Posts Tagged ‘aluminum’

The Part that Aluminum Plays. Aluminum parts types are distinctive because this particular metal lends to its die cast parts the properties of being lightweight and yet tough, with high electric as well as thermal conductivity, high reflectivity when polished to a sheen, corrosion resistance, non combustibility, formability, and capability to be recycled.

Due to the intrinsic properties of this metal, aluminum parts types are a favorite in the aircraft construction business, in the automotive manufacturing business, and in the bicycle manufacturing business– this due to its strength and light weight. Aluminum is also made into large electrical conductors and cables, and computer manufacturers are now using aluminum parts in the casing of their products– this again is due to another one of its properties, that of electric and thermal conductivity. Other aluminum parts types are found in various products such as cooking utensils, food and drink packaging, extrusions such as window frames and door frames, and mirror coatings for telescopes as well as the ordinary looking-glass.

Aluminum is a metal most abundant on earth. Although this is so, it is popular as a recyclable product. Visit any recycling plant and you are sure to come across some aluminum parts types. These might be aluminum cans from soda drinks, bits and parts other scraps. Some might be shredded, re-melted, shaped into blocks, and whatnot. All the aluminum scrap metal is easily recycled simply by re-melting them and pouring the molten metal once again into a mold. Then the aluminum die casting process can begin again.

Aluminium Long-Term Outlook Q2 Update. According to Brooke Hunt, industrial production growth is set to average 3.1% p.a. over the period 2009 to 2020, up slightly from 2.7% p.a. for the period 2000 to 2008. China is expected to lead growth with IP anticipated to increase 10.1% in 2009 – 2020.

The economic recession which followed the failure of some western financial institutions and banks ten months ago was initially expected to have only a small effect on Chinese growth. However, the resultant collapse in worldwide demand and subsequent collapse in requirement for Chinese exported products has had a significant effect on the economy of China. The most recent trade data suggests that the fall in demand for Chinese goods may be bottoming out but the trends indicated by these figures do not carry across to the Chinese aluminium market. We expect aluminium demand to fall by 1% in 2009 to 12.7Mt. This contrasts with compound average annual growth of 17.9% p.a. seen over the first eight years of this decade.

As a large section of the global economy slid into recession in late 2008 and into 2009 global aluminium demand has been destroyed, particularly in mature economies and has led to a forecast surplus in 2009 of 2.5Mt. Although we are forecasting a 6% drop in smelter production in 2009, a greater decline of 8.3% is forecast for demand. Stocks are therefore expected to continue to rise in 2009 reaching 102 days of consumption. For the market to be balanced with the current consumption forecast production would need to fall by 12% in 2009. Brook Hunt is forecasting that LME cash prices will decrease from the 2008 average of $2571/t, to $1445/t in 2009. We have allowed for 70kt, 4.9Mt and 8.3Mt of curtailments in 2009, 2010 and 2011 respectively as prices cut into the cost curve. The significant volume of curtailed capacity will act as a cap on prices over the period 2012-2020.

Our analysis of long-run aluminium incentive prices that will provide sufficient incentive (15% IRR) to justify the expansion of capacity to meet incremental demand growth indicates that a price of ~$1928/t ($2009) is required.

Our base case supply forecast is seen as more than adequate to meet projected demand of 57Mt in 2020, equivalent to 3.5% per annum growth. The base case supply forecast can meet projected demand growth of 4.2% per annum, while the combination of Base case and projects in our highly probable category can meet demand growth of 5% per annum through 2020.

SGA production is estimated at 72.4Mt in 2009, down 10.4% y-o-y and is forecast to grow at 4% per annum to 88Mt in 2014 when capacity utilization is projected at 92%. Consequently, we forecast modest spot price appreciation through 2014 from current levels of $210/t to average $270/t or 14.5% of the LME aluminium cash price. Furthermore, there is little or no risk of being capacity constrained through 2020.

By Jennifer Serda - A LaGrange plant is going out of business

AE Light Metal Casting filed bankruptcy earlier this month and says they expect to close the LaGrange plant at the end of May.

Currently 33 people work at the plant but at its peek, it employed 100 people. The plant had expected to employ 295 workers but says demand for their products had forced layoffs.

AE Light Metal Casting makes aluminum casting for auto industry.

The LaGrange Development Authority owns the building AE Light Metal Casting is in and says they are showing the building to another company.
AE Light Metal Casting did not supply any products to the KIA plant in West Point.

Why Use Aluminum Die Cast Boxes? Most electronic components would need to be protected by a box that could keep away outside factors like dust, water, moisture, or sudden impact. Aluminum Boxes are the suitable enclosures for such items.

These die cast boxes are made from aluminum die castings and they have die cast lids too. They can also be fitted with die cast covers that can be screwed in place to seal the item away from anything that could damage it.

Aluminum die cast boxes are used as natural ground for electrical components. Since aluminum conducts electricity, the die cast boxes are also used as the grounding planes for the electronic items being kept.

Many die casting companies use these die cast boxes for RF/EMI shielding too. The boxes used are still made using aluminum die-casting. RF (Radio Frequency) or EMI (Electrical Magnetic Inductance) shielding are means of protection or shielding against radio waves and frequencies that may interfere with the electronic components in the die cast box. The box keeps these outside frequencies away from the its content.

As an RF/EMI shield, the aluminum box is electrically conductive and can disperse and absorb any of the outside frequencies and thus, protect the electronic component that is kept inside it.

The aluminum die cast boxes can also be used as enclosures for engine compartments, computer components, computer disk drives, communication devices, motors, car transmission, or electrical junction boxes.

Aside from the natural conductivity of aluminum, it is a choice of die cast manufacturers for their enclosure needs because aluminum die cast parts weigh less than 1/3 the weight of steel parts. That could be more cost effective and it allows easier transport of items.

Heat Sinks in Aluminum draw heat from another source from thermal contact. These are mainly used in electronic parts and automobile parts but there are other uses like:

• Airplane parts
• Circuit boards
• Microwaves
• Cell phones
• Satellite components
• Laser components
• Motor housings
• Automotive
• Lighting parts

Aluminum Heat Sinks absorb and dissipate the heat from another object. It is a piece of molded aluminum or copper that usually sits directly on top of a feverish source or processor. In many cases, you won’t be able to see the processor unless you take out the aluminum heat sink first.

Wherever there is a need for efficient dissipation of heat, there will surely be aluminum heat sinks installed. A major industry that uses heat sinks is refrigeration.

The aluminum heat sinks manufactured these days come in different shapes and sizes. The typical heat sink though, has long fins and thin protrusions for conducting the heat from the processor to the cooler environment inside the aluminum heat sink. Die Casting Companies make heat sinks.

Most of the heat sinks in the market these days are equipped with fans that blow the cool air to the fins to dissipate heat more effectively. These fans or blowers are usually placed on top of the fins or in the middle.

Aluminum heat sinks are designed to require less machine processing. The fins can be manufactured simultaneously with the mounting holes. Typically, about 250 to 2500 heat sink parts can be produced per day.