Brockville alumina sale
Rio Tinto Alcan has signed an Asset Sale Agreement (ASA) with France-based Axens regarding sale of its activated alumina business in Brockville, Ontario, Canada.
The main scope of Axens’ business is focused on the conversion of oil, coal, natural gas and biomass to clean fuels as well as production and purification of major petrochemical intermediates.
The Brockville activated aluminas business employs 52 people.
Aleris rolling mill
Aleris International has signed a joint venture agreement with Zhenjiang Dingsheng Aluminum for the construction of an aluminium rolling mill in Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu Province in China.
It will produce semi-finished rolled aluminium products and Aleris will be the majority owner in the venture. Construction of the plant is expected to be completed within two years.
Homogenising plant
Dubai Aluminium (Dubal), UAE, has placed an order with Hertwich Engineering, Austria, for the supply and commissioning of a batch homogenising facility.
The scope comprises two batch homogenising furnaces as well as one air cooling station. Due to the reversing air concept and regulation by flaps, some 20% faster heating of the logs is achieved besides improved temperature uniformity.
The facility is fully automated and heating is regulated through measurement of the air and metal temperatures. Commissioning is scheduled for the end of 2010.
Slight US boost
Based on Aluminum Association surveys, the US annual rate of primary aluminium production was 1.74Mt during October 2010, an increase of 8.6% over the October 2009 total of 1.60Mt.
The annual rate of production rose three-tenths of 1% over the September 2010 annual rate. The year-to-date production rate was 1.4% down on 2009’s year to date rate.