Can Oklahoma reshape US aluminium supply? EGA’s Ziad Fares explains the project
As the US seeks to rebuild its domestic aluminium production capacity, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Century Aluminum are advancing plans for a new primary aluminium smelter in Inola, Oklahoma, targeting more than 750,000 tonnes of annual production. In this exclusive conversation with AL Circle, Ziad Fares, Project Director for Oklahoma Primary Aluminum , discusses the project’s strategic rationale, progress towards a targeted construction start in early 2027, planned smelting technology, power and infrastructure requirements, investment considerations, and its potential impact on US aluminium supply chains. He also addresses environmental safeguards and stakeholder concerns. Fares brings more than 20 years of experience across engineering, strategy, finance, metals and mining, and...
The lower the aluminium content of the dross, the greater the aluminium recovery benefit RAME can achieve
In a recent conversation with AL Circle, Eric Lefebvre, Vice President of Business Development at Lefebvre Industri-AL, discussed the company’s approach to recovering and recycling aluminium residues and its role in advancing the circular economy. Based in Quebec, Lefebvre Industri-AL develops solutions, including RAME technology, that transform aluminium residues into reusable resources while helping producers reduce their environmental footprint and improve operational efficiency. With extensive experience in the industrial sector, Lefebvre works with aluminium producers, technology partners and other industry stakeholders to develop strategic partnerships and expand markets. His approach focuses on turning the industry’s environmental challenges into economically viable opportunities...
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“By utilising our custom SCS4.0 software (Industry 4.0), there will be a significant reduction in unplanned downtime (measured in hours or percentage).” - Granco Clark
Granco Clark is a leading manufacturer of automated equipment for aluminium extrusion operations, offering innovative solutions that enhance production efficiency and reduce downtime. With a strong focus on engineering excellence, the company designs and builds advanced handling systems, heating equipment, pullers and saws tailored to the needs of aluminium extruders worldwide. Their turnkey systems are trusted by top-tier producers for delivering high performance and reliability. Granco Clark's commitment to innovation and customer service sets them apart in the aluminium industry. They shared insights on their automation technologies and industry approach in our latest e-Magazine " Advanced Industrial Technologies in the Aluminium Industry (Part II) ". AL Circle: What are the next major...
“At the beginning of 2025, we installed the first electrically heated billet heater of the EcoJet type at an extrusion plant.”- Klaus Schmitz, Vice President Sales, Thermoprocessing Plants for Aluminium and Copper, OTTO JUNKER GMBH
Klaus Schmitz is the Vice President of Sales for Thermoprocessing Plants for Aluminium and Copper at OTTO JUNKER GmbH. With deep expertise in thermal processing technologies, he plays a key role in driving innovation and sustainability within the aluminium industry. In Advanced Industrial Technologies in the Aluminium Industry (Part II) , Mr. Schmitz shares valuable insights on electrification, digitalisation and carbon reduction strategies. His leadership continues to support global advancements in energy-efficient furnace solutions. Known for his strategic foresight, he advocates for practical collaboration between technology providers and industry operators. AL Circle: How successful have you been over the past year in transforming aluminium production and processing efficiency in...
Part 1 - “Aluminum plays a pivotal role in both the structural integrity and aerodynamic efficiency of NASA’s X-59 QueSST aircraft,” Kalea Texeira, National Training Program Manager at Federal Aviation Administration
In conversation with Kalea Texeira, who explained about NASA’s X-59 Quiet Supersonic Technology (QueSST) aircraft. In this interview she highlighted how it used materials and shaped its airframe to minimise sonic booms something earlier aircraft like the Concorde and F-18 never addressed. She also pointed out the importance of aluminium for aircraft construction. To know more of her insights, read the full interview below: Al Circle: What distinguishes the X-59's airframe and materials from earlier supersonic aircraft like Concorde or the F-18? Kalea Texeira: The X-59 Quiet Supersonic Technology (QueSST) aircraft represents a significant leap in supersonic aircraft design, particularly in its approach to airframe and material selection, distinguishing it markedly from predecessors like the...
“Buzzterms such as cybersecurity, big data, IT-OT convergence, and cloud platforms are everywhere, yet it all still begins on Level 0— the field sensors— and rises through the PLC, DCS, HMI, SCADA).” Yannick Beaule, Executive - CRO, Rupali Kaushik NOVIMEQ by EPIQ Machinery
Yannick Beaulé, Chief Revenue Officer at EPIQ Machinery since August 2021, brought extensive experience in sales, operations and general management within the heavy industrial equipment sector. His leadership spans multi-site operations, service centre expansion, product and market development and high-level client negotiations. Rupali Kaushik leads Services and Marketing at NOVIMEQ Automation by EPIQ, driving global marketing and business development in industrial automation services. With a career starting in 2006, she offers a strong blend of engineering, marketing, and entrepreneurial expertise. Her cross-industry experience enables her to deliver innovative, customer-centric automation solutions. Both leaders contributed significantly to EPIQ’s growth and industry impact and shared...
“We are extremely concerned by the sharp rise in scrap outflows driven by the fact that aluminium scrap is not subject to the same tariffs as other aluminium products, which are now subject to 50 per cent,” Kelly Roegies, Senior Communications Manager of the European Association
The AL Circle Team recently interviewed Kelly Roegies, Senior Communications Manager of the European Association, wherein she provided an overview of the current landscape of the European aluminium industry, highlighting the effects of US tariffs. In addition, she discussed the potential aluminium scrap crisis due to the US tariff exemptions on scrap imports, while also offering solutions to curb excessive outflow from the continent. According to her, the growing fear of losing scrap from Europe is justified. To know more of her insights and opinion, read the full interview below: AL Circle: Could you provide an overview of the current state of the European aluminium industry, particularly with regard to production levels, market demand, and overall consumption? Additionally, how have the...
“We are optimising portfolio and cutting costs in response to prolonged downstream market weakness,” Anders Vindegg, Norsk Hydro
Over the past few months, a series of announcements from Norsk Hydro may have given the impression of a brand in retreat. Hiring freezes, production curbs, and plant closures painted a picture of contraction. Yet, at the same time, the company was rolling out plans for fresh investments and capacity expansions. If the intent was restraint, why pursue growth? And what, ultimately, is Hydro’s long game? To get a clearer understanding, we conversed with Anders Vindegg, Head of Media Relations at Norsk Hydro. With patience and clarity, he addressed our questions in detail. Here’s what we have learned: AL Circle: Over the past six months, Norsk Hydro has implemented a temporary hiring freeze, announced plant closures, and introduced curbs in production. Could you walk us through the rationale...
“In aluminium extrusion, maintaining consistent thermal stability is essential to avoid product defects, de-stress, and increased rejection rates,” Soumo Roy, Director of Business Development at Tempcon
Soumo Roy is the Director of Business Development at Tempcon, where he leads global marketing initiatives and oversees end-to-end execution of industrial process cooling projects. An electrical engineer by qualification, he brings over 20 years of industry experience in delivering advanced cooling solutions for sectors such as steel, power, and mining. Soumo has played a pivotal role in expanding Tempcon’s international presence by driving exports and ensuring the delivery of custom-engineered systems designed around each client's specific process, load, and operational requirements. His strategic approach and technical insight continue to position Tempcon as a trusted name in the process cooling industry across India, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. AL Circle: Congratulations on the...
“Aluminium FRPs are much lighter than traditional materials like steel. This reduction in weight translates to lighter rail vehicles, which can lead to several operational benefits,” L C Trivedi, Railway expert
In this interview published in AL Circle’s e-Magazine " World of ALuminium Flat Rolled Products ", railway expert L. C. Trivedi has highlighted the multiple advantages of using aluminium flat rolled products (FRPs) in the railway sector over traditional materials like steel and reinforced concrete. He explained that aluminium FRPs are much lighter, which helps reduce the weight of rail vehicles, leading to better fuel efficiency and lower energy consumption. Their excellent resistance to corrosion ensures longer-lasting components with less need for maintenance, thereby cutting costs and downtime. Trivedi also pointed out that aluminium's high strength-to-weight ratio allows it to bear heavy loads while still remaining lightweight. AL Circle: What are the key performance benefits of using...
“Taking weight out of products is a key driver and this is something that aluminium can do, with our R&D teams working tirelessly with existing and new customers to look at where we can introduce our material into their products,” Adam Hunter, Deputy General Manager, Bridgnorth Aluminium
In this interview, Adam Hunter, the Deputy General Manager at Bridgnorth Aluminium has outlined the company’s key sustainability initiatives aimed at reducing their environmental footprint. He explained that the company already remelts all of its own production scrap, ensuring that aluminium waste from their processes is fully recycled and reused. In an interview for the e-Magazine " World of ALuminium Flat Rolled Products " , Adam Hunter has also highlighted the company’s plan to further increase the use of recycled aluminium by incorporating more scrap material into their production. Additionally, the company captures excess heat from its casthouse operations and repurposes it for other parts of the facility, improving overall energy efficiency. Bridgnorth Aluminium also partners with a...
“Our global position enables us to supply a vast range of industries, including the LNG tanks industry, food packaging machines, firefighting trucks, cryogenic tanks, windmills, land army vehicles…” Vincenzo ZINNI, Niche Fusina Rolled Products S.r.L.
Vincenzo Zinni, CEO of Fusina since 2022, is steering the company toward market leadership through strategic investments and production enhancements. With a strong background in metal trading, he is focused on driving excellence, quality and reliability across key sectors such as marine, transport, silos and defence. In an exclusive interview for e-Magazine " World of Aluminium Flat Rolled Products ", Vincenzo shared his thoughts on current challenges and technologies bringing changes in the FRP sector globally. AL Circle: How do you foresee the market for aluminium flat-rolled products evolving over the next five years? What key market trends are you monitoring, and how does Niche Fusina plan to adapt to these changes? Vincenzo ZINNI: Aluminium flat-rolled products will increase in...
“Our Vortex 2.0 furnaces are always bespoke and designed to consider individual project requirements like the size of the load, production output, process parameters requirements like the temperature profile, client plant layout, etc.” Piotr Skarbiński, SECO/WARWICK
Piotr Skarbinski is the Vice President of the Controlled Atmosphere Brazing (CAB) and Aluminium Process business segment at SECO/WARWICK S.A., overseeing advanced thermal processing solutions for the aluminium flat-rolled product industry. With decades of experience, he plays a key role in driving innovation and global leadership in CAB and aluminium heat treatment technologies. In an interview for the e-Magazine " World of ALuminium Flat Rolled Products ", Skarbinski sheds light upon innovative technological advancement posing with real-time benefits in the aluminium FRP sector. AL Circle: What distinguishes SECO/WARWICK’s heat treatment systems from its aluminium processing industry competitors? Piotr Skarbinski: A few years ago, we came to the conclusion that it was possible to develop...
“One of aluminium’s most significant advantages is its infinite recyclability, which makes it ideal for enhancing the circular economy. In the production of rolled products, we use both primary aluminium and recycled material,” Dr Ing. Catalina Fernandez, Director of CINDAL (Aludium R&D Centre)
Dr. Ing. Catalina Fernandez the Director of CINDAL (Aludium R&D Centre) is at the forefront of innovation in aluminium-rolled products (FRPs) and plays a pivotal role in driving sustainability initiatives at Aludium. Her background in metallurgy and materials science, along with her passion for environmental stewardship, has allowed her to combine technical expertise with a vision for a greener future for the aluminium industry. While innovation has always been at the heart of her work, she emphasized that sustainability now drives their strategy. A key milestone in this direction is the 37 per cent reduction in carbon emissions since 2019, achieved through targeted investments in the company’s casthouse. Here is an excerpt of his interview with us. AL Circle: Could you begin by giving us...
“Our products help our customers optimise quality, productivity, and yield by measuring and controlling them accurately throughout their processes,” Marko Sydénlammi, Global Product Line Manager Flatness Systems, ABB
Marko Sydänlammi is the Global Product Line Manager for Flatness Systems at ABB Measurement & Analytics. With over 33 years of experience across product management, operations, engineering and sales, he has worked extensively in the battery, metals, paper and converting industries. At ABB, he oversees the end-to-end growth and development of flatness systems, focusing on portfolio management, footprint analysis, and business strategy. Marko holds a Master of Science in Mechanics and Computer Science from Linköping University, Sweden. In an interview for e-Magazine The World of ALuminium Flat Rolled Products , Marko Sydänlammi talks about innovative solutions to measure flatness, thickness and tension that hold the key to enhance accuracy, reliability and longevity in the FRP sector. AL...
“In addition to supporting downstream industries, producers of flat rolled aluminium are also looking to improve the sustainability of their own operations,” Peter De Bruyne, Quaker Houghton
Peter De Bruyne, Global Business Director, Non-Ferrous at Quaker Houghton, has a wealth of knowledge and expertise from his career spanning three decades in the aluminium industry. He has shared through his candid interview with AL Circle for ‘The Modern World of Aluminium Flat-Rolled Products’ e-magazine on the fundamentals of rolling fluid and how he has helped shape the future of aluminium rolling, determining the strategic direction of Quaker Houghton. AL Circle: Could you provide a brief overview of the function of rolling fluids in flat rolled aluminium production? Peter De Bruyne: During the rolling process, rolling fluids serve to lubricate, cool, and remove aluminium fines from the strip surface. For cold rolling, this is usually achieved with kerosene-based oil supported by...
“Our strategy is to expand the production output for the next five years to reach 180k MT per annum…” Mohamed Rafea, CEO, GARMCO
Mohamed Rafea, the Chief Executive Officer at GARMCO since April 2020, brings over 27 years of aluminium industry experience, previously leading Riyadh Cables and Midal Cables. He holds an MSc from Coventry University and a BSc in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M. In an exclusive for Al Circle's e-Magazine " The Modern World of ALuminium Flat Rolled Product s", he shares GARMCO's strategy for the next 5 years, including expansion of production output alongside diversified innovation. AL Circle: How will the demand for aluminium FRP grow in 2024 and beyond? Which manufacturing sectors will be the key demand drivers for aluminium FRP? Mohamed Rafea: According to market reports and studies, the global aluminium market is forecasted to reach a CAGR of 5% to 7% in the next five years....
“This cycle of shutdowns and restarts, or at least these production reduction and increase phases, has been more prevalent in Europe than elsewhere in the world for years,” Pascal Mausset, Fives
Pascal Mausset, Fives Services Europe Manager for Fives Aluminium Division, has been associated with the organisation for 22 years, including 15 years in the primary aluminium industry. In an interview with AL Circle for its e-magazine ‘ Aluminium Industry: Focus Europe ’, he discusses the decline in European production, each smelter’s responsibility to tackle the current circumstance and the importance of digital tools in process improvement. AL Circle: As a leading process equipment and production lines supplier with headquarters in France, how have you contributed to the recent growth in European aluminium production with your advanced machinery and technology? Mr Pascal Mausset: Production in Europe has been declining for several years, sometimes gradually with reduced output and...
“Given that Europe is structurally a deficit market in primary aluminium, the resilience of the European market is always an important issue,” Uday Patel, senior Research Manager, Metals and Mining – Aluminium, Wood Mackenzie
Uday Patel, senior research manager, Metals and Mining – Aluminium, Wood Mackenzie, has highlighted the complex dynamics currently shaping the aluminium market. He stated that geopolitical disruptions, such as the Russia-Ukraine war and rising political populism, are already weakening global trade and market confidence. Over the past four to five years, interest in low-carbon metal has surged, driven by sustainability goals and regulatory pressures. However, in the current environment of weak overall demand, many end-users are unwilling to absorb the additional costs, particularly when it's difficult to pass those costs on to customers. Looking ahead, Patel notes that the introduction of CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) payments in 2026 could increase pricing for low-carbon...
“In the European market, there is a very specific qualification process for suppliers,” John Courtenay, MQP
John Courtenay, the Chairman of MQP and CEO of MQP International Ltd, is a global leader in the development, manufacture and application of grain refinement products used in the production of aluminium alloys. His business career started with joining Foseco International in 1968. He shares through his interview for AL Circle ‘ Aluminium Industry: Focus Europe ’ e-magazine about the diverse experience MQP has had, having the opportunity to work in the European market AL Circle: What challenges do you encounter while you cater to the European market? John Courtenay: One of our biggest challenges is growing beyond our existing customer base in Europe. We must circumnavigate some restrictive factors, one being that, since the pandemic, central research and development departments have not...
