India-based KEC International Limited is pushing ahead with Phase II of its aluminium conductor capacity expansion, even as a difficult second quarter dragged consolidated profit down. The Q2 FY27 investor presentation, dated November 2, lists the expansion as underway in its Cables & Conductors business, one of the few segments that grew in the quarter. The update comes over a year after KEC’s commissioning of the first phase of the plant in Vadodara in February 2025, marking an investment of about INR 600 million (USD 6.33 million). The company has not disclosed the capacity to be added, the investment or a completion date. Explore AL Circle’s report ALuminium Wires & Cables - Insights & Forecast to 2030 for insights into aluminium applications, industry developments and opportunities...
Canadian aluminum fencing supplier PrimeAlux has appointed Shapes Unlimited, Inc. as its authorised US distributor, giving American contractors, fence dealers and builders a local channel to access its aluminum fence panels, gates and privacy screens. Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, PrimeAlux said Shapes Unlimited, based in North Jackson, Ohio, will manage pricing, orders and customer support for its products across the US. The arrangement allows buyers to source the company's aluminum fencing systems through a domestic distributor rather than importing them independently. Shapes Unlimited is a privately held fabricator and wholesale distributor of aluminum building products that has served the trade since 1996. Under the agreement, the company will make PrimeAlux's product range...
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Russia's leading aluminum maker Rusal wants to enter China's aluminum downstream production industry through joint ventures, Rusal CEO Vladislav Soloviev said at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Friday. Soloviev said he sees the downstream aluminum production industry, which makes aluminum products such as wires and alloys, has big potential to develop in China as the country has the benefit of economies of scale and market demand. Currently Rusal has a partnership with China North Industries Corporation established in 2011, under which Rusal bought a 33 percent stake in Shenzhen North Investments Corporation Limited, a trading affiliate of China North Industries Corporation specializing in aluminum, alloys and non-ferrous metals. The share purchase led to the establishment of the...
Jaguar's all new, second generation XF sedan will be launched in South Africa next month with a range of engine choices. The premium car maker says the 2-litre turbodiesel version will be the most efficient car in the midsize premium sedan class. Though the new XF’s general profile is very reminiscent of the outgoing model, the completely new and aluminium rich chassis structure mean it weighs up to 190kg less. This diet plan combines with a freshly-sculpted and also aluminium intensive body which is 10 percent more aerodynamic than the previous model’s. Under the bonnet is the same 132kW/430Nm “Ingenium” diesel engine as found in the smaller XE sedan, paired with the same eight-speed auto gearbox. Jaguar says acceleration from 0-100km/h takes 8.1 seconds, but when driven frugally an...
Nanshan Aluminum has been reported to be mulling over plans to acquire aluminium asset and captive power plant of Shandong Yili Power. The acquisition is being strategized as an important step towards integrating its value chain further, Nanshan Aluminum said in a disclosure filed with the Shanghai Stock Exchange. On completion of the transaction, estimated at 7 billion yuan (as per China Securities), Nanshan Aluminum’s aluminium supply will expand from current 136,000 tonnes to 816,000 tonnes. Nanshan Aluminum, a vertically integrated company that covers thermal power, alumina, aluminium and aluminium semis, has over 1 million tonnes an aluminium processing capacity.
China's exports of semi-fabricated aluminium products will rise in the near-term as delivery premiums have stabilized and increased in consuming markets, Macquarie Bank head of commodities research Colin Hamilton said on Thursday. "China is going to be exporting deflationary pressures to the global aluminium market for quite a while now," Hamilton said in a presentation at the Platts Aluminum Symposium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Shekhar Movva of Synergies Castings Ltd (SCL) will invest $140 million in a world-class aluminium alloy wheels firm in Bahrain. The SCL will invest the amount in two phases with the majority being held by Synergies. The joint venture with the Sovereign Wealth Fund ‘Mumtalakat,’ an investment arm of Kingdom of Bahrain, was signed in December last. The world-class plant with a capacity of 2.2 million wheels or equivalent of 30,000 tonne per year will be located within the precincts of ALBA. It will deploy state-of-art technology and service the global OEM market with particular emphasis on the US and Europe, Mr. Shekhar, president of the SCL, told The Hindu, adding that their first overseas unit would be operational in 24 months. SCL is the leading manufacturer of aluminium alloy wheels in...
Sapa AS, the maker of aluminium products, expects a “significant bump” in sales to automotive companies in North America as more of the metal is used in passenger cars and commercial vehicles. With all-aluminium-bodied products such as new electric car lines and increased adoption of aluminium by Ford Motor Co. in its F-Series pickup trucks, “auto is a huge growth market for us,” Charlie Straface, the Oslo-based company’s North American business area president, said in an interview. Car and truck makers are turning to aluminium to reduce vehicle weights and boost fuel efficiency ahead of stricter U.S. emissions rules. Sales to automotive customers represent 10 to 15 percent of Sapa’s North American portfolio, according to Straface. Light-vehicle output in the region is projected to grow...
London based KKMC Limited has introduced a brand new model of its popular minimalist wallet. Branded as Micro, the cutting-edge functional wallet is constructed from premium grade aluminium and finished with a PVD coating. While taking about the wallet’s sleek design and unique in-built features, Micro creators said: "This is not just another wallet in an overflowing market. We came together to design a pure and beautiful minimalist product that truly reflects our design ideals. With our lives getting faster and more cluttered by the day, it seems we always have to get somewhere that bit faster, grab food that bit quicker and forget to appreciate the small things. So we decided to make your transactions that bit easier and put the small things in your pocket!" Each aluminium-built Micro...
Costs are falling in the rolled products industry, due to both lower LME prices and weak energy prices. Using CRU's Aluminium Rolling Cost (ARC) model, we have shown that costs fell in 2014 and 2015, with 2016 costs likely to continue their downward movement. However, from 2017 onwards we expect costs to start recovering. The profitability of an aluminium rolling mill depends greatly on the plant's raw material allocation strategy. Mills typically source a range of raw materials including primary remelt ingot or liquid, rolling slab, hot rolled coil and a variety of different forms of scrap. The scrap generated in-house, termed run-around scrap, is also utilised to minimize costs. Typically, run-around scrap will make up approximately 30-35% of the total raw material mix. Raw material...
According to an Aluminum Association report shipments of all major aluminium products declined in the month of December. Shipments of can stock by domestic producers totaled 345.5 million pounds during December 2015, off 1.1 percent from the December 2014 total of 349.4 million pounds. Compared to the previous month, shipments rose 3.3 percent over the November 2015 total of 334.4 million pounds. Preliminary shipments for 2015 totaled 4,178.1 million pounds, down 1.7 percent from the 2014 total of 4,250.5 million pounds. Compared to December 2014, producer shipments of can stock to U.S. markets decreased 2.6 percent to 289.9 million pounds while exports increased 7.4 percent to 55.6 million pounds. Estimated net shipments of Aluminum Sheet and Plate by U.S. and Canadian producers totaled...
Leading aluminium fabricator Dudley’s Aluminium is posed to start work at the upcoming Acorn Retail Park in Crawley. The park will be built on the outskirts of Crawley, with a host of renowned retailers such as Mark, Spencer’s and Smyths Toys all part of the project, creating employment for the local economy. Dudley’s has secured a £300k contract to provide key structural aluminium fittings at the site. The scope of duty would include creating and installing custom-made aluminium curtain walling and automatic doors. Commenting on the project, Dudley’s managing director Colin Shorney said: “We are pleased to have secured the Acorn Retail Park contract, and look forward to completing our work at the site this year. The retail park will create a number of new jobs, supporting the local...
Tri-Arrows Aluminum Inc. has named Henry Gordinier as its new president. Gordinier previously was the Louisville company's executive vice president for commercial and planning, according to a news release. He rejoined the company in July 2014 after working as vice president of strategic planning for Kindred Healthcare Inc. Gordinier will report to Tri-Arrows CEO Steve Shiraishi, who became president and CEO of the company in May 2015. Tri-Arrows supplies rolled aluminium sheet products produced at its jointly owned rolling mill, Logan Aluminum in Russellville, Ky. The company has annual revenue of about $1 billion, according to the release, and it supplies the beverage container and automotive industries in North America. The company began operations in 1977 as ARCO Aluminum. It was...
Alcoa has extended the range of lightweight wheel forgings supplied to Solomon Alsberg for their exclusive high-performance alloy wheels. The aerospace-derived metallurgy of the Alcoa blanks allows Solomon Alsberg to create a wide range of ultra-stylish wheels that improve vehicle performance and dynamics as well as reducing fuel consumption and emissions. The 20 inch blanks supplied within this programme are produced from billets of 6061-T6 aluminium, using the same technology as the wheels it produces for the Boeing 747. The superior strength of this alloy in one-piece wheels allows a significant weight saving over cast or multi-piece wheels. The forging process aligns the metal grains uniformly along the contours of the wheel, allowing less material to be used thus reducing weight....
Fast growing national aluminium extruder Gateway Extrusions, in Union, has implemented the second phase of its multi-phase expansion program with the acquisition of a new 7-inch extrusion press. Purchased and installed this summer, the equipment underwent rigorous testing and calibration before being brought into full operation this fall. The new press represents a major upgrade from the company’s existing 7-inch aluminium press. “This state-of-the-art press has greatly enhanced our capabilities and improved production speeds,” said Tom Ziegler, vice president for Gateway Extrusions. “We’re able to offer our customers the extruded profiles they need in a broader range of lengths and tempering with the new equipment. The system’s features allow us to operate more efficiently, moving from...
Ball Corporation BLL announced that the European Commission has granted regulatory clearance in Europe related to its proposed acquisition of Rexam PLC, subject to the divestment of 12 plants in the European Economic Area ("EEA"). Ten of these plants manufacture can bodies, while the other 2 produce can ends. In early 2015, Ball Corporation had confirmed its offer to acquire Rexam. The pending acquisition of Rexam for a cash and stock deal valued at $8.4 billion (£5.4 billion) will create the world's largest consumer packaging supplier. Rexam and Ball Corporation are, respectively, the first and second largest beverage can manufacturers in the EEA as well as the two market leaders worldwide. Ball Corporation was facing hurdles from its shareholders and regulatory bodies on the concern...
Lightweight metals leader Alcoa today announced that Karl Tragl will become President of the Company’s Transportation and Construction Solutions Group. He succeeds José Drummond, who resigned from Alcoa to become CEO of a Brazilian company. Tragl’s appointment is effective on February 15, 2016. Tragl joins Alcoa from Bosch Rexroth AG, Bosch’s $6 billion automation solutions company, where he has held the role of chief executive officer since 2010. While there, he grew revenues significantly across a customer base that spans most of Alcoa’s major markets, including construction and commercial transportation. Highly respected by customers for his expertise in the application of industrial Internet solutions, his insights are expected to help shape the expansion of Alcoa’s digitization, 3-D...
Kaiser Aluminum Corporation today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.45 per share representing a 12.5% increase over the prior quarter's dividend. The dividend will be payable on February 12, 2016 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on January 25, 2016. "The increase in our quarterly dividend reflects our continued confidence in the outlook for our business," said Jack A. Hockema, CEO and Chairman. "We are very well-positioned for further long-term growth and shareholder value creation facilitated by strong secular demand for automotive and aerospace applications, and with continued improvements in our production capacity, efficiency, and quality we will continue to capitalize on these growth opportunities. Our priorities...
According to the industry sources, Henan Yulian Energy Group put online its huge precision aluminium processing project on January 11. The project has an annual capacity of 600,000 tonnes. The project, equipped with melting & casting lines, cold rolling and hot rolling lines, is scheduled to reach full capacity this year, the source added.
Guizhou Xintianli Aluminum Foil Co. brought into service its precision aluminium foil project in Guiyang, Guizhou Province, on January 8, as per a recent report. The aluminium foil manufacturing plant, with total investment at 1.2 billion yuan ($ 185 million), has an annual capacity of 50,000 tonnes, the industry source added. Once fully operational, the project will yield 1.2 billion yuan in annual revenues. Globally, aluminium downstream industry, driven by the packaging industry growth, has been charting heights with every passing year. Despite Chinese economy slowdown, the country's downstream aluminium sector too has shown significant growth prospects. In recent times, the domestic aluminium demand in China has declined, but once the economy is back on track it will pick up. Till...
