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Download IAI June 2006 Newsletter (1.3 Mb)
New Chairman of International Aluminium Institute announced
The International Aluminium Institute (IAI) is delighted to announce Rio Tinto Aluminium chief executive Mr Oscar Groeneveld as its new chairman.
The IAI programme of activities is managed by its Board of Directors, consisting of the chief executive officers or managing directors of each of the twenty seven member companies.
The elected officers of the Institute are the chairman and nine vice-chairmen, who serve for a two year term and represent ten geographic regions (Africa, Asia-Pacific, China, Europe, Middle East, Latin America, North America, Oceania, Russia, South Asia).
Mr Groeneveld is the 18th chairman of the IAI, taking over from Alcan Inc. former chief executive officer Mr Travis Engen.
Under Mr Groeneveld’s leadership, the aluminium industry can look forward to continued improvement in its sustainability performance and the vigorous promotion of the benefits aluminium metal can provide to society and the environment.
Asia-Pacific Aluminium Conference 2006, Aluminium Casters' Association of India (ALUCAST)
Kala Academy, Goa, India. 2nd-5th November 2006
Addressing emerging technologies and strategies in aluminium, the conference will address three key areas
- ALUCAST 2006 - Conference on Die casting
- ALEX’06 - Conference on Extrusion
- DIMO'06 - Conference on Die and Mould technology
For further information, please contact ALUCAST via tel:91-20-25674455, 25670808 or e-mail Anjali Garde ALUMINIUM 2006
Essen, Germany. 20th-22nd September, 2006
The annual world trade fair for aluminium meets in Germany this autumn, providing an opportunity to meet members of the industry, to see new products and world leading technologies. Details to be found here
Please e-mail Reed Exhibitions Director, Britta Wirtz, for further details
Imedal 14th International Technical Panel of Aluminium Processing and Exposition,
Cancún, Q.R.México, 22nd-25th June, 2006
The principal aluminium convention in México, featuring new products and techniques and the sharing of knowledge on such topics as: the environent in the use and processing of aluminium;uses and techniques of aluminium in the automobile industry; and management of recycled aluminium www.imedal.com.mx
"Alcoa Introduces Four Innovative Products for Commercial Transportation Industry"
23rd March, 2006
Alcoa announced today that it has developed four new innovative products for the commercial transportation industry that provide customers with products that reduce weight, maintenance and operating costs while increasing payloads and fuel economy.
The four new innovations continue Alcoa's longstanding history of technology development in the commercial transportation market. Alcoa had 2005 revenues of $1.8 billion in the commercial transportation market, a 20 percent increase from 2004. The new products include:
- Alcoa Aluminium Landing Gear for truck trailers reduces the weight of a trailer by as much as 100 pounds, as well as increasing fuel economy and payload capacity. In addition, the aluminium landing gear offers truck drivers and fleet owners a durable, environmentally-friendly product.
- Aluminium Fifth Wheel utilizes Holland Group's exclusive "No Lube" technology with a 6061 T6 forged aluminum plate to create a fifth wheel that reduces the weight of a typical steel fifth wheel by 100 pounds. This too increases fuel economy and payload capacity.
- Alcoa Aluplate(TM) is an aluminum composite panel that provides a high performance aluminum alternative to steel composites. Advantages of Aluplate include a weight advantage of 500-1,000 pounds versus competition, depending on specification. Aluplate is suitable for trailer side walls and doors, and drives bottom line value through weight savings, manufacturing efficiencies and lower trailer lifetime costs.
- Alcoa Dura-Bright(R) Fuel Tank
Bahrain Tribune - "Safety Issues in Focus"
7-8th March, 2006
Safety issues in the global aluminium industry were discussed as experts gathered in Bahrain for a key meeting hosted by Aluminium Bahrain (Alba).
Officials representing the safety committee of the London-based International Aluminium Association (IAI) spoke about advances made in the field and their own contribution to the developments in addition to work on benchmarking international standards.
"This was a major event in our business and gave us an opportunity to not only showcase ourselves but also our country," said the Alba safety, health and environment manager Hasan Alaradi who joined deliberations with Willy Bjerke from Finland’s Aluminiumindustriens Miljosekretariat. He said it was an occasion to exchange ideas, look at systems followed worldwide and implement them wherever possible.
"The key to the success of such operations all over the world is the companies’ ability to look at the success of others and take advantage of their experiences." He said the meeting was a great success and as important for Bahrain as it was for visitors. Bjerke said the meeting was an occasion to "walk along and share" the expertise of the best and biggest of the world’s aluminium producers. "Alba, being one of the leading and most modern smelters in the world, was an appropriate choice to host the meeting. I am sure all delegates have come out the wiser after looking at each other’s operations, particularly with regard to improving safety standards."
IAI is the global forum of aluminium producers dedicated to the development and wider use of aluminium as a competitive and uniquely valuable material.
IAI, in all its activities, supports the concept that aluminium is a material that lends itself to improving world living standards and developing a better and sustainable world environment. The association currently has 26 member companies with operations located across the globe. At present, the membership is responsible for around three-fifths of world primary aluminium production.
Associated Press Article - "Mineta cites aluminium"
23rd February, 2006
U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta continued the Bush administration's push for greater energy independence during a visit to auto supplier TRW Automotive Holdings Corp., where he promoted fuel-saving technology such as lightweight aluminium parts and brakes that can harness energy and power hybrid motors.
"President Bush has made it clear that America's addiction to oil must end," Mineta said after touring a research facility at TRW's Livonia headquarters.
Mineta said offering grants and incentives for alternative energy research is one way the government is helping U.S. automakers, who have been struggling with falling market share and high health care and pension costs. But he said the Bush administration isn't considering any bailout plan for General Motors Corp. or Ford Motor Co., which lost billions of dollars last year.
"There isn't any discussion about direct financial assistance to the automobile industry itself," Mineta said.
Bush said in his State of the Union address last month that he wants to replace three-fourths of the country's oil imports from the Middle East by 2025. Mineta said Americans now drive 5 trillion miles per year, or 15,000 miles per person, and move 20 billion tons of freight annually. That vast transportation network requires 46 million barrels of oil each day, he said.
Mineta said the country can reduce that dependence through new technology and innovation. Union Pacific Corp.'s railroad saved 15 million gallons of oil last year through more efficient driving, Mineta said.
He also praised TRW, which is best known for building safety equipment such as air bags, for making products designed to boost fuel efficiency.
TRW officials showed Mineta a car equipped with electronically powered steering, which allows the steering to function independent of the engine. The system can be dropped into existing vehicles and improve fuel economy by 1.5 miles per gallon, according to Aly Badawy, TRW's vice president of engineering.TRW officials showed Mineta a car equipped with electronically powered steering, which allows the steering to function independent of the engine. The system can be dropped into existing vehicles and improve fuel economy by 1.5 miles per gallon, according to Aly Badawy, TRW's vice president of engineering.
Automakers have been installing TRW's electronic steering systems in Europe since 1999. TRW said it's trying to persuade hybrid manufacturers to consider the systems in North America, but cost has been a barrier. The systems cost between $30 and $100 to install, Badawy said.
Badawy said if 4 million U.S. vehicles had the technology - the same number with the system on European roadways - the country would save 50 million gallons of oil each year.
TRW also says it has a regenerative braking system that a U.S. manufacturer plans to use in its vehicles by the 2008 model year. The system collects the energy used in braking and uses it to power the electric motor on a hybrid vehicle. Officials wouldn't name the manufacturer.
"All that energy was previously just thrown away," Mineta marveled.
TRW is one of the world's largest auto suppliers, with full-year sales of $12.6 billion in 2005. On Tuesday, the company reported a profit for the year despite industry conditions that drove several other suppliers into bankruptcy.