, based in Stonebridge, Milton Keynes. alimex UK Precision in Aluminium Ltd is a leading provider of high precision quality aluminium cast tooling plate, cuts and aluminium blocks. Malcolm Hohls, Head of Global Product Management, alimex UK, said: “The SolidCAM UK Technology Centre offers the end user the opportunity to gain insights and experience into the complete manufacturing cycle; SolidCAM Component Simulation / Programing, ROMI CNC Machining and alimex Material Performance all in one location. A unique opportunity to experience...
Arconic announced Monday that it will install a new horizontal heat treat furnace at its Davenport Works facility in Iowa. Heat treatment is a step in the production of high-strength product intended for large aerospace and industrial applications. The construction on the $137 million furnace project is expected to start late this year with commercial production expected to commence in 2019. The furnace will allow the company to heat treat longer and thicker plate than ever before, including material for company’s recently installed Thick Plate Stretcher. Arconic said that the “need for thick aluminium plate is growing, particularly as demand for composite wings, made with monolithic thick plate wing ribs, increases”. Tim Myers, President, Global Rolled Products and Transportation and...
AlCircle’s new report- Growing Consumption of Aluminium Rolled Products in Automotive Industry 2017, is grabbing industry’s attention. From renowned aluminium companies having integrated downstream operations, automotive aluminium rolled product suppliers, consultancies, and research bodies to automation engineering service providers- everyone is showing interest in the report and metrics used therein. Some of the biggest names in the aluminium value chain have even already even subscribed for it. Encompassing a wide purview of factors, the automotive aluminium rolled product report promises to provide a deep insight into the changing dynamics of global automotive material market. What does AlCircle Special Focus on Growing Consumption of Aluminium Rolled Products in Automotive Industry...
According to the latest foreign trade data from Aluminum Association, as derived from the U.S. Bureau of the Census, despite two consecutive drops month-on-month, U.S. aluminium imports were still up 25% YTD through September in comparison to the same period of 2016. Domestic shipments of can stock have registered a rise in October while foil shipment dropped in the same month. Shipments of can stock by domestic producers stood at 337.1 million pounds during October 2017, an increase of 8.7% YoY. On a month on month comparison, shipments rose 4.3% over the September 2017 revised total of 323.1 million pounds. YTD shipments through October 2017 stood at 3,406.2 million pounds, down 2.6% from the 2016 YTD total of 3,495.8 million pounds. Compared to October 2016, producer shipments of can...
ABB Ability cloud-based solutions combined with the ABB Stressometer Flatness Control Systems enables up to 40 percent improvement of strip flatness at Gränges, a global leader for rolled products including strips for heat exchangers. High performing flatness measurement and control is a critical success factor for flat rolling mills. Building on 50 years of experience in flatness control ABB now applies the latest technology in electronics, computing, modeling and cloud technology to create a holistic approach to strip flatness control in rolling mills. This approach includes measurement and control of process variables in the actual rolling mill and in the up-stream and down-steam processes. A new patented Stressometer technology for Controlled post rolling flatness (CPRF) is now...
Aluminium profiles and tubes manufacturer Alu Menziken has been granted a 25 million euro ($29.5 million) loan by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for the development of new aluminium profile factory in Romania. Matteo Patrone, Director of EBRD, Regional Head of Romania and Bulgaria, said: "This new investment is part of the EBRD’s efforts to drive job-generating foreign direct investment in Romania and enhance the competitiveness of companies shaping local industries and the workforce." The plant is expected to meet the growing aluminium profile demands, mainly from the automotive sector. The company, a subsidiary of Montana Tech Components, produces aluminium profiles and tubes, and complex extrusion press products. The company’s products are used in...
A delegation of four Canadian aluminium companies and AluQuebec, the apex business cluster of Quebec in the Aluminium sector, yesterday met National Aluminium Company (Nalco) chairman and managing director (CMD) T K Chand at his office in Bhubaneswar to discuss business opportunities. Source: Nalco The two parties exchanged ideas and shared know-how for productivity enhancement and cost reduction through disruptive technologies and innovations. The Canadian delegation which comprised senior executives from Advanced Dynamics, Equibras Inc, Stas and Solutions Fonderie Services Métallurgiques Inc. were proposed to form joint ventures for setting up upstream and downstream manufacturing facilities at the upcoming Angul aluminium park in Odisha. The Canadian delegation’s India visit has...
After the controversy on falsified data on aluminium product quality has marred Kobe Steel’s business in Japan, it rival and the world's third-largest producer of flat-rolled aluminium products, UACJ Corporation is taking aggressive steps to expand its automotive capacity. The company is slogging hard to be at per with Novelis and Alcoa, the two global players in the aluminium rolled product segment for the automotive industry. UACJ's latest plan is to invest 16 billion yen ($141 million) for a new automotive line, quadrupling the company's total Japanese production capacity to over 130,000 tons. The line, announced in October is scheduled to go into operation at the company's plant in Fukui Prefecture in 2020. UACJ (of United Aluminum Company of Japan) was formed by merging Furukawa-Sky...
JSK Industries Pvt Ltd, a manufacturer of aluminium wire rod and aluminium conductor in India, has received clearance from the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) for setting up plant at Angul Aluminium Park, Odisha. The new facility will have capacity to produce 1,07,000 tonnes per annum of aluminium wire rod and aluminium conductor. The project involves a total investment of INR 50 crore. The company’s project, if implemented, will create jobs for 380 people. SLSWCA under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary A.P. Padhi approved investment proposals of INR 381 crore from five companies on Thursday, November 16, at its 75th meeting.
German automotive supplier BOCAR announced that the company will build a new facility with an investment of $115 million in Huntsville. BOCAR manufactures high pressure aluminium die casting, plastics and machining for automotive companies like Toyota, Ford, GM and many others. Gerd Dressler, CFO of BOCAR Group, said: “We are glad to invest in Huntsville, Alabama, where good infrastructure, talented people and a host of excellent universities will develop our business while contributing positively to the social and economic development of this community.” The company will start the construction on the site in spring 2018. The production is expected to commence two years later. BOCAR group made the statement at the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber along with representatives of the City of...
Japan’s export of aluminium rolled products is increasing year-on-year. Barring a dip in 2016, the average annual increase (in volume) has been around 14 per cent. The main category of aluminium rolled products i.e. plates, strips, and sheets which find a wide application in the foil packaging and automotive sheet markets has been witnessing this surge in shipment. According to global trade data, Japan exported 251,452 tonnes of aluminium plates, sheets and strips in 2016, down from 255,660 tonnes in 2015. The value of export has also risen from US$975 million in 2014 to US$1.05 billion in 2016. It is estimated that aluminium plates, sheets and strips export by Japan will reach 286,842 tonnes in 2017. The value of export will stand at US$1.14 billion. Japan is home to two of the world’s...
Aleris announced commissioning of its aluminium automotive body sheet production facility in Lewisport, Kentucky. The project with an investment of $400 million is designed by Aleris to meet growing North American automotive demand. Automotive industry is slowly shifting to aluminium from steel for lightweighting and fuel efficiency along with improved performance driving aluminium product makers to invest more in the automotive sector. The company has already begun shipping automotive products from Lewisport facility from this month. Commenting on the opening Aleris Chairman and CEO Sean Stack said, "The opening of our new automotive facility in Kentucky marks the completion of a significant piece of our strategic realignment, which includes expanding our capacity and capabilities to...
The U.S. Commerce Department has decided to impose tariffs ranging from 97 per cent to 162 per cent on Chinese made aluminium foil increasing it from the already existing 81% rate that the administration had imposed in the summer. However, Canada and Mexico have not imposed any such restrictive tariffs. Let us check the aluminium foil import trends in Mexico for last three years to understand the consumption pattern and the import dependence. Mexico imported 108,092 tons of aluminium foil in 2016 as compared to 97,835 tons of aluminium foil in 2015. In the year 2017, Mexico is estimated to import about 95,322 tons of aluminium foil. The trend shows a downward movement, showing the country getting more dependent on domestically produced foils. The leading exporter of foil to Mexico is USA,...
