Beyond aluminium smelting capacity, we propose to incentivise emissions cuts to support wider decarbonisation: Ed Boyd, Mission Possible Partnership
As the European Council seeks political alignment on the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), the debate over how to accelerate aluminium decarbonisation in bringing emissions accounting and demand for low-carbon metal into focus. Against the backdrop of Mission Possible Partnership’s (MPP) open letter, AL Circle speaks with Ed Boyd, MPP’s Global Policy Lead, about the policies needed to support the European aluminium industry’s transition. Boyd argues that effective decarbonisation must account for emissions from alumina refining and track Scope 2 emissions associated with purchased electricity. On mandatory green procurement and lead-market thresholds of at least 50 per cent for aluminium, he says producers are ready to supply low-carbon metal at scale and considers the proposed threshold...
EU-India FTA, CBAM and carbon costs: Can Indian aluminium crack the European market?
A former Deputy Secretary General of the European Parliament and Director of the EPP Group, Paolo Licandro, has extensive experience in European policymaking, international relations, industry, energy and EU affairs. He is currently the Founder and CEO of eEuropa Belgium and Editor of eEuropa.Blog. He has worked with European prime ministers, ministers and EU commissioners and has held senior roles covering EU enlargement, Mediterranean and Middle East relations, and industry, research and energy. A nuclear engineer, he holds a master’s degree from Politecnico di Milano and has worked with ENI, ARS-Pragma and the EU Joint Research Centre. In this interview, Paolo Licandro shares his perspective on EU–India aluminium trade, CBAM and the opportunities for Indian producers in Europe. AL...
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“Aluminium is substituting a lot of steel component, and this is the reason why the market is growing so fast,” Roberto Forcella, President of Lucchini RS Tool Steel S.r.l, Italy
Mr. Roberto Forcella, Commercial and Marketing Director of Lucchini RS SpA, President of Lucchini Tool Steel, and a Board member of Lucchini Beijing, Lucchini Poland, Lucchini Sweden, Lucchini India, represented the Italian manufacturing company at this year’s METEF exhibition held in Verona, Italy. He oversees the business for Lucchini’s entire range of products- Steel, Railways, Forging and Casting. Mr. Roberto Forcella started his career in the industry with Italsider, an Italian steel company, as quality controller for steel making and forging production, and then proceeded as Quality Manager for rolling stock materials. In 1980 he moved to the Sales department dedicated to the Italian market. When Terni Group took over the Lovere plant, he became Sales Responsible for all rolling...
“ALUMINUM USA is a business platform for all players along the value chain from primary to downstream,” Michael Mandl, Group Vice President - Reed Exhibitions US
With ALUMINUM USA, Reed Exhibitions is expanding its world leading brand ALUMINIUM to one of the most important markets for the global aluminium industry. The world's second largest consumer market for aluminium is experiencing exponential growth in various end user industries, especially in transportation and packaging. ALUMINUM USA 2017 will offer an apt meeting place for suppliers of raw material, semi-finished and finished products, surface treatment and producers of machinery, plant and equipment for aluminium processing and manufacturing. We spoke to Michael Mandl, Group Vice President - Reed Exhibitions US that is organizing this mega event in association with Aluminum Association. He spoke about the main highlights of the events along with the U.S. aluminium industry and it...
“Nature friendly technologies and overall approach to business will secure strong demand for our products in the future,” Mr Oleg Mukhamedshin, Deputy CEO, Director for Strategy, Business Development and Financial Markets, Rusal
AlCircle had the privilege to have an interview with Mr Oleg Mukhamedshin , Deputy CEO, Director for Strategy, Business Development and Financial Markets of Rusal, the world’s second largest aluminium producer. He spoke at length about Rusal’s current project and strategies and the global aluminium market, and shared his company outlook on aluminium demand and supply. Here is an excerpt from the interview: AlCircle: Rusal has reported improved Q2 and H1results for 2017. What is the company outlook for the second half of 2017? Mr Oleg Mukhamedshin : Indeed, RUSAL has demonstrated solid performance in the first half of 2017. Combination of favourable market conditions with aluminium price growth on LME to an average of USD 1,880 per tonne in 1H2017, or by 21,8% y-o-y, and the Company’s...
“One of the largest opportunities in global market today is related to additive manufacturing,” Jacopo Nardi, International Business Manager, RINA Consulting-CSM, Italy
RINA Consulting – Centro Sviluppo Materiali, S.p.A. is a leading R&D and consultancy firm based in Italy. With over 20 laboratories, pilot lines and full scale testing facilities, the company has emerged as the partner of choice for any industrial project in which materials, technology and innovation play a critical role. It provides full support to its global clients in product and process innovation, covering all aspects from metallurgical design to the development and optimization of manufacturing processes. Mr. Jacopo Nardi heads the Materials, technology & Innovation division team of RINA Consulting as the Business Manager - International Development. He joined the company in 2014, after 12 years’ experience in sales in the steel industry, in Italy and in Germany. AlCircle had an...
“Working with more than 1600 varnish codes of the most various colours, I can only see Italcoat as a 'colourful' environment.” Marco Iorio, Plant Manager, Italcoat
Italcoat is a part of Laminazione Sottile Group, specialized in aluminium transformation. The Group’s companies work in an integrated production chain and manufacture rolled aluminium products, in different alloys, dimensions and superficial treatments, including lacquering and printing, and aluminium food trays. Italcoat is involved in surface treatment and lacquering of aluminium coils. After an education in Mechanical Engineering and former experiences in SCA, leading company in the paper sector, and KME, manufacturer of copper and brass rolled products, Marco Iorio enterned the world of coated aluminium products in Italcoat as Plant Manager. Here is an excerpt from a brief interview with the passionate manager. Describe briefly your education background and your work experience...
An interview with Mr Edward Meir -Senior Metals Analyst, INTL FCStone Inc
<p><strong>Mr Ed Meir</strong> is an Independent Commodity Consultant to INTL FCStone and a long-time collaborator with Italian-based International Commodities Club FARO. Mr. Meir has been in the commodities business for about 30 years in various capacities. After getting his BA in Economics from McGill University and his MBA from New York University, Mr. Meir started his career as a futures research analyst covering the sugar, coffee, and cocoa markets. He then spent the next 18 years in the physical markets, trading aluminium, tin and steel. Mr. Meir was ranked by <em>Metal Bulletin</em> as the #1 overall base metals analyst in 2011, 2014 and 2015 and was ranked number #2 in precious metals in 2014 and #3 in 2013.</p> <p>He discussed trends in the global metal market and more...
An Interview with Piero Starita, Director of Laviosa Minerals S.p.A., Italy, at METEF 2017
<p>Mr. Piero Starita, Director of Laviosa Minerals S.p.A.- the Advanced Minerals Solutions company of Italy, talked to AlCircle ahead of Metef 2017 exhibition in Verona, Italy. He spoke about his company’s bentonite and other industrial mineral excavation, processing and distribution activities, its mining operations in India, upcoming plans and various challenges that it has been facing in the international market.</p> <p>Mr. Starita has remained the President Amafond from 2008 till 2012, and exceptionally again from 2014 till 2015. Currently, he is a BoD member of Cemafon, Frankfurt and Ima – Euba, Bruxelles. He is also a BoD member in several companies in Italy, Spain, France, and India. Laviosa Minerals participated in METEF 2017, the international expo of customized...
An Interview with Mr. Stefano Giacometti, Sales Director, IMS Deltamatic Group S.p.a., Italy at METEF 2017
<p><strong>IMS Deltamatic Group</strong>, born from the synergy of two specialized and diversified companies, has emerged as the international reference point in manufacturing of innovative technologically advanced machinery as well as service solutions for the web-converting (IMS and OMM brands) and automotive interior manufacturing industries. M<strong>r. Stefano Giacometti</strong> who joined the company (Deltamatic) back in 1992 is presently Sales Director for the Converting Foil & Aseptic Division and for the Automotive Thermoforming Division.</p> <p>AlCircle had the opportunity to meet Mr. Giacometti at the recently held Metef 2017 in Verona, Italy, where IMS Deltamatic was exhibiting. He spoke about the company’s journey as a leading aluminium foil machining company and...
An interview with Riccardo Ferrario, General Manager, IDRA Group at METEF 2017
<p><strong>IDRA Group</strong> is an Italy based manufacturing group involved in the design and manufacture of die casting presses and automated cells for the light alloy foundry business worldwide. IDRA exhibited at METEF 2017, the international expo of customized technology for the aluminium and innovative metals industry.</p> <p><strong>Mr. Riccardo Ferrario</strong> is the General Manager of IDRA S.r.l with over 31 years of experience in the light alloy foundry business and worked for global companies such as Teksid (Fiat Group metallurgical product division), EurAlcom Group and Meridian Technologies. Mr. Ferrario is a metallurgical engineer and possesses strong experience in foundry manufacturing process and business development. He is a member of the board of High Pressure Die...
An interview with Marco Menin and Paolo Zanotta of Menphis S.p.A., Italy, at METEF 2017
<p>Marco Menin, Managing Director, and Paolo Zanotta, Area Manager of Menphis S.p.A, talked to AlCircle ahead of Metef 2017 exhibition in Verona, Italy. The duo from the Italian family company with a fiercely innovative bent talked in length about Menphis’ major business areas, sublimation technology and the emerging markets with opportunities and challenges.</p> <p>Marco Menin is a Chemical Engineer graduated at the Politecnico of Milan in 2002. After years in the operations and financial dept, he is now MD and in charge of business development in Asia & Pacific and North America for Menphis Aluminium.</p> <p>Paolo Zanotta has been working for Menphis since March 2009 as Sales Area Manager Middle East. In the past he spent twenty-two years in a textile company supporting Sales...
An interview with Mario Conserva, General Manager, A&L and Vice President, Alfin-Edimet, founder of METEF
<p>Mario Conserva, General Manager, A&L and Vice President, Alfin-Edimet, the founding company for METEF talked to AlCircle about the upcoming Metef 2017 exhibition and how the event is going to open its door again to more than 400 international exhibitors covering foundry casting, extrusion, rolling, machining, surface treatments and recycling.</p> <p>An excerpt from the interview: </p> <p><strong>AlCircle: Tell us in brief about the foundry industry in Europe and Italy, and the prime international markets for the foundry players in Italy.</strong></p> <p><strong>Mario Conserva: </strong>According to the 2015 analysis of the Italian associations of this segment, Italy has more than 1,100 foundry casting plants with about 30,000 employees, with a turnover of 7 billion euros...
Amafond’s Maurizio Sala discusses Metef Exhibition and India connection with Indian Commerce & Industry Minister
<p>Maurizio Sala, owner of Foundry Ecocer Srl and Protecme Srl and President of the Confindustria Amafond underlines the important presence of India at the next edition of METEF, the largest light and non-ferrous metals expo in the SEMEA area (Southern Europe, Middle East, and Africa). In a recent meeting in Rome with Nirmala Sitharaman, India’s Minister of Commerce & Industry, Sala underlined the importance of cooperation between Italy and India in the area of aluminum. Sala, at the presence of Indian Ambassador Anil Wadhwa, noted that prestigious Indian companies operating within Aluminium Association of India, such as Aditya Birla, Novelis, Vedanta, Hindalco, and Nalco, are now our partners at various levels. But, he added that it would be especially in the sectors of...
“Metal Sector has enormous potential in the Indian market” Francesco Esposito, CEO, Danieli India
<p>With two factories, one in Chennai in the south, and the other in Kolkata, in the east, in addition to the commercial offices in Pune, Mumbai and Delhi and more than 1,000 employees, Danieli India is a leading supplier of equipment and plants to the steel and aluminium industry. On a realistic note, Esposito also looks at the hurdles that emerge in the implementation of development projects. The current growth of Danieli is between 10 to 15% of the annual revenue, which is forecasted to be around 120 million euros by June 30, before the closure of the 2016-2017 budget. Francesco Esposito, CEO of Danieli India in his talk says he is both optimistic and careful about his India plans.</p> <p><strong>Question: Danieli is growing in Aluminium Sector with the takeover of FATA, one of...
"A flourishing downstream industry, economical aluminium prices and improving aluminium usage can only increase aluminium consumption in India," - Mr. BD Garg, Executive Director, Jindal Aluminium Limited
<p>Jindal Aluminium Limited is a leading aluminium extruder in India and the largest aluminium product manufacturer with above 35% of the market share. Leading the company from the forefront is a group of stalwarts among whom B.D. Garg deserves a special mention. A veteran in the Indian aluminium industry, B.D. Garg joined Jindal Aluminium in 1976 and has been working there ever since. He has worked in various positions in the company and was promoted to Executive Director and CEO of the company in 2011. As ED of the company, Mr. Garg is responsible for company’s aluminium extrusions, rolled products as also renewable energy businesses. Besides, he also monitors working of the group’s CSR activities. </p> <p>AlCircle had an opportunity to talk to him about the current...
“In the competition among steel, austempered ductile iron and aluminium, the main loser is steel,” Franco Zanardi, Honorary President, Zanardi Fonderie
<p>Franco Zanardi is the Honorary President of Zanardi Fonderie that is a producer and supplier of ductile iron and ADI castings based in Verona, Italy. An MSc in Mechanical Engineering with four decades of experience in casting and ADI materials, he is also the Past President of Confindustria Verona, and Vice President of Assofond. AlCircle had the opportunity to discuss with him different aspects of ADI and aluminium during his visit to India and we summarised the discussion in an interview script complemented by a video. </p> <div style="position: relative; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe style="position: absolute; width: 100%; height: 100%; left: 0;" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lDvg_zSIYWs?ecver=2" frameborder="0" width="640" height="360"></iframe></div>...
“Deep down I am a truck guy, and there is no better truck than the F-150”- Shawn M. Morgans, Global Vehicle Architecture Manager, Ford
<p>As a prelude to the 4th Lightweight Vehicles Manufacturing Summit 2017 to be held in Detroit, in February, Shawn M. Morgans, Global Vehicle Architecture Manager, Product Development Center, Ford Motor Company gives an insight into his thoughts about the conference and his presentation.</p> <p>At the 4th Lightweight Vehicles Manufacturing Summit, Shawn will be speaking on a panel session along with two other leading OEMs to consider the potential of each joining technology to meet individual requirements of automakers.</p> <p>Here is an excerpt from the interview he gave to The Global Automotive Lightweight Materials (GALM Series) Conference website:</p> <p><strong>GALM: Please tell us a bit about your background and your current role?</strong></p> <p><strong>Shawn:</strong> I am a...
“RA-550 technology is a great contribution in our pursuit for more efficient and more environmentally friendly aluminium production”- Mr. Viktor Mann, Technical Director, UC RUSAL
UC RUSAL, the global leader in aluminium production, recently launched the first RA-550 pot of new generation running at over 550 kA at the Sayanogorsk aluminium smelter. According to design documents, an RA-550 cell of the energy-efficient new pot consumes around 12 kW*h/kg of aluminium- around 10-15% less than previous generations, and one pot can produce 4.21 tonnes of aluminium per day, which is about twice as much as the daily output of a RA-300 pot currently used at SAZ. Mr. Victor Mann, the Technical Director of UC RUSAL , who had termed the launch of RA-550 as 'a technical and engineering breakthrough’, shared with AlCircle the key benefits of the new pot in terms of energy-efficiency. He also answered queries regarding RUSAL's other upcoming projects. Mr. Mann has been heading...
“There is more to come in the Gulf as far as aluminium growth is concerned,” Mohammed Al Naki, the chairman of Arab International Aluminium Conference (ARABAL)
<p>Al Naki's relationship with aluminium dates back to 1968, when he was an officer in the Kuwaiti army. He was second in command of the Kuwaiti engineers and a member of the staff of the military college, but then he left the army and started his aluminium business. At that time it was a fabrication business manufacturing doors and windows.</p> <p><span id=":bl.co" class="tL8wMe EMoHub" style="text-align: left;" dir="ltr">Here’s an extract from the conversation with the man behind ARABAL, the main trade show and conference for the Middle East aluminium industry which is going to open its door to the domestic and the international aluminium fraternity from November 22 to 24, 2016. </span></p> <p><strong>AlCircle: How did your aluminium journey begin?</strong></p> <p><strong>Al...
