COMMENT :
Rays of recovery in world nonferrous metals
China mining citing the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said that China's nonferrous metal industry is showing signs of pickup. The output of ten nonferrous metals arrived at 9.48 MT in the first five months of this year down by 5.7% YoY over the same time last year.
SPECIAL COVERAGE
Aluminium may get boost from auto sector
As automakers seek to innovate and differentiate themselves with more fuel efficient cars and trucks with a reduced carbon footprint, the time to use advanced materials like aluminium is now. North America ranks as the world leader in aluminium penetration in cars, pickups, SUVs and minivans where a net increase of more than eight pounds occurred between 2006 and 2009 calendar year vehicles despite a 10% loss in share for large, full-frame vehicles with high aluminium content. More than 50 vehicles produced in North America contain over 10% aluminium content.
NEWS CORNER
First fully hydraulic aluminum hot rolling mill in Russia: Kamensk Uralsky Metallurgical Works banks on Siemens technology
The Russian aluminum processing company, the Kamensk Uralsky Metallurgical Works (KUMZ), now has the first fully hydraulic hot rolling mill in Russia. Siemens VAI Metals Technologies supplied Top Hat hydraulic cylinders and an automatic gauge control system for the new mill. With the new equipment, which is worth around two million euros, KUMZ can reduce the tolerance of its end products even further. The acceptance certificate was issued in April 2009.
COMPANY NEWS
Nalco head over the tide, happier times here again?
Going by the records of aluminium performance during the tough periods of demand slump, the most horrified picture of the industry across the globe surfaced, depicting a steep depreciation of profits and prices of the metal to a significant low. The prices in the LME sank to a six years low and the sales of the metal was the most daunting one as a result of almost negligible demand from all the major aluminium sectors.
FOCUS
Aluminium industry must focus on innovation
As the world aluminium industry is now facing the effects of an unprecedented global economic crisis, important indices like innovation need to be looked at with utmost seriousness for reviving the current conditions of the industry in a way to ensuring growth in the sector...
The aluminium, alumina and bauxite industry must focus on innovative measures to come out of the global recession. For this, the industries should focus on the optimum use of the capacity, effective utilisation of manpower and raw-materials, adoption of innovative marketing strategy, waste utilisation and use of modern technology in the production process.
Indian aluminium producers eye automobiles industry for generating the boost
With India set to emerge as one of the top five automotive markets in the world, the focus has shifted to clean and new technologies to offer the best for both customers and the industry. As a step in this direction, Aluminium Association of India (AAI) and International Aluminium Institute (IAI) along with European Aluminium Association (EAA) and The Aluminium Association, USA have taken up the mission of promoting the latest technologies possessing the potential to herald a new revolution in the automotive industry.
Aluminium die-casting industry needs to adopt new technologies
The Indian aluminium die-casting industry is poised to record very high growth rates, possibly as high as 18 to 20%, said Shashi K. Maudgal, Chief Marketing Officer at Hindalco. However, he also made it clear that if the industry wants to cash in on its export potential, it must embrace emerging technologies and change its mindset from ‘small-scale to global’.
India may impose 35% import tax on aluminium products
India’s state-run NALCO said aluminium producers are seeking a safeguard duty on imports from all countries and not just those from China, the company’s spokesman said. “Not only NALCO but all primary producers, namely Hindalco Industries and Sterlite Industries, are requesting the government to impose a safeguard duty on primary aluminium coming from any country, not just China,” the spokesman said.
Can China regain control of its aluminium sector?
It is reported that China has imported 650,000 tonnes of alumina in April soaring 140% MoM the highest monthly import from 660,000 tonnes last January. The consecutive import for the first four months declined 2.91% YoY to 1.67 MT. An analyst said, “Apparently, this is the result from restarting electrolytic aluminium production in Mar.”
China to consolidate nonferrous metals industry
It is reported that as worldwide economic crisis still continues demand for Mn-series alloys remains weak from steel sectors in major developed countries. Demand from shipbuilding plate and automobile plate has dropped to the lowest record. Besides, heavy inventories of steel and raw materials have knocked down China's demand for imported Mn ore by 30% to 40% from a year earlier.
Monopoly stink in Rio-BHP merger worries the world
Rio dumped Chinalco with the much talked about deal for the merger of two ore majors finally going in favour of BHP. After a prolonged row and series of discussions over the issue of exercising greater influence on the pricing of all key resources in the Rio Tinto-Chinalco deal, the much awaited fate of the deal got sealed when finally Rio decided to finally go with its rival BHP Billiton. To which investment bankers and industry analysts, with direct knowledge of the deal, said to the media that, the deal with Chinese metals group Chinalco was put together at the height of financial crisis in a bid to halve Rio’s $38 billion debt, although its gradual collapse was a result of high inconvenience on the part of Rio to maintain relations with Chinalco.
CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION
Aluminium smelters must cut production in view of demand, said Brent Reitan
Aluminium demand across the globe will continue to go down by almost seven per cent during 2009... A report on the 14th World Aluminium Conference in Dubai, UAE...
BASE METALS
International Zinc Association sees more growth from emerging markets
China, the Middle East, India and other emerging markets had great potential to grow their zinc consumption in the future, International Zinc Association (IZA) executive director Stephen Wilkinson said. Speaking at a local industry meeting hosted by the International Zinc Association of Southern Africa, Wilkinson noted that there had been a lot of corporate consolidation in the global zinc production and smelting industry in recent
years.
A crash in price & things change within a short order
When the world was celebrating the never-ending rise of commodities a few months ago, it never expected such a huge fall after the gain. But, with the unfolding of US economic slowdown, the reality slowly dawned on the world and commodities prices also suffered. The main commodities hit by the recession were base metals. Till recently every investor was gung-ho about the base metals like copper, zinc, nickel, lead, and aluminium following increased demand from countries like China and India. A few months down the line, things have changed drastically for the
worst.
TECHNOLOGY / PROCESS REVIEW
Failure Analysis of Machinery Components in the Aluminium Industry
Of all the news reported in the world, the majority of the news always deals with events depicting catastrophic disasters. These disasters range anywhere from airline crashes, collapsing of buildings and bridges and any other type of failures that lead to the loss of lives and properties. The common man does not understand what were the factors which caused these terrible things to happen. Scientists and Materials Engineers use a process called failure analysis to find out the answers to these mysteries. Various types of failures occur in Aluminium industry at different stages of production. Detailed case studies of failures of a few components used in the Aluminium industry have been discussed here.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS
Nano research paving the way for super-alloys of tomorrow
The starting point of her simulation-based theory was to take a Pure Nickel grain boundary. She chose this because Ni forms the most common base metal for the high temperature super alloys used commonly in jet engines. And after several iterations and controlled simulation of adding different dopants, her study concluded that by adding particular dopants, one can strengthen grain boundaries to improve overall material strength. We have added lot of elements (as dopants) to the grain boundary to inspect their effects on the “Cleavage Energy,” which is the energy to pull two grains apart, along the grain boundary. In presence of the dopant, if we need to put in more energy than in the pure case to cleave the grains, the grain boundary is stronger, and vice versa!
HOT & COLD PROCESSING
Endless Copper Tube plant at IUSA, Mexico It is the second ECT™ plant in operation in the world
Chain-track drawing technology for bars from 4 to 25 mm is the most effective solution for maximizing colddrawing productivity.
ALUMINIUM FABRICATION
Trends in the Global Aluminum Fabrication Industry
The aluminum fabrication industry has become more vital to the global economy as international aluminum consumption has grown steadily in the past decades. Using innovation, value, and sustainability, the aluminum industry is strengthening its position not only in traditional packaging and construction applications but also in the automotive and aerospace markets to become more competitive and to face challenges from other industries and higher industrial standards. The aluminum fabrication industry has experienced a significant geographical shift caused by rapid growth in emerging markets in countries such as Brazil, Russia, India, and China. Market growth and distribution will vary with different patterns of geography and social development; the aluminum industry must be part of the transformation and keep pace with market developments to benefit.
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