Supply chain drive lifts demand for new metal powders
A drive to maximise supply chain efficiency is accelerating development of metal powders for additive manufacturing for automotive, aerospace and other industrial applications.
Germany's EOS, which supplies technology for 3D printing of metals and polymers, has introduced eight new products, including processes for titanium-aluminium-vanadium (Ti-AI6-4V) alloys, a nickel-chromium alloy and an aluminium-silicon-magnesium alloy. Applications for the titanium alloys range from automotive and aerospace parts to other applications that require high strength and low weight. Nickel alloy can be used in injection moulding tools and inserts for mechanical engineering parts.
Lightweighting in transport is increasingly important as carbon emission reduction targets become tighter — reducing the weight of vehicles cuts engine emissions and increases the range of electric vehicles.
Customers are also increasingly seeking materials produced from sustainable feedstock as they move towards 'green' manufacturing and more efficient supply chains using domestic sources for powder production.
BMW has opened a €15mn additive manufacturing centre in Germany to bring together prototype and component production in one location, along with research and development. The company produced 300,000 parts with additive manufacturing last year.
It aims to develop new technologies to shorten production times and adopt more tool-less manufacturing, increasing automation. And the US' General Motors used 3D printing for 75pc of the components in its new Corvette model. The company plans to launch its Additive Industrialization Center in late 2020, having opened its Additive Innovation Lab last year.
In the aerospace sector, US-based QuesTek Innovations, which develops metal alloys and powders, has introduced a new stainless steel material for additive manufacturing that offers increased corrosion resistance and requires less heat treatment. Other applications include use in the defence, medical, chemical processing and energy sectors. QuesTek is also developing aluminium and titanium materials tailored for additive manufacturing.
UK-based ProtoLabs has launched a cobalt-chrome material for its direct metal laser sintering process, which has applications in aerospace engine manufacturing, the oil and gas industry and medical components. Its high strength-to-weight ratio and resistance to corrosion, heat and water meet the requirements of highly durable aerospace components, but make it difficult to manipulate the metal to produce parts. But 3D printing allows manufacturers to produce components in the exact shapes, geometries and weights required.
US-based metal powder producer 6K Additive is launching a plant to produce titanium and nickel superalloy powders. It has installed two production lines using its microwave plasma technology that can heat treat ferrous alloys, nickel superalloys, cobalt-based alloys, refractory metals — including molybdenum, tungsten and rhenium — and titanium-aluminium and aluminium alloys.
The facility will be able to produce 100 t/yr and will initially focus on nickel superalloys and titanium powders. In August, the company will begin sending customers samples of its Inconel 718 nickel-chromium alloy material, followed by its Ti-Al6-4V alloy. The plant will be able to convert machined millings, turnings and other recycled feedstocks into metal powders. The company plans to boost capacity in 2021 to meet rising demand.
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Australia's MinRes posts higher 1Q spodumene output
Australia's MinRes posts higher 1Q spodumene output
Singapore, 25 April (Argus) — Perth-based major lithium and iron ore producer Mineral Resources (MinRes) has reported higher total spodumene concentrate output from its sites in January-March, and higher spodumene prices later in the quarter. Total attributable spodumene concentrate production of the firm across its assets rose to 170,000 dry metric tonnes (dmt) (see table for detailed breakdown), up by 3.7pc on the quarter and by 63pc on the year, according to the firm's latest quarterly activity report. Total attributable spodumene concentrate shipped volumes fell by 2.9pc on the quarter but rose by 50pc on the year to 166,000dmt. MinRes has an ambitious target of 1mn t/yr of lithium attributable within the next four years, said its managing director Chris Ellison last month during the firm's half-year results presentation. The firm has been aggressively expanding, several delegates told Argus at the Tribeca Future Facing Commodities conference held in Singapore on 26 March. The firm last month agreed to buy fellow developer Poseidon Nickel's concentrator plant in Western Australia as it seeks to retrofit it for lithium processing. MinRes' Mount Marion site saw higher output, driven by higher plant utilisation and improved ore recoveries as the firm continues to advance its plant improvement initiatives. The realised price for spodumene concentrate out of its Mount Marion site was at $718/dmt on a 4.2pc-grade basis, which was above the product's year-to-date fob costs of A$518/dmt ($338/dmt). The realised price translates to $1,048/dmt for 6pc-grade lithium concentrate (spodumene), said the firm. The firm did not process the spodumene concentrate produced from its Wodgina site during the quarter into lithium battery chemicals, citing "prevailing pricing dynamics", but instead resumed spodumene concentrate spot sales. The realised spodumene concentrate price at the site came in at $974/dmt on 5.6pc-grade basis, which translates to $1,028/dmt for 6pc-grade lithium concentrate (spodumene). The lithium battery chemical realised price, excluding value added tax, came in at $11,098/t. MinRes in November 2023 finalised the acquisition of the Bald Hill lithium mine from Alita Resources. January-March was the mine's first full production quarter, hence output was dragged down by limited availability of higher-grade feed, but this is expected to recover in April-June, said the firm. The realised spodumene concentrate price at the Bald Hill site was $878/dmt on 5.1pc-grade basis, which translates to $1,016/dmt for 6pc-grade spodumene concentrate. Argus -assessed prices for 6pc grade spodumene concentrate dipped to $1,080-1,180/t cif China on 23 April, from $1,100-1,200/t cif China a week earlier. Salts producers reduced spodumene bid prices because of a fall in salts prices two weeks earlier. By Joseph Ho MinRes lithium performance Jan-Mar '24 Oct-Dec '23 Jan-Mar '23 Spodumene concentrate production (k dmt) Mt Marion (50pc attributable basis) 91 83 60 Wodgina (50pc attributable basis) 49 55 44 Bald Hill (100pc attributable basis) 30 26 NA Total 170 164 104 Spodumene concentrate shipments (k dmt) Mt Marion (50pc attributable basis) 76 86 62 Wodgina (50pc attributable basis) 64 65 49 Bald Hill (100pc attributable basis) 26 20 NA Total 166 171 111 Lithium battery chemical (t) Wodgina production (50pc attributable basis) 6,793 6,798 3,246 Wodgina sales (50pc attributable basis) 6,954 6,474 1,504 Source: MinRes MinRes previously owned 40pc of the Wodgina project, which increased to 50pc starting from 18 October 2023. Figures for Wodgina before 18 October 2023 were on 40pc attributable basis. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
EV demand slowdown cuts S Korea’s LGES' profit in 1Q
EV demand slowdown cuts S Korea’s LGES' profit in 1Q
Singapore, 25 April (Argus) — South Korea's top battery manufacturer LG Energy Solution (LGES) reported significant lower revenue and profit in January-March, because of lower battery metal prices and slower electric vehicle (EV) demand. LGES' revenue in January-March fell by 23pc on the quarter and 30pc on the year to 6.13 trillion won ($4.46bn), owing to lower demand for EV pouch cells and energy storage system (ESS), with "prolonged metal price impact" affecting its average selling price. The firm reported W157bn of operating profit in January-March, but would have reported an operating loss of W32bn if it did not receive almost W189bn in US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credits. But this was still a sharp drop from W633bn of operating profit for January-March 2023. The lower revenue and a demand slowdown in the EV market led to utilisation rate adjustments that weighed on its financial performance. The firm reaped a net profit of W212bn during the quarter, which was up by 12pc on the quarter but down by around 62pc on the year, likely significantly propped up by the US' IRA tax credits. LGES said it will continue to invest despite the difficult market environment, but will "adjust" the size of its capital expenditure and execution speed "as per priority". Battery project updates LGES and automaker General Motors in early April completed the first battery shipment out of their second Ultium battery cell factory in US' Tennessee. The plant's capacity is expected to gradually expand to 50 GWh/yr, said LGES. Construction progress at the firm's battery manufacturing complex in US' Arizona is also on track, said the firm. Ramped up capacity is expected to be 53 GWh/yr, which will comprise 36 GWh/yr of 46-series cylindrical battery for EVs and 17 GWh/yr of lithium-iron-phosphate battery for ESS. LGES' 10 GWh/yr Indonesian battery production joint venture with South Korean conglomerate Hyundai Motor has also started mass production. Its battery module production joint venture with automaker Stellantis in US' Ontario, which encountered a halt in construction in May last year, will start operations in the second half of 2024. The factory has a planned capacity of 45GWh/yr and was supposed to begin operations early this year. LGES earlier this year inked a second agreement with Australian firm Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy and Fertilisers for lithium concentrate supply. The firm will continue building a raw materials supply chain within regions that have a free trade agreement with US, it said. By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Barge delays at Algiers lock near New Orleans
Barge delays at Algiers lock near New Orleans
Houston, 24 April (Argus) — Barges are facing lengthy delays at the Algiers lock near New Orleans as vessels reroute around closures at the Port Allen lock and the Algiers Canal. Delays at the Algiers Lock —at the interconnection of the Mississippi River and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway— have reached around 37 hours in the past day, according to the US Army Corps of Engineers' lock report. Around 50 vessels are waiting to cross the Algiers lock. Another 70 vessels were waiting at the nearby Harvey lock with a six-hour wait in the past day. The closure at Port Allen lock has spurred the delays, causing vessels to reroute through the Algiers lock. The Port Allen lock is expected to reopen on 28 April, which should relieve pressure on the Algiers lock. Some traffic has been rerouted through the nearby Harvey lock since the Algiers Canal was closed by a collapsed powerline, the US Coast Guard said. The powerline fell on two barges, but no injuries or damages were reported. The wire is being removed by energy company Entergy. The canal is anticipated to reopen at midnight on 25 April. By Meghan Yoyotte Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Baltimore to temporarily open 4th shipping channel
Baltimore to temporarily open 4th shipping channel
Cheyenne, 24 April (Argus) — The Port of Baltimore is preparing to open another, deeper temporary shipping channel this week so at least some of the vessels that have been stranded at the port can depart. The new 35-ft deep Fort McHenry Limited Access Channel is scheduled to be open to commercially essential vessels from 25 April until 6am ET on 29 April or 30 April "if weather adversely impacts vessel transits," according to a US Coast Guard Marine Safety Information Bulletin. The channel will then be closed again until 10 May. The channel also will have a 300-ft horizontal clearance and 214-ft vertical clearance. This will be the fourth and largest channel opened since the 26 March collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The Unified Command has said that the new limited access channel should allow passage of about 75pc of the types of vessels that typically move through the waterway. Vessels that have greater than 60,000 long tons (60,963 metric tonnes) of displacement will likely not be able to move through the channel and those between 50,000-60,000 long tons of displacement "will be closely evaluated" for transit. There were seven vessels blocked from exiting the port as of 27 March, including three dry bulk carriers, one vehicle carrier and one tanker, according to the US Department of Transportation. Two of the bulk carriers at berth in Baltimore are Kamsarmax-sized coal vessels, data from analytics firm Kpler show. The US Army Corps of Engineers still expects to reopen the Port of Baltimore's permanent 700-foot wide, 50-foot deep channel by the end of May. The Key Bridge collapsed into the water late last month when the 116,851dwt container ship Dali lost power and crashed into a bridge support column. Salvage teams have been working to remove debris from the water and containers from the ship in order to clear the main channel. By Courtney Schlisserman Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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