AL Circle's weekly wrap
Porsche invests in aluminium finishing machinery in its Schwarzenberg manufacturing facility
Porsche has introduced a larger machining facility at its newly acquired plant in Schwarzenberg, Germany, to accomplish better finishing in its aluminium car body manufacturing.
The company, upon?realising?that a premium finish in the silvery-white light material cannot be achieved with traditional steel parts production machinery, has collaborated?with Starrag for the purchase.
"For some years, we have been experiencing a shift towards lightweight construction and, as the Porsche competence centre for forming technology in the moulding skin area, we were commissioned to develop the tools required for the conversion to an aluminium body," Marco Franz, head of mechanical production, explains.
"During forming, aluminium sheets respond much more sensitively than steel," Porshe officials realised, "We found our existing machines were not able to meet the requirements."
The Schwarzenberg plant has used the investment to set up two new production halls, purchase a new 25,000kN servo press for production-related tool try-outs and invest in retrofitting and new machine tools – including two Starrag HSC centres of the Droop+Rein FOGS 35 68 N40C type.
Two large Starrag High-Speed Cutting (HSC) machinery centres, Droop+Rein FOGS (5-axis machining centre with an overhead gantry and a traverse paths of 6.8m x 3.5m x 1.5m along the X, Y and Z-axes), play a major part in this. The machines produce press tools for moulding skin parts of automobile bodies with the utmost precision and produce surfaces of grinding quality.
The equipment contains a tool magazine with 100 places that can be filled with HSK32, HSK63, and SK50 retainers. It also includes an eccentric fork head with a 40kW milling spindle and an elevated torque of 700Nm and three distinct motor milling spindles with speeds of 18,000, 40,000, and 65,000 rpm.?
Additionally, one of the two machines has a special 6,000rpm angular head that Mr Franz ordered. It can be used for machining areas that are difficult to access.
"With this range of spindles, requirements in the coming years are covered," Mr Kramer asserts.
The change came post the brand's decision to transition from KUKA, who were previously in charge of the plant's operation. Read the full news here.
Alba-Alcoa bond strengthens with a new long-term alumina supply contract
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) from Bahrain and Alcoa Corporation from the United States of America have extended their long-term relationship by signing yet another strategic agreement. They have renewed their alumina supply contract under which Alcoa has agreed to supply up to 16.5 million tonnes of smelter-grade aluminium oxide to Alba for ten years, starting from 2026.
This renewed contract will make Alcoa Alba’s third-largest alumina supplier. The alumina will primarily come from Alcoa’s Western Australia refinery, strengthening Alcoa's position as a reliable source of alumina. At the same time, it will benefit Alba by providing good quality raw materials for producing primary aluminium.
领英推荐
On renewing the contract, Alba’s CEO Ali Al Baqali commented: “Our long-standing partnership with Alcoa is a testament to our shared commitment to sustainability and mutual growth. This agreement not only guarantees a steady supply of alumina for our operations but also reinforces our position as a key player in the global aluminium market.”
Adding further, Alcoa’s President & CEO William Oplinger stated: “By securing this contract extension with Alba, Alcoa further strengthens its position as the premier global alumina supplier, while continuing to provide strategic support to one of the world’s largest aluminium producers.”
AL Circle unveils its 27th e-Magazine, "The Modern world of ALuminium Flat Rolled Products" —A deep dive into innovation and sustainability
We are thrilled to announce the launch of AL Circle's 27th e-Magazine edition, "The Modern world of ALuminium Flat Rolled Products." As the world's fastest-growing global ALuminium ecosystem, AL Circle is committed to delivering insightful, trendsetting content that shapes the future of the aluminium industry. In this latest release, we spotlight a critical segment of the value chain—aluminium flat-rolled products—through powerful interviews, thought leadership articles, and visionary insights from industry giants and experts.
A glimpse into flat rolled products: The backbone of aluminium innovation
Flat-rolled aluminium products are the unsung heroes that form the foundation of numerous industries, from automotive and aerospace to construction, packaging, and electronics. They are essential to lightweight, sustainable, and circular economy goals transforming industries globally. This e-Magazine explores the immense potential of flat-rolled products in shaping a greener future, offering a blend of industry perspectives, challenges, innovations, and future trends.
Why this edition matters
As global demand for lightweight, durable, and recyclable materials surges, the role of flat-rolled aluminium products becomes ever more critical. This publication of AL Circle's e-Magazine, "The Modern world of ALuminium Flat Rolled Products," provides a comprehensive, forward-looking analysis of how the industry is evolving to meet these demands while also tackling the challenges posed by climate change, resource scarcity, and technological disruption. Read the e-Magazine here.
Other major news of the week:
Plastic production facility into an aluminium extrusion plant – transformation is in the final stage
For more latest ALuminium news and market analysis, visit here