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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“We have a new product which we will launch later this year. It’s a camera system which runs underneath the casting table,” Ola Furu & August Riise from Hycast AS
AL Circle was delighted to welcome a delegation from Hycast AS last month and discuss how Hydro’s technology partner is taking aluminium casting to the next level globally. Ola Furu, Head of Project and Sales of Hycast AS, and August Riise, Senior Project Manager of Hycast, were in conversation with our Director of Operations, Soumyadip Chakraborty, which turned out to a deep insight into the market of aluminium casting. Mr Furu & Riise discussed the products and services and how Hycast incorporates sustainability into the technologies it provides. They also revealed the new technology they would be launching this year. To know about it all, continue reading the interview: AL Circle: Please brief us about Hycast and the kinds of products it offers to the aluminium value chain. Ola Furu :...
“We are currently in a transformative growth phase, setting the stage for a disruptive revolution across our assets, employees, and operational integration,” Rahul Sharma, CEO, Vedanta Ltd – Aluminium Business
We are honoured to have a one-on-one interview with Mr Rahul Sharma, CEO of Vedanta Limited – Aluminium Business, wherein he explained the features and functionalities of the newly installed IIoT devices at their 2400 MW Thermal Power Plant. He has also described how the devices can curb carbon emissions, improving air quality. He has also discussed Vedanta’s green brands Restora & Restora Ultra while revealing their long-term net-zero emission goals. To know about it all, read the interview below: AL Circle: Congratulations on installing Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) devices at your thermal power plant. Please enlighten us on the functionalities of devices towards resisting carbon emissions. Rahul Sharma : Being among the world’s top players and India’s largest aluminium producer,...
“Our goals towards sustainability are to see more companies embrace infinitely recyclable aluminium as their packaging material of choice”, Tom Giddings, Executive Director, Alupro
Tom Giddings is Executive Director of the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro), the industry-funded, not-for-profit organisation with over 30 years of experience representing the UK’s aluminium packaging industry. Working to fulfil the industry’s objectives to meet, and exceed, recycling targets for aluminium packaging, Alupro has a long history of engaging and encouraging businesses and consumers to recycle their aluminium packaging through engagement campaigns such as Every Can Counts and Metal Matters. Tom oversees Alupro’s work to achieve these aims, joining the company in 2020 as Sustainability and Public Affairs Manager to support Alupro’s members in highlighting and promoting the sustainability and circular economy credentials of aluminium packaging. Prior to this,...
“Icelandic aluminium production is nearly 900,000 tonnes, the second biggest in Europe after Norway”, Petur Blondal, Managing Director, Icelandic Association of Aluminium Producers (Samal)
Petur Blondal is the Managing Director of the Icelandic Association of Aluminium Producers. He is one of the founders and board members of the Icelandic Aluminium Cluster. Petur is a former journalist and editor at Morgunbladid, Iceland’s biggest daily. He was the Head of PR and investor relations at Islandsbanki and was the founder and Head of a PR division at Gott folk McCann-Erickson. In addition to his BA in philosophy from the University of Iceland, Petur holds an MBA from the University of Reykjavik. AlCircle: Could you share the journey of the Icelandic Association of Aluminum Producers, Samál, from its inception? What was the primary intent behind the formation of this association? Petur Blondal: Samal, as the Icelandic Association of Aluminium Producers is called, was founded in...
“The demand for high-quality, recycled aluminium scrap, beginning sometime in 2024 or 2025, will be greater than the supply,” Peter Nagusky, President and CEO of the Federal Metal Company
Peter Nagusky is the President and CEO of The Federal Metal Company, an industry leader in cast copper-based alloys since 1913. Federal Metal has melting facilities in northeast Ohio and eastern Pennsylvania, and recently opened a new processing operation in central Arkansas that specializes in recycling aluminum copper radiators. To complement the core business established by his great grandfather, Peter is making major new investments to supply rolling mills with high purity aluminum and copper products. Let’s hear from Peter about the demand and supply growth of aluminium scrap and how improved sorting technologies can lead to a better recycling output. AlCircle: Recycled aluminium content in end-use products is rapidly replacing the primary metal. Is this resulting in immense...
“Substantial growth in aluminium demand, both primary and secondary, is forecast in the coming decades, particularly from the transport, construction and electrical sectors.” Mr Mike Ferraro, President of the Australian Aluminium Council.
AlCircle: How is the Australian Aluminium Council helping to promote sustainable bauxite mining and metal production? Mr Mike Ferraro: Aluminium is one of the commodities most widely used in the global clean energy transition. Transitioning the world towards green energy sources will require 50% more aluminium than the electricity sector consumes today. Australia is one of the very few countries which has an integrated value chain, from bauxite mining all the way through to extrusion industries. Today, Australia is the world’s largest producer of bauxite, the largest exporter of alumina, and the seventh-largest producer of aluminium. Australia has more than 60 years of technical experience in bauxite mining, alumina refining, and primary aluminium smelting, which not only helps us, but...
“Casting is good one day, bad the next. But we haven’t changed anything. The most common complaint from casthouses and inconsistency of grain refiner plays a big part”, John Courtenay, Chairman and CEO, MQP
Studying metallurgy at the University of Aston, John started at Foseco International, working his way through ONC, HNC and LIM, before being seconded to Foseco Canada for three years to work on an exciting new product for steel continuous casting plants, going on hold a number of International marketing and technical positions before joining Foseco Japan as general manager of their steel mills division, returning to Foseco International in 1983. In 1986, he switched from steel to aluminium, starting a long association with aluminium casthouse technology as director of technology and marketing of Foseco Aluminium. After selling this business to Pyotek, he used his experience to form MQP Limited, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2020. AlCircle: What is MQP’s process to make...
“Epsilon has a customer base spanning 22 countries and is dedicated to providing innovative and high-quality carbon products”, Saiprasad Jadhav, Group CEO, Epsilon Carbon
Saiprasad Jadhav looks after the overall business operations of the Group. He has around three decades of experience, more than a decade in an entrepreneurial career. During his tenure of entrepreneurship, he had run two manufacturing facilities for Fluorine-based speciality chemicals & active pharma ingredients and pharma formulations, respectively. In his association with Epsilon, Saiprasad Jadhav has been instrumental in setting-up greenfield capacity for the Carbon Black business with a capacity of 115,000 TPA & has been mentoring the management team for the subsidiary company, Epsilon Advanced Material Private Limited in establishing Anode material business. Prior to joining Epsilon Carbon, he was associated with Deepak Nitrite Ltd as President – Fine & Speciality Division. AlCircle:...
“In 2022, we developed 34 new projects, 10 of which were for new clients who chose to believe in us and 24 new orders from long-standing clients who demonstrated their unwavering trust and confidence in our reliability”, Valerio Presezzi, Founder & President, Presezzi Extrusion
AlCircle: How do you visualize the year 2023 for the global aluminium industry, considering the extrusion sector? Valerio Presezzi: Regarding global industry, in 2023, we are not expecting any particular downturns with respect to the trends of recent years. On the other hand, the outlook is clear and decisive in our extrusion and melting industry. The market for system supply is going strong, actually very strong. The global market, in general, is experiencing a fundamental transformation in terms of application. More specifically, many clients are setting themselves up best to satisfy the automotive market and its conversion to electric, as well as the market for high-speed trains and fabrications engineered in aluminium and its alloys. This entails an upwards adjustment in system sizes...
“Projects in 2023 include an increased construction activity at the PT Borneo Alumina Indonesia project for which Progesys is in a consortium providing PMC scope of work for the new Alumina refinery under construction,” Riad Faour, CEO, Progesys
Riad is the founder and CEO of Progesys, responsible for providing leadership and managing the growth of the company. He has over 23 years of experience in project management and executive leadership throughout North America and abroad. He started his career in the aluminium industry in Canada and then in the USA. He worked with owners of assets and projects and engineering firms before he founded Progesys in 2003 and has since been responsible for its growth and expansion to many industries and regions, including Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. He received the UQAM performance award in 2016 for leadership, entrepreneurship, and international development. Riad is a registered professional engineer. He earned a Bachelor of Engineering from École Polytechnique in...
“2023 should be a good year for the aluminium industry,” C. Brian Hesse, Co-owner, President and CEO of PerenniAL
C. Brian Hesse is co-owner, President, and Chief Executive Officer of PerenniAL, with 26 years of experience in the aluminum industry in a variety of executive leadership, sales and marketing positions. He joined PerenniAL, the then Rusal America, in May 2019 as President and CEO. He led all aspects of the business managing $950 million in revenue per year. He was hired to re-establish, rebrand and lead Rusal’s American operations (after US-imposed sanctions were lifted) for the world’s 2nd largest aluminium company. He has grown the US team from 7 to 19 employees, created a culture of engagement, transparency, and accountability, secured ISO 9001 certification, and returned sales volumes to pre-sanction levels. Since Brian joined Rusal America, aluminium sales tonnes have grown from...
“We are now celebrating 23rd Anniversary and we try to be always a step ahead towards the integration of green technology in the aluminium sectors,” Giovanni Margarotto, Managing Partner of T.T. Tomorrow
Giovanni Magarotto, 62 years old, is the founder and one of the Managing Partners of T.T. Tomorrow Technology. He has worked for 20 years in different fields of chemical, mechanical and metal (aluminium) industries, with a degree in Marketing and Business Administration in Padova and a masters in tax advisor and organisation. In 2000, he founded T.T. Tomorrow Technology, starting his own activity in the aluminium melting and recycling business. T.T. Tomorrow Technology’s core business is the design and production of special Multifunctional Furnace Tending Vehicles, Automatic Charging Systems and Automatic Skimmers, and various other transport vehicles for solid aluminium handling. The aim is to support the melting subsidiary phases of the aluminium casthouse as charging, cleaning and...
"Bathco is saddened to see several of its long-standing partners in Europe shutting down, and see this situation as an opportunity to reboot the industry in Europe on a more sustainable basis", Andreas Schwarz, CEO of Bathco Group.
Andreas Schwarz is the CEO of the Bathco Group, a leading solutions provider in the aluminium industry. With a background in trading functions at Rio Tinto Alcan, Andreas has extensive experience in the industry and has held positions in China, Southern Africa, and Zurich. As CEO of Bathco, he has led the company to new heights and overseen its expansion into new markets worldwide for the last 15 years. AlCircle: What are the core values and drivers that Bathco followed to establish its reputation as one of the aluminium industry's leading service providers? Andreas Schwarz: Bathco has always been highly focused on the aluminium industry and has, over the years, proven its reliability and its strength of innovation. We have built a circular economy around various by-products in the...
EPIQ Machinery: innovation in action
AlCircle: As you always strive to integrate new technologies into equipment, how do you plan to make EPIQ AD, EPIQ Mecfor and EPIQ Brochot more technologically advanced? Éloïse Harvey: Although AD, BROCHOT and MECFOR equipment already have a high level of automation, embedded technologies, and interconnectivity to execute their respective tasks safely, today’s challenge resides in bringing hyper-connectivity and a systematic approach between all equipment fixed and mobile. Not only has that, but the communication (data exchange) between equipment needed to be done at a greater level for the plant to appreciate the Industry 4.0 shift entirely. At EPIQ, we are closely cooperating with major primary aluminium producers to identify proper software layers for our equipment to ensure all...
“In 2023, HWAPENG will still keep itself competitive, focusing on creating values for customers and continuous innovation and breakthroughs,” Kathy Yuan, Head of Overseas Marketing Department at Hwapeng Machinery
AlCircle: What kind of equipment does HWAPENG supply to carbon plants? How do you foresee the year 2023? Kathy Yuan: Since its establishment in 1994, HWAPENG has been specializing in special purpose equipment and intelligent technologies for carbon plants manufacturing anodes, cathodes, graphite electrodes, carbon electrode paste, ramming paste and other carbon and graphite products. Our main equipment include carbon paste preparing system, vibrocompactors, baked anodes robotic cleaning system, extrusion press and hydraulic crusher. Our market share in China is over 90% at present. In 2023, HWAPENG will still keep itself competitive, focusing on creating values for customers and continuous innovation and breakthroughs. HWAPENG will uphold the corporate value of being brave in innovation,...
“The immediate outlook for aluminium remains under some pressure due to its close correlation to the health of the global economy,” Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, CEO of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA)
AlCircle: Could you please briefly tell us about EGA's performance and growth in 2022? Abdulnasser Bin Kalban: Last year was another extraordinary one for our industry. At EGA, we delivered our best-ever financial results by focusing throughout the year on what we control – the safety of our people, operational excellence, our costs, and our commercial relationships with our long-term global customers. We achieved production records at every step of our value chain. Cast metal sales were up seven per cent to 2.72 million tonnes. Some 78% of our sales were value-added products or ‘premium aluminium’. Hot metal production was recorded at 2.65 million tonnes. During the year, we surpassed 40 million tonnes of hot metal produced since the start-up of Jebel Ali in 1979. Alumina production at...
“So far, the aluminium industry has been resilient to the current geopolitical challenges and threats of high inflation,” Patrik Ernst, Director Aluminium Division at REEL International
AlCircle: Do you think the current economic slowdown in Europe will lead to weaker investments in technology and equipment by aluminium companies? Patrik Ernst: So far, the aluminium industry has been resilient to the current geopolitical challenges and threats of high inflation in various countries. We still see several medium and large sizes projects on the horizon, mainly linked to nearshoring strategies. AlCircle: Will you develop any new solution for the aluminium industry this year to boost productivity at a lower cost, given the current inflation scenario? Patrik Ernst: At REEL, we continuously strive for lower cost and higher productivity by adapting the organization to an ever changing market environment and by implementing lean tools and processes in the various departments of...
“As for carbon footprint reduction, at 1MM bottles displaced per year, that equates to ~ 5 tons equivalent of Co2,” Jerrod Freund, Co-Founder of Boomerang Water
Jerrod Freund is a seasoned investment banker with over 20 years of global experience in the industry. As Co-Founder of Boomerang Water, Jerrod is a valuable asset to the Boomerang Water Leadership Team and is dedicated to helping the company achieve its mission of eliminating single-use plastic water bottles and promoting global sustainable water management practices. Here is an excerpt from an interview with him on green initiatives undertaken by Boomerang. AlCircle.com: What inspired the creation of the Boomerang Bottling System (BBS)? Jerrod Freund: While on multiple tours of duty for the air force in the middle east in the mid-2000s, one of our co-founders, Jason dibble, came up with the idea to bottle at the point of use utilizing reusable bottles – the idea was generated as he...
