Compared to blooms, billets, and slabs, aluminium ingots are very large casting products both in size and shape. Although the cross section of an ingot is often rectangular or square, it need not be constant along its length. (Ingot's cross section may vary.)
According to Indian and international standards, aluminium alloy ingots such as LM-2, LM-4, and LM-6, which are frequently used in gravity and sand casting, as well as pressure die casting alloys such as LM-13, LM-14, and LM-24, ADC-12, ALSI-132, are also being produced.
The earth's crust is composed of aluminium, a lightweight, silver-white metallic element, to a degree of 7%. It weights almost a third as much as copper (8930 Kg/cubic metre) or steel (7480–8000 Kg/cubic metre).
Aluminum has good corrosion resistance and durability and is malleable, ductile, and simple to cast. It is mined as bauxite ore and mostly exists as alumina when combined with oxygen. Nearly 10% of the world's bauxite reserves are found in India, and a thriving aluminium industry takes use of this. It is anticipated that domestic demand will increase by 8–10%. India is anticipated to have installed capacity for 1.7 to 2 million tonnes of aluminium annually by 2020. Around 3% of the world's aluminium manufacturing is produced in India. Only five key units exist in India's heavily consolidated aluminium industry.
Uses
· Castings for maritime applications that need the highest level of corrosion resistance are suitable for sand and cold environments.
· Used where corrosion resistance or ductility are required; suitable for big, complicated, and thin walled castings in all types of moulds.
· Used in all applications, particularly low pressure die casting that calls for LM 6's increased tensile strength following heat treatment.
· Mainly utilised for castings in sand and cold weather that need to be strong and shock-resistant. Calls for certain foundry procedures and heat treatment.
· Used mostly in applications involving pistons and those with higher thermal stresses. This alloy can withstand heavier loads and higher temperatures. It offers good machinability and wear resistant qualities.
· In fairly complex sand and chill castings, where good mechanical qualities are sought, it is suitable. Calls for heat treatment.
· Principally employed in pressure die casting. Similar to LM 6, but with superior toughness and machinability.
· The smelting process results in the creation of various grades of aluminium ingots, which are then utilized to make castings for the automotive industry as well as for electrical purposes.
Market Outlook
The annual increase in demand for aluminium is predicted to be between 4 and 6 percent. As the situation for user industries like power, infrastructure, and transportation, which are all in motion, improves, the demand for the metal is anticipated to increase.
Demand is estimated to increase from roughly 1.6 million units in 2013–14 to close to 2.4 million units by the end of 2019–20, and then close to 3.4 million units by 2024–25.
• India's demand for aluminium is predicted to increase by 17–18% annually, driven by expansion in the building, construction, transportation, and packaging industries.
• India's consumption of aluminium is expected to increase to 5.3 million tonnes by 2020 from an anticipated 3.4 million tonnes in FY17.
The electrical sector is a significant consumer of aluminium and uses it in a variety of products, including the construction of aircraft and packaging. More than half of the overall offtake is made up of the two industries of transportation and energy. Power, transportation, consumer durables, packaging, and construction are India's main consumer industries. The largest consumer of this is power, accounting for roughly 44% of the total, followed by infrastructure (17%) and transportation (3%). (About 10 percent to 12 percent).
Some of the major factors that are anticipated to continue to fuel the global market growth include rapid industrialization in both developed and developing nations, an increase in construction and reconstruction activities around the world, and widespread application of aluminium ingots in the construction sector for manufacturing windows, weatherproofing doors, screens, etc. Other factors boosting the growth of the global aluminium ingots market include a growing emphasis on technological advancements in the packaging sector and an increase in the use of aluminium ingots in the production of cans and aluminium foil due to their light weight and ease of moulding.
Industry Major Market Players:
· Aravali Infrapower Ltd.
· Baheti Metal & Ferro Alloys Ltd.
· Bothra Metals & Alloys Ltd.
· Indo Alusys Inds. Ltd.
· Namo Alloys Pvt. Ltd.
· AlcoaInc
· Rio Tinto Group
· Aluminum Corporation of China
· United Company RUSAL
· Norsk Hydro
· Dubai Aluminium Company
· SPIC
· BHP Billiton
· Xinfa Group
· China Zhongwang
