A should-cost analysis of an aluminium tower furnace in India: Comparing the economics of LPG, PNG, and electric energy sources
In precision non-ferrous casting and high-volume die-casting operations, thermal energy conversion represents one of the largest controllable operating expenses. In modern aluminium foundries, where margins are squeezed by primary metal price fluctuations and stringent customer cost breakdowns, even a modest INR 1–2/kg variance in liquid metal melting cost can translate into tens of lakhs of rupees in annual cost differences. A rigorous, transparent should-cost benchmark is therefore essential for procurement teams, foundry managers and strategic sourcing leaders. This analysis examines a baseline should-cost model for a 1,000 kg/hour aluminium shaft or tower furnace in an industrial foundry. It compares liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), piped natural gas (PNG) and electric energy across...
Germany’s construction aluminium demand falls 12%, but 2027 recovery and recycling offer fresh growth prospects
Germany’s construction industry has endured several years of contraction, weighed down by elevated financing costs, expensive building materials and subdued residential investment. The downturn has also affected the country’s aluminium industry, with estimated construction-related aluminium consumption declining by around 12 per cent between 2022 and 2025. However, the outlook is beginning to change. With Germany’s construction industry projected to return to growth in 2026 and accelerate further in 2027, opportunities are emerging for aluminium suppliers across residential construction, transport infrastructure, energy networks and commercial developments. At the same time, efforts to strengthen closed-loop aluminium recycling in buildings could provide an additional avenue for growth....
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LEDs and carved aluminium create a reflective moon at Art Market San Francisco
An aluminium moon floats at the end of an empty shipping container while multicolored lights swirl around it, amplifying and diminishing the craters and textures that mark its surface. Called a Moon with Many Stars, the installation at Art Market San Francisco is the passion project of Craig Dorety, an artist and engineer. "The moon doesn't emit its own light. It is a reflective body," Dorety tells The Creators Project. This fact happens to fall in line with his previous works, animated sculptures that explore perception. "I shine lights onto a surface and the viewer is presented with reflected light or indirect light. This technique allows for richer colors in perception, doesn't overwhelm the eye, and lets me introduce shadow (the only way to get black or gray when working with light)."...
Lawson Products launches Kent Automotive Aluminum Repair Solutions
Lawson Products, a distributor of products and services to the MRO and automotive marketplaces and No. 39 on Industrial Distribution's 2015 Big 50 List, on Tuesday announced the launch of Aluminum Repair Solutions under its Kent Automotive brand. Kent Automotive Aluminum Repair Solutions is a single-source for aluminum repair materials, offering a full line of OEM-quality, specialized products, expertise, and education for collision centers and auto body repair shops in the U.S. and Canada. “With the growth in aluminum-intensive vehicle design comes a subsequent rise in the repair market,” said Michael DeCata, president and chief executive officer, Lawson Products. “We’re helping our automotive customers leverage the aluminum repair market opportunity, wherever they are in their aluminum...
Bischof + Klein presents technical films for construction sector
Lengerich-based packaging and film manufacturer Bischof + Klein presented its technical films at the "IEX Europe" trade fair in Cologne and the "Frontale" trade fair in Nuremberg for the first time. "Those were successful premieres", reported sales manager Stefan Löber and product manager Dieter Wienninger. The B+K trade fair teams were delighted to receive specific orders from around the globe. As the leading trade fair for industrial insulating material and insulation technology, the IEX is an important platform for the insulation, soundproofing and fire protection segments. Visitors to B+K's stand were particularly interested in aspects of thermal insulation, footfall sound insulation and moisture protection. Bischof + Klein produces laminates which are used in the construction sector...
Novelis appoints Devinder Ahuja as SVP and CFO
Novelis, Inc., the world leader in aluminium rolling and recycling, today announced the appointment of Devinder Ahuja as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer. Ahuja will join Novelis on July 19, 2016, as Senior Vice President, Finance, and Chief Financial Officer Designate. He will officially become Novelis' Chief Financial Officer after the filing of the company's first quarter 10-Q in August. Steve Pohl, currently Interim Chief Financial Officer, will be responsible for the function until that time. "We are thrilled to have someone with Devinder's breadth of financial experience and expertise joins Novelis," said Steve Fisher, Novelis President and Chief Executive Officer. "He will bring a distinct and different perspective to the executive team and to the role of CFO." As...
Sagar Asia enters into an asset purchase areement with Golkonda Aluminium
Sagar Asia Private Limited has entered into an asset purchase agreement with Golkonda Aluminium Extrusion Limited to purchase certain assets from Golkonda Aluminium located in Hyderabad. In a journey of over three decades, Sagar Asia has attained leadership in the Indian market as a manufacturer of ladders, scaffolding systems, customized equipment for windmills and several ‘on-order’ solutions. A team from Trilegal, Hyderabad comprising Partner Pavan Kumar, Senior Associate Dennis John and Associate John Mathew acted for Sagar Asia. ALMT Legal, Bangalore advised Golkonda Aluminium on the transaction, through a team led by Partner Satish Srinivasan. Golkonda Aluminium Extrusions Limited, formerly Alumeco India Extrusion Limited, is an India-based company engaged in the manufacture of...
U.S. scientists develop aluminium alloy that fosters domestic rare earth production
Scientists at the United States Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Eck Industries announced last week that they have developed a new variety of aluminium alloys that are more resistant to heat and are easier to work with than current alloys. Such alloys have the potential to re-invigorate America’s production of rare-earth elements, which are key to electronics and other modern and emerging technologies. “We have these rare earths that we need for energy technologies,” said ORNL’s Orlando Rios, “but when you go to extract rare earths, the majority [of rare earths found in the United States] is cerium and lanthanum, which have limited large-volume uses.” To address this problem, the research team has developed an...
Aluminium up by 1% on global cues
Aluminium prices edged up by INR 1.10 to INR 107.20 per kg in futures trade on Thursday, June 9, as participants enlarged their positions, supported by a strong spot demand in the physical market. In futures trading at the Multi Commodity Exchange, Mumbai, aluminium for delivery this month inched up by INR 1.10 or 1.04 per cent to INR 107.20 per kg in a business turnover of 316 lots. Likewise, the metal for delivery in July traded higher by INR 1.10 or 1.10 per cent to INR 107.95 per kg in 17 lots. Traders said strength in the base metals pack at the London Metal Exchange (LME), spurred by an improving trade outlook in China and monetary stimulus by the European Central Bank and increased domestic demand from consuming industries at the spot markets, helped aluminium futures to trade...
NTNU and Hydro formalize agreement on new professorship in aluminium
Hydro and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) today signed an agreement to establish a new professorship in aluminium. NTNU Dean Ingvald Strømmen Hydro's Head of Technology Hans Erik Vatne signed the agreement today Hydro is providing up to NOK 10 million for a five-year post to acquire new knowledge and strengthen Norway's leading position in aluminium. With the new professorship, the university is moving to become the world's leading research institution on the application of aluminium. "With this grant from Hydro behind us, we will take the lead in research to create new industrial development in both Norway and the world. If we are to succeed we must be constantly better, more effective and more innovative today than we were yesterday," says the Dean of the...
Australian alumina stable overnight but down $6/mt on week
The Platts Australian alumina daily assessment at $244/mt FOB on Thursday, June 9, was unchanged from a day ago, but has fallen $6/mt in the last week. The market has been under downward pressure from unplaced cargoes in Australia, China, India and the Americas. On Thursday a smelter reported being approached by a trader seeking to offload multiple Australian shipments between July and December. A second smelter reported placing a bid at the equivalent of $240/mt FOB Western Australia that was subsequently rejected, for a 30,000 mt shipment in the second half of July. On Wednesday, June 8, a third consumer had reported knocking back a July offer at $246/mt FOB Australia. Platts assessed the Handysize freight rate at $11.40/mt on Thursday for a 30,000 mt shipment in July from Western...
Demerging Alcoa slams ‘opportunistic’ Alumina
Relations between Alcoa and Melbourne’s Alumina continue to sour ahead of a legal shootout in September on Alumina’s rights to force a reworking of the global alumina alliance, known as AWAC, between the pair because of Alcoa’s planned demerger. In a rare Sydney briefing to local investors and analysts hosted by Morgan Stanley, an adviser to Alcoa on its planned demerger in the December half, Alcoa let rip at its partner of 55 years (including Alumina antecedents). Matt Garth, Alcoa’s vice-president of investor relations, accused Alumina of being emotional and opportunistic in its pursuit of a better deal while Alcoa worked towards its demerger. He accused Alumina of making its initial approaches for a new deal “behind closed doors with the threat that they would take it public”. Alumina...
Dubai group seeks funding for $8bn Guinean bauxite mine
A Dubai-based resources firm is in talks with trading houses to develop bauxite reserves in Guinea, valued at $8 billion and previously held by BHP Billiton, the company's co-founder said on Thursday. James Tounkara, co-founder of Gajah Investment Group, said he also expected Chinese involvement in the project that he expects to start production by the end of next year, but there had been no contact yet. Guinea has around a third of the world's bauxite reserves, used for making aluminium, although their development has been thwarted by years of military rule and popular unrest. BHP, which formerly owned the Boffa South bauxite blocks, some 150 km (93 miles) north of the capital Conakry, halted exploration in 2012 there after aluminium prices dropped. Tounkara said Guinea "missed the...
HPA demand in Asia-Pacific to grow at CAGR 13.5% to reach at $4.3 bln by 2022
The worldwide demand for high purity alumina is on the rise. The mineral with purity level equal to or greater than 99.9 per cent finds use in single crystal materials such as sapphires for watch covers, translucent tubes for high-pressure sodium lamps, high-strength ceramic tools and abrasives for magnetic tape, among others. A recently published market research report revealed that the demand for high purity alumina is going to witness an increasing demand in areas exhibiting high growth rates such as semiconductors and computers, automobiles, display materials, and energy. High purity alumina, owing to its amazing blend of chemical and physical properties such as high wear-resistance and low-friction, high thermal and electrical insulating ability, and broad chemical compatibility is...
2016 U.S.-China strategic and economic dialogue: An update
On June 6-7, U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew and Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang led the eighth meeting of the Economic Track of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED VIII) in Beijing, China. As the Special Representatives of President Barack Obama and President Xi Jinping, Secretary Lew and Vice Premier Wang led discussions with a high-level delegation of Cabinet members, ministers, agency heads, and senior officials from both countries. As the world’s two largest economies, the United States and China share a mutual interest in each other’s economic prosperity, and recognize that enhanced cooperation on the diverse set of issues encompassed in the S&ED is crucial for the health of the broader global economy. During the eighth meeting of the S&ED, the two sides pledged...
Brazil CADE approves Ball Corp's proposed Rexam plc acquisition
Ball Corporation confirms that Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (CADE) has formally approved the buyer of the divested assets of its proposed acquisition of Rexam PLC, indicating that Ball may now proceed to close on the acquisition. Ball is working to obtain the remaining regulatory clearances in Europe and the United States soon, enabling the proposed acquisition of Rexam PLC to close. Following closing of the transaction, Ball will remain a New York Stock Exchange listed company domiciled in the U.S. Ball Corporation supplies innovative, sustainable packaging solutions such as aluminium beverage cans, flexible packaging for food and household products customers, as well as aerospace and other technologies and services primarily for the U.S. market. Rexam Inc. is a...
660 Guitars unveils aluminium CT/52 Model
660 Guitars has introduced its latest design, the CT/52. The new model has been engineered as a modern slant on a classic, singlecut design, constructed of aircraft-grade aluminium. The 25.5-inch scale CT/52, made of one piece of aircraft-grade aluminium, has been paired with a shallow-oval 16-inch radius solid graphite/carbon fiber neck. It weighs 7.5 lbs. The finish is a powder coat, which is available in numerous color options. The bridge is a Hipshot USA; a Kahler Tremolo bridge is optional for an additional price. The pickups are 16.50K Dimarzio Dominion Humbuckers with ceramic magnets, mounted on ‘mini-rails’ to allow user-adjusted tonal variations. Smoked acrylic black glass and Hennessy Secure strap locks are standard, and the guitar ships in an RB Aero case.
RS Components boosts high-quality aluminium capacitor and passives lines
RS Components, the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc, the global distributor for engineers, has vastly extended the range of capacitor technologies available from stock to customers worldwide, including aluminium electrolytic, film and ceramic capacitors, miniature inductors, filters, ferrites and more. This way, RS Components has leveraged upon its new global agreement with TDK Corporation. TDK Corporation is a leading electronics company. Its portfolio includes electronic components, modules and systems, power supplies, and magnetic application products as well as energy devices, flash memory application devices, and others. TDK focuses on demanding markets in the areas of information and communication technology and consumer, automotive and industrial electronics. The company has...
CubCrafters secures US certification for XCub, a lightweight sports aircraft
Light aircraft developer CubCrafters has secured US certification for its flagship piston-single, the XCub, following a six-year, clandestine development effort, and says it will deliver the first aircraft on 5 July. The carbon-fibre XCub is a US Federal Aviation Regulation Part 23 version of the nine-year-old Carbon Cub SS light sport aircraft; itself an updated variant of the out-of-production Piper Cub. "We have kept XCub development a secret from the start. We only wanted to publicise the programme once we had secured type certification," says John Whitish, director of global marketing for the Yakima, Washington-based company. The final product is a "lighter, faster and stronger aircraft than anything in its category," adds CubCrafters founder and chief executive Jim Richmond. "It...
Alubond USA introduces A2 fire resistant aluminium composite panels in the UAE
Alubond USA has introduced the first A2 fire resistant aluminium composite panels, a first in the UAE. Aluminium composite wall systems, a critical class of components of the modern-day external cladding, symbolize the bustling landscape of the UAE. An aluminium composite panel consists of two aluminium skin coils sandwiching a central core of plastic plus mineral elements. The content of minerals in the core determines its fire resistance. The A2 fire resistant aluminium composite panels of Alubond USA have the highest mineral content in their core, which make them the safest products in the market for fire resistance. The Civil Defence is in the process of drafting the new UAE code of life and fire safety, expected to be released by the end of this month. The Civil Defence regulations...
