Indonesian Aluminium: The shift from mining to smelting
Indonesia is pitched as the next big Asian aluminium hub as the country has released an expansive alumina and aluminium expansion plan, based on the abundant bauxite resource in the country. China has exhausted its aluminium capacity cap and is unlikely to raise installed capacity significantly in the coming years. Additionally, geopolitical conflicts, sanctions, and tariffs have made much of global aluminium capacity inaccessible and vulnerable. This includes Russian aluminium and the Gulf output, along with restricted and costly access to Canadian aluminium for the US smelters. The already tight supply conditions have been made worse after the Iran-Israel-US war that disrupted the Gulf aluminium capacity. Under current supply conditions, India and Indonesia will play a critical role in...
Germany’s automotive industry drives 32.8% of aluminium consumption as EV production rises 23%, led by Volkswagen, BMW & Mercedes-Benz
Germany’s automobile industry is a major part of the country’s aluminium story, with the metal used in everything from vehicle body panels and chassis components to battery enclosures and electric-drive systems. As automakers develop lighter vehicles and expand their electric models, aluminium has become an important material across the manufacturing process. Germany’s automotive industry consumes around 950,000 tonnes of aluminium annually, accounting for a substantial share of the wider transport sector’s demand. In 2025, Germany’s total aluminium consumption stood at approximately 2.9 million tonnes, with the transport sector accounting for 1.35 million tonnes, representing 46 per cent of the total. This extensive use of aluminium in transport mirrors its importance to the global...
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GKN Sinter Metals plans $19.8 million expansion at its North Carolina aluminum plant
GKN Sinter Metals plans to invest $19.8 million to expand its state-of-the art aluminum manufacturing plant in Conover, North Carolina. Post expansion, the company expects to create 55 new manufacturing jobs during the next five years in Catawba County. Abdul Butt, President of GKN Sinter Metals, Americas, said, “At GKN Sinter Metals, we continue to grow our presence in North Carolina where we are delighted to be working in partnership with Governor McCrory and his team. In particular, we would like to thank the Catawba County Economic Development Corporation for their support in making this project work.” “The expanded Conover facility will build on GKN’s aluminum and lightweight technology capabilities that deliver lightweight and more energy-efficient designs and products to our...
NAPCO generates revenue of OMR 18.5 million in 2015
National Aluminium Products Company SAOG ( NAPCO ), one of the leading extruders of aluminium profiles in the GCC, has announced a robust performance for the third quarter of 2015, achieving a remarkable growth in volume in the domestic market as well as in exports. It has reported revenues of OMR 18.5 million during the first nine months of 2015, compared to OMR 13.5 million during the same period for 2014, representing an increase of 37 per cent. In addition, NAPCO has gained a net profit of OMR 0.582 million, an increase of 20 per cent, as of September 30, 2015 as compared to OMR 0.486 million during the same period of the previous year. The figures were revealed during the company's recent meeting of the Board of Directors held at the NAPCO headquarters. Despite challenging market...
Emirates Global Aluminium sees Guinea feasibility study ready by Q1 2016
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) expects to complete a feasibility study for its bauxite mine and alumina refinery project in Guinea by the first quarter of next year, its chief executive said on Sunday, November 15. "We are already in, we just need (to know) how much we are going to budget, how much it is going to cost us," Abdulla Kalban said on the sidelines of an aluminium conference. Kalban told the conference the project will have two phases. "We are already in feasibility study number three and (it) will be completed by the first quarter of 2016," he told the conference. Phase 1 of the project is the mining of 8 to 12 million tonnes of bauxite for export and for Phase 2, "we are talking about a 2 million-tonne alumina refinery," he said. In 2013 the state owners of EGA signed a $5...
Rusal elaborates on aluminium industry trends for the first nine months of 2015
Global aluminium market trends in the first nine months of 2015 • Global aluminium demand grew by 5.6% in the first nine months (“9m”) 2015 year-on-year (“YoY”). Demand growth in North America, India, Middle East and the EU compensated for a contraction in demand from Japan, Russia and South America. • With the commissioning of new capacity in the Middle East and India, production outside of China grew by 2.2% in YoY in 9m 2015. • China continues to increase new operating capacity whilst subsidizing existing loss making smelters. While 2.5 million tonnes of capacity has been cut year-to-date (“YTD”), 3.0 million tonnes of new capacity has been commissioned and 616 ktpy of operating capacities were resumed. • Chinese net exports of semis rose by 29.4% YoY in 9m 2015 but fell to a lower YTD...
SMM sees LME aluminium mired around $1,500 per tonne this week
LME aluminium will be stuck around $1,500 per tonne next week, SMM says. Weak SHFE aluminium , a firm US dollar and concerns over demand in China will keep LME aluminium in check. SHFE aluminium should range 10,100-10,350 yuan per tonne, as market fundamentals remain poor. In China’s spot market, year-end cash crunch will leave some smelters anxious to sell and curtail buying activity. So, spot discounts will widen to 120-160 yuan per tonne over SHFE front-month contract.
India can become engine of global economic growth, says Vedanta Chairman
Pinning hopes on the Narendra Modi government for policy reforms to attract investment, mining baron Anil Agarwal on Friday said India has the potential to become the "engine of global economic growth". "As the world is changing, the Indian government... should move towards faster decision-making, creating level playing field for the investment... If anyone can help India realise the great potential it is our Prime Minister Modi and his government," Vedanta Resources chief Anil Agarwal said on the sidelines of the global CEOs' meet here. Stressing that India needs at least 10 more companies on par with natural resources giant Vedanta, Mr Agarwal said companies that want to invest in India can raise capital in the UK to invest in India's growth story. "India has all the potential resources...
Ma’aden aspiring to be world’s largest integrated aluminum industry in 5 years
Eastern Province Emir Prince Saud Bin Naif inaugurated the Arab International Aluminum Conference (ARABAL) at Dhahran Exhibition Center in Dammam Sunday in the presence of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Ali Al-Naimi, CEO of Ma’aden Khaled Bin Saleh Al-Mudaifer, leading businessmen, top ranking officials and prospective investors. The three-day conference is organized and hosted by Ma’aden. In his inaugural remark, Prince Saud Bin Naif congratulated Ma’aden for making big stride in mining and aluminum sector he said Ma’aden symbolizes unprecedented growth of the industrial sector in the Kingdom and also the wise policies of the architects of the country to diversify from the oil sector. He welcomed the delegates of the conference and hoped that their deliberations will further...
Bauxite mining crucial for the State: AP Govt readies to convince the locals
Bauxite mining in Andhra Pradesh Vishakha Agency area remains a jinxed issue as tribals continue with their protests against State government’s initiative to unlock the state’s mineral development potential. However, N Chandrababu Naidu’s government seems to be doubly determined on this issue and rules out any possibility of backing out from it. In fact, it has lined up a series of actions to convince the protesting tribal organizations with the hope that they would eventually give their consent to the project expected to fill the State coffers. According to the sources, Chief Minister had already given the task of convincing the local tribal people to allow mining of Bauxite in the agency area to HRD minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao and panchayat raj minister Ch Ayyanapatrudu, who belong to...
Mike Hess Brewery premiers 'pint can' with removable top end
Mike Hess Brewing (MHB) has introduced its Open Mike™ beer can, becoming the only brewery in California to use Philadelphia-based Crown Holdings Inc.’s patented 360 End® technology. A simple pull tab removes the entire top end of the can, effectively turning the can into an instant pint glass. “We could not be more excited to debut this breakthrough can design,” says Mike Hess, the brewery’s founder. “For outdoor enthusiasts like me, Open Mike lets us experience the beer wherever we go, whether that’s at the beach or pool deck, stadium parking lot or anywhere in the great outdoors and without the disadvantage of a standard can’s small opening. Craft beer, technology and the active lifestyle come together quite nicely here,” he adds. The new cans and ends are fully recyclable, and the ends...
Rexam issues Q3 2015 trading update
Rexam, a leading global beverage can maker, issued the following trading update for the period from 1 July 2015. Results for the Group are in line with the plans. Overall global beverage can volumes were up 3% (1% excluding the acquisition of UAC) in the third quarter. Volume growth in Europe slowed down as expected with good growth in Germany, Spain and Austria partially offset by softness in Russia, Scandinavia, Belgium and the Netherlands. Volumes were subdued in the Middle East as some borders remained closed. In North America, standard volumes continued to be impacted by the decline in the carbonated soft drink market whilst specialty volumes continued to perform well. Volumes in South America returned to growth in the quarter with a decline in standard cans outweighed by strong...
Denmark's Multicut A/S to produce aluminum parts for F-35
Multicut A/S, a precision component manufacturer located in Vildjberg, Denmark, has been notified by Lockheed Martin that it would be awarded the contract for making aluminum machined parts for F-35 fighters. Under the contract to be issued, the Danish company will produce items such as brackets and fittings for the F-35 for an initial period of three years. "Denmark continues to benefit from participating in the F-35 program, and this contract award with Multicut reaffirms Lockheed Martin's commitment to grow the industrial participation program with Danish companies of all sizes," said Jack Crisler, Lockheed Martin F-35 vice president, at Multicut in Vildbjerg. "Multicut and other Danish companies are participating in a truly international, highly innovative 'next generation' program,...
Sapa granted modular heat sink methodology patent
Sapa has been granted a key patent related to its modular heat sink manufacturing method. This method can create aluminium heat sinks that are approximately eight percent more thermally efficient than the industry standard. United States Patent 13/465431, entitled Heat sink and method of manufacturing, utilizes a modular concept that enables maximum flexibility with fin geometry, fin ratio and heat sink footprint, yielding heat sink ratios in excess of 40:1. “This patent recognizes Sapa’s breakthrough work in aluminium extrusion manufacturing and friction stir welding technology,” says Mike Tozier, application engineering manager for the company in North America. “Not only does this method allow for the production of large-scale heat sinks with very high fin ratios, it is also well-suited...
2015 CMRA Convention: Secondary metals production capacity to be capped
Representatives of the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association Recycling Metals Branch (CMRA), which held its 2015 Annual Convention in Ningbo, China, in early November, warned that the “new normal” economy of China means an end to rapidly growing metals production capacity. Ren Xudong, executive vice president of the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association (CNIA), portrayed a mixture of good and bad conditions for nonferrous metals producers. Many base metal sectors, he said, have an excess capacity issue and “prices are in a downturn both at home and abroad.” Figures for secondary metals production in China for the first nine months in 2015 show aluminum output up 5.5 percent and lead up by 15 percent, but secondary copper production has dropped by 7.1 percent, according to...
Orbite announces Q3 2015 results and provides update on HPA construction
Orbite Technologies Inc. announced the filing of its Consolidated Interim Financial Statements for the third quarter ended September 30, 2015. The company reported a loss before net finance income and taxes of $2.5 million as compared to $2.4 million for the same period in 2014. Due to a decrease in non-cash-net finance income, the net loss was $2.1 million for the third quarter, as compared to a net loss of $0.2 million for the same period in 2014. As at September 30, 2015t. The company also reported a working capital of $4.6 million. Third Quarter and Subsequent Events Highlights: - Announced the collaboration with the National Research Council on HPA benchmarking for lithium-ion batteries. - Shipped first 5N+ HPA samples to prospective customers. - Received notice of allowance for...
Second Aluminum Corp. industrial syngas plant enters commissioning phase
The second of three previously announced natural gas replacement projects licensed by Tianwo-SES Clean Energy Technologies Company Joint Venture in China and under construction for Aluminum Corporation of China Ltd has entered the commissioning phase. Members of Synthesis Energy Systems’ Zao Zhuang New Gas Company Joint Venture are onsite at the new facility, located in Xing County, Shanxi Province, to support the commissioning and startup. Initial syngas production from Shanxi's single SES Gasification Technology (SGT) system is expected to commence later this month. "I am pleased to see continued progress at all three CHALCO projects. The Shanxi project is proceeding as planned and progress continues at the Zibo City facility, which is currently operating at full capacity during its...
Alcoa to scrap old ship to curtail cost amid mounting aluminium market challenges
Leading aluminium producer Aloca plans to decommission MV Portland, the ship used until now for domestic supply chain. Citing the parlous state of aluminium industry, the company said it was a strategic decision ahead of 2017, when operating life of Portand comes to an end. Cost to keep it operational would mean Alcoa will have to pump in millions of dollars. For the company, which announced to idle three smelters in the United States on November 2, doing that will be rather illogical even if that means taking on Australian labour unions and governmental authorities. "The global aluminium industry is facing very challenging market conditions," an Alcoa spokesman notes. "In Australia, our focus is on reducing operating costs and improving productivity to help all our facilities remain...
Nanocoatings boost corrosion resistance of aluminum alloys
Iranian researchers from Tarbiat Modares University carried out a research to increase the resistance of alloys, and they succeeded in the production of laboratorial nanocoatings with desirable properties such as high corrosion and abrasion resistance. A nanocoating was produced in this research to protect alloys. To this end, surface nanocrystalline pre-process has been used through plasma electrolyte oxidation (PEO) or microsparkle oxidation method. Microsparkle oxidation is a surface process that has been widely used in recent years. Taking into consideration the fact that microsparkle oxidation process highly depends on the microstructure of the substrate, it seems that the nano-crystallization of aluminum alloy surface significantly affects the properties of the produced coating....
Apex Aluminum expanding operations
Business is growing for Apex Aluminum Die Casting in Piqua to the point where they are needing to expand operations and add new jobs to keep up. “We’re going to need at least 40 (new employees),” Pat Zimmerman, president, said. The positions include operators on the floor as well as some skilled spots, quality positions, supervistory positions, and so on. “Our Operations Manager, Sara Ryan … selected Staffmark to do the staffing,” Zimmerman said. Zimmerman later added, “It’s a big step for us adding them and again, finding folks is getting harder to do.” Apex had originally been doing the hiring themselves, but they were not getting enough people through the door. “That’s been a a big change for us,” Zimmerman said about Staffmark. “It’s working out well so far.” They currently boast...
