By Alton Tabereaux, Contributing Editor. Production by Country As prices generally increased throughout 2017, world primary aluminum production increased 3.4% compared with the previous year (Table I). China is the world’s largest producer of electrolytic aluminum, making up over half of the global output. The terminal consumption of electrolytic aluminum in China is mainly concentrated in […]
Alcoa Corporation and Rio Tinto introduced a revolutionary process that could dramatically improve the carbon footprint of the primary aluminum process. The patent-protected technology, developed by Alcoa, is designed to eliminate all direct greenhouse gas emissions from the traditional aluminum smelting process. “This discovery has been a long-sought goal for the aluminum industry, and this announcement […]
Compiled and edited by Joseph C. Benedyk. U.S. Patents US9822457 — METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LINING THE CATHODE OF THE ELECTROLYTIC CELL — United Company RUSAL Engineering and Technology Centre LLC (Russia) — The invention relates to method and apparatus for lining the cathode of the electrolytic cell for primary aluminum production. The method comprises […]
UC Rusal has recently invested in the development and implementation of several cutting edge technologies in primary aluminum production and downstream processing at its facilities in Russia, as well as bringing a number of innovative products to the market. Victor Mann, who has been technical director of Rusal since 2005, is in charge of research and […]
Alcoa Corporation plans to restart three of five potlines at its Warrick Operations aluminum smelter near Evansville, IN, which had been previously closed in March 2016. The remaining two potlines will be classified as curtailed capacity and will remain idle. The three restarted potlines will directly supply the Warrick rolling mill, which serves the North American […]
Diplomatic tensions in the Middle East have resulted in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt cutting off transportation links and severing diplomatic ties with Qatar. Qatalum is a joint venture between Hydro and Qatar Petroleum located in Mesaieed, Qatar, where it produces more than 600,000 tonnes per year of value-added primary […]
The Aluminum Association released the latest edition of the Aluminum Statistical Review for 2015. The latest review features a new design, statistics through 2015 in the North American market, and information on every cycle of the aluminum production process from primary aluminum to markets for finished goods to the recovery of aluminum scrap. The 2015 review […]
Alcoa Inc. completed its separation into two standalone companies — Arconic Inc. and Alcoa Corporation (learn more about Arconic). Following its separation from Alcoa Inc. (now known as Arconic), Alcoa Corporation has begun operating as an independent, publicly-traded company producing bauxite, alumina, and aluminum products. “We are launching Alcoa Corporation as a world leader in […]
During Aluminum Week 2016, hosted by the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association (CNIA) in Nanning City, Guangxi, China on October 26, Heidi Brock, president and CEO of the Aluminum Association, addressed delegates with a call for action on global aluminum overcapacity. In her opening session remarks, Brock states, Aluminum is experiencing a once-in-a-generation expansion in realized […]
