Novelis has supplied approximately 100,000 m² of aluminium façade materials for six construction projects across the UK, highlighting the metal's growing role in architectural design, infrastructure modernisation and urban regeneration. The materials have been used across developments in Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham and London, covering applications ranging from transport infrastructure and residential refurbishment to commercial and mixed-use buildings. The projects demonstrate the versatility of aluminium in modern building envelopes, with Novelis supplying architectural materials designed to combine durability, aesthetic flexibility and performance. Aluminium supports diverse architectural applications Commenting on the projects, Michael Hahne, Vice President Commercial of Novelis...
Bahrain’s aluminium wire exports continued to gain momentum in the second quarter of 2026, with shipments rising significantly compared with the corresponding periods of 2025 and 2024. The country exported 80,895 tonnes of aluminium wire in Q2 2026, taking its total shipments during the first half of the year to 143,518 tonnes. The export data covers aluminium wire under HS code 7605, excluding stranded wire, cables, plaited bands and similar products, electrically insulated wires and strings for musical instruments. Export volume registers strong Y-o-Y growth Comparing the quarterly figures, Bahrain’s aluminium wire export volume increased by 23.76 per cent Y-o-Y in Q2 2026, against 65,366 tonnes shipped during Q2 2025. The latest quarterly volume also marked a considerable rise from Q2...
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Citing a growth in business, the head of central Wisconsin aluminum extruder and fabricator Crystal Finishing Systems said Wednesday the company is expanding its operations, with plans to install up to five presses and other equipment at a newly acquired manufacturing plant. "We're going to install additional presses, a large vertical paint line and a large anodized line," Mark Matthiae, president of privately owned Crystal Finishing Systems of Schofield, Wisconsin, said in an interview. His company has purchased a shuttered, 677,000-square-foot facility in Mosinee, about 10 miles from Schofield, and intends to have the initial press and paint line up and running in the first quarter of 2014. It will be a 3,500-ton press "that can run up to a 12-inch billet," he said. Eventually, Crystal...
As automakers and their suppliers from around the world strive to develop fuel-saving technologies, the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) has announced a new program to help the Canadian transportation industry reduce the weight of cars, trucks, trailers, buses, and trains by developing innovative aluminium technology. "Canada is a global leader in producing aluminium, and now has the opportunity to lead the world in the transformation of aluminium into parts for lighter weight vehicles," said Michel Dumoulin, General Manager of the Automotive and Surface Transportation portfolio at the National Research Council of Canada. "This program will support Canadian manufacturers in developing lighter parts and structures that will make our vehicles more fuel efficient, safer, and...
The Indian Façade and Fenestration industry crossed a major landmark on 1st June 2013. Industry leaders from across the country participated in the voting process at Hotel Orchid, in Mumbai, to elect and decide the Management Committee for the newly formed Indian Façade and Fenestration Association, a non-profit association formed by all major industry players to self-regulate and usher in standards in their business. It was for the first time that more than 70 contractors from across the country participated in an online and physical voting to choose the leaders. The elected companies are – Alufit – Bengaluru , Glasswall Systems – Mumbai , Chiniwalas – Pune , Aluplex – Mumbai, Alkarma – New Delhi ,Alumayer – Mumbai, and in façade category and Yantra Systems – Mumbai, Neel Enterprises –...
The incoming of the latest edition of the Range Rover L405 from Jaguar/Land Rover Motors into the Nigerian market has further increased auto competition in the SUV segment, as more variety of the automobiles are already on the roads. Specifically, the introduction of the fourth-generation of Range Rover L405 manufactured by Land Rover has shown that the Nigerian auto market is going places. This may not be unconnected with Nigeria having been rated as the hub of African auto market in terms of sales by auto manufacturers. The auto wheel is the first SUV with a revolutionary lightweight all-aluminium monocoque body structure in the world. It has a 39 per cent lighter than the outgoing model, thus enabling total vehicle weight savings of up to 420kg (925.9lb).
A revolution has been quietly going on in the aluminum industry. While growth has been broadly positive across most sectors, rolled aluminum sheet used for automotive applications has been experiencing double-digit growth. Novelis, the world’s largest roller of aluminum sheet for the automotive industry, estimates the total tonnage used in the sector at about 450,000 metric tons, but is anticipating that 25% annual growth will see that figure tripled by the end of the decade. As a result, rolling aluminum mills in that sector are finally taking the step of investing in new aluminum production capacity. The shortage of automotive sheet capacity in Europe has been a feature for some years, so Novelis’ announcement that they are converting some of their capacity at Gottingen, Germany, to...
The Canadian International Trade Tribunal initiated an expiry review of its findings made on March 17, 2009, in Inquiry No. NQ-2008-003, and as amended on February 10, 2011, in Inquiry No. NQ-2008-003R, concerning the dumping and subsidizing of aluminum extrusions from the People’s Republic of China. On October 3, 2013, the Canada Border Services Agency will determine if there is a likelihood of resumed or continued dumping and subsidizing. In the event of a positive determination, the Tribunal will determine, on March 17, 2014, whether the continued or resumed dumping and subsidizing are likely to result in injury or retardation. The Tribunal is an independent quasi-judicial body that reports to Parliament through the Minister of Finance. It hears cases on dumped and subsidized imports,...
China-based P&A International has announced its breakthrough in pre-treatment bonding technology, which could lead to cars being made with more aluminium parts. The enabler for adhesive bonding of automotive structures has been licensed to a leading supplier of surface treatments to the automotive industry in an exclusive global distribution agreement. P&A International provides one of the most affordable and innovative services for aluminium extrusions China has to offer international customers. According to the spokesperson, this breakthrough represents a huge extension of the company’s services to its customers in the automotive manufacturing industry worldwide. “The technology is the new pre-treatment bonding standard for aluminium sheet, extrusion and Aluminium diecasting suppliers...
Investors should take a cautious approach to the aluminum sector at a time of weak prices and persistent oversupply, BMO Research says, describing recently-announced output cuts at major producer Chalco as “not enough” to balance the China market. “Overproduction and high inventory levels continue to pressure prices and profits, despite generally robust demand,” the house says. In China, where BMO is forecasting a 556,000 metric ton surplus in 2013, “the question is how long Chalco suspends production at its smelters, and whether other Chinese smelters will follow.” Ex-China, BMO is forecasting a 109,000 ton deficit this year. Chalco will temporarily shut down about 9% of its output due to market conditions, according to a regulatory filing Wednesday. Three-month aluminum is down 0.9% at...
Data from National Energy Administration and National Bureau of Statistics show that investment in power grid infrastructure construction during the first four months of this year totaled RMB 86.6 billion, up 29.6% YoY. 8,449 km of transmission lines (>200 KV) were added during the same period, a 109.5% surge YoY. SMM’s survey found that operating rates at aluminum wire and cable producers rose to above 60% during January-April, approaching levels seen in the same period last year. This is driven by a noticeable increase in orders at aluminum wire and cable producers following completion of two batches of bid invitation by State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) and provincial grid power companies and due to the ongoing third batch of bid invitation. Aluminum conductor steel reinforced and...
Private equity house LDC has completed its re-investment in MB Aerospace, alongside Arlington Capital Partners in support of MB’s acquisition of Delta Industries. The deal enables MB to consolidate its position in the aero engine precision components market. Headquartered in Motherwell and with operations in Derby, Detroit and Burnley, MB is an international aerospace engineering group supplying into the aero engine and industrial gas turbine sectors. Based in Hartford, Connecticut, Delta is a leading provider of highly engineered components for the commercial and military aero engine and industrial gas turbine markets. Once Delta has been incorporated into the MB group, the newly-expanded business will boast revenues of more than £104m ($160m) and 550 employees. The combined customer...
The European Commission on Tuesday imposed anti-dumping duties on imports of Chinese solar panels, defying German-led opposition and dire warnings from Beijing the move could spark a trade war. The European Commission has decided unanimously to impose (punitive) tariffs” on Chinese solar panels, after finding they were being sold at up to 88 percent below cost in the European market, EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said. De Gucht said it “is clear that the dumping” is harming the European solar panel industry, with 25,000 jobs threatened as Chinese firms take 80 percent of the market. Accordingly, the commission would levy an initial average tariff of 11.8 percent starting Thursday and rising to 47.6 percent on August 6 in the absence of negotiations based on a Chinese commitment to...
The façade, which is a part of the building envelope, is the most important component in a building. It plays an important part in the building’s aesthetic, complementing the structural form and defining its visual impact on the urban environment. Though the world is approaching a fast lane of industrial growth, the fundamentals of the building façade are still missed, which is a complex subject for most of all. The Zak World of Façades conference series aims to address the issues currently faced in designing and executing world-class façades in India on par with international standards. After four highly acclaimed conferences in Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Mumbai over the past 8 months, the 5th edition will happen on the 14th of June at Taj Coromandel, Chennai. The conference will...
Edmonton became the North American pioneer in the commercial use of aluminum electric cable in an oil-filled pipeline. The eight-km cable was laid from the power plant to the Woodcroft substation under construction at 118th Avenue and 142nd Street. C.Z. Monaghan, Superintendent of the City of Edmonton’s electric light and power distribution system, said the oil acts as both an insulating and cooling medium. As insulation, it maintains the insulating quality of the cable and wrappings, and as a coolant, it transmits heat to the outer pipe for dispersal through the earth. The line under construction can handle power pushed through at 72,000 volts, Monaghan said. For up to four hours at a time, before heating becomes a problem, it can handle 80,000-kilovolt amperes, an amount equivalent to...
Operations at Ormet Corp. are expected to continue as usual after a federal judge approved the sale of the company for $221 million to Smelter Acquisition LLC, a subsidiary of Minnesota-based Wayzata Investment Partners. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware on Tuesday approved the sale of all Ormet’s assets. The ruling comes in the wake of a February bankruptcy filing by Ormet, seeking protection during efforts to financially restructure the company. A hearing regarding the sale originally was set for May 15. That hearing was rescheduled for May 22 after Washington, D.C. based Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. objected to the sale, citing Ormet retirement plans that are underfunded by more than $235 million. Prior to Ormet’s bankruptcy filing, PBGC officials confirmed Ormet had missed at...
Constellium announced that it is exploring the sale of its Ussel, France plant, which specializes in precision castings. Constellium informed the employee representative bodies for the plant during a meeting with the Works Council in France of the potential divestiture. The Ussel plant has approximately 230 employees and generated approximately €26 million of revenue in 2012. Constellium generated approximately €3.6 billion of revenue in 2012. Constellium and its advisors are conducting a thorough assessment of the potential divestiture with the goal of finding a suitable buyer committed to ensuring the future development of the plant. Constellium currently plans to retain the plant if a suitable buyer cannot be found. Constellium can provide no assurances, however, as to whether a...
Volkswagen AG will look to jump-start a stalled seven-year effort to forge Europe’s biggest truckmaker tomorrow when it gains full control of struggling MAN SE. (MAN) So far, VW has little to show for the 15 billion euros ($20 billion) of shares it holds in MAN and Sweden’s Scania AB. (SCVB) A vote at MAN’s shareholder meeting tomorrow will hasten cooperation between the companies by eliminating the need for arm’s length negotiations between VW and the German truckmaker. As part of VW’s push to leapfrog Daimler AG (DAI) and Volvo AB (VOLVB) to become Europe’s biggest truck producer, Chairman Ferdinand Piech is taking a more active role in MAN. The outcome of the vote in Munich is a formality since VW controls more than 75 percent of MAN’s stock. Slumping demand for new trucks in Europe...
Shree Narmada Aluminium Industries swung to a loss for the quarter ended March 2013. During the quarter, the company reported a loss of INR 0.63 million compared with a profit of INR 0.53 million in the same quarter last year. Net sales for the quarter declined 17.23% to INR 17.77 million, compared with INR 21.47 million for the prior year period. Earnings per share stood negative at INR 1.21 compared with negative INR 0.01 in the same quarter last year.
Hind Aluminium Industries registered a net profit of 72.94% to USD 0.52 million in the quarter ended March 2013 as against USD 0.30 million during the previous quarter ended March 2012. Sales declined 3.58% to USD 18.40 million in the quarter ended March 2013 as against USD 19.08 million during the previous quarter ended March 2012. For the Audited full year, net profit declined 3.03% to USD 1.13 million in the year ended March 2013 as against USD 1.16 million during the previous year ended March 2012. Sales rose 5.66% to USD 75.98 million in the year ended March 2013 as against USD 71.91 million during the previous year ended March 2012.
