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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Anglesey Aluminium Metal (AAM) will close down its remelt facility in Holyhead, Wales, by the end of April. Around 60 employees will lose their job.
US and Canada aluminium demand (shipments by domestic producers plus imports) totalled an estimated 23.038 billion lb in 2012, 5.3% over 2011, according to figures released by the US Aluminium Association. (1 lb = 0,454 kg)
The CEOs of the largest European non-ferrous metal companies addressed an open letter to President Barroso, urging a rethink of short-term fixes to the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and a comprehensive review of Europe’s industrial, energy and climate change policies.
Underlining their continuous support to a well-functioning EU ETS as a central instrument in EU climate policy, the CEOs express deep concerns that unilateral EU climate policies, hereunder the latest proposals on the ‘backloading’ of allowances and other short-term measures, have a detrimental effect on the industry’s global competitiveness. Under the current regime these measures will enhance industry closures and carbon leakage. Investments will be relocated to outside Europe contrary to the Commission’s goal of increasing industry’s share in the EU GDP to 20% by 2020.
Günter Kirchner (65) will retire on 1 April 2013. He has been managing the business of the European Organisation of the Aluminium Recycling Industry OEA and the corresponding German association VAR (Verband der Aluminiumrecycling-Industrie) very successfully since January 1983. He started his career as managing director of the Verein Deutscher Metallhändler (German Association of Metal Traders) in 1978.
Based on the success of the first Cold Rolling Day in Cologne in 2011, the nine supporting companies decided to hold a second Cold Rolling Day in order to present their latest developments and the possibilities of application. This second Cold Rolling Day will be taking place in the Niko Hotel Düsseldorf, Germany on 16 May 2013. There will be a get-together with dinner in the Traveller’s Restaurant in the evening of 15 May.
Programme of lectures:
UC Rusal, the world’s largest aluminium producer, has announced its 2012 production data. Total aluminium output reached 4.173m tonnes, up 1% on a year ago. Alumina output was 7.477m tonnes, down 8%, and bauxite production was 12.365m tonnes, down 8%.
Total aluminium output in Q4 2012 was 1.038m tonnes, down 2% on the period a year earlier. Alumina output was 1.806m tonnes, down 13%, and bauxite output was 2.788m tonnes, down 15%.
What are the latest trends in aluminium recycling, where are the risk and chances? Recycling and its contribution to the raw material supply will run like a golden thread through the presentations and discussions of the 12th OEA International Aluminium Recycling Congress in Düsseldorf. Excellent experts try to give answers on questions on global raw material supply and the role of recycling, the contribution of the metal trade and the international flow of scrap. The political targets in terms of aluminium recycling, a critical analysis of the recycled content approach and the impact of the energy turnaround for sustainability in aluminium recycling are interesting subjects to be discussed. Technical experts will give an update on recycling technologies and will discuss how far scrap separation can go and to what extend it still makes sense. The participants of the OEA Congress who form the Who is Who of the aluminium recycling world will get a comprehensive update on the development of aluminium recycling in Europe and the world. Interesting discussions are guaranteed.
The Jan/Feb Special of the International Aluminium Journal focuses on the aluminium smelting industry, their equipment suppliers and technology partners. The issue covers numerous technical papers on the anode production, electrolysis process and fume treatment.
Marc Solvi, CEO of Paul Wurth S.A., Luxembourg, has been appointed to the managing board of SMS Siemag AG, Germany, with effect from 1 January 2013. The takeover of the majority share of 59.1% in Paul Wurth by SMS Holding GmbH was finalised on 17 December 2012. Marc Solvi will continue to be in charge of the management of Paul Wurth. Furthermore, he will work with Guido Kleinschmidt, a member of the managing board of SMS Siemag, to coordinate the cooperation between Paul Wurth and SMS Siemag.
Aleris has appointed Ralf Zimmermann senior vice president and general manager of Rolled Products Europe. Zimmermann, who formerly served as senior vice president of operations for the Global Rolled and Extruded Products business unit, will now lead all facets of the Rolled Products Europe business, including commercial and manufacturing activity. The company's plants in Koblenz, Germany, and Duffel, Belgium, will report to Ralf. In his new role, Zimmermann will continue to report to Roeland Baan, executive vice president and CEO of Global Rolled and Extruded Products.
Rio Tinto has released its Q4 2012 figures. Bauxite and alumina production in 2012 were 11% and 12% respectively higher than 2011, driven by increased third party demand for bauxite and expanded refining capacity at Yarwun. However, aluminium production was 10% lower than in 2011, as ramp up to normal capacity continued following resolution of the Alma labour dispute. Rio Tinto CEO Tom Albanese commented: “Markets remain volatile, but our business continues to perform well. Across the group we are taking action to roll back unsustainable cost increases. This further enhances our resilience and competitive edge as we enter 2013.”
Roeland Baan, executive vice president and CEO of Global Rolled & Extruded Products at Aleris, has been appointed chairman of the European Aluminium Association (EAA) for the period 2013-2015. Effective as from 1 January 2013, he succeeds Tadeu Nardocci (Novelis).
The Brazilian Aluminium Association ‘Abal’ and the Brazilian Association of Cans of High Recyclability ‘Abralatas’ have reported that the country has recycled 248,700 tonnes of aluminium beverage cans of a total of 253,100 tonnes available on the market in 2011. This corresponds to a recycling rate of 98.3%, keeping Brazil ahead in the world leadership since 2001.
The 5th International Aluminium Profile Technology Seminar & Exposition – Lw2013 will be held in Guangzhou, China, from 9 to 12 September 2013. Lw2013 will be the fifth event in its series held once every three years to promote technological exchanges and cooperation across the industry and academia. It is expected to be once again a premier industrial event in China for extruders, universities, research institutes and suppliers of equipment, extrusion tooling and tooling materials for the aluminium extrusion industry. It will provide an excellent opportunity for the participants to meet extrusion experts from all over China and abroad, and get updated about the current situation and future trends of China’s aluminium extrusion industry. At the event, presentations in English are highly welcome, although the majority of conference sessions and materials will be in Chinese.
The European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA) has announced that the third global aluminium foil roller conference (Glafco) will take place from 15-17 January 2014 in Dubai. Delegates from the international aluminium foil roller industry are expected to continue the coordinated actions on foil sustainability and promotion to support market growth globally and highlight innovative developments.
Stefan Glimm, executive director of EAFA, commenting on the conference said: “Our objective is to gather more than 90% of the global foil market in Dubai – 10% more than last time. The industry wants to continue building one global voice for foil on sustainable and promotion issues to support further growth. Both in packaging and technical applications aluminium foil has the great advantage of saving more resources than it consumes, through the complete value and supply chain.”
ALUMINIUM CHINA 2013 is Asia’s leading aluminium industry platform, organised by Reed Exhibitions. By presenting customised match making programmes, buyers with emerging and established demands from booming industry clusters as well as a world class conference and seminar programme, ALUMINIUM CHINA 2013 is the first choice for branding, networking and sourcing in Asia, the world’s fastest growing market.
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.