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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Taiwan ranks second in per capita aluminium consumption with a rate of about 33.3 kg. The island country has seen significant demand growth for aluminium alloy on the island. The country produces about 819,000 tonnes of aluminium domestically in four main categories: Secondary Aluminium Alloy, Casting, Rolling and Extrusion Industries. C.S. Aluminium Corp., which was a subsidiary of China Steel Corp. (CSC), produces about 400,000 tonnes of aluminium products in Taiwan per year. Taiwan imports substantial amount of aluminium alloys to supplement domestic production and make value added products. {newsStudioGallery} As shown by the recent data, Taiwan imported 2,74,517 tonnes of aluminium alloy in 2015, which increased to total at 3,03,621 tonnes in 2016. Based on this statistics, for the...
UACJ Automotive Whitehall Industries Inc. is going to expand its plant in Paducah with a total investment of nearly $3.3 million. Paducah Economic Development has made an announcement that the expansions consists of a 56,000 sq. ft. The new expansions will have machining centres, robotics and additional fabrication equipment. This will also create job opportunities by July 2018. Paducah Economic Development’s President and CEO Scott Darnell said, “Paducah Economic Development’s number one mission is to help our local businesses succeed and grow. The best and most sustainable type of growth for Paducah is that which comes from our local industries Whitehall is a tremendous corporation for our community and we are proud to partner with them to continue their success.” UACJ Automotive...
UC RUSAL, a leading global aluminium producer, and Runaya Metsource LLP, a company promoted by principal shareholders of Vedanta, have signed an agreement to create a joint venture on an equal basis in India (JV). The JV will set up a world class facility which specializes in the production of high technology aluminium pastes and powders with a wide range of high end applications, including innovative industries such as additive technologies and solar energy. India has ambitious growth plans in these sectors and Rusal shall bring in its rich experience of being a high quality producer of these products. The project capacity of the JV will be 10ktpa. The project will begin this year and commence commercial production in 2018. The project will be divided into several stages; the first stage...
South Africa is the manufacturing powerhouse of the African continent. Boasting an industrial tradition dating back 150 years, the country has emerged as a major automobile manufacturing hub. The automotive components industry is also well placed for global investment opportunities. {newsStudioGallery} Vehicle manufacturers such as BMW, Ford, General Motors, Mercedes Benz, Nissan, Renault, Toyota and Volkswagen have production plants in South Africa, while component manufacturers like Arvin Exhaust, Bloxwitch, Corning, Senior Flexonics have established their production bases here. This entire sector generates a huge demand for aluminium castings of which aluminium plates, sheets and strips form a crucial part. The aluminium foundry sector in South Africa produces about 5,000 tonnes of...
Aeromet International, a UK based specialist in aluminium and magnesium casting and supplier of airframe and aero engine components, has secured the biggest order contract ever with airplane manufacturer Boeing. In addition to this, the company also extended the long-term agreement contract with Boeing. As per new contract, the company will supply parts for Boeing’s next generation 777X airplane. The company will use its A20X aluminium alloy for making the new parts. The A20X is being developed and patented by the Aeromet. The alloy is the strongest aluminium casting alloy available in the market, the company claims. The new 777X is expected to enter service in 2020. Simon Holliday, Aeromet’s Managing Director, said: “This agreement builds upon Aeromet’s 17-year relationship with Boeing...
Aluminium foil characteristics are strength, formability and barrier properties which have made it an essential part of many flexible packaging and container applications along with its use in automotive and heat exchange components, insulation material and other industrial applications. UK as one of the leading economy consumes a large amount of aluminium foils. {newsStudioGallery} European flexible packaging market is expected to grow from $28.22 billion in 2016 to $ 41 billion by the end of 2021 at a CAGR of 7.76%. Germany is set to have the highest consumption, followed by the UK and Spain. As shown by our data, UK imported 1,11,313 tonnes of aluminium foils in 2015, which dropped down to total at 1,01,651 tonnes in 2016. The total value of import stood at USD 472 million and USD 263...
Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mill (Garmco), the Bahrain-based international aluminium rolling mill, has appointed Mohammed Essa, the current general manager of operations, as its interim chief executive officer. Essa has over 30 years of work experience in the company. He joined Garmco in 1985 as a material tester in laboratory and served in key departments such as sales and marketing, operations and quality control, said a statement from the company. Mahmood Al Soufi, chairman, Garmco, said: “We are confident that Essa’s experience with the company and his close working relationship with the executive team will ensure continuity and a smooth transition; and the company will stay the course with the existing strategic plan.” “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our departing...
Jindal Aluminium Limited (JAL), the largest manufacturer and supplier of aluminium extrusions in India, recorded the highest ever production of aluminium extrusions during 2016-17. The company recorded 83,425 tonnes production during 2016-17 against 80,300 tonnes during 2015-16, as per company release. The company has 11 aluminium extrusion presses with an installed capacity of 1, 28,000 tonnes per year. Jindal’s extrusion products meet India’s 30 per cent of total demand. It exports extrusion products all over the world. Jindal Aluminium’s rolled products division achieved production of 35,670 tonnes during 2016-17 against 31,320 tonnes during the year 2015-16. The company’s rolled products facility has an installed capacity of 50000 TPA. The company produces aluminium flat rolled...
Nigeria-based company First Aluminium, involved in manufacturing aluminium coils and sheets, collapsible aluminium tubes and other aluminium products, registered profit for the financial year 2016. First Aluminium’s turnover stands at NGN 9.1 billion in 2016 as compared to NGN10.4 billion in the last financial year. The cost of sales were NGN9.7 billion in the last year against NGN8.1 billion registered in 2016 In 2016, the company’s profit before taxation stands at NGN271.6 million and after taxation stands at NGN165.4 million compared to NGN43.1 million and NGN112.5 million respectively in 2015. First Aluminium’s gross profit registered NGN1.0 billion and operating profit registered NGN851.5 million vs NGN726.9 million and NGN450.3 million respectively in the year 2015. First Aluminium...
India is preparing to live its ‘100 Smart Cities’ dream. With a vision to build a better India through modernization and digitization, the government is marching ahead with great zeal to transform 100 shortlisted cities with high prospects into “smart” hubs in a phased manner. The project would see a complete overhaul of housing, energy, transport, technology and infrastructure of these chosen cities, which means a burgeoning of opportunities for companies operating in these sectors. Construction being a significant part of this entire process would be seen as consuming a lot of aluminium bar rods and profiles as the green metal fits perfectly into applications like fenestration, facades, curtain walling, structural glazing, roofing and cladding applications. {newsStudioGallery} While...
The Indian government once again spoke in favour of imposing minimum import price (MIP) on certain categories of aluminium products, but not any decisive move has been made yet. Mines Minister Piyush Goyal said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha that his ministry is keeping all options open including imposition of MIP as it thinks that would help protect the domestic aluminium industry from the continuous onslaught of cheap imports. The industry body Aluminium Association of India which voices the concern of the domestic aluminium producers has been continuously lobbying for MIP imposition since last year. Even a report prepared by MECON, an engineering consultancy under the Ministry of Steel, supported their claim. The firm published data which showed that the loss of the Indian primary...
Preliminary estimates from the Aluminum Association indicate that aluminium demand in the United States and Canada that includes shipments by domestic producers plus imports stood at an estimated 2,242 million pounds in January 2017, up 5.3% over January 2016. Demand for semi-fabricated (mill) products stood at 1,548 million pounds, up 6.0%. Apparent consumption which includes demand minus exports in domestic markets stood at an estimated 1,990 million pounds, up 5.3% YOY. Exports of aluminium ingot and mill products from the U.S. and Canada (excluding cross-border trade) stood at 252 million pounds in January, up 5.0% over last year, while imports were up 44.5% to 790 million pounds. Demand for aluminium semi-fabricated (mill) products in the United States and Canada (domestic producer...
Almex USA Inc. has announced its selection as the technology and equipment provider for a U.S. subsidiary of the Kobe Steel Group. The new greenfield facility, presently under construction in Bowling Green, Kentucky, will be owned and operated by Kobelco Aluminum Products & Extrusions Inc. (KPEX). Addressing the growing use of aluminium in the automotive industries, KPEX will manufacture high strength automotive alloy extrusions for bumper beams and car frames. Almex’s expertise in 2xxx and 7xxx series aerospace D.C. casting technology was said to be a key determining factor in the selection of the “Furnace to Finish™” supplier’s portfolio. As new generations of aluminium alloys are developed for aerospace and defence applications, today’s materials continue to find growing demand in...
Finance Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Colm Imbert said that the government is in talks with Alutech representatives to set up a plant that will manufacture aluminium downstream products in the Caribbean. The downstream products include aluminium sheets for the vehicle industry and wheel rims. Imbert said, “The Alutech plant will be the first of its kind in the Caribbean and will provide the opportunity to further diversify the Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) economy.” The new facility will generate revenue, foreign exchange while creating employment opportunities. While speaking at the Senate, he stated that the government will import aluminium ingots and combined with start of the art technology to manufacture cast aluminium products. Imbert further emphasised that the government will import...
The United States Department of Commerce announced Tuesday, that it has launched a probe to determine whether Chinese aluminium foil imports in the U.S. should be subject to anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties. The move comes just a few weeks after the U.S. aluminium foil industry accused China of dumping the commodity in the country. The dumping margin is estimated to range from 38.40 per cent to 140.21 per cent, disclosed the U.S. Commerce Department. Earlier in March this year, the U.S. aluminium foil manufacturers lodged a petition demanding an investigation on 230 Chinese companies who they claimed to have sold around $400 million worth of aluminium foil last year in the U.S. market at discounted prices thereby causing damage to the sector. The Commerce Department responded to their...
UC RUSAL, a leading global aluminium producer, has launched a “Properzi” rolling mill into operation at Kandalaksha Aluminium Smelter (KAZ) as part of the casthouse modernization project at the smelter. The project investments total USD 19.8 mln. The new equipment will produce up to 50 thousand tonnes of value added products (VAP) per annum. The launch of the new mill will allow the smelter to produce wire rods of 7 typical sizes which are a new aspect for KAZ; these are of the diameters of 9.5, 12, 14, 15, 19, 23 and 25 mm. Prior to that, the smelter supplied only one size, of 9mm diameter. KAZ will also start to produce wire rod from the alloys of 1xxx, 6xxx and 8xxx series. The main consumers of the wire rods produced at KAZ will be cable manufacturing plants operating in Russia and...
China is one of the leading producers of aluminium semis along with being the largest producer of primary aluminium. Chinese production and exports of semi-finished products hit the highest in 2016. China has been accused by competitors of selling semi-finished metal into oversupplied global markets below market rates. In fact, The U.S. International Trade Commission has launched an investigation into the global aluminium trade and into the allegations by the major U.S. aluminium producers about China’s unlawful export of semis to the U.S. market. {newsStudioGallery} Here, we are trying to analyse the export trends of aluminium plates, sheets, and strips in China to understand if there is any major upturn or downturn in the export market. We would also try to list out the major importers...
Sudal Industries, an India based manufacturer aluminium extrusion and alloys, has announced plans to invest INR 250 crore in setting up a new facility for aluminium products manufacturing at Naradana industrial estate of Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) near Dhule. The facility is expected start operations around December next year and on starting will create employment for around 250 working professionals. At the time of the announcement, Sudarshan Chokhani, Managing Director of Sudarshan Industries, updated, "We have already bought 40 acres of land in MIDC. This will be the mega project for manufacturing aluminium extrusion and alloys. We had signed an MoU with the state government four years back, but could not start the project due to a slowdown. Now, we are going...
