AL Circle Analysis: Aluminium’s recycling economics, trade walls and carbon rules converge
The story of the aluminium industry is starting a chapter wherein scrap availability, recycling technology, trade policy, carbon costs and demand growth are becoming increasingly interconnected. From the US and Canada to Europe, India, New Zealand and China, recent developments show that the global aluminium supply chain is being reshaped on several fronts at once. These developments point to a changing aluminium business model: access to metal alone may no longer be enough. Quality of recycled feedstock, domestic processing capacity, carbon intensity, trade exposure and the ability to meet increasingly specific customer requirements could become equally important competitive factors. Join the fourth edition of the webinar “Hedging for recyclers - Become an expert in 6 hours” by Jorge...
Europe holds 10% of global aluminium extrusion demand, supported by Germany’s Constellium, France’s Hydro Extrusions & Italy’s Metra
Across Europe, aluminium extrusion has become closely woven into some of the region’s biggest industrial and construction markets. From automotive and transport to buildings and industrial applications, extruded profiles are finding demand across a wide range of sectors. This is reflected in Europe’s position in the global market: the region accounted for 12 per cent of global aluminium extrusion capacity, making it the second-largest regional contributor after China. At the same time, Europe represented 10 per cent of global aluminium extrusion usage, out of total global usage of 35.35 million tonnes . With production capacity and usage shares relatively close, Europe’s extrusion capacity and consumption are broadly at par. If we break down Europe’s 10 per cent share of global aluminium...
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Tech startup demonstrates a lightweight aluminium sled could travel 100mph in just 2 sec
Hyperloop One, a startup founded by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, is currently working on Hyperloop system- a concept that says trains can be equipped to travel at supersonic speeds up to 800mph (1,300km/h) using reduced pressure tubes. Pressurised capsule pods (the train carriages) ride on an air cushion in steel tubes driven by linear induction motors and air compressors, which allows them to go faster than current trains. Hyperloop One is pushing ahead with tests on its design, and in May was able to demonstrate that a lightweight aluminium sled could travel 100mph in just 2 seconds on a 1.9-mile-long test track in the Nevada Desert during its first public high speed propulsion test. "The DNA of my time at SpaceX has got its fingerprints all over Hyperloop. There's nothing new that has...
HP banks on aluminium and solid polycarbonate to design its Elite X3 laptop dock
HP’s laptop dock for the HP Elite X3 stands out as a well-designed electronic device accessory. It is made with aluminium and solid polycarbonate with a great keyboard and massive battery that offers a laptop-like experience via Continuum for Phones for their upcoming flagship handset. The HP Lap Dock sports a 12.5? diagonal, 1080p (‘Full HD’) screen (possible TFT), stereo B&O speakers, a full 6-row laptop keyboard, offers connections over both Miracast and USB-C, 3 USB-C ports, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, micro-HDMI out, has a massive 48 WH battery which should offer 12 hours of wireless use, with a hinge that elevates the keyboard when the screen is opened. The speculations that these accessories are cross compatible opens up the market for these devices and the amount of support that...
Cleanaway's sustainable aluminium recycling is making a real difference
Sustainable waste management leader Cleanaway is putting metal and plastic, especially recyclable aluminium, steel and tin wastes, back where they belong - in new generations of recycled products. Cleanaway Executive General Manager Sales and Marketing Dave Aardsma says recycling in Australia has matured to a point where it is becoming the first instinct when we are looking to throw things away. “We work with businesses all over the country to minimise landfill costs by maximising their recoverable and recyclable waste,” Mr. Aardsma said. “That means the waste you recycle with Cleanaway ends up creating new products without harming the environment.” And that applies to aluminium they recycle as well. Cleanaway offers commingled recycling as a simple, ideal solution for small businesses...
AAI to organize national seminar on “Aluminium – The Strategic Metal”
Aluminium Association of India (AAI) is organizing a national seminar on 'Aluminium: The Strategic Metal' in Bhubaneswar on Thursday June 30, 2016. A number of companies and associations along with key professionals from across the country's aluminium industry value chain are expected to attend the seminar to be held at the city's Mayfair Convention. The panel of guests includes Balvinder Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Mines, who will grace the event as the chief guest, while R K Sharma, Principal Secretary to government of Odisha, Ministry of Steel & Mines shall be the guest of honour at the seminar. A series of papers has been lined up for presentation at the meet's technical session that will follow the inauguaral session of the seminar. This includes presentations on 'Aluminium...
China Zhongwang to spend big money in buying aluminium extrusion equipment
China Zhongwang Holdings, Asia’s top aluminium extrusion manufacturer, announced that two of its fully-owned subsidiaries will buy 99 sets of aluminium extrusion production equipment. The purchase will cost a total of 3.13 billion yuan ($470 million), and these two subsidiaries are Panjin Zhongwang Aluminum Industry Co. and Yingkou Zhongwang Aluminum Industry Co.
Aluminum Association releases 4th edition of Guidelines for Handling Molten Aluminum
The Aluminum Association released yesterday the fourth edition of the Guidelines for Handling Molten Aluminum. The first edition was published in 1980. With previous updates in 1990 and 2002, this latest revision represents the hundreds of years of collective expertise in managing molten metal accumulated by many leading industry experts. The updated Guidelines are available for purchase in the Association’s online bookstore. “The Aluminum Association and the aluminum industry have long put the safety and well-being of its employees at the forefront of their priorities,” said Garney Scott, CEO of Scepter Inc. and Chairman of the Aluminum Association. “The industry has made considerable progress in protecting its employees and the Association’s Guidelines is a key asset to this work.”...
Vedanta Resources Plc hosts second Annual Sustainable Development Day
Vedanta Resources Plc ("Vedanta", together with its subsidiaries) hosted a Sustainable Development Day in London on 24 June 2016. This was the second time that the annual event has been held. Analysts, investors and members of key industry bodies attended the event to share an update on the company's sustainable development activities. At the meeting, Anil Agarwal, Chairman, Vedanta Resources Plc, commented in his opening remarks: "Sustainable development is at the heart of our business and I continue to ensure it is a priority for the company and its subsidiaries. We have made substantial progress on our sustainability journey, thanks to the efforts of our management team and everyone who works at Vedanta, and I am committed to the goal of zero harm, zero discharge and zero waste." Anil...
Indian states begin process to auction 32 mines
Four states including Maharashtra and Karnataka have started the process of auctioning 32 mines that bear minerals such as iron ore, diamond, bauxite and limestone. The initial bids for mines in these states, which also include Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, are scheduled to start from this week, extending till August. While Karnataka has put 14 iron ore mines on the block, Maharashtra has put two blocks each of bauxite and tungsten and one block each of iron ore, mines on the block, Maharashtra has put two blocks each of bauxite and tungsten and one block each of iron ore, limestone, copper and manganese, a senior government official said. Andhra Pradesh has put 5 limestone mines for auction and Madhya Pradesh has placed 4 limestone and one block of diamond to go under the hammer,...
Passenger coaches with aluminium bodies, made in India, to arrive in Dhaka by December
All passenger coaches for the Bangladesh railway under the Indian line of credit will arrive in Dhaka by December, the Indian High Commission has said. Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina on Saturday launched a new train—‘Sonar Bangla Express’—between Dhaka and Chittagong. She also re-launched the Silk City express between Dhaka and Rajshahi with newly built Indian coaches. Bangladesh and India signed the first-ever line of credit pegged at $1 billion in 2010, but India later converted $200 million of the loan money into grants. It was the largest ever one-time assistance offered by India to any country. The Indian High Commission says the Silk City express will have 12 coaches consisting of two AC chair cars (78 seats each), two first AC coaches (24 berths each), six non-AC...
Changing dynamics in the European aluminium markets after the Brexit revolution- A talk with Maurizio Sala, President, Amafond (Italian Foundry Suppliers’Association)
We agree that “the UK’s decision to leave the EU has sent shockwaves through the continent, and the secondary aluminium industry has no idea how this decision will affect business – even among those in the UK who voted for Brexit”. Industry participants across Europe echoed these sentiments espressed by Maurizio Sala, President of Amafond ( the Italian Foundry Suppliers’ Association ). A first view on the general situation lead us to see that both scrap dealers and secondary aluminium ingot producers sell into Europe, while manufacturers on the continent sell large volumes of products into the UK. Sales of both metal in Europe and cars in the UK could be affected by the leave decision, with consequences from the start to the end of the value chain. In the UK, a straw poll conducted by...
POWER Engineers help AEP replace 240 circuit-miles line with energinzed aluminium conductor
POWER Engineers Inc. has helped American Electric Power successfully complete the longest replacement of energized conductor (with aluminium composite core) in the United States and bring more reliable power to the residents of South Texas. Now that landmark project has earned AEP the electric power industry’s most prestigious honor, the Edison Award. As the engineer of record, POWER worked closely with AEP’s contractor to design a temporary single-phase line that allowed the entire 240 circuit-miles to be replaced with aluminium conductor composite core while energized. It involved installing more than 1,440 miles of advanced conductor on the 240 circuit-miles. The Edison Electric Institute award recognizes AEP’s leadership and innovation in replacing conductor on two 345 kV transmission...
Rare earth-high iron aluminium alloy cable production starts in China
Gansu Xibeizhiguang Cable Co. has begun producing rare earth and high iron aluminium alloy cables at their Lanzhou city facilities in China, reported industry sources. Rare Earth Elements make the world’s strongest permanent magnets. These magnets are utilized in electric motors to produce greater power and torque. Electric motors that utilize REEs are a key component of hybrid vehicles, which will become increasingly abundant on roads throughout the world in years to come. Most energy efficient lighting (compact fluorescent lamps) and display panels (LEDS, Plasma, LCDs) require the use of REEs as phosphors. Rare Earth Elements are also used in another form of catalyst, commonly referred to as a fluid-cracking catalyst. These are being used increasingly in the oil industry as they enhance...
Landowning unit visits bauxite mining site in Wainunu, Bua
Landowning units and the people of Wainunu were taken to the Nawailevu bauxite mining sites in Bua to see the success of the rehab program. Tui Wainunu Ratu Orisi Baleitavea said groups had been taken to Nawailevu as an educational and informative visit. "This has been happening for some time now and it's an informative and education visit to help our people make informed decisions," he said. "During their visits, the officials show them what happens during mining and what is done for the rehabilitation. It has been a success and the landowners and our villagers have appreciated what they have learnt and what they've seen for themselves," he said. The students of Ratu Luke Secondary School in Wainunu have also been part of the trip. Ratu Orisi said the students went through the same...
Some Japanese aluminium buyers agree to pay Q3 premium of $90/T
Some Japanese aluminium buyers have agreed to pay producers a premium of $90 per tonne for metal to be shipped in the July-September quarter, two sources directly involved in the quarterly pricing talks said on Monday. The deal, which marks a 22-23 percent fall from a $115-117 per tonne premium (PREM-ALUM-JP) in the previous quarter, is the first drop in three quarters, in line with a slide in overseas surcharges for physical aluminium. Japan is Asia's biggest importer of aluminium and the premiums for primary metal shipments it agrees to pay each quarter over the London Metal Exchange (LME) cash price set the benchmark for the region.
Sohar Aluminium achieves new production record
Sohar Aluminium, the largest non-hydrocarbon industrial venture in the Sultanate of Oman, achieved a new production record in 2015 -- one of a slew of operational improvements logged by the company last year. Aluminium production jumped from 363,528 tonnes in 2014 to 377,186 tonnes last year -- the highest annual output in the company's history. This was achieved by operating at the highest amperage -- 389kA at the end of the year, at targeted current efficiency and operating pots levels, and a production rate of 2,879 kg Al/pot/day -- amongst the best in the world for this technology and amperage, the company said in its newly released Sustainability Report 2015. "To achieve this feat, all departments across the smelter operated at significantly better levels than in previous years. The...
Israeli architect creates monumental aluminium structure for St Pancras station in London
Celebrated architect, designer, sculptor and Royal Academician Ron Arad has been commissioned by the public art scheme- Terrace Wires organizers to create a monumental aluminium structure for installation at St Pancras station, London. The art piece will be unveiled on 7 July, organizing committee spokesperson said to the media. There has been a public art scheme in place called Terrace Wires - operated by HS1, the owner of St Pancras station in London. Every year it invites a committee comprised of broadcaster Evan Davis; Nigel Carrington, rector at the University of the Arts London; artist and curator Chris Wainwright; Royal Academy artistic director Tim Marlow; Nicola Shaw, chief executive of HS1; and Wallpaper editorial director Richard Cook, to commission a work to hang above the...
SHFE aluminium to outperform LME aluminium
The US dollar index kept rising following UK leave vote. A series of US economic data to be released later in the day will have temporary impact on the US dollar index. LME aluminium will continue facing downward pressure from strong dollar and drop to USD 1,585-1,605/mt. Impact on SHFE 1608 aluminium from UK vote result has faded, and the contract should move at RMB 12,300-12,400/mt, supported by falling aluminium stocks in China. In China’s spot aluminium market, spot premiums of RMB 20-60/mt are expected over SHFE 1607 aluminium contract. Key macroeconomic indicators for base metal prices Diverging trend is expected for base metals on Tuesday with focus on US Q1 annualized GDP, house price index in 20 cities for April and June Conference Board’s CCI. Markets expect US Q1 annualized GDP...
China Hongqiao to acquire alumina producer for $319 mln
China Hongqiao Group will spend 2.12 billion yuan ($319 million) in acquiring all stakes in one Chinese alumina producer, reported industry sources. The alumina producer to be acquired, namely Binzhou Beihai Xinhe New Materials Co., now has designed annual alumina capacity at 2 million tonnes and 240-megawatt power generating units. The move will help improve China Hongqiao Group’s raw material and power self-sufficiency.
