Germany and France share one of Europe’s busiest downstream aluminium corridors, and the metal flows in both directions. In the first seven months of 2026, aluminium flat rolled products (FRP), which cover aluminium plates, sheets and strips (HS code: 7606), as well as aluminium foil (HS code: 7607), crossed the border each way, amounting to a total of around USD 692 million. However, the bilateral trade flow is tilted towards Germany, which remains France’s largest FRP supplier. Nonetheless, the inter-dependence remains as the countries do exchange the same products but engage in cross-border trade of specialised high-value products and alloys, feeding the demand on either side. The trade figures for January–July 2026, as compiled from the International Trade Administration, highlight...
KAP Minerals and Cymat Technologies are exploring a partnership to produce scandium-aluminium master alloy in Ontario, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding. The partnership would use scandium oxide from KAP’s Kapuskasing critical minerals project and Cymat’s aluminium-processing technology to produce alloys for aerospace, defence and manufacturing applications. To know the global production, demand and consumption forecasts of aluminium extrusions, explore our report " The World of Aluminium Extrusions to 2035 " Scandium-aluminium alloys can improve strength, performance and weldability while reducing weight. The companies aim to use the proposed venture to establish a domestic supply chain, converting Canadian critical minerals into value-added industrial materials....
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Showa Denko K.K. (SDK) announces that its affiliate, Tokyo Aluminum Wire Co., Ltd., will be dissolved on September 30, 2013. Tokyo Aluminum Wire Co., Ltd., which has been producing and selling aluminum rough drawing wire for electric cables, is to be dissolved because demand for aluminum electric cables, due to new construction or replacement, will remain at a low level for many years to come. A resolution to dissolve the company will be adopted at the end of September 2013. Liquidation of the company will be completed by the end of December 2013. The company is one of SDK's affiliates to which the equity method is applied. Liquidation of the company will have only slight influence on SDK's business results.
Ball Corporation announced today that it has entered into agreements to acquire Envases del Plata S.A. de C.V., a leading extruded aluminum aerosol packaging producer with a manufacturing facility in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and to form a new joint venture in Argentina that will combine Ball's and Envases del Plata Group's aerosol packaging operations in Argentina and in Brazil. The acquisition is expected to close by the end of October 2012, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. "These actions are consistent with our Drive for 10 strategy to broaden Ball's geographic reach and expand into new products and capabilities," said John A. Hayes, Ball's president and chief executive officer. "The acquisition in Mexico will provide a platform to grow our North...
Tredegar Corp said on Monday that its subsidiary Bonnell Aluminum has acquired 100-percent ownership of AACOA Inc, a U.S. manufacturer of extruded aluminum for machinery and equipment. The purchase price of about $50.8 million was funded using financing under Tredegar`s existing $350 million credit facility, the company said. Virginia-based Tredegar, which makes plastic films and extruded aluminum products, said it expects the acquisition to add to earnings in the first year following the transaction. The acquisition will add fabrication capabilities to Bonnell`s current products and services while providing AACOA with large press capabilities and enhanced geographic sales coverage in a variety of end-use markets. Privately held AACOA is based in Elkhart, Indiana, and has operations there...
Fox Plant has taken delivery of four new aluminium-bodied Multimaster tippers on Scania 400bhp sleeper cabbed chassis, from Thompsons, continuing a 20-year business relationship. As Fox transport manager Steve Maplethorpe puts it: "For over 20 years we've worked side by side with Scott and his team to get the best body possible at each particular point in time. Our four new Multimasters are testimony to this ongoing process." Starting off in the early days with ribbed steel Muckmasters, then followed by smooth sided Loadmasters, Fox's tipper body of choice for 2012 is the new all-aluminium, curved-floor Multimaster. "We need a body that offers the combination of a versatile, robust design with a clear 20 tonnes payload," explains Maplethorpe. "The aluminium Multimaster does exactly this,...
After a record production of 6.6 billion aluminium aerosol cans in 2011 the worldwide demand stays solid in 2012, too. According to AEROBAL, the International Organisation of Aluminium Aerosol Container Manufacturers, total production increased by another 4 percent in the first half of 2012. While deliveries to Europe stayed on last year’s record level, demand in North America, Asia and Africa grew further. The driving force of this growth was a lively demand for cosmetics products which account for about 76 percent of the global total production. Especially the markets for deodorants, shaving foams, hair sprays and sun protection products performed well, while the market for hair mousses was slightly declining. The development of the pharmaceutical market was very satisfactory with a...
Ohio, USA-based aluminium producer Aleris said it has received orders to provide aluminium to Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Co., Ltd, a manufacturing subsidiary of Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China, Ltd. (COMAC) for the production of multiple sets of COMAC's C919 test planes. Aleris said it will provide conventional aluminium alloys as well as an advanced aluminum alloy with high-damage tolerance to be used on the lower wing covers for a single-aisle commercial aircraft as part of the COMAC C919 program. Initially the material for the COMAC test planes will be delivered from the Aleris plant in Koblenz, Germany. Long-term Aleris plans to supply the aluminum for production from its new rolling mill that is currently under construction in Zhenjiang, China, a USD 350m facility designed to...
A new study out confirmed that reducing vehicle weight with aluminum is the best overall enabler for significant efficiency increases. According to a release, the report specifically shows that achieving new higher fuel economy standards in the 50+ MPG range is possible by combining a range of technologies that include weight reduction with advance materials. The study was conducted by a member of the AVL Group, an independent company for the development of powertrain systems and a partner to many in the automotive industry. The study showed no single technology approach will achieve the new 54.5 miles per gallon (MPG) fuel economy target on its own, but that substituting lower weight aluminum in automobiles is the one consistent strategy that can be combined with all other strategies and...
At last week's Paris motor show, carmakers are showing a multitude of materials that could one day challenge steel's omnipresence in the structure of vehicles. New regulations requiring carmakers to save fuel and reduce carbon dioxide emissions have compelled the industry to experiment with lighter materials and reverse the tendency of each new model generation to be heavier than the last. Aluminium is the leading pretender to steel's automotive crown as it is lightweight, resists corrosion, easily recycled and can be substituted into existing steel presses. The amount of aluminium used per car produced in Europe increased from 50kg in 1990 to 140kg in 2012, according to the European Aluminium Association. A typical car weighs more than 1300kg. Currently, most of that is cast aluminium...
Showa Denko (SDK) has decided to construct an aluminium casting plant in Johor. SDK said it would start making preparations this year for the construction work, and begin production at the new 35,000 sq m plant by the end of 2014. In addition to an integrated aluminium casting/forging facility in Fukushima prefecture, Japan, SDK is operating one plant each in Portugal and Singapore for producing forged aluminum parts. SDK has been selling the products on the world market, mainly for use in automotive parts. “With the scheduled construction of the new casting plant in Malaysia, SDK aims to better meet growing demand in Asian markets,” it said. The company said due to continued growth of automotive markets centering on emerging countries, car production in Asean, India and China combined...
Alcoa recently announced promotions for three top leaders at Alcoa Warrick Operations. Ed Hemmersbach, who previously served as the facility’s Location Manager for its packaging business unit at Warrick Operations, has been named the Vice President of Operations, Alcoa Global Packaging-North America. Click here to find out more! In this expanded role, Hemmersbach will supervise all of the manufacturing processes at Warrick Operations and at Tennessee Operations. Together, these two facilities provide flat-rolled aluminum sheet to global customers who use Alcoa’s metal to produce cans for the food and beverage industry. Warrick Operations also manufactures aluminum used by customers to create lithographic printing plates. It is the nation’s only supplier of this specific type of...
Bilsing Automation has recently applied its pressroom tooling expertise to the development of a flexible destacking solution that can successfully separate and feed both steel and aluminum blanks in various sizes and configurations. The solution was designed and engineered by Bilsing for flexibility where the end effector can handle multiple parts. It is comprised of the company’s 2.5” diameter aluminum round-body tooling and other Bilsing components. Whereas traditional steel blank destacking systems rely on magnetic holders for separating the blanks before lifting and transfer, aluminum has no magnetic qualities.Typical aluminum destacker systems employ peel cylinders to lift the corners of the blank with air knives that shoot air in that space to break the vacuum.Another issue is that...
M.T.I. Qualos introduces a new range of aluminium flexible ‘see-thru’ swing doors for industrial and commercial applications. Designed as a flexible solution for pedestrian traffic and light non-motorised vehicles, M.T.I.'s new aluminium flexible ‘see-thru’ swing doors are ideal for environments where dust, draft and noise may be a problem. The swing doors come with an anodised aluminium frame that pivots in both directions, complete with variable tension return spring. Stay open magnets can be supplied optionally. The aluminium flexible swing doors are available in medium duty and heavy duty options. Key features of M.T.I.'s new aluminium flexible swing doors: • Generally installed under lintel or side mounted as an option • 12-month warranty against defects in workmanship and materials...
Aluminium, tilt casting and aluminium light-fix- ture manufacturer Wahl Industries is supplying thousands of aluminium overhead bulk fittings to various schools in the country. The company states that government has started to reinvest money in schools. Wahl has received orders to supply bulkhead light fittings to various schools in the Western Cape, the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo. “Government is replacing old bulkhead fittings, which are of a poor quality and falling apart,” says Wahl Industries MD Randal Wahl. He states that the company opened its new upgraded showroom, which took four months to build, in June. The company operates an aluminium gravity and tilt die-casting foundry, which produces a range of castings for the automotive, irrigation, catering, general...
Over 30 percent of Chinese have too much aluminum in their diets, according to a Friday report in Health News, a newspaper run by the Ministry of Health. Chen Junshi, a researcher with the National Expert Committee for Food Safety Risk Assessment, was quoted as saying that 32.5 percent of Chinese consume an amount of aluminum that exceeds the PTWI (provisional tolerable weekly intake) level. Chen said Thursday at an international food safety risk assessment symposium that aluminum-containing additives are the major cause of the problem, as many Chinese staple foods, such as noodles and steamed buns, are made with additives that contain aluminum. Chen said northern Chinese, who tend eat noodles as a main dish for most meals, have an average aluminum intake of 5.1 mg per 1 kg of body...
A key growth driver for Hindalco is the commissioning of a new project this fiscal after a long delay. Additionally, Novelis, its international subsidiary, with its high-value added products and increased focus on recycling will drive earnings in the event of falling aluminium demand. The Mahan project is scheduled to be commissioned this fiscal and will achieve capacity utilisation levels of 45-50% by FY14. The plant will be operated with better technology, which will reduce power consumption from 14,000 units per tonne now to around 9,000 units per tonne.
Aleris today announced it has received orders to provide aluminum to Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Co., Ltd, a manufacturing subsidiary of Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) for the production of multiple sets of COMAC's C919 test planes. Aleris will provide conventional aluminum alloys as well as an advanced aluminum alloy with high-damage tolerance to be used on the lower wing covers for a single-aisle commercial aircraft as part of the COMAC C919 program. "This announcement is an important step forward for Aleris as we look to capitalize on the significant growth that is occurring in the aerospace industry in Asia," John Zhu, senior vice president and president of Aleris China said. "We appreciate COMAC's partnership and look forward to delivering innovative,...
Aluminium products designer Metal Graphics has supplied aluminium-based products to various advertising, architectural, interior and product design companies. Products have been diverse and interesting, from an aluminium case housing a water bottle and the water cleaning solutions product launched by construction and engineering group Aveng to the concept- driven calendar stands made for alcohol manufacuturer Lovoka’s recent countrywide gift product launch. “Other products have included the packaging for the new South African Breweries Black Label bottle and the menu book for national restaurant chain Keg,” says Metal Graphics CEO Clare Griffin. She adds that the company has also designed various identity and presentation products, display stands and signage items, as well as storage and...
As the F- Type debuts, Jaguar had broken new ground to achieve its goals. The F-Type is built around the most advanced, rigid and lightweight aluminum architecture to date. This meets the car’s two goals of low mass and extreme rigidity. AC300, a 6000-series aluminum alloy, was specifically selected for parts of the F-Type. The structure is riveted and bonded, emitting up to 80% less CO2 during the manufacturing process compared to traditional welding of a comparable steel structure. A new process, known as “warm forming”, is used to produce the inner door stamping. Ordinarily, aluminum could not achieve the desired shape, so the metal is heated to 500°F before pressing. Shape and structure are achieved from one large pressing rather than numerous smaller ones. Resulting in a radius...
