AL Circle Analysis: Bauxite developments, alumina trade & primary aluminium market dynamics across Australia, Guinea, US & India
The aluminium industry is entering another phase of supply-chain repositioning. Across bauxite, alumina and primary aluminium, companies are investing in new resources, consolidating strategic assets and expanding processing capacity, while governments are increasingly treating domestic supply as a strategic priority. The latest developments from Australia, Guyana, Guinea, Indonesia, the US and India point to a market where resource security, processing location and control over supply chains are becoming as important as production growth. At the same time, new trading mechanisms and changing investment patterns are beginning to influence how aluminium and its raw materials reach the market. Bauxite supply expands, but securing the right tonnes is becoming harder In Western Australia, VBX...
China's 22.87 Mt extrusion market faces a structural shift as 317 GW solar growth counters weak construction demand
The global aluminium extrusion landscape is undergoing a structural transition driven by industrial decarbonisation, global electrification, and the rapid deployment of clean energy infrastructure. Historically anchored by civil engineering and residential real estate, demand for extruded aluminium profiles in China, the world’s dominant manufacturing hub, is decoupling from traditional property sectors. Persistent structural weakness in China’s domestic construction market has slowed the consumption of conventional architectural profiles such as window frames, door sections, and curtain walls. Conversely, advanced industrial applications, specifically solar photovoltaic (PV) racking, battery energy storage systems (BESS), power grid modernisation, and electric vehicles (EVs), have...
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Copper and aluminium battle it out for Chinese grid tenders
China’s copper and aluminium industries are battling it out to secure lucrative tenders to wire up the country’s growing cities amid waning demand for the metals. The rout in commodities has seen copper and aluminium prices drop by about 20 per cent since the beginning of the year on the back of China’s slowdown. Both aluminium and copper are saddled with overcapacity, making any pockets of demand all the more sought after. Hence the interest in this summer’s publication of national standards for aluminium alloy to be used in cables in local electricity distribution grids. China targets investment of RMB300bn in city power distribution this year alone, and RMB2tn by 2020 to keep pace with rapid urbanisation. Switching to aluminium alloy for factories and city distribution networks could...
Tabular alumina producer Aluchem to receive Business of the Year Award
Aluchem has been one of the steady employers of the Jackson area in the state of Mississippi for 20 years, making a once abandoned basic brick plant an important source of employment and tabular alumina production. As an acknowledgement of this entrepreneurial activity, Aluchem, located on Beaver Pike just west of Jackson, has been named as the 2015 Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year. The company will be one of many to be honoured during the chamber’s Annual Appreciation Banquet on Thursday, October 22. “It is an honour and privilege to receive such an award and it is with great pride to accept the award of 2015 Business/Industry of the Year!” said an Aluchem spokesperson. Aluchem was founded in 1978 by Ronald Zapletal, Ronal Bell and Edward Butera. In 1987, these...
Ningbo Mayyard develops mirrored aluminum LED light engine
Ningbo Mayyard Photoelectricity Co., Ltd has combined an LED light source and driver together in a new LED light engine to address the changing LED lighting market with multiple lamp and luminaire configurations on the market. The new engine is designed to be competitive in the market, better meeting customer demands with high heat dissipation, high efficiency, convenient operation and a mirrored aluminum configuration. Mirrored aluminum has high reflectivity. Electronic components of the LED light engine are thermally separated. The light-emitting chip is directly fixed onto the mirrored surface of the aluminum reflectors, through gold wire connection on the electrode. BT is used as the insulating dielectric layer. This results in the most suitable COB package, with good heat...
CM Truck Beds announces new aluminium truck bed manufacturing plant
America’s fastest growing truck bed manufacturing company in America, CM Truck Beds, announced the retooling and opening of the new aluminum truck bed manufacturing plant. Located in Madill, OK, CM Truck Beds’ new facility is equipped to produce our unsurpassed, top-quality aluminum truck beds. Manufacturing aluminum truck beds since 2014, CM Truck Beds recognizes the explosive growth and development of these truck bed models. With their rich featured products, CM Truck Beds offers customers and dealers across America the best in class, standard featured truck bed models with competitive pricing, and top-quality. And now with this new manufacturing plant, CM Truck Beds will be able to produce more and continue to reign as the top truck bed company in the U.S. This new manufacturing plant...
Aluminum plant EIR expected by mid-November
The Environmental Impact Report on a proposed 964-acre aluminum direct chill billet casting facility in Lenwood is expected to be released by November, officials say. Economic Development and Planning Manager Gaither Lowenstein confirmed recently that he anticipates releasing the public review draft by mid-November. Mojave Aluminum President Eric Shen said he is a little more optimistic. "We are hoping to have the consultants sign off on the draft for administrative city review and public review sometime in October," Shen said by phone Wednesday. The $201 million proposed aluminum plant is targeted for a site at the southeast corner of Gazana Street and Amarylis Avenue. City Manager Curt Mitchell had last reported on the plant's progress at the August 25 City Council meeting. During a...
Multi Mech targets 600 forklift order for aluminium smelters in 3yrs
Multi Mech is targeting three regional aluminium operations with its smelter-customised forklifts, which are manufactured by Doosan and distributed exclusively by Multi Mech in the region. The company is hoping to replace much of the 200-machine fleets of a couple of existing smelter operations in the region, as well as playing a role in supplying a 200-machine bauxite-refining operation that is yet to come online. “So we’re talking about 600 machines for three years down the line, and the market size for lift trucks is only 10,000 across segments,” states Gopinath. “If I take over three smelters, I'm taking a 30% share of the market [in aluminium]. “Two years down the line, our forklift business in the GCC will be worth $50m to $75m, and it’s not just the trucks: the aftersales and parts...
Century Aluminum to retain 250 workers at its Hawesville Smelter
Century Aluminum says about 250 employees will remain working at its Hawesville Smelter in western Kentucky. The Messenger-Inquirer reports in a statement Wednesday, the company said that the plant will continue operating at about 40 percent capacity after October 24. Company officials had originally planned to shut down the smelter on that date, citing a stagnant aluminum market and low prices for Chinese aluminum. The company now says it will keep two pot lines operating at the plant. Century Aluminum's spokesman Kenny Barkley says the company would monitor the economy and the price of aluminum to determine if the two pot lines would continue operating. Barkley says the company believes it can still operate with two pot lines and be profitable.
SWSI to buy US$30 million CBs of XinRen Aluminum
Southwest Securities International Securities Limited (00812) (SWSI) has conditionally agreed to subscribe for the secured convertible bonds issued by XinRen Aluminum Holdings Limited in an aggregate principal amount of US$30 million. The convertible bonds, bearing interest at a rate of 8% per annum, will become mature on 27 August 2020. Assuming full conversion of the convertible bonds at a conversion price of S$1.01 per XinRen Aluminum share, the maximum number of conversion shares to be allotted and issued by XinRen Aluminum will be 39.386 million shares. XinRen Aluminum, whose shares are listed on the Main Board of SGX-ST, is a vertically integrated maker of primary aluminum products in the PRC. As the rate of return of the convertible bonds is generally more favourable and higher...
Alcoa signs $1 billion contract with Airbus for high-tech fastening systems
Lightweight metals leader Alcoa has signed an approximately $1 billion contract with Airbus for high-tech, multi-material aerospace fastening systems. The deal is Alcoa’s largest fastener contract ever with the aircraft manufacturer. Alcoa’s fasteners fly on every Airbus platform. “Our growing aerospace capabilities, technology strength and global, first-rate customer service continue to strengthen Alcoa’s decades-long partnership with Airbus,” said Alcoa Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Klaus Kleinfeld. “Alcoa is proud to partner with Airbus to provide breakthrough technologies for some of the most advanced aircraft in the world.” Alcoa’s fasteners will be used to assemble some of Airbus’s latest high-growth airplanes, including the A350 XWB, Airbus’ newest commercial airplane, and...
Up to $2.48 billion worth aluminium project kickoffs expected in U.S. in Q4 2015
According to a study conducted by the Industrial Info Resources, Sugar Land, Texas, aluminium smelters across the United States have gone through a distressed phase of cutbacks and closures, amid a global oversupply and resultant price decline. Even so, downstream aluminium-related projects in the U.S. continue to start up, especially those tied to aluminium sheet and extrusion products. Industrial Info is tracking 11 active U.S. aluminium production projects worth $2.48 billion that are slated for kickoff in fourth-quarter 2015. However, all but $80 million of that amount is tied to one grassroot, flat-rolled aluminium minimill. Some of the notable aluminium project kickoffs expected in Q4 2015 in the U.S include those of big names such as Alcoa, Century Aluminum Company, Constellium...
Alcoa to scale up production at its Pinjarra alumina refinery
Alcoa has flagged a move to expand production at its Pinjarra refinery by up to 20 per cent, winning environmental approval to push the facility’s total alumina output to five million tonnes a year. The Environmental Protection Authority last month ticked off on an Alcoa application to amend existing environmental approvals to boost the refinery’s nameplate capacity from 4.2mtpa to 5mtpa, with a corresponding increase in mining at its Huntley bauxite operations. A spokeswoman for Alcoa said yesterday the approval related to “potential future production” at the facility, and no major capital works were planned at Pinjarra. “Any production increases would be achieved through incremental process efficiency improvements,” she said. It is understood the company hopes to push production rates...
Audi uses special aluminum alloys in its all new A8 L Security sedan
One of the quieter, more subtle reveals of the recent Frankfurt Motor Show, the A8 L Security sedan debuted as Audi's most secure car ever. It leaps two levels beyond its predecessor and packs enough reinforcements to survive armor-piercing assault rifle fire and hand grenade explosions. Last year, Mercedes introduced its VR9-certified Mercedes-Benz S600 Guard, and now Audi is meeting the same benchmark with its luxury flagship. The black A8 makes an appropriately stately but low-profile platform for an armored package. Audi has built the unitary occupant safety cell up from lightweight but high-strength materials including aramide fabric, special aluminum alloys and hot-formed armor steel. That gives it full VR9-level protection, which in layman's terms, means it can withstand fire from...
Strange Engineering releases new adjustable aluminium shocks
Strange Engineering, the US based autoparts manufacturer with a rich racing heritage, has introduced their all new range of Adjustable Aluminum Shocks. These lightweight shocks make tuning your suspension easy and are available in both single and double adjustable configurations. Strange Engineering aluminum bolt-in shocks are based on the proven coil-over technology that has been relied on by racers for years. The lightweight aluminum construction make tuning the suspension easy by locating the adjuster knob(s) at the bottom of the shock body. The wide range of valving allows each shock to be utilized in street, strip and road race applications and comes with high quality mounting hardware to handle the most demanding of applications. Strange Engineering aluminum bodied bolt-in shocks...
National Manufacturing Day highlights impact of recycling to U.S. economy
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) joins in the nationwide celebration of National Manufacturing Day by emphasizing the many positive economic contributions of the recycling industry to the U.S. manufacturing landscape. In 2014 alone, more than 135 million metric tons of metal, paper, plastic, glass, textiles, rubber, and electronics were manufactured in specification grade commodities by the U.S. scrap recycling industry. “National Manufacturing Day helps to highlight the important role recyclers play in America’s overall economy, and their involvement in the goods and products people use in everyday life,” said Robin Wiener, president of ISRI. “As the first link in the manufacturing supply chain, the recycling industry provides a source of raw material to other...
Aluminum Association updates on its U.S. - China Aluminum Trade Policy
The current imbalance in the aluminum supply/demand relationship inside China has spurred an oversupply which is resulting in two negative outcomes for the U.S. economy and the aluminum industry as a whole. It encourages illegal trade, trans-shipment, and re-melting of fabricated aluminum products, which is fundamentally impacting U.S. aluminum producers. It has also created an oversupply of material from the most carbon intensive operations in the world, supplanting aluminum produced in less carbon intensive regions, including North America. At the direction of the Aluminum Association’s Executive Committee Trade Working Group – chaired by Michelle O’Neill, Alcoa; and including John Barneson, Kaiser; Kip Smith, Noranda; John Gardner, Novelis; and Garney Scott, Scepter – the Association...
Utkal Alumina updates on its recently approved expansion plans
The High Level Clearance Authority (HLCA), the highest body to approve investment proposals, has approved seven projects with investments totaling to INR 41,900 crore. The projects that got the HLCA's nod include a mix of new as well as existing projects that proposed to ramp up their capacities. Among the expansion projects, the HLCA cleared proposal by Aditya Birla Group owned Utkal Alumina Ltd. Utkal Alumina has proposed to ramp up its alumina refinery capacity at Rayagada in south Odisha from one million tonne per annum (mtpa) to 1.5 mtpa and that of its captive power plant (CPP) from 50 Mw to 90 Mw. The total cost of the refinery is estimated at INR 7,563 crore. Another important project that got HLCA's approval is a power generation plant by Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd. MCL, a...
Audi Q7 construction revealed at Pfaff event
Pfaff Autoworks hosted its annual insurance open house last week. The event provided a chance for those in the insurance industry to become familiar with new trends in the collision repair space. The emergence of aluminum as a more common material in new cars took centre stage at the Pfaff Autoworks event. There has already been a load of speculation about the rise of aluminum. Some facility owners have taken the plunge, but others are holding off of on the installation of a dedicated aluminum room or curtained bay. But there is no lack of evidence that a big shift is coming. Major aluminum producers like Alcoa are rapidly expanding production and reorganizing their corporate structure to get ready for new demand from the auto sector. Alcoa recently announced it is splitting in two as a...
Next-generation Rolls-Royce Phantom to debut all aluminium architecture
According to a recently published report, the new Rolls-Royce Phantom will ride on all new aluminium platform, which will also underpin future vehicles from the British marque. The next-generation Phantom, which could debut as early as next year, will be the first car to utilise a new aluminium architecture that’s being developed for Rolls-Royce by BMW. The move to aluminium will allow the brand to shed kilos, improve performance and increase fuel economy, as well as have bragging rights over some of its competition. As is the rage throughout the industry, Rolls-Royce’s new architecture is modular and flexible, and can be scaled up or down for a variety of different vehicles. For instance, the brand’s first ever SUV, currently being developed under the title Project Cullinan, will use the...
