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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Shares of Kaiser Aluminum Corp. have been assigned a consensus rating of “Buy” from the six analysts that are covering the stock, Analyst Ratings Network.com reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $85.00. Kaiser Aluminum has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Zacks Investment Research lowered Kaiser Aluminum Corp. from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 29th. Deutsche Bank began coverage on Kaiser Aluminum Corp. in a research note on Monday, October 12th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $85.00 target price for the company. Finally, JPMorgan...
Ford Motor Co. announced at the 2016 Detroit auto show that it's adding the off-roading edition of the F-150 pickup truck - the F-150 Raptor - to its stable of aluminum-bodied pickups. That means all of Ford's North American pickups will be built with steel frames and aluminum bodies, something that, until two years ago, was reserved for sports cars. Peter Frise, a mechanical engineer and the scientific director at AUTO21, an automotive research think-tank at the University of Windsor, said the great advantage of aluminum is its relatively light weight, but it's difficult to use in a mass produced setting. "Cars have been made with aluminum parts for many years, decades," Frise explained. "What Ford managed to do is find a way to make a large portion of a mass-marketed vehicle out of...
The recent entrant in the industry, Letv's Superphones , sport full-metal body designs, becoming one of the few brands in the market worldwide to do so. Since last April when Letv announced to enter the smart phone industry, this multinational company has released four models of phones, including Le 1, Le 1 Pro, Le Max and Le 1s, among which two phones, Le Max and Le 1s, are full metal body phones. Le Max has a bezel-less all metal design, first unibody metal phone in China. Since its launch in July, it has beated Apple and Sumsung consecutively for two months and become the best seller in China for a phone over 3,000 Yuan (Rs 30,562 approx). Le 1s, the top seller in China since its release at the end of last October. It sold more than 2 million units in two months. Its metal uni-body is...
Xolution GmbH has successfully closed a €45m equity investment round with the Singapore-based equity fund Inventure Management Pte Ltd to fund the production capacity increase for Xolution’s next generation XO2.0 resealable beverage can technology. Xolution plans to use the investment proceeds to increase its annual worldwide production capacity to over 1bn can-ends. Inventure brings to Xolution an extensive manufacturing experience from the aluminium can and plastics industry. Its focus is in packaging solutions and more specifically with multinational beverage companies and brands in its portfolio. In order to meet the market demand from global and regional beverage brands for its next generation XO2.0 resealable beverage can-end technology, Xolution has partnered with suppliers such as...
India has initiated a probe into alleged dumping of aluminium radiators by China in the domestic market. The move is aimed at protecting domestic players in the sector against cheap imports. The Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD), an arm of the Commerce Ministry, has begun investigations into the imports of 'Aluminium Radiators, Aluminium Radiator Sub- Assemblies and Aluminium Radiator Core' from China. In a notification, the DGAD has said it has found a sufficient prima facie evidence of dumping of the product from China. "The authority hereby initiates an investigation into the alleged dumping, and consequent injury to the domestic industry...To determine the existence, degree and effect of any alleged dumping and to recommend the amount of antidumping duty,...
German Aluminium Association, Düsseldorf, has awarded the winners of the International Aluminium Die Casting Competition 2016 as part of the EUROGUSS 2016 in Nuremberg. Prizes were awarded by a jury of experts from research and practice to three castings from renowned manufacturers with a further three castings receiving special commendations. GDA has organised a competition for aluminium die-castings for the second time. It was partnered by the Association of the German Foundry Industry. The Austrian Economic Chambers and the Swiss Aluminium Association alu.ch also supported the competition. For many years, the Aluminium Die-casting Award has proven to be a successful platform for demonstrating the high quality standards of aluminium die-castings. The aim of the competition is to boost...
After the resounding success of the inaugural International Metal Technology Taiwan Exhibition and Conference (iMT Taiwan) in 2015, preparations are in full gear to bring back the event this year. Scheduled to be held from 6 to 8 December 2016 at the Kaohsiung Exhibition Centre, the second edition of iMT Taiwan will spring further from the remarkable achievements recorded last year as the event stands stronger as Taiwan’s first and only exhibition dedicated to the metal industry. Rave reviews and positive endorsements from delighted exhibitors and visitors on the impressive top-grade products and wide range displayed at the first staging provided the quality mark for iMT Taiwan’s organizer – Kaigo Co., Ltd to continue featuring 13 product categories namely - Material Science and...
To address the growing production demand, China Zhongwang’s production mill for aluminium train compartment products introduced a batch of advanced processing equipment recently. The new equipment has been installed with trial run finished, and most of the machine tools have commenced production. The three different types of numerically controlled production center (“NCPC”) machines introduced are with advanced functions such as high cutting precision, good processing quality and high production efficiency. Besides, the NCPC machines are able to process large cross-sections, up to a maximum of 1020mm, 1600mm and 3060mm respectively, which can meet most processing requirements of different work pieces. The newly introduced three-dimensional NCPC stretch bending machine for extrusion...
Lightweight metals leader Alcoa reported fourth-quarter and full-year 2015 results, ending the year on solid operational footing. Fourth quarter 2015 revenue was $5.2 billion, down 18 percent from $6.4 billion in fourth quarter 2014. Organic growth in aerospace and acquisitions increased revenue 7 percent, which was more than offset by a 25 percent revenue decline from lower alumina and aluminum prices, the impact of divested, curtailed or closed facilities, and unfavorable currency. Segment Information: Global Rolled Products ATOI in the fourth quarter was $52 million, flat as compared to the year-ago quarter. Strong productivity and automotive shipment growth of 18 percent were offset by cost increases, volume declines in aerospace from fewer spot opportunities and packaging, portfolio...
Aluminium is being hailed as the ideal material for manufacturing the largest outdoor high-resolution LED screen supporting structure, following a series of projects completed by systems manufacturer Boldman. Works have been concluded on the 13.9m x 7.8m Printworks outdoor screen in Manchester; and on the two identical 11.5m by 4.8m screens at Heathrow Terminal 2, both screens are to be used as high-profile advertising space. The Printworks screen was manufactured using an Oblik spaceframe structure framework designed by Alan White Design, it was constructed from 156 individual fabricated aluminium sections and is the largest of its kind weighing 5.5 tonnes. Aluminium was chosen over steel because a lightweight support structure was needed to attach the entire assembly to the grade 2...
The Sherman Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO) presented Kaiser Aluminum with a $232,000 cash grant to help offset the cost of a $5.8 million expansion. Kaiser Aluminum Corporation maintains 12 focused production facilities in North America and is a leading provider of automotive aluminum extrusions. Kaiser's facility in Sherman's Progress Park, which has operated since 1964, is an integral part of the company's strategy to support continued growth in automotive applications in the city of Sherman. The SEDCO grant facilitates the facility's expansion plans which further benefit the community and create approximately 7 new jobs. The growth in demand for aluminum extrusions used in automotive applications presents a significant opportunity for Kaiser and its Sherman facility as...
Recently, Science and Technology Bureau of Liaoyang Municipal City (the “Science and Technology Bureau”) announced the list of "Top 100 Science and Technology Innovation Enterprises in Liaoyang City”. China Zhongwang was listed as No.1. The Science and Technology Bureau praised China Zhongwang, saying that the Group kept its efforts in “promoting structural optimization with increased production, and enhancing industrial upgrade with innovation”. Sitting on its current situation, the Group cultivates the innovation teams, accelerates the innovation development strategies, and commits to the development of “new, professional and specialized” technological products. The Group’s three new technologies were awarded the Liaoyang Scientific Technology Awards, namely 7N01 aluminium alloy...
Viastore Systems, a leading material handling automation systems and software company, was selected by Dicastal North America, the North American division of CiTic Dicastal Co. Ltd. of Qinhuangdao, China to supply and install an automated conveyor solution for the company’s new manufacturing facility in Greenville, MI. Dicastal selected viastore after reviewing several companies. While being a Michigan-based company played a role in the selection, Dicastal also selected viastore because of an innovative design solution that reduced Dicastal’s upfront capital costs. “viastore was able to design a system for us that made sense and was economical to your needs to today, yet allowed for growth for tomorrow,” said Bernie Polzin, GM/VP, Dicastal. “We’re eager to get the project underway.” For...
Recently, Liaoning Zhongwang Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing Co., Ltd, a company under China Zhongwang, was recognized as one of the "Hundred SMEs with High Industrial Growth in Liaoyang" by Liaoyang City Economic and Information Technology Commission. By carrying out the recognition work, the Commission aims to further implement the spirit of the "Opinions of the State Council on Several Recent Major Policies and Moves for Supporting the Revitalization of Northeast China" (National [2014] No.28), to enhance the independent innovative ability of industrial enterprises in the whole city, and to actively encourage the development of the SMEs of high growth rate. The Commission made its decision after corporate application, expert judgments and rounds of discussion among the...
Chalco is seeking to extend its value chain to downstream business against setbacks in aluminium segment after prices of the light metal sank to multi-year lows. Chalco will focus on manufacturing of aluminium semis used in transportation and construction sectors, mainly aluminium used in high-speed train and aluminium formwork, as well as aluminium automotive sheet,Chalco Chairman Ge Honglin was quoted as saying in a recent meeting. China’s demand for construction formwork is about 800 million m2 each year, said Chinese aluminium expert Lang Dazhan in an interview. Should all these formwork be made of aluminium, this will equate to about 20 million tonnes of aluminium consumption,Lang added. Chalco spokesman Nie Zhen said Chalco is planning to build a plan that produces aluminium...
Sapa’s aluminium extrusion company in the UK helped in the reconstruction of a Short Stirling Bomber aircraft used in World War II. The project is a tribute to the people who designed, maintained and flew the historic aircraft. Sapa Profiles UK worked alongside The Stirling Aircraft project team to help construct a forward fuselage section, which incorporates the main crew stations in the plane. The extrusion supplied by Sapa is located at the bottom of the fuselage bomb bay and attaches to the bottom of the frame, where the outer bomb doors are attached. The extrusion is an integral part of the bomb bay structure and acts as the main keel of the fuselage. First of its kind The Stirling Project and Sapa's Steve Nash (right)The Short Stirling Bomber was the first operational four-engine...
Lightweight metals leader Alcoa has signed a long-term contract with GE unit GE Aviation for jet engine components in an agreement valued at more than $1.5 billion over the contract life. Under the deal, Alcoa will supply advanced nickel-based superalloy, titanium and aluminum components for a broad range of GE Aviation engine programs. “We greatly appreciate GE’s continued confidence in Alcoa’s aerospace capabilities, and are proud to support its advanced jet engine programs through this agreement,” said Alcoa Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Klaus Kleinfeld. Alcoa will employ advanced manufacturing capabilities to produce the parts across several facilities including LaPorte, Indiana; Whitehall, Michigan; Hampton, Virginia; Dover, New Jersey; Wichita Falls, Texas; Winsted,...
A new outdoor LED digital sign in Manchester, U.K., is using aluminium as its structural framework, according to an announcement from systems manufacturer Boldman. Work recently concluded on the 13.9-meter by 7.8-meter Printworks outdoor screen in Manchester; it follows on from two identical 11.5-meter by 4.8-meter screens at Heathrow Terminal 2. Both screens are to be used as high-profile advertising space, the company said. The Printworks is an urban entertainment venue, with the screen located on the exterior of the 19th century building making 916,923 impacts every two weeks. The screen has a pixel pitch of 10 mm and a brightness of 6,000 nits. The Printworks screen was manufactured using an Oblik spaceframe structure framework designed by Alan White Design. It was constructed from...
