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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Hydro Q3 results for rolled product has been slow compared to last quarter. Seasonally lower sales volumes and changes in the product mix have pulled down the underlying EBIT in Q3 in comparison to Q2 2016. It was partly offset by positive results from the Neuss smelter driven by an increase in the all-in metal price. On a YOY comparison also, the underlying EBIT declined from the third quarter of 2015, mostly due to lower realized margins, increased cost and negative currency development. Underlying EBIT for the first three quarters of 2016 was lower than in the same period of 2015 due to lower all-in metal price affecting the Neuss smelter result during the period. Hydro completed divestment for its slim rolling mills by December 17, 2015. After that the company saw higher sales volumes...
The 7th edition of ALUCAST - India’s biggest and most focussed platform for the Aluminium Die-Casting Industry will be held from 1st – 3rd December 2016 at Bangalore International Exhibition Centre, Bengaluru. The Exhibition is organised by the Aluminium Casters’ Association of India and the Event is produced by NürnbergMesse India. The event has registered a 30 per cent growth over the previous edition, with over 150 Exhibitors, who will showcase their latest cutting edge technology and innovative solutions for the Aluminium Die-Casting Industry. The exhibition will witness participation from countries including China, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Taiwan, Italy, Spain etc., making the event truly international. High profile national and international Key Personnel of core and allied...
First time in the UAE industrial history one industrial site is linked to separate industrial sites through a dedicated channel. Emirates Global Aluminium’s (EGA) Al Taweelah smelter is all set to start delivering molten aluminium to its customers in Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad) via a dedicated hot metal channel. This is a part of EGA’s project that was initiated as a means of cutting cost and in order to develop a competitive aluminium value added segment in UAE. The first customer to avail this hot metal supply service from EGA is Ducab Aluminium Company which will produce aluminium electrical cables from this aluminium. One of the most economic methods of sourcing aluminium is to receive it as molten metal as it eliminates the need for re-melting it before application. So,...
SAF Metal Fabrication introduces a factory fabricated Ready Clamp Column Cover Bracket accessory for their metal or ACM Column Covers. Ready Clamp Brackets enable quick installation of SAF column covers onto rectangular and round structural columns with large or small diameters. A two part column cover mounting bracket system, Ready Clamp arrives on site with a customer’s custom SAF column cover order. Once the installer fastens the Ready Clamp brackets onto a structural column and attaches the first column cover section, the installer can easily attached the mating column cover section with SAF’s Ready Clamp brackets that accommodates both reveal and butt joint column covers. Ready Clamp completely eliminates the need for on-site framing, fabrication, and complicated mounting clips...
The Aluminium Association’s “Index of Net New Orders of Aluminium Mill Products” for September dropped 5.6 per cent from the previous month. As a whole, new order for all aluminium mill products saw a drop in the U.S. and Canada month on month. Orders for flat roll products dropped 4.8 per cent, while orders for extruded products decreased 8.7 per cent and orders for redraw rod were down 7.0 per cent. On a YOY comparison orders recorded a jump of 2.1 per cent from September 2015. Average orders recorded by domestic producers from January to September 2016 were up 1.6 per cent over 2015. Note: The Aluminium Association confirms that the 21 companies that participate in the survey represent between 80-85 per cent of industry shipments, however these companies may not be representative of...
Ohio’s two United States senators issued a joint press release on Friday urging the United States Trade Representative to bring a World Trade Organization case against the People’s Republic of China over its aluminium overcapacity. The senators say that 15,000 American workers have lost their jobs in the industry over the last decade. “China has unfairly subsidized its aluminium industry – it’s not competing, it’s cheating,” said Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown. “Enforcing our trade laws will ensure that U.S. aluminium manufacturers, the best in the world, have the opportunity to compete on a level playing field. The Administration needs to stand up for American businesses and put an end to the massive layoffs that have devastated workers and their communities.” “I firmly believe that...
According to the Preliminary estimates from Aluminum Association, aluminium demand in the United States and Canada that includes shipments by domestic producers plus imports were an estimated 17,780 million pounds during January to August 2016, an increase of 2.3 per cent over the same period last year. Demand for semi-fabricated or mill products dropped slightly YTD to 12,478 million pounds. Apparent consumption (demand minus exports) in domestic markets totalled an estimated 15,586 million pounds during January to August 2016. U.S. and Canada exported (excluding cross-border trade) 2,194 million pounds of aluminium ingot and mill products during January to August 2016 which recorded a 16 per cent increase over the same period last year. Compared to export, imports were up 25.2 per cent...
Global aluminium industry has been undergoing a paradigm shift over the last ten years. From primary metal production, the focus has shifted to downstream manufacturing. In India too, the change has happened, though at a bit slower pace. All major primary aluminium producers including National Aluminium Company (Nalco), Aditya Birla Group owned Hindalco have been extruding aluminium products in small volumes, but the first big change took place when Hindalco stepped beyond the geographical borders and bagged leading manufacturer of rolled aluminium products and the world’s largest recycler of aluminium Novelis in a $6 billion all-cash deal in 2007. Since then, all primary manufacturers have stepped up their activities in their downstream aluminium divisions. Two factors have worked in...
Kaiser Aluminum Corp. announced its earnings data for the quarter ended September 30, on Wednesday. The company reported $1.02 EPS for the quarter, missing the Thomson Reuters’ consensus estimate of $1.27 by $0.25. Kaiser Aluminum Corp. reported a net margin of 6.59 per cent and a return on equity of 9.70 per cent. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend to be paid on November 15. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 25, will be paid a dividend of $0.45 per share. The ex-dividend is to be paid on October 21. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.28 per cent. Kaiser Aluminum Corp.’s payout ratio is 37.42 per cent. Kaiser Aluminum is engaged in the production of semi-fabricated specialty aluminium products. The company's product...
Integrated mining and resource producer Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL) is poised to lunch its specialized product- a high-end zinc die casting alloy produced using primary zinc and pure aluminium that will cater to the flourishing die-casting needs of the automobile, household appliances, sanitary-ware and defence sectors. Through it, the Vedanta subsidiary intends to capitalize on the new opportunities that these sectors are offering at present. The new zinc-aluminium alloy will also replace the imported alloy on which the domestic industry has depended on so far, HZL said. The company is also gearing up to start production of the Toning Alloy series which is used in steel galvanisation for precise control of aluminium in galvanising bath. India's Steel Minister Chaudhary Birendra Singh...
Michigan-based International Mold Corporation which is a design and build company for aluminium has announced its plans to construct its first plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina. A confirmation from Gov. Nikki Haley said that the project is expected to bring $6.2 million in new investment and create 60 new job opportunities. “The business-friendly environment we’ve worked hard to create in South Carolina is paying off for the people of our state, and this announcement by International Mold Corporation is further proof of that,” Gov. Nikki Haley said. “This $6.2 million investment and the 60 new jobs it means for Spartanburg County are huge reasons to celebrate across South Carolina,” he added. IMC has been operating with its headquarter in Clinton Township, Michigan since 2006. The news...
The US based aluminium die cast components manufacturer and supplier Gibbs Die Casting has announced expansion of its North American Manufacturing Complex in Henderson at a total investment of $10 million. Gibbs will modify building and install new equipment at the facility to leverage upon the upcoming market opportunities created through the use of advanced lean-manufacturing methods. Currently, the Henderson Complex operates two aluminium die casting plants and a machining plant. The new investment will add a new die cast plant and a machining facility. "Gibbs Die Casting is extremely excited with our upcoming casting and precision machining expansion projects in Henderson," said president and CEO of Gibbs Steve A. Church. "The facility and production equipment investments will allow...
Constellium N.V. announced today the official opening of a new state-of-the-art finishing line at its plant in Neuf-Brisach, France, for a total €180 million investment. The new line is designed to meet the growing demand for aluminium automotive body sheet. With a production capacity of 100,000 tons, the new 240m (787-foot) long finishing line features high-speed thermal treatment, precise temperature control, highly efficient quenching process as well as greater flexibility on the thickness of processed alloys. This diverse range of innovative technologies will enable Constellium to manufacture high-quality aluminium products for automotive closure inners, outers and Body-in-White. The new finishing line is in the final stage of the qualification phase and has already started commercial...
According to the estimate of The Aluminum Association, shipments of aluminium products in U.S. and Canada drop slightly YOY and YTD in September 2016. During September 2016, shipments of can stock by domestic producers totalled 355.2 million pounds, slightly up from the September 2015 total of 354.8 million pounds. Sequentially, shipments dropped 5.1 per cent from the August 2016 total of 374.4million pounds. YTD shipments from January to September 2016 were 3,186.0 million pounds which recorded a rise of 1.3 per cent over the same period of 2015. While producer shipments of can stock to U.S. markets dropped 1.3 per cent to 295.6 million pounds in comparison to September 2015, exports recorded a rise of 7.5 per cent to 59.6 million pounds. U.S. and Canadian producers shipped an estimated...
Chinese aluminium giants are making fast forays into global aerospace and automotive markets. Industry experts believe their entry would not only heat up competition but also spark fresh buying spree for metal companies based in the US and Europe. The Chinese aluminium makers are aiming at bigger pies of the market dominated by the Alcoas and Constelliums in order to expand their reach and enrich their technical know-how in the process. The chief executive of Novelis Inc, Steve Fisher said last week, he expected competition from the Chinese producers to intensify over the next five to 10 years in the high-value-added aerospace and engineering segments- which so far have been dominated by the European and US manufacturers. "Certainly (Chinese aluminium makers) will be able to produce high...
Alpha Laboratories' AlumAseal®- the brand synonymous with sealing radiator and heater core leaks for over 75 years now, has added new aluminium foil plate seals to its product mix. AlumaSeal 96™, AlumaSeal 384™, and AlumaSeal II™ are ideal for sealing samples within plate wells of different specifications. They can be readily pierced with automated or manually-operated pipette tips for hassle-free sample access as required. By ensuring easy individual access, AlumAseal aluminium foil plate seals also eliminate the potential for aerosols and cross-contamination that can result when removing other types of plate-sealing lids. The aluminium plate foil seals exhibit high temperature tolerance thereby protecting samples within the range of -80ºC and 120ºC, said Alpha Laboratories spokesperson....
The president of United Steelworkers Local 420-A, Robert Smith recently testified before the U.S. International Trade Commission and expressed his concern over the impact of unfair trade on the aluminium industry in the United States. The hearing in Washington, D.C., was part of the ITC’s investigation into the allegations that unfair trade practices by China is destroying the domestic aluminium industry. Mr. Smith presented before the congressional committee members how workers and their communities are getting impacted by fake and cheap exports and the resulting closure of aluminium plants in the US. “We’re opposed to a country like China, who just at the turn of the century made 10 per cent of the world’s aluminium. Now they make 54 per cent of the world’s aluminium,” he said. He...
India’s automotive sector is looking up. Leveraging the buoyancy, the multi-company, multi-product UNO Minda Group is expanding speedily. Haryana’s Bawal, where the company has five plants, is being developed as the Group’s growth hub in India. Minda Kosei Aluminium Wheel’s (MKAWL) factory became operational at Bawal this year April while Minda TG Rubber’s (MTGRL) brand-new facility, located nearby, went on stream around same time a year ago. With a targeted total investment of INR300 crore and installed capacity of 90,000 alloy wheels per month by January 2017, MKAWL has till date invested INR250 crore for an initial monthly production capacity of 60,000 wheels. The project is being developed jointly by UNO Minda and Kosei Aluminium Company of Japan. The JV partners also have an...
