Materials
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ANDRITZ has commissioned another acid-regeneration plant for Indian steelmaking operations. The 6,400-litre-per-hour installation at JSW Steel’s Vasind Works supports a new pickling line and supplies recovered hydrochloric acid for reuse in steel processing.
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Nippon Steel has advanced hydrogen reduction using lower-grade iron ore. At its Hasaki research centre, a pilot shaft furnace completed more than 300 hours of continuous operation and produced over 1,000 tonnes of direct reduced iron cumulatively.
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Norsk Titanium has installed an additive manufacturing machine at Airbus. The Varel deployment follows site acceptance in September and supports qualification of Rapid Plasma Deposition for structural aircraft parts alongside growing serial component deliveries.
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Aluminium Shapes has won an award for lower-carbon extrusion manufacturing. The Corby company made recycled-content Ali4 billet its standard feedstock in January and estimates that the change has avoided more than 20,000 tonnes of emissions.
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MPs want new financing powers for Britain’s critical minerals industry. A parliamentary report recommends coordinated investment in mining, processing and recycling, allied purchasing arrangements and strategic stockpiles to reduce supply risks for UK manufacturing and defence.
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Ball plans another German factory for aluminium beverage can production. The proposed Baruth site is backed by an existing energy drinks customer and is expected to begin ramping up late in 2028, although its investment value and output are undisclosed.
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Solvay has secured long-term Brazilian feedstock for French rare-earth processing. The binding Viridis agreement runs initially through 2034, with shipments targeted from 2028 and a separate €15m–€20m investment already approved for La Rochelle.
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Elethron plans new British manufacturing of specialist aluminium nitride substrates. The company is establishing a two-inch crystal-growth platform for semiconductor evaluation and qualification, with larger wafers and radio-frequency applications forming part of its development programme.
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Britain’s aluminium industry seeks stronger domestic processing and recycling capacity. ALFED estimates a £3.78bn direct economic contribution and proposes coordinated measures on electricity costs, scrap quality, trade policy and investment in manufacturing.
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British metals manufacturers report mounting costs and worsening recruitment pressures. A UK Metals Council survey of 200 companies highlights expensive raw materials, trade friction and skilled labour shortages as the industry proposes eight policy priorities.
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