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....
AL Circle analysis: Germany’s aluminium trade surplus, Novelis’ US expansion, Asia’s EV demand & India’s underutilised downstream capacity
Aluminium’s next growth phase is increasingly being shaped by downstream processing, supply-chain resilience and demand from specialised applications. Germany continues to generate a substantial trade surplus in flat-rolled products despite a shrinking primary aluminium base, while North America is investing in recycling and rolling. Across Asia, new manufacturing capabilities and growing demand from electric vehicles, railways and batteries are creating further opportunities. However, declining exports, underutilised capacity and uneven profitability show that investment alone does not guarantee success. For industry leaders, the challenge is to identify where demand is shifting, develop products that meet customer requirements and ensure that new investments translate into sustainable...
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An interview with Riccardo Ferrario, General Manager, IDRA Group at METEF 2017
<p><strong>IDRA Group</strong> is an Italy based manufacturing group involved in the design and manufacture of die casting presses and automated cells for the light alloy foundry business worldwide. IDRA exhibited at METEF 2017, the international expo of customized technology for the aluminium and innovative metals industry.</p> <p><strong>Mr. Riccardo Ferrario</strong> is the General Manager of IDRA S.r.l with over 31 years of experience in the light alloy foundry business and worked for global companies such as Teksid (Fiat Group metallurgical product division), EurAlcom Group and Meridian Technologies. Mr. Ferrario is a metallurgical engineer and possesses strong experience in foundry manufacturing process and business development. He is a member of the board of High Pressure Die...
An interview with Marco Menin and Paolo Zanotta of Menphis S.p.A., Italy, at METEF 2017
<p>Marco Menin, Managing Director, and Paolo Zanotta, Area Manager of Menphis S.p.A, talked to AlCircle ahead of Metef 2017 exhibition in Verona, Italy. The duo from the Italian family company with a fiercely innovative bent talked in length about Menphis’ major business areas, sublimation technology and the emerging markets with opportunities and challenges.</p> <p>Marco Menin is a Chemical Engineer graduated at the Politecnico of Milan in 2002. After years in the operations and financial dept, he is now MD and in charge of business development in Asia & Pacific and North America for Menphis Aluminium.</p> <p>Paolo Zanotta has been working for Menphis since March 2009 as Sales Area Manager Middle East. In the past he spent twenty-two years in a textile company supporting Sales...
An interview with Mario Conserva, General Manager, A&L and Vice President, Alfin-Edimet, founder of METEF
<p>Mario Conserva, General Manager, A&L and Vice President, Alfin-Edimet, the founding company for METEF talked to AlCircle about the upcoming Metef 2017 exhibition and how the event is going to open its door again to more than 400 international exhibitors covering foundry casting, extrusion, rolling, machining, surface treatments and recycling.</p> <p>An excerpt from the interview: </p> <p><strong>AlCircle: Tell us in brief about the foundry industry in Europe and Italy, and the prime international markets for the foundry players in Italy.</strong></p> <p><strong>Mario Conserva: </strong>According to the 2015 analysis of the Italian associations of this segment, Italy has more than 1,100 foundry casting plants with about 30,000 employees, with a turnover of 7 billion euros...
Amafond’s Maurizio Sala discusses Metef Exhibition and India connection with Indian Commerce & Industry Minister
<p>Maurizio Sala, owner of Foundry Ecocer Srl and Protecme Srl and President of the Confindustria Amafond underlines the important presence of India at the next edition of METEF, the largest light and non-ferrous metals expo in the SEMEA area (Southern Europe, Middle East, and Africa). In a recent meeting in Rome with Nirmala Sitharaman, India’s Minister of Commerce & Industry, Sala underlined the importance of cooperation between Italy and India in the area of aluminum. Sala, at the presence of Indian Ambassador Anil Wadhwa, noted that prestigious Indian companies operating within Aluminium Association of India, such as Aditya Birla, Novelis, Vedanta, Hindalco, and Nalco, are now our partners at various levels. But, he added that it would be especially in the sectors of...
“Metal Sector has enormous potential in the Indian market” Francesco Esposito, CEO, Danieli India
<p>With two factories, one in Chennai in the south, and the other in Kolkata, in the east, in addition to the commercial offices in Pune, Mumbai and Delhi and more than 1,000 employees, Danieli India is a leading supplier of equipment and plants to the steel and aluminium industry. On a realistic note, Esposito also looks at the hurdles that emerge in the implementation of development projects. The current growth of Danieli is between 10 to 15% of the annual revenue, which is forecasted to be around 120 million euros by June 30, before the closure of the 2016-2017 budget. Francesco Esposito, CEO of Danieli India in his talk says he is both optimistic and careful about his India plans.</p> <p><strong>Question: Danieli is growing in Aluminium Sector with the takeover of FATA, one of...
"A flourishing downstream industry, economical aluminium prices and improving aluminium usage can only increase aluminium consumption in India," - Mr. BD Garg, Executive Director, Jindal Aluminium Limited
<p>Jindal Aluminium Limited is a leading aluminium extruder in India and the largest aluminium product manufacturer with above 35% of the market share. Leading the company from the forefront is a group of stalwarts among whom B.D. Garg deserves a special mention. A veteran in the Indian aluminium industry, B.D. Garg joined Jindal Aluminium in 1976 and has been working there ever since. He has worked in various positions in the company and was promoted to Executive Director and CEO of the company in 2011. As ED of the company, Mr. Garg is responsible for company’s aluminium extrusions, rolled products as also renewable energy businesses. Besides, he also monitors working of the group’s CSR activities. </p> <p>AlCircle had an opportunity to talk to him about the current...
“In the competition among steel, austempered ductile iron and aluminium, the main loser is steel,” Franco Zanardi, Honorary President, Zanardi Fonderie
<p>Franco Zanardi is the Honorary President of Zanardi Fonderie that is a producer and supplier of ductile iron and ADI castings based in Verona, Italy. An MSc in Mechanical Engineering with four decades of experience in casting and ADI materials, he is also the Past President of Confindustria Verona, and Vice President of Assofond. AlCircle had the opportunity to discuss with him different aspects of ADI and aluminium during his visit to India and we summarised the discussion in an interview script complemented by a video. </p> <div style="position: relative; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe style="position: absolute; width: 100%; height: 100%; left: 0;" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lDvg_zSIYWs?ecver=2" frameborder="0" width="640" height="360"></iframe></div>...
Top 10 aluminium alloy wheel manufacturers in the world
The aluminium alloy wheel usually has better heat conductivity, anti-corrosive properties and is much lighter than the steel wheel making it the best option for passenger vehicles. Aluminium alloy wheels are manufactured using casting and forging process. Less weight on the wheel creates less stress on the tire, and so a balance is created. Aluminium and alloy wheels are largely corrosion-resistant, but prone to galvanic corrosion. They are available in attractive bare-metal finishes because of their anti-corrosive properties which eliminates any need for paint. They also enhance performance by manipulating handling and suspension and add a brilliant appearance to the vehicle. They are homogeneous hybrid casts, and manufactured in many types of alloy wheels, such as forged aluminium, one...
Top five aluminium windows and doors manufacturers in the world
The global Building and Construction sector is on the cusp of a major evolution. A look at the changing skylines of the big and not-so-big cities of the world would reveal how the once heavy on aesthetics iron and steel reinforcement structures have silently given way to sleek aluminium. It’s almost a norm today to use aluminium facades (on the building exteriors) and aluminium window frames to lessen the use of wood, reduce heat effect, and facilitate smoother opening and closing of panes. There are other benefits also which make aluminium the preferred material for modern day architects, builders, and end users. Use of aluminium windows and doors with advanced coating is also becoming a practice these days although uPVC still stands as a major competitor in many areas. The future of the...
Top 10 Aluminium Companies in India
The aluminium industry in India is on the verge of witnessing a major leap in consumption over the next five years. Major producers are adding significant capacities and investing in new technologies to add more value to their downstream product portfolios. This, they are doing, in order to cash in on the increasing demand primarily in the building and construction sector followed by transportation (metro and high-speed railway coaches), electricals, electronic consumer durables, packaging (aerosol cans and pharmaceutical foils), and next-gen applications like solar reflectors. Defence is another sector where aluminium is being used for making naval ships and surveillance drones. Experts opine Indian aluminium companies with downstream operations should further consolidate their R&D...
Top five aluminium can manufacturers in the U.S.
Because of its attributes, the demand for aluminium can has skyrocketed around the world. The U.S., one of the largest manufacturers of aluminium cans, consumes an average of 380 types of beverages in aluminium cans every year. Aluminium can manufacturers invested over $1 billion in U.S. manufacturing facilities over the past five years. The industry accounts for the annual domestic production of approximately 124 billion. In July this year, the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), the national trade association of the metal can manufacture industry in the United States, asked the U.S. Commerce Department to exempt aluminium can sheets, which are used to make beverage cans, from tariff or trade restrictions. The list mentioned below is the top five aluminium can manufacturers in the U.S....
“Deep down I am a truck guy, and there is no better truck than the F-150”- Shawn M. Morgans, Global Vehicle Architecture Manager, Ford
<p>As a prelude to the 4th Lightweight Vehicles Manufacturing Summit 2017 to be held in Detroit, in February, Shawn M. Morgans, Global Vehicle Architecture Manager, Product Development Center, Ford Motor Company gives an insight into his thoughts about the conference and his presentation.</p> <p>At the 4th Lightweight Vehicles Manufacturing Summit, Shawn will be speaking on a panel session along with two other leading OEMs to consider the potential of each joining technology to meet individual requirements of automakers.</p> <p>Here is an excerpt from the interview he gave to The Global Automotive Lightweight Materials (GALM Series) Conference website:</p> <p><strong>GALM: Please tell us a bit about your background and your current role?</strong></p> <p><strong>Shawn:</strong> I am a...
“RA-550 technology is a great contribution in our pursuit for more efficient and more environmentally friendly aluminium production”- Mr. Viktor Mann, Technical Director, UC RUSAL
UC RUSAL, the global leader in aluminium production, recently launched the first RA-550 pot of new generation running at over 550 kA at the Sayanogorsk aluminium smelter. According to design documents, an RA-550 cell of the energy-efficient new pot consumes around 12 kW*h/kg of aluminium- around 10-15% less than previous generations, and one pot can produce 4.21 tonnes of aluminium per day, which is about twice as much as the daily output of a RA-300 pot currently used at SAZ. Mr. Victor Mann, the Technical Director of UC RUSAL , who had termed the launch of RA-550 as 'a technical and engineering breakthrough’, shared with AlCircle the key benefits of the new pot in terms of energy-efficiency. He also answered queries regarding RUSAL's other upcoming projects. Mr. Mann has been heading...
“There is more to come in the Gulf as far as aluminium growth is concerned,” Mohammed Al Naki, the chairman of Arab International Aluminium Conference (ARABAL)
<p>Al Naki's relationship with aluminium dates back to 1968, when he was an officer in the Kuwaiti army. He was second in command of the Kuwaiti engineers and a member of the staff of the military college, but then he left the army and started his aluminium business. At that time it was a fabrication business manufacturing doors and windows.</p> <p><span id=":bl.co" class="tL8wMe EMoHub" style="text-align: left;" dir="ltr">Here’s an extract from the conversation with the man behind ARABAL, the main trade show and conference for the Middle East aluminium industry which is going to open its door to the domestic and the international aluminium fraternity from November 22 to 24, 2016. </span></p> <p><strong>AlCircle: How did your aluminium journey begin?</strong></p> <p><strong>Al...
“Now is the time for China to join the community of responsible global aluminum producers to fully and fairly participate in the aluminum market.” Charles Johnson, VP Policy at the Aluminum Association
<p>On September 29, 2016, <strong>Garney Scott, President & CEO of Scepter, Inc. </strong>and <strong>Chairman of the Aluminum Association</strong>, as well as <strong>Heidi Brock, President and CEO of the Aluminum Association</strong> testified at the <strong>U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC)</strong> public hearing on the <strong>Investigation on the Competitive Conditions Affecting the U.S. Aluminum Industry</strong>. They both drew attention to the challenges faced by the domestic aluminum industry due to flooding of Chinese aluminum in the U.S. market and urged the USITC to investigate the issue of unfair trading by China.</p> <p><strong>Charles Johnson</strong>, the <strong>Vice President of Policy at the Aluminum Association</strong> answered to AlCircle’s...
“We provide solutions for heat treating extrusion dies for aluminium extrusion companies,” Charbel Saliba, owner, Thermika Heating Systems
<p><strong>Thermika Systems Inc.</strong> is a leading manufacturer of heat treating solutions for industrial products. <strong>Charbel Saliba</strong>, became a young entrepreneur and over a decade was involved in various business ventures. About 10 years ago, he and a business partner were presented with the opportunity to venture into the heat treating industry. Working together Thermika was born. Currently, he is expanding his businesses, investing on it and supplying globally. As one of our valued associates AlCircle feels glad to highlight the kind of services Thermika has been offering to the Aluminium Extrusion industry. We had a brief discussion with Mr Saliba regarding Thermika’s products and its markets. <br /><br />Excerpts from the interview:<br /><br...
“Today JNARDDC stands at a point, where Indian Aluminium industry, can bank on us, for support guidance and innovation,” Mr. Anupam Agnihotri, Director, JNARDDC
<p><strong>Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC), Nagpur</strong>, India is a "Centre of Excellence" set up in 1989 to make contributions to the technological growth of the Indian Aluminium Industry. The centre has well-established R&D facilities for Bauxite, Alumina and Aluminium. <br /><br />We recently had an opportunity to meet <strong>Mr. Anupam Agnihotri</strong>, Director of this prestigious institution during the <strong>National Conference on Non-Ferrous Minerals and Metals’16</strong> at Jamshedpur. He was also facilitated during the conference for his contribution towards R&D in aluminium. He is a Metallurgical Engineer from IIT Kanpur with PG Degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the Visvesvaraya National Institute...
CBIX edges lower on Malaysian cargos
<p>CBIX declined 1.5 per cent over the week (US$0.7/dmt), closing at US$46.1/dmt, with lower ViU-priced Malaysian bauxite re-appearing to pull the index lower. This is despite the Malaysian bauxite mining ban being extended until at least mid-September. The recent Malaysian cargos come as a result of government-mandated clearing of existing mine stocks, as well material originating from other parts of Malaysia, rather than the signaling of a return to mining in the Kuantan region.<br /> <br />Industry participants in Malaysia are expecting the ban to be lifted on September 15, claiming that all requirements necessary to meet stricter operating regulations are now in place. These new regulations are likely to lift prices in Kuantan, as well as see further migration of mining...
