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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AL Circle x Raffmetal: “Reducing energy intensity is a key priority for us, given the inherently energy- intensive nature of aluminium melting”
We welcome you to our conversation with Mr Ruggero Zambelli and Mr Paolo Gamberini of Raffmetal, the Europe’s leading producer of aluminium alloys from recycling. Mr Zambelli serves as Quality Manager and Head of Alloys Development, and Mr Gamberni is Sales Responsible for Foundry Alloys from Recycling. Sharing their outlook on the aluminium casting market, both Mr Zambelli and Mr Gamberini underline that lightweighting is a long-term strategic priority for the automotive sector, which continues to offer strong growth prospects to the aluminium casting market beyond 2026. While acknowledging near-term challenges, particularly the increasing outflow of aluminium scrap from Europe, they note that Raffmetal is working closely with government authorities to address these concerns. When asked...
AL Circle x Amit Kumar: For aluminium, electrification is the most critical pathway because electricity is the dominant energy input
Dr. Amit Kumar is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alberta and a global leader in energy systems assessment. He holds a Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Assessment of Energy Systems and the Cenovus Energy Endowed Chair in Environmental Engineering. He serves as Director of the Centre for Hydrogen Innovation, Workforce Development and Outreach, and Deputy Director of Future Energy Systems, a USD 75 million research initiative at the University of Alberta. Dr. Kumar leads large interdisciplinary programs that inform energy policy and investment decisions. His work is internationally recognised, and he has served on expert panels and advisory committees for organisations including the European Commission, National Science Foundation, Natural...
AL Circle x Tiziana Tronci from Gefond: “The aluminium die casting market shows strong growth potential in 2026 and the years ahead”
Tiziana Tronci is a Board Member & New Products Development Manager at Gefond Srl and CEO of HPDC. With a degree in Communication Sciences and over 20 years of experience in communication and business development, Tiziana plays a pivotal role in advancing innovation across the non-ferrous foundry ecosystem. She joined Gefond as New Products and Business Development Manager in 2016, and since then working closely with the industrial sector to promote innovative solutions in the supply of materials and technological equipment for non-ferrous foundries. In 2020, she joined the Board of Directors at Gefond, and in parallel, co-founded an innovative startup, HPDC – High Performance Die Casting, aimed at transforming mold thermoregulation in foundries, improving energy efficiency and...
AL Circle x Rathin Vyas: Energy efficiency is about fixing the leaks before you worry about the source
Rathin Vyas is the CEO and Co‑founder of Enerco Energy Solutions LLP, a Mumbai‑based consulting firm focused on industrial decarbonisation, renewable energy and energy efficiency. With over 17+ years of experience, he has led more than 250 industrial energy assignments and 100+ renewable energy projects, helping large manufacturers in India and overseas reduce energy use and integrate solar and hybrid renewable systems. A Harvard‑ and Cambridge‑certified sustainability specialist with a background in electronics and telecom engineering, he works at the intersection of energy strategy, digital transformation and Industry 4.0, and is a recognised voice on CBAM readiness and net‑zero roadmaps for energy‑intensive sectors like aluminium, steel and cement. AL Circle: For aluminium and metals...
AL Circle x Carsten König, GROB: “The global aluminium die casting market was recently valued at around $73 billion and is expected to reach approximately $126 billion by 2032”
Carsten König, Head of Machining Technology and Digital Products at GROB, initially began his career in turning and milling at the age of 16, progressing from conventional machines to advanced 5-axis CNC machining centers. After 3½-year of apprenticeship, he was appointed shift supervisor in the CNC milling shop, overseeing seven 4-axis machining centers and leading a team of five. His role demanded end-to-end responsibility for keeping production running at all times - ranging from repairs, NC programming, spindle replacements, and fixture design to hands-on problem-solving. After nearly two years, Carsten returned to education and enrolled in a technical college for mechanical engineering. During his studies, he completed his practical training with his current employer, marking the...
AL Circle x Glen Hodgson: CBAM is designed for an idealised future rather than today’s reality, and that gap undermines its effectiveness
Glen Hodgson, Founder and CEO of Free Trade Europa, with over twenty-five years of experience in communications, public affairs, and lobbying, focuses on promoting free trade, liberalisation, and the rule of law within the European Union and internationally. Glen was previously responsible for the Nordics, Baltics and Central & Eastern Europe within an international communications agency. Prior to this, he worked for European institutions as well as governments, blue-chip international companies, startups and NGOs as a lobbyist, strategist and communications advisor. In this interview, we get a detailed insight into Free Trade Europa's foundation, policies and transitions, and the role of China and Russia in the EU's green transition initiative. In this interview, he sheds light on his...
AL Circle x Dr Ashok Nandi: With the deteriorating domestic and imported bauxite quality, alumina refineries are slowly adopting the lower-grade ores for survival
Dr Ashok Nandi, President of the International Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminium Society (IBAAS), in an exclusive interview with AL Circle, discussed how India’s aluminium industry is shifting from efficiency gains to systemic transformation. He highlighted key drivers such as decarbonisation, circular economy practices, digitalisation, and the potential of nuclear energy for green aluminium. Dr Nandi also emphasised IBAAS’s role in fostering collaboration, supporting emerging markets, and engaging young talent to advance sustainability across the aluminium value chain. AL Circle: Guinea continues to account for more than a quarter of global seaborne bauxite trade. What seems to be changing year-on-year for Guinea’s production, export volumes and capacity utilisation between 2023, 2024 and the...
AL Circle x Dr Per Larsen: “Over 30 foundries globally already cast aluminium with DISA green sand”
Dr Per Larsen is Innovation Manager at DISA Industries A/S, part of Norican, since 2006. With nearly 30 years of experience at the heart of the foundry business, his expertise runs from tackling casting quality problems to identifying new opportunities for clients and turning them into profit. He’s the perfect person to oversee DISA’s latest test foundry, which is applying DISA’s fast, flexible green sand process to an ever-broader range of aluminium casting applications. AL Circle: Die casting is often the default choice for producing aluminium castings. Why is DISA’s green sand moulding process an attractive alternative for aluminium components? Dr Per Larsen: Green sand delivers superb quality, excellent surface finish and super-fast production for many types of aluminium castings, at...
AL Circle x Karl Matthíasson: “Heading into 2026, energy costs will continue to be high and pressures for producers and recyclers will intensify”
With over 16 years of extensive experience in the metals industry, Karl Matthíasson is a visionary leader at the helm of DTE, a leading solution provider for molten metal processing, including aluminium. As a co-founder, CSO and the former CEO, his knowledge of the industry is central to DTE’s long term business strategy for growth and market normalisation. Karl's journey with DTE began as a joint co-founder, where he has played pivotal roles such as COO, CFO, and CEO. Instrumental in securing over USD 25 million in Seed and Series A funding and multiple grants, Karl was the driving force behind DTE's journey to commercial readiness. His strategic acumen laid the foundation for DTE's corporate strategy, business model, and overall development and his commitment to values is evident in the...
AL Circle x Bharath Rao: “EV two-wheelers will continue to gain share, particularly in urban and semi-urban markets”
Bharath Krishna Rao Potluri, the Co-Founder & CEO of Emobi is a visionary leader with a rich background in diverse industries, specifically renewable energy. Having initially played a pivotal role in the family business at United Telecoms Ltd., he led its expansion into renewable energy generation assets, overseeing 100MW of wind assets and 10MW of solar assets in different parts of India. He spent his formative years in grid-connected renewable energy during its nascency as an industry where Independent Power Producers (IPP) build exclusively renewable energy-based generation assets. As grid-connected renewable energy in an IPP model reached maturity, he identified the clear lack of technology know-how and scale of manufacturing requirements of energy storage products required to...
AL Circle x Eliška Rýdlová: Ferrit’s vision for sustainable, electrified and intelligent underground mobility in global mining
Eliška Rýdlová is a Business Development and Marketing Specialist at Ferrit, s.r.o., focused on identifying growth opportunities in the underground mining sector. Her work spans analysing emerging mining projects, tracking global industry trends and translating innovation in mechanisation, electric mobility and underground systems into measurable business growth, helping Ferrit strengthen its competitive positioning across key mining regions. In an interview for “ End-user Revolution: ALuminium's Impact on Modern Living ” e-Magazine, Rýdlová walked us through how Ferrit is aligning underground transport solutions with mining’s shift toward decarbonisation, automation and digitalisation. She further highlights the company’s battery-powered locomotives, smart mobility platforms, modular...
AL Circle x Erik Wickgren: Viggo Boats leveraging aluminium innovation to deliver sustainable, high-performance modern marine craft
Erik Wickgren, CEO of Viggo Boats, is driving a new generation of aluminium boatbuilding by uniting commercial-grade engineering with Nordic craftsmanship. With a strong focus on safety, performance, and sustainability, he champions fully recyclable aluminium structures, future-ready propulsion platforms, and uncompromising quality standards that position Viggo at the forefront of modern marine innovation. In an interview for “ End-user Revolution: ALuminium's Impact on Modern Living ” e-Magazine, Wickgren walked through how aluminium sits at the core of Viggo Boats’ design philosophy, enabling lighter, stronger, low-maintenance and fully recyclable marine craft. It highlights material selection, hull engineering, sustainability practices, lifecycle value, and future-ready innovation,...
AL Circle x Ashwin Bhadri: How testing, data and regulation are reshaping aluminium packaging safety and compliance
Ashwin Bhadri, Founder & CEO of Equinox Labs, is a leading authority in food safety, packaging compliance and quality assurance. With over two decades of industry experience, he supports food, beverage and nutraceutical brands in managing contamination risks, regulatory compliance and sustainability through science-driven testing, audits and digital quality systems. In an interview for “ End-user Revolution: ALuminium's Impact on Modern Living ” e-Magazine, Bhadri explored how aluminium packaging growth is intensifying the need for advanced migration testing, regulatory alignment and predictive quality assurance. It highlights emerging risks in new packaging formats, rising sustainability and circularity demands and how data analytics, AI and nationwide testing infrastructure are helping...
AL Circle x TOMRA: "Amid global volatility and resource scarcity, high purity recycled scrap has become an indispensable resource for manufacturers"
Frank van de Winkel is TOMRA Recycling's Business Development Manager – Metal, and an expert in aluminium recycling with 20 years of experience in the industry. He has demonstrated a history of working in the industrial automation industry, possessing strong business development and professional skills in negotiation, management, continuous improvement, product development, and engineering. Frank van de Winkel explains how TOMRA’s sensor-based and AI-driven mechanism assists high-purity, alloy-specific aluminium recycling for ensuring a circular manufacturing. Driven by decarbonisation and scrap demand, advanced technologies are used to support automotive, packaging and construction sectors helps to reduce carbon footprints and maximise scrap value. AL Circle: TOMRA has been positioned as...
AL Circle x Dr Mandy Glew from Ball Corporation: “Global demand for aluminium cans is projected to grow steadily to 470 billion units by 2026”
Dr Mandy Glew serves as President of Beverage Packaging EMEA and Asia at Ball Corporation. She holds a wealth of experience with over two decades of expertise in commercial operations, sales, marketing, and manufacturing within the FMCG industry. AL Circle: Ball Corporation has just celebrated the 90th anniversary of the beverage can. How has this segment evolved over the decades, and where do you see the potential ahead? Dr Mandy Glew : From the first steel can in 1935 to today’s aluminium format that can be recycled endlessly, the beverage can has transformed the way we consume drinks. Over the decades, it evolved from a simple container into a highly engineered, design-rich and sustainability-led packaging solution. Today’s cans deliver unmatched functionality – from lightweighting and...
AL Circle x Bharath Rao: Inside Emobi’s frugal EV strategy powering India’s last-mile mobility transition
Bharath Krishna Rao Potluri is a renewable energy–led entrepreneur with deep experience across power generation, energy storage and electric mobility. Having scaled wind and solar assets in India and now leading Emobi, he brings a systems-level understanding of energy, manufacturing and EV adoption. His leadership blends frugal engineering, localised manufacturing and data-driven decision-making to accelerate sustainable mobility at scale. In an interview for “ End-user Revolution: ALuminium's Impact on Modern Living ” e-Magazine, Rao explored through Emobi’s role in India’s fast-growing EV two-wheeler and last-mile delivery market, highlighting frugal engineering, microfactory-led manufacturing, battery flexibility and cost-efficient fleet economics. It also examines policy impact, TCO...
AL Circle X Göksal Güngör from EAFA Roller Group: “Packaging will continue to be the primary driver of demand for aluminium foil in Europe”
In conversation with Göksal Güngör, the newly elected Chair of the Roller Group at the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA), wherein the industry veteran outlines a clear roadmap for the Association’s next phase. Güngör, who also serves as General Manager of Assan Alüminyum , emphasises innovation and sustainability as his top priorities in the new role. In this interview, he has shared his aluminium foil market projection for 2026, while highlighting the key sectors that he expects to drive the trajectory in Europe. AL Circle: As the newly elected chair of the European Aluminium Foil Association, what will be your first priority in steering the continent’s foil industry toward its next phase of growth? Göksal Güngör: As the newly elected Chair of the Roller Group within the...
AL Circle x Rafael Aun Ming: A deep dive into clean energy beverages, aluminium packaging, and circular global growth
Rafael Aun Ming, Founder and Chairman of Açaí Motion Group, is a visionary entrepreneur scaling an authentic Brazilian functional beverage brand across 60+ countries. A strong advocate of sustainability, ethical sourcing and the circular economy, he pioneered the use of ASI-certified aluminium cans in Brazil, aligning business growth with environmental responsibility. In an interview for “ End-user Revolution: ALuminium's Impact on Modern Living ” e-Magazine, Ming shared how Açaí Motion is redefining the energy drink category through clean-label formulations, advanced aluminium packaging, circular economy practices, decentralised production and global market expansion driven by wellness-focused consumers. AL Circle: You’ve differentiated the brand with “no synthetic caffeine, no taurine”...
