Credit: European Container Glass Federation.
• Glass packaging production volumes in Europe grew by 4.2% in 2011 according to data published by the European Container Glass Federation (FEVE). The growth confirms the increase recorded in the first half of 2011 (4.7%), and builds on a positive trend after the 2009 financial crisis.
• The German group of companies Quarzwerke has announced the opening of a processing plant for the production of enriched quartz sand for glass industry in the area Sengiley region, Russia. The designed capacity, of approximately 1.3 million tons per year, is planned at the end of 2013.
• Hindusthan National Glass & Industries Ltd. is starting the world’s largest end-fired container glass furnace at Nasik. The company’s capacity is of 650 tons per day; a total of six production lines have been installed with technology and equipments provided by Horn Glass, Sorg GmbH, Zippe, Emhart, Mysac, Sipac and many others.
• Aluminum prices have fallen to $1,839 a metric ton, a two-year low on the London Metal Exchange, pressured by a mix of technical and fundamental factors that are weighing on the broader base-metals complex, given growing concerns about the health of the global economy.
• China’s flat glass output dropped 10.2 percent in May, according to local reports based on information from the country’s National Development and Research Commission. Last year, for the same month, the company’s flat glass output actually grew 21.7 percent, according to the report.
• Magnezit Group is conducting the construction of an unique technological unit for Russia and the CIS countries. The multihearth furnace is supplied by Polysius/DE as part of the investment project aimed at increasing capacities by 2.5 times of the Satka Complex for production of dead burnt magnesia in the Chelyabinsk region.
• The Iran Alumina Co. signed a memorandum of understanding with Tajikistan in the field of exporting the company’s products to the Central Asian country. Iran Alumina, located in Jajarm, will export 100,000 tons of alumina powder and 100,000 tons of aluminium hydrates within 20 months to Tajikistan.
• Norsk Hydro ASA/NO has decided to close the remaining two production lines at Kurri Kurri Aluminium Plant in Australia. The decision is a response to the weak macroeconomic environment, low metal prices, uncertain market outlook, overcapacity in the aluminium industry, and a strong Australian dollar.
• French China clay giant Imerys is set to open its first new pit in nearly three decades, the Cornish Guardian has learned. Next Tuesday, the company is due announce plans for its newest pit at Higher Moor, next to Littlejohns pit, close to the villages of Whitemoor and Stenalees.