Power cost of EUR 600 vs EUR 1,800 per tonne: How electricity prices are reshaping Europe’s aluminium industry (Part 1)
How much does it really cost to produce aluminium in Europe, and can the region’s smelters compete with producers in the US and China? Beyond electricity prices, the economics of primary and recycled aluminium, industrial electrification and changing automotive demand are shaping the future of Europe’s aluminium industry. In this exclusive interview with AL Circle, Dr Martin Iffert, Founder and CEO of Martin Iffert Consulting, examines these challenges, discussing smelter economics, recycling competitiveness and the outlook for Europe’s 2040 electrification vision. He also shares his views on Germany’s production landscape and the investments needed to improve productivity and strengthen the aluminium value chain. Dr Iffert brings over 30 years of industry experience. He served as CEO of...
Inside Novelis’ 2030 strategy: Aligning scrap supply, recycling investment and new opportunities in aluminium markets
The AL Circle team caught up with Michael Hahne, Vice President Commercial, Novelis Europe, for a conversation at ALUMINIUM 2026 in Düsseldorf, Germany. With experience across the company’s automotive and beverage can businesses, Hahne brings a commercial perspective to the evolving relationship between aluminium, customer needs and circularity. In this exclusive interview, Hahne explains why aluminium’s next growth chapter will depend on more than expanding production. Securing scrap, closing material loops and turning metallurgical expertise into new customer solutions are becoming central to the industry’s competitiveness. As automotive lightweighting, battery applications and circularity reshape demand, he discusses the strategies behind Novelis’ global footprint and the challenges of...
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“We understand that each country within the MENA region has its unique characteristics, challenges, and opportunities. Therefore, we will tailor our offerings to meet the specific needs of each market we operate in,” EPIQ Machinery
We are honoured to have the participation of three stalwarts from EPIQ Machinery in our e-Magazine - "Aluminium Middle East: Focus 2024". Vivek Kumar, Regional Director, Middle East and North Africa Region; Yannick Beaulé, Chief Revenue Officer; and Naji Elabiad, Chief Operation Officer. Mr. Kumar manages EPIQ Machinery activities in the MENA region and will be in charge of the new office in Bahrain. Mr. Beaulé, as a Chief Revenue Officer, works to define EPIQ Machinery growth plan and oversees its implementation. He will participate in mergers and acquisitions as well as partnerships. Mr. Elabiad, as a CEO, manages overall operations at EPIQ's locations. He makes sure that EPIQ delivers advanced technology on time, every time. AL Circle: How has your equipment helped aluminium companies...
“We already have an MOU with MA’ADEN to deploy this technology at their alumina refinery and expect to attract more aluminium producers as we build capacity,” Rod MacGregor, CEO and Founder of GlassPoint
Rod is the founder and CEO of GlassPoint. Under his leadership, GlassPoint has created the only solution proven at scale to reduce carbon emissions from industrial process heat and has built more than half of global industrial solar steam capacity. He is committed to helping industrial leaders across the mining and the aluminium industries—as well as many other industries—cost-effectively decarbonize to meet pressing net-zero commitments. For more than three decades, Rod has led global companies across the United States, Europe, China, and the Middle East. Rod’s companies have partnered with various multinational corporations in the energy and technology industries, including Royal Dutch Shell, AT&T, Intel, and Volkswagen. His first company received the Queen of England’s Award for...
“ALUPCO's reputation for quality has made it the sole aluminium supplier for numerous iconic projects, both locally and internationally, further stamping authority as a leader in the sector,” Abdulaziz AlGhamdi, General Manager, ALUPCO
Abdulaziz AlGhamdi is a seasoned leadership expert in the field of industrial management and manufacturing with 25+ years of experience leading local and international businesses in the Middle East. He graduated from the University of the Pacific, Stockton, California, with a degree in Electrical Engineering and obtained a postgraduate degree in Business Administration at the University of Wales. Worked with international companies such as P&G and was the operation manager of PepsiCo in Saudi Arabia. Joined ALUPCO in 2003, as the plant manager of its Dammam Plant and was later the supply chain director of the company. Took a leadership role in other Saudi companies between 2015-2023 where he rejoined ALUPCO as the General Manager of its aluminium extrusion industry and an executive board...
The All.Co Group, a new extrusion line in Pisa, looks to the future and promotes innovation
All.Co Group is a new extrusion line in Pisa, with great attention to the technological level and eco-sustainability of production chains, human resources and corporate social responsibility. A&L had the opportunity to engage with Milva and Alessia Vecoli , who now lead the All.Co Group. During the discussion, they highlighted their focus on sustainability, emphasising that the group prioritises eco-sustainability by using recycled materials for over half of its extrusion production. The All.Co Group is currently one of the most important players in the aluminium extrusion sector in Italy and Europe. Created by the brilliant intuition of Luigi Vecoli, a great personality of the Italian aluminium world who passed away in December 2022, the Group has grown continuously. It all began in the...
"The aluminium companies must undertake supply chain due diligence irrespective of its position in the value chain", Gangaa C. Sharma, Managing Director & CEO, CETIZION Verifica.
Gangaa C. Sharma serves as the Managing Director and CEO of CETIZION Verifica, a prominent global advisory and audit company. With an extensive career spanning over 27 years, he brings a wealth of experience across diverse sectors and geographies, including India, Asia Pacific, China, the Gulf, and the EU. Sharma's expertise encompasses manufacturing, environmental health and safety, CSR, biodiversity, climate change, social and labour issues, as well as ethics and governance. Notably, he is a distinguished member of the Global Sustainability Standard Board under the auspices of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), a leading global sustainability and climate change initiative, and an advocate for ESG reporting frameworks. Recognised as a worldwide expert in Aluminium Sustainability,...
“The thermochromic aluminium cans project for Fanta brought a twist to the Halloween holiday promotion by The Coca-Cola Company in Latin America in 2023,” Daniel Wachter, CEO of CTI Chromatic Technologies
Daniel Wachter is the dynamic CEO of CTI Chromatic Technologies, where he serves as a visionary leader with a passion for shaping strategy and mobilising global teams to achieve optimal business success. With a remarkable track record, Daniel excels in turning around commercial environments, consistently driving P&L growth through his entrepreneurial and data-driven approach. Known for his participative C-Suite leadership style, Daniel is a driving force behind developing business models, strategies, and partnerships. His strategic decision-making prowess is evident in his ability to embrace disruptive technologies within the context of global competition, digitalisation, Industry 4.0, and the Internet of Things (IoT), propelling transformational business initiatives forward. Daniel's...
“Carbon leakage occurs when industries transfer polluting production to other countries with less stringent climate policies or when more carbon-intensive imports replace EU products”, Gangaa C. Sharma, Managing Director & CEO, CETIZION Verifica.
Gangaa C. Sharma serves as the Managing Director and CEO of CETIZION Verifica, a prominent global advisory and audit company. With an extensive career spanning over 27 years, he brings a wealth of experience across diverse sectors and geographies, including India, Asia Pacific, China, the Gulf, and the EU. Sharma's expertise encompasses manufacturing, environmental health and safety, CSR, biodiversity, climate change, social and labour issues, as well as ethics and governance. Notably, he is a distinguished member of the Global Sustainability Standard Board under the auspices of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), a leading global sustainability and climate change initiative, and an advocate for ESG reporting frameworks. Recognised as a worldwide expert in Aluminium Sustainability,...
“In envisioning the role of digital transformation in shaping the future of the aluminium industry, Sohar Aluminium sees these initiatives as transformative forces,” Abdullah Al Maamary, IT Manager, Sohar Aluminium
Abdullah Al Maamary, Information Technology Manager for Sohar Aluminium, is at the forefront of implementing innovative changes in technology. He has twenty-two years of experience in the industrial sector, extending across a broad cross-section of functions in the oil and gas and the metal and mining industries. In his current capacity as Information Technology Manager at Sohar Aluminium LLC., Abdullah integrated strategic IT solutions to support business needs in a rapidly and constantly changing digital age. These solutions aim to increase productivity while creating value, reducing costs and improving the efficiency of the operations. Abdullah holds a bachelor’s degree in science in electrical power engineering from the Glasgow Caledonian College. AL Circle: Can you provide an...
“The aluminium industry can harness Industry 4.0's IoT, AI, and advanced analytics to revolutionise production,” Chandra Sekhar Mishra, Founder & Director of Thermwin Technologies Pvt Ltd
Chandra Sekhar Mishra is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of expertise in the dynamic realm of metal industries. His distinguished career has been marked by impactful contributions to primary aluminium industries, with significant achievements in areas such as cast house, potline, carbon, and refractories. Throughout his career, Chandra Sekhar has been a catalyst for innovation, spearheading numerous initiatives that have driven process improvements and substantial energy savings. He is not only an industry stalwart but also an active member of prestigious professional bodies. As the Treasurer of the American Ceramic Society, North East India Chapter, and a Life Member of the Indian Ceramic Society and Material Research Society of India, he embodies a commitment to advancing...
“CarbonChain builds necessary infrastructure for major carbon regulations that support the global net-zero transition like the EU CBAM, by enabling importers and producers to measure and report emissions for CBAM compliance,” Adam Hearne, CEO and Co-Founder, CarbonChain.
Adam Hearne is an expert on the commodity and manufacturing sectors’ transition to a net-zero economy. He is the CEO and co-founder of CarbonChain, providing automated, asset-level carbon accounting for most carbon-intensive supply chains. His career spans nearly two decades across supply chain management, extractive commodities, and technology start-ups. He was the senior program manager for 8 countries in Amazon’s European supply chain from 2016 to 2019, and he worked at Rio Tinto for 12 years, increasing the productivity of several other supply chains. Adam holds an MBA from London Business School and an honours degree from the Queensland University of Technology in Australia. At CarbonChain, he helps some of the world’s biggest and most impact-minded commodity companies, traders,...
“The ideal digital transformation for the aluminium industry would be the elimination of human workers in production shops and the control of technological processes with the maximum level of safety,” Sergey Kidakov, Founder, GreenAlum Project
Spearheaded by Sergey Kidakov, at the helm of the innovative GreenAlum project, a remarkable journey has unfolded in engineering and information systems across diverse industries. Armed with a comprehensive education in information systems and construction engineering, Kidakov's proficiency extends seamlessly into various domains. Since its inception in 2014, the GreenAlum project has seen substantial progress, boasting a team of seasoned professionals with extensive aluminium and mechanical engineering expertise. Many team members hold dual higher education degrees and possess academic accolades in technical and chemical sciences. The GreenAlum initiative is dual-faceted, focusing on pioneering new technology for primary aluminium production and championing a waste-free approach to...
“Since the launch of the LMEpassport, CoA documentation accompanying metal is now digitised by LME warehouses using the LMEpassport platform, therefore solving the issues of losing the paper CoA in transit or the paper CoA document degrading over time,” Hugo Brodie, Head of Product Development & Innovation, LME
Hugo is Head of Product Development & Innovation at the London Metal Exchange. He is responsible for identifying, designing, and launching new products and services at the Exchange, including partnering with industry players to drive innovation across the metals industry. Prior to this, he was Vice President for Sustainability, focused on designing and implementing the LME’s responsible sourcing and broader sustainability goals. Hugo joined the LME in September 2015, having previously worked in Integrated Supply & Trading at BP. AL Cirlce: Please brief us on LMEpassport and its role as a central registry for sustainability credentials in the metals and mining industry. Hugo Brodie: Metals are an essential enabler of a sustainable future. As global demand for metals increases, so will the...
“The ongoing technological disruptions are poised to reshape the metals and mining industry, focusing on sustainability, efficiency, and innovation,” Benoit Verreault, Executive Vice-President of Maestria Solutions.
Speaker, columnist, and technical writer Benoit Verreault has been involved in several organisations as an administrator, board of directors, and technical advisor. He has developed a large clientele in Canada and several countries, from Norway to India, the United States, the Middle East, and Australia, from scratch. Involved for over 25 years in projects using information technology applications in manufacturing in Canada and overseas. Has been CEO for many years for the Centre de Geomatic du Québec, a Technology Transfer Centre specialising in Geomatics (CCTC), Gus Technologie and Groupe Uni-Spec. Worked among other mandates with Hydro-Quebec, Alcan Research Centre (now RTA), Bombardier and Régie d'Assurance Agricole. Implementation of mobile solutions (software + electronics) for...
“GlassPoint has deployed more than half of all the solar steam for industry in the world, and the company has been reliably producing solar steam for over a decade”, Rod MacGregor, CEO, GlassPoint.
Rod MacGregor is the founding CEO of GlassPoint. Under his leadership, GlassPoint has created the only solution proven at scale to reduce carbon emissions from industrial process heat and has built more than half of global industrial solar steam capacity. He is committed to helping industrial leaders cost-effectively decarbonize to meet pressing net-zero commitments. Rod has led global companies across the United States, Europe, China and the Middle East for more than three decades. Rod’s companies have partnered with various multinational corporations in the energy and technology industries, including Royal Dutch Shell, AT&T, Intel, and Volkswagen. AL Circle: Can you provide an overview of GlassPoint's enclosed trough technology and how it harnesses sunshine to produce steam for...
"There are two ways to decarbonise the aluminium sector. First is to reduce emissions on the upstream production end of the business. And second is to significantly ramp up recycling of the metal." Matt Meenan, Vice President, External Affairs at The Aluminum Association
An interview with Matt Meenan, The Vice President, External Affairs at The Aluminum Association. Matt Meenan became a part of the Aluminum Association in December 2012, steadily taking on more significant roles in managing the association's external communications. As the Vice President of External Affairs, he now heads the department and crafts strategies to promote aluminium, address external challenges, and safeguard the association's brand and industry. AL Circle: What key areas of research should be prioritised to achieve greater environmental responsibility and resource efficiency? Matt: There are basically two ways to decarbonise the aluminium sector. First is to reduce emissions on the upstream production end of the business. And second is to significantly ramp up recycling of the...
“Our primary focus is to support the development of new market opportunities and help local companies make effective uses of aluminium through design optimization,” Francois Racine, CEO of AluQuébec
Francois Racine has been the chief executive officer of AluQuébec, Québec’s aluminium cluster, since February 2021. He manages the organisation’s operations and ensures the cluster’s outreach throughout Québec’s aluminium ecosystem. Previously, from 2012 to 2020, Mr. Racine was president and administrator at Alcoa Innovation. He was also director of business development within Alcoa Aluminium’s Global strategy team from 2017 to 2020. In that position, he led an annual planification process and executed key strategic initiatives for the multinational company. Also, within that same organisation, Mr. Racine was director of business development at Alcoa Canada from 2011 to 2017. His role was to identify and support implementing cost-reducing initiatives and value-creating projects in Alcoa...
“In terms of specific sectors, we see the potential for continued growth in transportation and recovery in the packaging and in the building and construction sectors,” Renato Bacchi, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Alcoa Corp.
Renato Bacchi is the Executive VP and CCO of Alcoa Corp, overseeing sales, marketing, supply chain, and more. He previously held roles in strategy, finance, and treasury at Alcoa. Renato joined Alcoa in 1997, working on energy projects and material procurement in Brazil. He holds an MBA and CFA designation and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University. Renato also serves on the board of directors for The Tull Family Theatre, a nonprofit in Pittsburgh. AL Circle: Alcoa has a strong commitment to sustainability. What are the key sustainability initiatives that Alcoa has undertaken to reduce its environmental footprint in the Americas? Renato Bacchi: At Alcoa, we are reinventing the aluminium industry for a sustainable future. We believe the market for sustainable...
“Inductotherm's advanced solid-state power supply technology is one of the main reasons we hold the majority share in the American market,” Michael P. Looby, Director of Sales – Canada & Senior District Manager, Inductotherm Corp.
Over 17 years at Inductotherm Corp, Mike held several key roles. Starting in 2006 as a Field Service Engineer, he commissioned new induction melting and heating systems, gaining deep product knowledge. In 2008, he became District Manager for the Southeast U.S., using his technical background to work with manufacturing companies. In 2018, Mike became Senior District Manager, mentoring new team members and sharing successful sales strategies. His promotion to Director of Inter-Company Sales, collaborating with global Inductotherm entities, occurred in 2021. His role as Director of Sales for Inductotherm Group Canada began in 2023. AL Circle: Can you give a brief overview of Inductotherm's history and its significant milestones in the induction metal melting systems industry? Michael P....
