Novelis, world leader in aluminium rolling and recycling, has opened a new aluminium recycling and continuous casting line at its Pieve Emanuele facility in Milan, Italy. The 12 million euro expansion represents the largest single investment by Novelis in Italy in the past decade and is a key part of the company's aim to enhance the competitiveness of its Italian operations. “The Pieve plant has over 50 years of experience in rolling and recycling aluminium,” said plant manager Gianmatteo Martinelli. “This investment and the wider programme in Italy will strengthen our operations here. The new line will also enable our Pieve plant to supply more recycled sheet to our operations in other parts of Europe, generating significant logistical and environmental advantages.”
Erwin Mayr has been named senior vice president of Novelis and president, Novelis Europe, effective immediately. As head of Novelis’ second-largest region, he will have responsibility for all aspects of the company’s European business, including sales, operations and strategy implementation. He takes over the post from Tadeu Nardocci who will lead Novelis’ business in South America, including the ongoing expansion of aluminium rolling and recycling operations at Pindamonhangaba, Brazil.
Global primary aluminium consumption rose to 12m tonnes in Q1 2013; that is a 6% rise compared to the period a year earlier, aluminium producer UC Rusal says. The largest growth markets in the period were China (11%), South East Asia (9%) and India (7.4%). Concerning developed markets, consumption in North America grew by 2.1% whereas consumption in Europe remained flat despite 8.5% demand growth in Turkey. In Japan, aluminium consumption for the period contracted by 8%.
Novelis, the world leader in aluminium rolling and recycling, has reported net income attributable to its common shareholder of USD202m for fiscal year 2013. Excluding tax-effected certain items, net income was USD241m, compared to a net income of USD218m for fiscal 2012. Adjusted Ebitda was USD961m, compared to USD1,053m in fiscal 2012. The decrease was mostly due to disruptions related to the ERP implementation in two North American plants in the third quarter, pricing pressures in several operating regions, lower average aluminium prices, an impact from a fire at a North American plant in the fourth quarter and higher pension expense. Adjusted Ebitda for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 was USD240m, representing a 3% increase when compared to the USD233m reported for the same period a year ago, due primarily to stronger demand and good cost control.
Nachdem die BMW Group zwischen 2010 und 2012 bereits knapp 20 Mio. Euro in neue Anlagen und Strukturen in Eisenach investiert hat, folgen nun weitere Investitionen für eine langfristige Standortssicherung. So erhält das Werk eine Servo-Einarbeitungspresse der neusten Generation sowie erweiterte Werkzeugaufbauflächen mit erhöhten Kranlasten. Dies führt zu einer Steigerung der Werkzeugausbringung und zur Erhöhung der Effizienz bei der Werkzeuganfertigung.
Russian aluminium flagship UC Rusal has announced its Q1 2013 results. Primary aluminium production decreased by 42,000 tonnes (-4%) to 1.0m tonnes compared to Q1 2012, reflecting production cuts of less efficient smelters located in the European part of Russia and the Urals. Revenue increased to USD2.7bn (+2.2%) compared to Q4 2012 due to high premiums, among others. The aluminium segment cost per tonne in Q1 2013 increased by 1.9% to USD1,971/t as against Q4 2012.
The European Commission has approved the joint venture of the aluminium extrusion businesses of Sapa and Hydro, owned 50/50 by Orkla and Hydro. The transaction has already been approved by the US and other authorities, and final completion is now subject to a decision from the Chinese authorities.
Schmidt + Clemens, the stainless steel specialist based in Lindlar, Germany, can look back on a successful year 2012. While group sales fell by around 5% from the previous year’s level to €274m, the result was significantly higher. The intake of new orders grew from €285m to €320m, with the order books at the end of 2012 standing some 30% above the previous year’s level.
Responsibility for the 17th Arab International Aluminium Conference (Arabal) was officially handed over to Emirates Aluminium (Emal) in February, which is another indication of the continuing rise of the United Arab Emirates as a major player in the industry. The conference will be taking place from 5 to 7 November 2013, and will be hosted for the first time by Emal in Abu Dhabi.
Innoval Technology, a leading provider of independent technical expertise to the global downstream aluminium industry, is celebrating ten years in business in 2013. Formed in May 2003 following the closure of Alcan’s Banbury Laboratory, the company has grown year on year and now boasts over 300 clients and a turnover of £2 million.
The government of the Russian Federation under President Putin has awarded the Chairman of the SMS group, Heinrich Weiss, the ‘Award of Honour’ in recognition of decades of outstanding services to Russian-German relations. This honour is only rarely bestowed on foreigners. It was presented in Berlin on 2 May by the Russian Ambassador, Mr. Grinin.
Alcoa will review 460,000 tonnes of smelting capacity over the next 15 months for possible curtailment in an effort to maintain competitiveness, as aluminium prices have fallen more than a third since their peak in 2011. The review will include facilities across the Alcoa system and will focus on higher-cost plants and plants that have long-term risk due to factors such as energy costs or regulatory uncertainty. The possible curtailments could affect 11 percent of Alcoa’s global smelting capacity. Currently, the company has 13 percent, or 568,000 tonnes of smelting capacity idle.
Aluminium Middle East 2013, the leading exhibition for aluminium products, technologies and investments in the Middle East, concluded recently in Dubai with several trade exhibitors closing high-value deals during the three-day event held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Event organiser Reed Exhibitions registered a record turnout of more than 3,000 attendees from over 70 countries and a total of 165 exhibitors from 28 countries.
The May Special of the International ALUMINIUM Journal focuses on the aluminium rollling industry and its equipment suppliers. ALUMINIUM talked to Stefan Glimm and Manfred Mertens from the European Aluminium Foil Association about the Global Aluminium Foil Roller Conference (Glafco) in Dubai early next year, and about the development of the global aluminium foil market and the importance of resource efficiency and sustainability for the positioning of aluminium foil in the market. Further articles are about the various slitting tasks in the new slitting centre of Constantia Teich in Mühlhofen, Austria, and about the recent operational experience with Siemens Vai’s ‘Dynamic Shape Roll’ technology on aluminium cold mills.
Novelis has announced price increases on its automotive aluminum sheet products in North America. The fabrication price will increase by USD0.13 per pound for 5182-series and 5754-series automotive alloys, and by USD0.09 per pound for 6000-series automotive alloys.
Rüdebusch Baustoffe und Transporte ist seit vielen Jahren Kunde von Alcoa. Nahezu alle ihre Lastwagen und Anhänger sind mit Rädern von Alcoa ausgerüstet. Dies verringert das Gewicht der Fahrzeuge und garantiert maximale Ladekapazität. Auf diese Weise kann bei jeder Fahrt Geld gespart werden.
LOI Thermprocess GmbH has signed an agreement with the European Capital S.A. Sicar for the acquisition of MTH (Metall Technologie Holding). The acquisition remains subject to the approval by the relevant antitrust authorities.
Constellium has renamed its three core business units to reflect increased proximity to customers and to show more accurately the business and commercial sector focus of each unit. The renamed business units, which retain their existing scope of activities and products, are:
Aerospace and Transportation (formerly Global Aerospace, Transportation and Industry)
Packaging and Automotive Rolled Products (formerly Specialty Sheet)
Automotive Structures and Industry (formerly Extrusions and Automotive Structures)
UC Rusal has signed a memorandum of understanding with Israeli company Omen High Pressure Die Casting, which specialises in the production of automotive components from non-ferrous metals. The companies intend to create a joint venture in Russia to produce automotive components made of aluminium, to be supplied to carmakers in Russia and the CIS.
The thermoprocess industry around the world is looking forward to a first-rate new conference with an international line-up in 2013. ITPS 2013 – the International Thermprocess Summit – is attracting capable participants and speakers to the CCD Süd Congress Centre in Düsseldorf from 9 to 10 July. The high quality of the participants is already apparent: experts from Germany, the USA, China, India or Mexico will be presenting an in-depth review of the latest developments in the industrial furnace field.
Aluminium flagship Alcoa has posted better-than-expected quarterly profit. Adjusted Ebitda in Q1 2013 grew to $690m, an increase of $93m over Q4 2012 and an increase of $66m over Q1 2012. Net income of $149m in Q1 2013 compares to $242m in Q4 2012 and $94m in Q1 2012. Net income excluding special items of $121m compares to $64m in Q4 2012 and $105m in Q1 2012.
Alcoa’s improved net income excluding special items over fourth quarter 2012 was driven by continued productivity improvements across all businesses, better mix and higher volumes in the downstream business. These results were partially offset by higher pension and planned maintenance cost, says the company.
Impression Technologies Ltd is bringing to market a novel technology for forming aluminium. The technology, known as Hot Form Quench (HFQ), enables lighter, stronger solutions to the automotive and transport industries, and has the potential to reduce carbon footprints.
Alcoa’s pre-treatment bonding technology ‘Alcoa 951’ – an enabler for adhesive bonding of automotive structures – has been licensed to Chemetall in an exclusive global distribution agreement. Chemetall is a global supplier of surface treatments to the automotive industry. Alcoa 951 is suitable for sheet, extrusion and casting suppliers across the automotive industry. It is a patented, non-chrome approach for enhancing bond durability and enabling more cost-effective mass production of aluminium-intensive vehicles.
The April Special of the International ALUMINIUM Journal focuses on the aluminium extrusion industry and its equipment suppliers. ALUMINIUM had the opportunity of viewing the new extrusion line at Richter Aluminium. The management outlined the special features of this highly productive plant and expresses confidence that even regardless of trade fluctuations, production can be extended. Furthermore, ALUMINIUM talked to Axel Bauer, sales director for Extrusion Presses at SMS Meer, and Uwe Muschalik, head of Development and Technology for Hydraulic Presses, about new approaches for the sale of extrusion presses. In future, SMS Meer will build medium-sized standard presses for the Chinese market at its manufacturing shop in Shanghai.
Pierburg China Ltd., a member of the KSPG Group,has opened in Kunshan (Greater Shanghai) a new production plant. The internationally operating first-tier auto-industry supplier is manufacturing at this additional facility in China pneumatic exhaust-gas recirculation valves and electric throttle valves to be followed, very soon, by the production of solenoid valves.
On 31 March 2013, a planned change of boards at the ZPF Group and its companies takes place. Holger Groß, who took over leadership of the company group three years ago as interim manager, is handing over all his functions to Thomas Martensmeier (44). He previously built up and successfully led the facility in China.
Russian aluminium flagship UC Rusal and Aluminium Corporation of China (Chalco) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in order to cooperate in areas such as R&D of new technologies in the aluminium industry, development of bauxite resources and investments in integrated hydro powered aluminium production. The cooperation will contribute “to look for new technological responses and replace outdated high cost production facilities with new advanced energy-efficient production capacity in Eastern Siberia,” said Oleg Deripaska, CEO of Rusal.
Trimet Aluminium AG, Germany’s largest producer of primary aluminium, is in talks with Rio Tinto Alcan to acquire two aluminium plants in France, namely the sites at Castelsarrasin and Saint-Jean de Maurienne. This is confirmed by Trimet spokeswomen Monika Jakubczyk. The Saint-Jean de Maurienne plant in eastern France is an aluminium smelter of about 140,000 tonnes a year. The smaller Castelsarrasin plant is located in the southwest of France. Both plants employ some 500 people. The news became public after French Industry Minister Arnaud Montebourg told the French National Assembly about the talks.
Hydro has decided to nearly double capacity of a continuous annealing line at its aluminium rolled products plant in Grevenbroich, Germany, in order to serve growing demand in the automotive industry. After expansion, the annealing facility AL2 will be able to produce up to 50,000 tonnes of aluminium car body strip annually for the European market. This market for aluminium car body components is expected to grow by 15 to 20 percent each year between 2011 and 2018.
According to the company operating profits were seriously affected by low aluminium prices. The average LME price decreased by 15.7% to USD2,018/t in 2012. However, thanks to savings in procurement and cost reduction the aluminium segment shows an Ebitda margin of 12.1%. Primary aluminium production was 4,173,000 tonnes (+1,2%). Aluminium segment cost per tonne fell by USD1,946/t or 1.9% year-on-year, supported by a decrease in power tariffs.
The international journal for industry, research and application of aluminium is published monthly. It provides information on all topical issues concerning the material, its production, processing, recycling and application. Furthermore, economic topics and ecological consequences of aluminium application are discussed. Thirty percent of all articles in the journal are written in English.
The trade journal is the leading title in the whole German-speaking area. It provides information on material-specific characteristics of aluminium, latest processing technologies and innovative applications in various branches and sectors of industry.