The automotive industry relies on the stamping process for rapid production of deep drawn sheet components for its mass-market vehicles. However, as automakers develop increasingly advanced components, aluminum sheet is challenged compared to steel due to its lower formability. The superplastic forming process is a potential solution as it provides the ability to produce deep […]
By Curt Wells and Paul O’Connor, The Aluminum Association. Aluminum recycling provides significant societal environmental benefit in terms of landfilled waste reduction and the energy consumption/emissions avoided as compared to aluminum produced from virgin ore. However, aluminum recycling also generates waste products and these are referred to as secondary aluminum processing wastes, which are comprised […]
As UC Rusal’s largest aluminum facility, the Krasnoyarsk (KRAZ) aluminum smelter in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, has become a significant site for innovation within the company with improvements ongoing. In 2018, the company commissioned a new casting complex there for the production of large diameter billet. The company invested US$40 million in the construction of the casthouse […]
By Geoff Scamans, Innoval Technology and Brunel University. The majority of the U.K.’s greenhouse gas emissions now come from transport, a sector whose emissions rose by 2% according to the recently released 2016 figures from the U.K. Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Transport accounts for 26% of the U.K.’s greenhouse gas emissions, […]
Taber Extrusions, headquartered in Russellville, AR, expanded its capabilities through the acquisition of the Exact Manufacturing division of Lou-Rich, Inc. With this acquisition, Taber will continue to offer Ultra Precision Extrusions®. These micro-extrusions (Figure 1) — produced with circle sizes of 3 inches or less and weights of 1 lb or less—are used in a […]
The Aluminum Recyclers Council (ARC) was recently formed to promote and protect the domestic aluminum recycling industry, while also improving recycling operations in North America through business excellence programs. The ARC named Luke Palen as chairman. He is also the president of Spectro Alloys Corp., an aluminum recycling company operating in Minnesota for over 40 […]
Based in Riverside, CA, Sierra Aluminum is a 100% employee-owned extrusion company that manufactures standard and custom extrusions on seven UBE presses—two 7 inch presses, four 8 inch presses, and one 9 inch press. Downstream of the presses, Sierra has two paint lines, a modern anodizing line, and fabrication capability to supply a wide customer […]
By Ken Chien and Paul Robbins, Castool; Chris Jowett, Rio Tinto Aluminium; and Yu Wang, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Dept., University of Waterloo Introduction When extruders decide to install a new press they naturally consider the product mix and profile size and weight (lb/ft). Depending on the run-out table, this determines the ideal billet weight. […]
By Nancy E. Klein, Contributing Editor. Almag Aluminum, Inc., an aluminum extruder based in Brampton, ON, Canada, recently sought to design, build, and install a new floating staircase at the south-facing entrance of its 300,000 sq ft corporate headquarters offices. Made from aluminum extrusions, glass, wood, and steel, the completed staircase is both a visually […]
