We welcome a new addition to our high-end cutting machinery family.
Staying true to our German engineered fleet we decided for an award winning cutter from KASTO again. A quick run down of the most important specs for our customers:

• It handle diameters of up to 460mm.
• The speed has increased to a maximum feed rate of 150m/min.
• Has “blade deviation control” to insure straighter cuts
• 0.1mm accuracy in cut
• Less off-cut @ 35mm remnant remaining

For more detailed info on the capabilities of this machine please have a look at the Data Sheet . We look forward seeing you with improved cuts and service delivery here at MTT.

The global construction industry is expected to reach an estimated value of $10,388.6 billion by 2019.

Opportunities in the global construction industry include:

• Strong economic growth in developing nations, such as China, India, and the Middle East countries, is expected to further drive infrastructure development
• Growth due to the positive impact of new green/environmental standards in first world countries
• Global population growth means an increase in the urbanization rate

Appearances of modern cities and towns have greatly been influenced by the use of Aluminium in construction. Aluminium is light and strong and can be given virtually any desired shape. Looking at the global end use of aluminium in 2014 (chart below), the construction sector was the second largest consumer of aluminium with 25% of all aluminium produced worldwide used in construction.

China’s aluminium usage in the construction industry

China is the world’s fastest growing economy. Over 46% of China’s soaring GDP comes from the country’s rapid industrial growth. This industrial growth is predominantly driven by the massive urbanization taking place which is increasing demand for aluminium and the raw materials used in its production. Due to unmatched growth rates, China, which now plays the dominant role in the global aluminium market, is expected to remain the world’s largest aluminium consumer throughout the next 10-15 years. Already accounting for about a half of global aluminium consumption, China is forecasted to boost this share to 59% by 2025.

Aluminum is considered a vital component of green and sustainable buildings for several reasons:

• Maximization of natural light – heavy glass windows are easily supported by high-strength, low-weight aluminum frames.
• Aluminium is easily recycled and loses none of its properties during the process.
• Aluminium can be used in any climatic conditions and does not lose its properties in temperatures ranging between –80 °C and +300 °C.
• Aluminium structures become even stronger at low temperatures. That is why it is widely used in construction in cold areas like Siberia in Russia.

Written by: Lasell Swart

Sources:

The True Story of the Aluminium Twins Hall and Héroult

Aluminium is the most abundant metal on earth. However it is rarely found in its elemental state as we know it and we primarily see it in its commercial source, Bauxite.  It is interesting to note that the method for making aluminium used to be complicated and expensive. The cost to make a small bit of aluminium in the early 19th century was higher than for gold or platinum. Bars of aluminium were exhibited with the French Crown Jewels in 1855. Emperor Napoleon III of France was said to reserve his small set of aluminium dinner plates and eating utensils only for his most honored guests. When aluminium was selected as the material for the cap and lightning rod on top of the Washington Monument it was still more expensive than silver.

130 Years of Hall and Héroult

The year 2016 marks 130 years of the Hall-Héroult process. Thanks to one chemist called Martin Hall and one scientist called Paul Héroult for establishing the modern way of producing aluminum. Seeing as the process is called Hall-Héroult one would assume they were working together to innovate this discovery. Surprisingly not! It turns out that the inventors discovered the same process simultaneously and independently. Hall and Héroult were both aged 23 when they applied their patents for the production of aluminium. They were quickly labeled “the aluminium twins” by the newspapers at the time.

The invention was based on the fused-salt electrolysis of alumina dissolved in a molten Cryolite bath. 130 years later, the process is still used however with some large improvements to meet economic, energy and environmental challenges. Consumption increased from a few thousand tons in 1900 to 50 million tons worldwide. A third of this metal is produced from recycling.

Key facts:

• China is the second largest bauxite mine producer, generating 60 million metric tons in 2015
• China has the largest smelter production of aluminium in the world. In 2015 they had a total smelter production of 32 million metric tons. Russia was second largest with 3.5 million metric tons.
• 75 percent of all aluminium produced is still in use today
• Half of global aluminium is consumed by China and it’s forecasted to increase this share to 59% by 2025

The Hall-Héroult process was invented in Europe and America but China is the country that uses it the most. MTT is proud to be part of the aluminium life cycle and helping the world become more sustainable and advanced through the use of aluminium.

Written by: Lassel Swart

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