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...
Grow with
AL Circle
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...
“Now is the time for China to join the community of responsible global aluminum producers to fully and fairly participate in the aluminum market.” Charles Johnson, VP Policy at the Aluminum Association
<p>On September 29, 2016, <strong>Garney Scott, President & CEO of Scepter, Inc. </strong>and <strong>Chairman of the Aluminum Association</strong>, as well as <strong>Heidi Brock, President and CEO of the Aluminum Association</strong> testified at the <strong>U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC)</strong> public hearing on the <strong>Investigation on the Competitive Conditions Affecting the U.S. Aluminum Industry</strong>. They both drew attention to the challenges faced by the domestic aluminum industry due to flooding of Chinese aluminum in the U.S. market and urged the USITC to investigate the issue of unfair trading by China.</p> <p><strong>Charles Johnson</strong>, the <strong>Vice President of Policy at the Aluminum Association</strong> answered to AlCircle’s...
“We provide solutions for heat treating extrusion dies for aluminium extrusion companies,” Charbel Saliba, owner, Thermika Heating Systems
<p><strong>Thermika Systems Inc.</strong> is a leading manufacturer of heat treating solutions for industrial products. <strong>Charbel Saliba</strong>, became a young entrepreneur and over a decade was involved in various business ventures. About 10 years ago, he and a business partner were presented with the opportunity to venture into the heat treating industry. Working together Thermika was born. Currently, he is expanding his businesses, investing on it and supplying globally. As one of our valued associates AlCircle feels glad to highlight the kind of services Thermika has been offering to the Aluminium Extrusion industry. We had a brief discussion with Mr Saliba regarding Thermika’s products and its markets. <br /><br />Excerpts from the interview:<br /><br...
“Today JNARDDC stands at a point, where Indian Aluminium industry, can bank on us, for support guidance and innovation,” Mr. Anupam Agnihotri, Director, JNARDDC
<p><strong>Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC), Nagpur</strong>, India is a "Centre of Excellence" set up in 1989 to make contributions to the technological growth of the Indian Aluminium Industry. The centre has well-established R&D facilities for Bauxite, Alumina and Aluminium. <br /><br />We recently had an opportunity to meet <strong>Mr. Anupam Agnihotri</strong>, Director of this prestigious institution during the <strong>National Conference on Non-Ferrous Minerals and Metals’16</strong> at Jamshedpur. He was also facilitated during the conference for his contribution towards R&D in aluminium. He is a Metallurgical Engineer from IIT Kanpur with PG Degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the Visvesvaraya National Institute...
“There is a huge opportunity in India and the domestic metal demand is pegged to grow manifold,” Mr. Abhijit Pati, CEO (Aluminium), Vedanta Ltd.
<p><strong>Mr. Abhijit Pati</strong> started his career as a budding engineer with <strong>Indian Aluminium Company</strong> (subsidiary of <strong>ALCAN</strong> in <strong>Indian Aluminium Company</strong>) in the year 1989. After working with Hindalco for years with numerous laurels, he joined Vedanta in 2008, as the COO of one of the largest Greenfield Aluminium cum Power complexes of the world at Jharsuguda, Odisha. Subsequently, Mr. Pati was elevated to the position of the President and <strong>CEO, Aluminum Business</strong> in March’15. He is currently one of the senior management officials and an Executive Committee team member of Vedanta and also the lead ex officio member of Governing Council of the <strong>Aluminium Association of India (AAI)</strong>.<br /><br...
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...
“Aluminium has become the material of choice for automotive OEMs, which are transitioning from steel to aluminium” Peter Basten, VP, Strategy and Business Development at Constellium
Constellium is a global leader in manufacturing innovative value-added aluminium products for a broad scope of applications dedicated primarily to the aerospace, automotive and packaging markets. In an email interview with AlCircle, Peter Basten, Vice President Strategy and Business Planning at Constellium talked about their latest developments in the automotive sector and shared his outlook for aluminium in the automotive, aerospace and packaging sector. Mr. Basten has been Vice President Strategy and Business Development since July 2015. He was previously the Managing Director of Soft Alloys Europe at Constellium’s Automotive Structures and Industry Business Unit. Prior to this position, he was Constellium’s Vice President Strategic Planning & Business Development. Excerpts from the...
“Foil based flexible packaging…can have a far greater positive impact on the environment, even with zero recycling...” Stefan Glimm, Chief Executive Director (EAFA)
The European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA) is an international body that represents companies engaged in the rolling and rewinding of alufoil and in the manufacture of aluminium closures, alufoil semi-rigid containers and of all kind of flexible packaging. In a mail conversation with AlCircle, Stefan Glimm, Chief Executive Director of the European Aluminium Foil Association, EAFA talks about the best approach to waste prevention and how foil based flexible packaging is leading the way. Excerpt from the interview AlCircle: You talk about ‘Debunking the recycling myth’. Can you explain what you mean? SG: Well, what it does not mean is reducing efforts and initiatives to recycle. EAFA continues to fully support all these activities. But with such a big focus on recycling people are...
