Quaker acquisition
Quaker Chemical Corporation has bought Houghton International’s aluminium business for roll bite lubrication during hot rolling.
Quaker chairman Michael Barry said the aluminium hot rolling market had strong long-term growth prospects, especially in South America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Quaker Chemical provides products and services for aluminium and steel mills and tube and pipe industries. For 2009 the company posted sales of $451.5M. Houghton had 2009 sales of $7M.
Anode contract
Yunnan Yuanxin Carbon Co Ltd has ordered an anode paste mixing system from US group B&P Process equipment.
B&P will build a CK-700-CP Ko-Kneader system for the production of anodes used for aluminium smelting.
B&P said the system was the single largest production capacity anode paste mixer in China.
Under the contract, B&P will also supply the coke pre-heating unit which will be operated upstream of the Ko-Kneader.
Ball buys Neuman
US-based group Ball Corporation has acquired Neuman Alum-inum. Neuman is a North American manufacturer of aluminium disks used to make extruded aerosol cans, beverage bottles, collapsible tubes and technical impact extrusions.
It has plants in Virginia and Quebec. See US Update this issue for more information.
North American production
The Aluminum Association, reported primary aluminium production in the USA and Canada for June at an annual rate of 4725448t, declining 7589t/y (two-tenths of 1%) from the previous month's rate of 4733037t.
Compared to a year ago, the annual rate of production was 2.3% above the June 2009 rate, the Association stated.
