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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Orbite announces HPA update and Second Quarter 2016 results
<p>Orbite Technologies Inc. yesterday filed its financial statements for the second quarter ended June 30th, 2016. The company reported a loss before net finance expense and taxes of $1.8 million for the quarter, a decrease from a loss of $3.5 million for the comparable quarter in the prior year, attributable mainly to lower general and administrative expenses, as well as an increase in other income of $1.0 million.<br /><br />As at June 30th, 2016, the company had aggregate cash and short-term investments balance of $5.6 million, and positive working capital (current assets less current liabilities) of $6.4 million. Subsequent to June 30th, 2016, the Company drew the remaining $2.1 million on the $4.9 million 2016 Investissement Quebec ("IQ") bridge loan. As a result, the company has, on...
Building system automation to drive global aluminium market for building and construction
<p>According to Technavio’s recently published market report, the global aluminium market for building and construction sector is slated to grow at a CAGR of 6.31 per cent during the period 2016-2020.<br /><br />Analysts have segmented the worldwide aluminium market for building and construction into four major geographies: Americas, APAC, Europe, and Middle East. Continuous infrastructural development in these regions will likely drive the demand for aluminium structural components in the building and construction sector, they opined. The demand will be further augmented by infrastructure overhaul projects in the emerging economies like India, Malaysia etc.</p> <p><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"...
Indian tech startup's new Able 10 tablet comes with a keyboard made from aluminium
<p>Indian tech startup Notion Ink has launched their latest offering the Able 10, a successor to the Cain tablet, with an upgraded keyboard built out of aluminium. <br /><br />The electronic devices segment has been experiencing a continued decline in shipments over the last few quarters, the world over; yet, the 2-in-1 segment has charted growth. Piggybacking this trend, tech firms have been penetrating newer markets with devices in all possible shapes and forms. <br /><br /><img style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/notion-ink-able-lede.jpg" alt="News" width="1200" height="900" /><br /><br />Notion Ink’s latest offering- the Able 10 tablet with aluminium lightweight key is targeted to a global audience looking for devices that make working on...
SHFE 1609 aluminium falls on short selling
<p>On Monday’s night trading, SHFE 1609 aluminium fell to RMB 12,140/mt after opening at RMB 12,175/mt. Prices then rallied to RMB 12,205/mt, closing at RMB 12,200/mt. <br /><br />On Tuesday, short selling sent the most active contract down to RMB 12,115/mt after starting at RMB 12,195/mt. Finally, the contract ended at RMB 12,120/mt. Trading volumes were down 57,460 lots to 86,604 lots, and positions were down 1,404 to 181,170. <br /><br />Short selling was reported once prices climbed to near the daily moving average. SHFE 1609 aluminium will test support at RMB 12,000/mt.</p>
New LIBS sorting system developed for aluminium and other non-aluminium metals recycling
<p>SMEs and research organisations in the EU-funded SHREDDERSORT project have developed and demonstrated a new industrial sorting system to separate non-ferrous shredder scrap into cast aluminium (Al), wrought Al, and non-Al categories. Compared to the unsorted material, the sorted categories are better suited for recycling into secondary metals, have a higher market value, and will reduce the use of raw materials.<br /><br />End-of-life vehicles (ELV) generate around 10 million tonnes of waste per year in the EU. Around 75% of this waste is currently recycled or recovered, but this level still falls short of the 95 per cent target set by the European ELV Directive - 2000/53/EC.<br /><br />The initial processing is of ELV metal scrap is carried out in shredder plants which chop the...
Aluminium processing capacity in Henan hit by environmental protections upgrade
<p>Aluminium processing capacity in Henan, one of China’s major aluminium processing regions, will be hit by tough environmental protections, SMM learned. <br /><br />Aluminium processors in the province are required to upgrade coal-fired facilities into gas-fired ones out of environmental concerns. This move will affect local aluminium processing capacity by over 500,000-tpy, SMM estimates.</p>
India major aluminium scrap prices remain stable; MCX aluminium slightly up
<p>India major aluminium scrap commodities prices remained stable on Friday, while aluminium futures prices at Multi Commodity Exchange settled up as industrial consumers took advantage of recent declines to make purchases.<br /><br />The major aluminium scrap commodities showed a flat trend during Friday. India's major scrap commodities like aluminium cable scrap, aluminium ingots, aluminium rod company, aluminium rod local, aluminium scrap 6063, aluminium scrap taint/tabor, aluminium sheet cutting, aluminium utensil scrap and aluminium wire scrap remained stable on Friday.<br /><br />The most active July aluminium contract on Multi Commodity Exchange settled slightly up by 0.56 per cent to INR 107.45 per kilogram on Friday from previous close of INR 106.85 per kilogram. The MXC...
About 32% Chinese aluminium smelters see aluminium prices fall this week
<p>SMM surveyed 44 Chinese aluminium smelters about their opinions over aluminium price outlook.<br /><br />About 32 per cent of them expect SHFE 1609 aluminium to fall below RMB 12,450/mt and LME aluminium below USD 1,600/mt, citing 4 reasons. First, many aluminium processors in Inner Mongolia and Henan shut down for rectifications because of environmental protection crackdowns, which will reduce aluminium demand. Second, July is the traditional off-season, with orders down significantly at aluminium processors. Third, output release from aluminium capacity restarted in April will add to market supply. Fourth, CFTC data showed net long positions of the US dollar hit one-year high. Strong dollar, plus weak crude oil, will pressure metals prices. <br /><br />Another 57 per cent...
Bauxite prices CIF China up by 0.3% over the week ending 22 July closing at US$49.5/dmt
<p>CBIX steady Value-In-Use adjusted bauxite prices CIF China rose marginally over the week, up by 0.3 per cent (US$0.2/dmt), closing at US$49.5/dmt. Prices for bauxite originating from Australia’s Gove mine pulled back slightly, offset by higher priced material from Weipa and Brazil. Malaysian FOB prices were unchanged at US$26/dmt for unwashed material, although Malaysian volumes remain well down on their peaks from earlier this year. We expect to see more cargos arriving in China from Malaysia now that larger miners have resumed mining operations in Kuantan.<br /><br />Chinese domestic alumina prices fell further last week, with the North down 1.6 per cent (RMB27/t) to RMB1,713/t (US$256/t including VAT) while the South was down 1.1 per cent (RMB20/t) to RMB1,800/t (US$269/t...
China aluminium stocks to see turning point falling after hitting 7-year low
<p>Aluminium stocks in China’s five major markets continued falling after hitting their lowest in seven years, but a turning point is in sight, SMM understands.<br /><br />Heavy rains along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River earlier are leaving some ingots still on the way, preventing arrivals from picking up noticeably, SMM learned.<br /><br />While rains have slowed down transport, more ingots will arrive once transport fully recovers. Aluminium consumption is unlikely to pick up markedly in the short term. As such, total aluminium stocks in domestic five major markets will begin to see a turning point for the foreseeable future, SMM predicts.<br /><br />The table below shows details of aluminium stocks at China’s five major markets:<br /><br /><img...
Pittsburgh University scientists to study aluminium alloy microstructures formation in real time
<p>A grant from the National Science Foundation will enable researchers at the University of Pittsburgh to utilize a one-of-a-kind transmission electron microscope developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to examine in real time how microstructures form in metals and alloys as they solidify after laser beam melting. The researchers will study rapid solidification processes in aluminium alloys that are associated with laser or electron beam processing technologies used in welding, joining and additive manufacturing.<br /><br />The proposal, "In-situ transmission electron microscopy of microstructure formation during laser irradiation induced irreversible transformations in metals and alloys" was awarded a three-year, $503,435 grant from the NSF Division of Materials Research....
China alumina output to continue growing in July, SMM expects
<p>China’s alumina output will rise further in July due to release from new and restarted capacity, SMM predicts. <br /><br />Shandong Weiqiao Group’s 1 million-tpy new alumina project will begin to release output in late July. The rest of the year will see limited additional new capacities coming online, according to SMM survey. <br /><br />SMM data showed China’s alumina output was 4.86 million tonnes in June, up 0.31% from May and 2.99 per cent from a year ago.</p>
Chalco cuts aluminium prices in major markets for seven consecutive days on July 21
<p>China Aluminum International Trading Co. (Chalco Trading) further cut aluminium prices in major markets today, marking its 7th consecutive day of cuts, it said on its WeChat. <br /><br />For details, please see the table below: <br /><br />Unit: yuan/tonne<br /><br /><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/Chalco22072016.jpg" alt="News" width="347" height="107" /> <br /><br />Note: Chalco Trading is a full subsidiary under Chalco responsible for alumina and aluminium sales.</p>
Stronger China leads Norsk Hydro to up aluminium demand forecast
<p>Strengthening Chinese demand led Norsk Hydro, one of the world's largest aluminium producers, to raise its forecast for global aluminium demand growth this year to 4-5 percent as it reported forecast-beating earnings on Thursday. The company's global aluminium demand forecast, revised up from 3-4 percent, is now closer to peer Alcoa's forecast of 5 percent.<br /><br />Norsk Hydro said it saw stronger Chinese economic activity than previously anticipated and now expected aluminium demand in the country to grow 5-7 percent in 2016, up from a previous forecast of 3-5 percent.<br /><br />"(In China) we see aluminium moving into infrastructure, but also very much into building and construction," Chief Executive Svein Richard Brandtzaeg said while presenting second-quarter results.<br /><br...
“There is a huge opportunity in India and the domestic metal demand is pegged to grow manifold,” Mr. Abhijit Pati, CEO (Aluminium), Vedanta Ltd.
<p><strong>Mr. Abhijit Pati</strong> started his career as a budding engineer with <strong>Indian Aluminium Company</strong> (subsidiary of <strong>ALCAN</strong> in <strong>Indian Aluminium Company</strong>) in the year 1989. After working with Hindalco for years with numerous laurels, he joined Vedanta in 2008, as the COO of one of the largest Greenfield Aluminium cum Power complexes of the world at Jharsuguda, Odisha. Subsequently, Mr. Pati was elevated to the position of the President and <strong>CEO, Aluminum Business</strong> in March’15. He is currently one of the senior management officials and an Executive Committee team member of Vedanta and also the lead ex officio member of Governing Council of the <strong>Aluminium Association of India (AAI)</strong>.<br /><br...
All new Porsche Panamera comes with an external body panel made from aluminium
<p>Porsche has revealed its all-new Panamera four-door aluminium-body super saloon, with a refreshed new look, a tech-laden interior and new, more powerful turbocharged engines fitted with a new eight-speed PDK transmission. Available to order now, the new Panamera will go on sale this autumn.<br /><br /><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/Porsche_Panamer21072016.jpg" alt="News" width="420" height="480" /><br /><br />The new Panamera flaunting an external aluminium body panel will initially be available with three engines consisting of two Porsche designed and developed turbocharged petrol engines – a 2.9-litre V6 and a 4.0-litre V8 – and an Audi sourced 4.2-litre V8 twin-turbo...
India aluminium scrap prices remain flat; aluminium futures down
<p>India major aluminium scrap commodities prices remained stable on Tuesday, while aluminium futures prices at Multi Commodity Exchange settled down tracking weakness from LME Aluminium ended down 0.8 percent at $1,647 as the dollar held steady and markets awaited fresh signals for direction.<br /><br />The major aluminium scrap commodities remained flat on Scrap Register Price Index as on Tuesday. India's major scrap commodities like aluminium accessories scrap, aluminium cable scrap , aluminium ingots, aluminium rod company, aluminium rod local, aluminium scrap 6063, aluminium scrap taint/tabor, aluminium sheet cutting, aluminium utensil scrap, aluminium wire scrap remained flat on Tuesday.<br /><br />The most active July aluminium contract on Multi Commodity...
LME aluminium to still under downward pressure
<p>LME aluminium suffered a 4-day losing streak and will fall further to USD 1,605-1,630/mt today, with eyes on the ECB meeting. <br /><br />SHFE 1609 aluminium has stabilized at above the 40-day and 60-day moving averages, and will rise to RMB 12,300-12,450/mt. In China’s spot aluminium market, spot premiums of RMB 40-80/mt are expected over SHFE 1608 aluminium contract.<br /><br /><strong>Key macroeconomic indicators for base metal prices</strong> <br /><br />Diverging trend will continue on base metal market on Thursday with eyes on rate decision by the ECB, US June existing home sales and July Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia manufacturing index. <br /><br />US Federal Reserve Bank of New York manufacturing index weakened significantly in July. Should the Federal Reserve...
