[SMM Aluminum Express News] Assan Alüminyum has acquired an aluminum foil facility in West Virginia through Kibar Americas, marking its entry as a local producer in the United States. The move strengthens its global footprint and competitiveness, aligning with its strategy focused on sustainability, digitalization, and international expansion. Strategically, the investment reflects a shift toward localized production amid changing global trade dynamics, while enhancing its ability to serve North American customers. The facility will produce foil for automotive, HVAC, packaging, and industrial applications, supporting expansion into key end-use markets.

According to ChinaIOL data, in 2025, China’s HVAC valve components industry as a whole tended to remain stable, with total domestic sales reaching 3.4 billion units. Compared with the same period last year, the increase was 1.0%.

Recently, the Datong-Tianjin South 1000-kilovolt UHV AC project, a key project in the national 14th Five-Year Plan for power development, has made a key breakthrough. Inside the 1000-kilovolt substation in Yangyuan County, Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province, the steel structure main body of a 533-meter-long GIS (Gas Insulated Switchgear) workshop was fully capped. The completion of this "giant steel corridor" marks the completion of the construction of the core building of the UHV project, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent installation of electrical equipment and the full-line operation of the project.

【SMM Aluminium Flash News】According to foreign media reports, Vedanta has announced an investment of over 125 billion rupees to strengthen its metal manufacturing capabilities. This strategic initiative aims to strengthen the domestic supply of key materials necessary for electric vehicle production, meet the needs of India's rapidly growing electric vehicle (EV) industry, and contribute to India's vision of sustainable and clean mobility. The investment involves projects such as expanding aluminum smelting operations, increasing the value-added of aluminum products, building a new zinc alloy plant, installing a zinc roaster, and expanding ferrochrome production capacity. Each initiative is designed to meet the specific material needs of electric vehicle manufacturers. Vedanta supplies key casting alloys for wheels, engine blocks, and cylinder heads, and also produces aluminum billets for battery housings, HVAC systems, and vehicle frames.

[World's Highest-Altitude UHVDC Transmission Project Fully Connected] In Yajiang County, Ganzi Prefecture, with the successful installation of the final section of the conductor, the world's highest-altitude UHVDC transmission project—the ±800 kV UHVDC transmission project from the upper reaches of the Jinsha River to Hubei—has been fully connected. The Jinsha River-to-Hubei UHVDC project is one of the major arteries of China's "West-to-East Electricity Transmission" initiative. The sending end of the project aggregates hydropower and new energy from the upper reaches of the Jinsha River, with two new converter stations constructed: Bangguo in Ganzi, Sichuan, and Kamai in Changdu, Tibet. The receiving end connects to the central China UHVAC backbone grid through the newly constructed Daye converter station in Hubei. The line spans four provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities)—Tibet, Sichuan, Chongqing, and Hubei—with a total length of 1,901 kilometers.

As a key material in fields such as aerospace, integrated circuits, and high-speed rail transportation, high-end copper alloys are increasingly prominent in their strategic position. Despite China's copper semis production and consumption ranking first globally for consecutive years, with a self-sufficiency rate of general copper semis as high as 96%, high-end copper alloy products still heavily rely on imports. To address this "chokepoint" challenge, SMM recently initiated an industry resource integration proposal, collaborating with upstream and downstream enterprises in the industry chain as well as research institutions to meticulously produce the "2026 China Copper Alloy Materials Sourcing Guide" , aiming to advance the localisation process of high-end copper alloy materials and facilitate the transition from a "major material producer" to a "powerhouse in materials". This time, Jiangyin Bangda Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd. and Jiangsu Fukun Aviation Technology Co., Ltd. actively participated in the joint production of the sourcing guide as partners, jointly promoting the healthy and rapid upgrading of China's copper alloy materials industry chain. Jiangyin Bangda Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd. , as an R&D and innovation-oriented enterprise in nonferrous material processing, has always adhered to the philosophy of "treating others with sincerity and making commitments with quality". It is dedicated to the R&D, production, sales, and technical services of high-performance, high-precision beryllium copper alloy billets, wires, plates, and other advanced materials. As a professional supplier of beryllium copper alloy materials, the company has gathered a group of comprehensive talents with high quality, strong capabilities, and rich experience in production/R&D. Leveraging a profound understanding of copper alloy materials, the company continuously develops high-tech products and extends its product lines to different application fields. The company boasts advanced continuous production equipment with international standards, including high vacuum melting and casting, heavy-duty extrusion, vertical solution treatment, vacuum aging, and high-precision straightening, as well as manufacturing technologies with independent intellectual property rights. It is equipped with detection instruments such as spectrometers, universal testing machines, conductivity testers, hardness testers, metallographic microscopes, and ultrasonic flaw detectors. With an annual production capacity of 500 mt of high-performance copper alloy products, the company's product performance indicators reach leading levels and have passed relevant detection and certification. The company is always customer-oriented, accurately grasping market trends, adhering to a development model of technological leadership and scientific management, continuously promoting technological innovation, and sincerely hoping to establish friendly and in-depth cooperative relationships with a wide range of users, working hand in hand to create brilliance together! Main Products: C17200 high-strength rods and wires, C17300 free-cutting and polished rods, high-conductivity C17510 and C17500 beryllium copper billets. Contact Information Zhou Ziyang 151 5228 4228 Click here to receive the "2026 China Copper Alloy Materials Sourcing Guide" for free SMM Contact Person Bao Jinyong 131 5933 8158 baojinyong@smm.cn

Thai Media: According to the latest disclosure by the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), Changan Automobile , one of China's top four automakers, has officially initiated its strategic layout in Thailand. In the first phase, the company will invest billions of Thai baht to establish a production site for right-hand-drive EVs in the WHA Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate in Rayong Province, Thailand. This is Changan's first overseas complete vehicle manufacturing project, marking a crucial step forward in its globalization strategy. The first-phase factory is scheduled to commence operations on May 16, 2025, with an initial planned annual capacity of 100,000 units, which will be gradually increased to 200,000 units in the future. Notably, Changan will simultaneously establish an R&D center for the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on the development of core technologies for right-hand-drive car models. Currently, 600 employees have already been stationed, and it is expected that the workforce will reach 2,000 by 2026, with 90% being local employees. We are honored to invite Changan Automobile Southeast Asia Business Unit to participate in the SMM Southeast Asia (Thailand) Automotive Supply Chain Conference, which will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 16-17. A special Automakers' Parts Demand Matchmaking Session will be organized. A total of six companies will participate in this automakers' parts demand matchmaking session. Details are as follows: 1. Aion Automobile Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. 2. Changan Automobile Southeast Asia Business Unit 3. BYD Auto Thailand Co., Ltd. 4. To be determined 5. Omoda & Jetour (Thailand) Co., Ltd. 6. Joyson Safety Systems (Thailand) Demand Information : Battery cells, carpets, bumpers, roofs, tires/wheel hubs, automotive glass, battery cases, HVAC systems (including condensers, radiators, etc.), stamping part battery cases (steel plate rolling and aluminum alloy profiles), safety systems, auto body structures and covering parts, stamping/rolling parts, chassis and suspension systems, electrical and electronic systems, HVAC and thermal management systems, interior and functional parts, other auxiliary systems, braking systems, stamping parts, injection-molded parts, die-cast parts, and wiring harnesses. Scan the QR code for conference details. According to documents disclosed by the BOI, Changan has clearly committed to increasing the localization rate of its supply chain: 65% of parts will be sourced from Thailand in 2025, and this figure will reach 80% by 2028. To this end, the company is collaborating with educational institutions such as King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang through the BOI platform to jointly cultivate automotive engineering and technical talents, and plans to involve local parts companies in R&D cooperation. The Secretary General of the BOI in Thailand revealed that Changan's regional headquarters will be relocated from Chongqing to Thailand to oversee and manage business operations in the Asia-Pacific region. This decision aligns with the Thai government's "30@30" EV industry policy, a national strategy aimed at achieving a 30% share of EV production by 2030. The government will provide preferential policy support, such as tax incentives, for technological R&D. Dual Considerations: Market Positioning and Industrial Upgrading As a base dedicated to producing right-hand drive car models, Changan's Thailand factory will not only supply the Thai market but also cover right-hand drive countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including Malaysia, Indonesia, and Australia. BOI data indicates that the annual demand for right-hand drive vehicles in the ASEAN region exceeds 3 million units, yet the existing EV capacity accounts for less than 5%. Changan's entry will fill the gaps in the regional industry chain and support Thailand's transition to a modern automotive industrial system. · Conference Name: 2025 SMM Southeast Asia (Thailand) 2nd Automotive Supply Chain Conference · Venue: Hyatt Regency Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok, Thailand · Date: June 16-17, 2025 List of Participating Enterprises for Automakers' Parts Demand Matching Participating Enterprises: 1. Aion Automobile Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. 2. Changan Automobile Southeast Asia Business Unit 3. BYD Auto Thailand Co., Ltd. 4. To be determined 5. Omoda & Jetour (Thailand) Co., Ltd. 6. Joyson Safety Systems (Thailand) Demand Information: Battery cells, carpets, bumpers, roofs, tires/wheel hubs, automotive glass, battery cases, HVAC systems (including condensers, radiators, etc.), stamped battery cases (steel plate roll forming and aluminum alloy profiles), safety systems, auto body structures and covering parts, stamped/roll-formed parts, chassis and suspension systems, electrical and electronic systems, HVAC and thermal management systems, interior and functional parts, other auxiliary systems, braking systems, stamping parts, injection-molded parts, die-cast parts, and wiring harnesses Scan the QR code to view conference details

SWEP, a world-leading manufacturer of brazed plate heat exchangers, officially announced the opening of its SWEP China Center of Excellence and new factory in Suzhou, and held a grand opening ceremony at the Plainvim Industrial Park in the Suxiang Cooperation Zone. At the ceremony, nearly a hundred customers and dealers from the fields of HVAC, refrigeration, data centers, and various industrial applications gathered to witness this milestone moment as SWEP continued to write a new chapter of brilliance in China. Following the ceremony, a factory tour was conducted. SWEP's President Ulrika Nordqvist and General Manager for Asia-Pacific, Ong Chin Shuan, attended the ceremony alongside SWEP's global and local leadership teams. A delegation of representatives from SWEP's parent company, Dover Corporation, also attended the event to offer their congratulations.

SMM Southeast Asia (Thailand) 2nd Automotive Supply Chain Conference • Conference Time: June 16-17, 2025 • Conference Venue: Hyatt Regency Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, Thailand Confirmed List of Key Participating Enterprises Scan the QR code for conference details Scan the QR code for conference details Key Event: Matchmaking for Automakers' Parts Demand Participating Enterprises: 1. Aion Automobile Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. 2. Changan Automobile Southeast Asia Business Unit 3. BYD Auto Thailand Co., Ltd. 4. To be determined 5. Omoda & Jetour (Thailand) Co., Ltd. 6. Joyson Safety Systems (Thailand) Demand Information: Battery cells, carpets, bumpers, roofs, tires/wheel hubs, automotive glass, battery cases, HVAC systems (including condensers, radiators, etc.), stamped battery cases (steel plate roll forming and aluminum alloy profiles), safety systems, auto body structures and covering parts, stamped/roll-formed parts, chassis and suspension systems, electrical and electronic systems, HVAC and thermal management systems, interior and functional parts, other auxiliary systems, braking systems, stamped parts, injection-molded parts, die-cast parts, and wire harnesses Scan the QR code for conference details Confirmed Guest Speakers Scan the QR code for conference details Conference Agenda Day 1: June 16 8:00-8:50 Registration and Morning Tea 8:50-9:00 Opening Ceremony, Welcome Address by SMM Leadership 9:00-9:20 Latest Policies in Southeast Asia's Automotive Industry 9:20-9:50 Automotive Brand Building and Differentiation Strategies in Southeast Asia's Market 9:50-10:15 Tea Break 10:15-11:00 Roundtable Discussion: Pathways to Building and Optimizing Localized Supply Chains in Southeast Asia Guest Speakers: Martin Knoss Regional President, Power Solutions Division, ASEAN Market Segment (Passenger Cars, Commercial Vehicles, and Off-Road Vehicles), Robert Bosch Automotive Technology (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Harendra Saksena Chief Procurement Officer, Ather Energy Peter Klöpfer Senior Manager, Rutronik Elektronische Bauelemente GmbH Ma Mingjun General Manager, Joyson Safety Systems (Thailand) Yoshinobu Egawa Head of China Region, SIIX Guan Xin Deputy General Manager, Changan Automobile Southeast Asia Business Unit 11:00-11:45 Roundtable Discussion: Importing into Southeast Asia's Automotive Supply Chain (Services, Pricing, and Local Implementation Possibilities) Moderator: Yi Yanting VP, SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. Guest Speakers: Bai He RTM International, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation Liang Yingzhang Head of Asia Metals & Mining Sustainability, Bloomberg Intelligence Shine Peng Managing Director, Southeast Asia Sales, FedEx Enterprises to be Invited: Thai steel and aluminum enterprises 12:00-13:30 Lunch + Networking Session 13:30-13:50 Keynote Speech by EVAT (Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand) Guest Speaker: Uthane Supatti Assistant Professor, Academic and Human Development Vice President, Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT) 13:50-14:35 Roundtable Discussion: Research on Accelerating Electrification and Localization of Core Components in Thailand Guest Speakers: Xu Xiaolong Deputy General Manager, Inovance United Power Systems (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Ross Head of OEM Chip Division Fu Zhibiao Plant Manager, Shanghai Edrive (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Tongkarn Kaewchalermtong Chair, Transport and Logistics Working Group, ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations (AFEO) Suphot Sukphisarn Chair, Automotive Parts Industry Association, Federation of Thai Industries; Deputy Secretary General, Thai Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association 14:35-14:55 Silicon Steel for New Energy Motors Guest Speaker: Zhan Lugang Executive Deputy General Manager, Hunan Hongwang New Material Technology Co., Ltd. 14:55-15:20 Tea Break 15:20-16:05 Roundtable Discussion: Charging Pile Infrastructure: Unlocking the Last Mile of Southeast Asia's New Energy Revolution Guest Speakers: Zhao Liming Overseas Sales Director, TELD International Soravis Sithicharoe Head of Venture Capital (Charging Pile Business), Gentrai Enterprises to be Invited: Banpu Next Co., Ltd. PTT Public Company Limited 16:05-16:25 To be determined Guest Speaker: Guangzhou Futures Exchange 16:25-16:45 To be determined 16:45-17:30 Roundtable Discussion: Choosing the Right Model for Investment and Plant Construction in Southeast Asia: Analyzing the Pros and Cons of Joint Ventures and Wholly Owned Subsidiaries Enterprises to be Invited: Tailong United Automobile Co., Ltd. Charoen Pokphand Group Toyota Motor Thailand Co., Ltd. Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co., Ltd. SAIC-CP Automobile Co., Ltd. Foton Motor (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Chinese-funded wholly owned plant construction enterprises 19:00-21:00 Cocktail Reception Day 2: June 17 9:00-9:20 To be determined 9:20-10:05 Roundtable Discussion: How Southeast Asia's Local Supply Chains Can Serve the European and US Markets Guest Speakers: Tuan Vi Vice President, Supply Chain and Logistics, Asia Pacific, Schaeffler Vietnam Co., Ltd. Dr. Mustafa Saed Executive Director of Cybersecurity, Aptiv US Companies to be invited: ZF (Thailand) Co., Ltd. BMW Group Thailand Co., Ltd. Faurecia (Thailand) Automotive Seating and Interior Systems Co., Ltd. Mercedes-Benz (Thailand) Co., Ltd. 10:05-10:30 Tea Break 10:30-11:15 Roundtable Forum: Battery Materials Supply Chain - Possibility of Southeast Asia Linkage in Battery Cell Chemical Materials Guest Speakers: Tony General Manager, SEVB (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Liu Rui Chairman, Innoway (Malaysia) New Material Technology Co., Ltd. Kim Chang-seok Sales Director for Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia, Electrolyte Business Unit, Tinci Materials Yang Shuzhan Deputy General Manager of BTR Group, Chairman of BTR Indonesia, BTR New Material Group Co., Ltd. Companies to be invited: Cathode Material Manufacturers Battery Manufacturers 11:15-11:35 Speech to be confirmed 11:35-13:00 Lunch + Networking Session 13:30-17:30 Automakers' Parts Demand Matchmaking Meeting Participating Companies: 1. Aion Automobile Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. 2. Changan Automobile Southeast Asia Business Unit 3. BYD Auto Thailand Co., Ltd. 4. To be confirmed 5. Omoda & Jetour (Thailand) Co., Ltd. 6. Joyson Safety Systems (Thailand) Demand Information: Battery cells, carpets, bumpers, roofs, tires/wheel hubs, automotive glass, battery cases, air conditioning systems (HVAC, condensers, radiators, etc.), stamped battery cases (steel plate rolling and aluminum alloy profiles), safety systems, auto body structures and covering parts, stamped/rolled parts, chassis and suspension systems, electrical and electronic systems, air conditioning and thermal management systems, interior and functional parts, other auxiliary systems, braking systems, stamped parts, injection-molded parts, die-cast parts, and wire harnesses. Scan the QR code to view meeting details

On April 22, at the CCIE 2025 SMM (20th) Copper Industry Conference & Copper Industry Expo – Copper Pipe and Billet Processing Industry Development Forum, Zhang Guodong, Sales General Manager of Jiangxi Oudi Copper Co., Ltd., shared insights on the theme "Opportunities and Challenges of Copper Alloy Materials in the Bathroom and Refrigeration Industries."