News

The Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) and GE today signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding to explore opportunities to deploy GE’s industry leading digital solutions across Ma’aden’s diverse mining operations, including sites focused on gold, copper, aluminium, and phosphate.  GE will provide Ma’aden with digital transformation advisory and applications, as well as leadership and training opportunities for Ma’aden’s employees across the Kingdom. To maintain its world leading competitive position across a number of...

Rio Tinto has marked a key milestone in the company’s operations in the United States with the opening of a new commercial office in Chicago, Illinois.   Chicago has long been one of the world’s historic commodity hubs. The new Rio Tinto office will allow for expanded engagement and provide opportunities for partnerships with new and existing customers. Around 70 roles will be centralised into the new office.  Chief commercial officer Simon Trott said, “The US is one of the largest markets globally for Rio Tinto’s products. Opening a commercial...

RUF Briquetting Systems, Zaisertshofen, has taken over C.F. Nielsen A/S, Baelum (Denmark). This means that in future the complete spectrum of briquetting technology will be available from one source.   As a world market leader in hydraulic briquetting presses, RUF has successfully installed its systems in more than 100 countries. An important factor in this is that the family-owned business has an especially wide range of applications and services. Whether it be metal, wood, biomass or other residues, high throughput performances can always be achieved with RUF briquetting...

Emirates Global Aluminium has received its certification to IATF 16949:2016, the latest global standard established by the automotive industry which aims to ensure even more rigorous quality management in the global automotive supply chain.  EGA has supplied aluminium to the automotive industry for decades and was one of only a few primary aluminium producers certified to ISO/TS 16949, the previous quality management standard for the automotive industry’s supply chain which was originally created in 1999 and was most recently revised in 2009. Like the standard it...

Arconic has signed a new long-term contract with Boeing (NYSE: BA) to supply aluminium sheet and plate for all models produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The multiyear contract, which extends and adds to the companies’ 2014 contract, is the largest to date and captures growth in the build rate increases of the Boeing 737 program. “This agreement demonstrates Arconic’s commitment to deliver quality and innovation to our customers,” said Tim Myers, President of Arconic Global Rolled Products and Transportation and Construction Solutions....

Switzerland has launched a complaint at the World Trade Organisation against U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminium, it said on Tuesday, the eighth WTO member to start such a challenge. Under WTO rules, the United States has 60 days to settle the issue. After that time, Switzerland could escalate the dispute by asking the WTO to set up a panel of judges to adjudicate.

In September 2018 AMUT will be the world’s first facility for POAL recycling, a polyethylene + aluminium polycomposite recovered from food packaging, operating to produce Ecoallene. Ecoallene, a new green material whose main feature is to be ever recyclable, is easy to colour and contains some aluminium particles that make it slightly glittered. AMUT, has developed this pioneering project together with the Italian start-up Ecoplasteam, carrying out both technology for POAL treatment and washing the extrusion line to turning the final material into pellets.

Aluminium China 2018 showcases Asia’s thriving aluminium industry despite heavy US tariffs. In the face of the US tariff storm, the Aluminium China 2018 exhibition and conference in Shanghai from July 11 to 13, will provide China’s aluminium industry with its first global platform since the announcement to expand business into other world markets. In particular, the event, which will bring together some 500 exhibitors and 24,000 visitors from more than 30 countries and regions, will reinforce China’s connections the rest of Asia and strengthen business cooperation...

Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the Bahrain-based international aluminium smelter, has recently commissioned a Batch homogenizer from Hertwich Engineering (a company of the SMS group) in Casthouse 3 for specialised billet requirements.   This new generation Batch homogenizer is the best-suited technology for the heat treatment of various 6xxx, 1xxx and 3xxx billet alloys for special applications such as automotive and precision tubing. The advanced technology of reverse air circulation, fully automated controls for step heating and controlled cooling enhances the existing...

Norwegian aluminium company Norsk Hydro ASA’s wholly-owned subsidiary Hydro Energi AS has signed a long-term power contract with Tonstad Vindpark AS. Tonstad Vindpark AS is owned by Engie, a French power utility company, and SUSI Partners, a Swiss Investment Manager specialising in sustainable energy infrastructure. The contract spans for 25 years, for the period 2020 to 2045. Hydro Energi AS will purchase 100% of the actual output of the wind farm and will handle all balancing and nomination from the commissioning of the wind farm and for the duration of the power purchase...