Aluminium’s decarbonisation challenge extends beyond the electricity powering its smelters. Inside the reduction cell, electrode quality influences how efficiently that electricity is used, how much carbon is consumed and how consistently the process performs. Improving electrodes therefore offers producers a practical opportunity to address operating costs and emissions together. For Switzerland-based R&D Carbon , understanding the relationship between raw materials, electrode quality and industrial performance has been a focus for four decades. Founded in 1986 by Werner K. Fischer, the company built on carbon research previously undertaken at Swiss Aluminium Ltd., or Alusuisse. Today, it operates from Granges, near Sierre, with a team of 30 specialists serving more than 150 customers...
Mexico’s aluminum industry is looking to capitalize on rising demand from artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, electric mobility, automotive manufacturing, and aerospace. Expanding technology investments and international market opportunities are expected to support sales growth, while the country’s reliance on imported aluminum highlights the importance of strengthening domestic processing capabilities. Ramón Beltrán, president of Mexico’s National Chamber of the Aluminum Industry (Canalum), expects the country’s domestic and international aluminum sales to gain momentum in 2026, supported by demand from advanced technology applications and established manufacturing sectors. “We expect to close out this year with growth of between 7.5% and 7.8% in domestic and international...
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The term "smart" has evolved beyond its traditional association with human intellect, finding its way into the heart of modern industry. Today, it stands as a symbol of innovation and foresight, shaping everything from smart technologies that revolutionise how we live and work to smart environments that redefine the spaces we inhabit and smart ecosystems that connect nature and technology in harmony. This transformation reflects an undeniable global momentum to weave sustainability into every thread of existence, creating solutions that optimise efficiency and nurture the planet. And when talking about sustainability, aluminium stands out as the ultimate choice. Unlike most materials that degrade with each cycle, aluminium retains its quality through endless reuses, transforming old...
ABx Group (ASX:ABX) has set a sustainable example as the company agreed upon a lease with Rio Tinto for a waste-to-product industrial facility next to the Bell Bay aluminium smelter in northern Tasmania. Image Source: https://abxgroup.com.au/alcore The company has an 83 per cent shareholding of its refining technology subsidiary ALCORE, which is accountable for the construction of a pilot plant at the facility, enticing a 500-square-kilometre building on an industrial site. It proffers permits to local engineering services and suppliers in the Bell Bay region of Australia. ABx, with its stock market value of US$9 million, has the intent of making nominal adjustments to serve the continuity of the plant through its subsidiary firm ALCORE, which will demonstrate its world-first proprietary...
Leftover degraded soil at a closed-off aluminium facility located North of Columbia Falls will be converged and capped as per a chalked-out plan published last week by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Image for representational purposes only The EPA has figured out the doable for the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company site along the Flathead River after 15 years of the plant’s shutdown and even eight years after the site made it to the National Priorities List, popularly known as the Superfund list. The 432-page Record of Decision majorly reminisces a rough version that was denounced by quite a few univocal locals who demanded the EPA to force the site’s owner, mining giant Glencore, to altogether excavate the contaminated soil. In the press release published on January 10,...
New research highlights a breakthrough in recovering valuable metals like magnesium and other metals from mine waste using acid-producing bacteria. According to researcher Nathan van Wyk, this innovative approach is promising to reduce environmental pollution, extend mines' operational lifespans, and supply critical raw materials for industrial use. Globally, over three billion tons of metals are produced annually for various products. However, as ore grades decline due to extensive mining, accessing these metals has become increasingly challenging. This has driven up metal prices and generated larger volumes of harmful waste. Furthermore, the rising demand for rare earth elements—often present in low concentrations—adds to the challenge by creating substantial mine waste in the...
Under the esteemed patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2025 is set to convene an extraordinary assembly of global leaders. From 13 heads of state to over 140 ministers, business magnates, and technology pioneers, the ADSW Summit will take place on 14–15 January, igniting discussions on supercharging socioeconomic and technological advancements. This year, the event spotlights a potential US$10 trillion economic transformation, a theme that resonates with forward-thinking industries like aluminium. Pioneering progress at the ADSW summit The ADSW Summit, the centrepiece of the week, promises 34 dedicated sessions with over 70 renowned speakers, all focused on actionable strategies for sustainable growth....
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), scheduled from January 12 to 18, 2025, has reportedly secured Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) as its Associate Partner for three years. The partnership, which represents a collaboration built on common sustainability goals, was signed by Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, and Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of EGA. Imaage source: Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week This year, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, supported by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and its clean energy leader Masdar, will serve as a global platform for advancing economic, social, and environmental progress in line with the UAE's sustainability goals, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, and other stakeholders seeking sustainable...
In 2024, the 4th Carbon Neutralisation Boao Conference occurred in Boao, Hainan. Among over 300 participating enterprises, Chalco and its subsidiary, Yunnan Aluminium, distinguished themselves by earning the prestigious "Science and Technology Progress Award for Energy Saving and Emission Reduction." Image Source-FREEPIK In recent years, Chalco has actively implemented the national and Chinalco Group's "double carbon" strategic initiatives, embracing its mission to establish a green and low-carbon "New Chinalco." The company achieved remarkable progress in energy conservation and carbon reduction by November 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. The comprehensive AC power consumption for electrolytic aluminium and aluminium liquid dropped by 94 kWh/t-Al, while the comprehensive...
The world’s leading aluminium and steel wheel supplier, Maxion Wheels, has acquired the Performance Standard V3 (2022) Certification from Aluminium Stewardship Initiative for manufacturing and distributing light alloy wheels at its Czech aluminium facility in Ostrava. The achievement of this certification testifies to Maxion’s efforts towards sustainability across the operations at its 1.8 million per annum capacity aluminium wheels plant in Ostrava, where it practices melting, casting, heat treatment, machining, painting, and associated support processes. The certification also indicates that Maxion Wheels Czech s.r.o. conforms to all 11 principles and 62 criteria defined by the ASI Performance Standard under sustainability pillars – Environment, Social, and Governance while addressing...
C.S. Aluminium Corporation (CSAC), one of Taiwan's largest rolled aluminium product manufacturers, has been successfully recertified with the ASI Performance Standard V3. The certification has been provided for producing aluminium plates, rolls, sheets, and foil at its Siaogang District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan facility. Image Source: ASI website Its diverse portfolio includes aluminium plates, sheets, coils, foil, wire rods, drops, aluminium alloy ingots, zinc alloy ingots, zinc anodes for electroplating, and hot-dip zinc ingots. These products find application across various industries, such as: Transportation: Vessel plates, automotive sheet metal, and transport vehicle bodies. Building Materials: Curtain walls, aluminium cladding, corrugated sheets, and Venetian blinds Food Containers: Can...
Near the conclusion of 2024, leading Norweigan aluminium and renewable energy company Norsk Hydro (NHY.OL) unfurled its decision to halt investment in its green hydrogen and battery business while slowly but steadily concluding these businesses' operations in the coming years. Image source: https://www.hydro.com/en/global/media/ "Hydro has a solid foundation to capture the long-term value creation opportunities in the aluminium market. To accelerate and elevate our position as the leading provider of low-carbon, high-value aluminium solutions, we are sharpening focus on strategic capital allocation, launching a new improvement program aimed at 2030 and pushing forward profitable growth throughout our value chain, all while continuing to deliver strong returns to our shareholders," said...
Recently, Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) proffered a critical piece where the aluminium industry sat across the table, witnessing its own SWOT analysis. 2024 has been an eventful year, and the industry insights indicate a similar trend for 2025. The entire aluminium value chain, from the raw material, i.e. bauxite, to the end-user products like aluminium-made mobile cases, laptop chassis and vehicle bodies, has gone through vigorous and eventful turmoil to shape the industry as it is today and as it hints to be tomorrow. 2024's performance in a glimpse According to International Aluminium Insititute's data, from January 2024 to November 2024 — 125.66 million tonnes of metallurgical alumina and 8.113 million metric tonnes of chemical alumina were produced worldwide. Primary aluminium...
Researchers at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have developed a groundbreaking method to directly transform and upgrade metal scrap into high-performance, high-value alloys using a technique called "solid-phase alloying." This innovative approach eliminates the need for conventional melting processes. Source - PNNL website Use of ShAPE The research team utilised a PNNL-patented technique known as Shear Assisted Processing and Extrusion (ShAPE) to achieve these results. Importantly, the researchers emphasised that these findings are likely replicable with other solid-phase manufacturing techniques. The ShAPE process utilises a high-speed rotating die to generate friction and heat, transforming the coarse starting materials into a uniform alloy with...
Alumex PLC has recently launched a comprehensive Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) roadmap titled "Elevate," setting a new benchmark for sustainable aluminium manufacturing in Sri Lanka and globally. By adopting a formal ESG framework, Alumex reaffirms its commitment to creating long-term value for stakeholders while contributing to a more sustainable future. Image Source: Alumex Alumex's green commitment In response to the growing demand for a circular economy, Alumex is committed to reducing its carbon emissions in line with global sustainability standards, benefiting Sri Lanka by helping to lower its overall carbon footprint. The roadmap outlines clear future targets, including a 25 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity, to contribute to global climate change...
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative has granted its Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard V2 (2022) Certification to Huanghe Xinye Co., Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yellow River Upstream Hydropower Development Co., for the production of liquid aluminium and aluminium ingots at Xining City facility in China. The facility has an impressive production capacity of 600,000 tonnes of primary aluminium and 300,000 tonnes of carbon anode. Earlier this year, the facility obtained the ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) Certification , conforming to 11 principles and 62 criteria under three sustainability pillars – environment, social and governance, as regulated by ASI. The ASI CoC Standard V2 Certification acknowledges those companies that produce and process aluminium through the value chain into...
A circular economy is an essential part of building a sustainable future as it addresses critical global challenges like resource depletion, waste generation, and environmental degradation. Aluminium plays a pivotal role in this context due to its exceptional recyclability. According to the International Aluminium Institute, aluminium is one of the most recycled materials on Earth. Nearly 75 per cent of the 1.5 billion tonnes of aluminium ever produced remains in use today. Each year, over 30 million tonnes of aluminium scrap is recycled globally, reinforcing its status as a cornerstone of sustainable materials. Growing focus on 'green aluminium' Aluminium businesses are increasingly prioritising 'green aluminium,' aiming to minimise environmental impact while meeting industrial demands....
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) announced that Suzhou Alutech Automotive Parts Co., Ltd. has achieved the ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) certification, recognising its excellence in the design and manufacturing of brake and suspension components. This state-of-the-art facility features three casting lines, three main melters, a chip re-melter, 18 casters, two heat treatment lines, a continuous LPI line, 32 CNC machines, and both manual and automated assembly lines. Image Source- ASI It is further equipped with a validation laboratory housing eight linear actuators. With an annual production capacity of 4.5 to 5.5 million saleable products, the facility sets a benchmark for excellence in the industry. The independent third-party audit of Suzhou Alutech Automotive Parts Co., Ltd....
Masdar, the UAE’s clean energy leader, has strengthened its presence in Europe with two significant acquisitions in the Iberian Peninsula, advancing its ambitious growth strategy. The company acquired Saeta Yield from Brookfield Renewable Partners and its institutional partners in a landmark deal valued at €1.2 billion, including an equity valuation of €696 million. Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company) is one of the world’s fastest-growing renewable energy companies. As a global clean energy pioneer, Masdar is advancing the development and deployment of solar, wind, geothermal, battery storage and green hydrogen technologies to accelerate the energy transition and help the world meet its net-zero ambitions. Established in 2006, Masdar has developed and invested in projects in over 40...
Japan's leading breweries, Suntory Holdings Limited, Asahi Group Holdings, Kirin Holdings, and Sapporo Holdings, will begin phasing in using the "EcoEnd™" can lid for select beer products in February 2025. These innovative solutions significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, cutting production-related emissions by approximately 40 per cent. This move takes a big step forward in terms of sustainability and environmental responsibility. Toyo Seikan Co., Ltd. has jointly developed with UACJ Corporation "EcoEnd," a beverage can lid that reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by approximately 40 per cent compared to current products, and this marks the first time that it has been widely adopted in the alcoholic beverages and soft drink industry. In the future, companies will likely...
