On March 16th, Dongxing Aluminum held a groundbreaking ceremony for the first phase of its high-end electrical round aluminum rod continuous casting and rolling project. The project has a planned total capacity of 200,000 tons per year and will be constructed in two phases. The first phase, with a capacity of 100,000 tons per year, is scheduled for completion by the end of December this year. Guided by the principles of "intelligentization, greening, and integration," the project leverages the company's existing high-quality electrolytic aluminum resources to produce L3 and above series of high-strength, high-conductivity aluminum alloy guide rods, with high-end products accounting for over 50%.

As a crucial strategic cluster for China's wire and cable industry, North China has cultivated a 100-billion-level industry chain ecosystem by leveraging its robust industrial foundation and policy dividends. However, compared to mature industrial belts like the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta, it still faces challenges such as insufficient coordination and room for improving innovation efficiency. Against this backdrop, SMM (Shanghai Metals Market) will host the 2025 SMM (First) North China Wire and Cable IndustryZ3/> in Ningjin, Hebei on August 8, 2025 , under the theme of " Gathering Strength in North China · Chaining the Future ". The event will convene enterprises across the entire industry chain including wire and cable, magnet wire, copper/aluminum conductors, and material equipment to jointly explore new development pathwaysZ10/>The conference focuses on three strategic directions: " Industry Chain Synergy · Mutual Benefits in the North ", " Smart Chain Integration · Green Energy Transformation ", and " Strategic Chain Collaboration · Global Competition-Cooperation " , aiming to promote resource integration, technological upgrading, and ecological co-construction for North China's wire and cable sector. Leveraging over a decade of industry expertise, SMM will establish a high-end communication platform to help enterprises seize market opportunities, enhance industry chain resilience, and inject new momentum into the high-quality development of North China's and even the nation's wire and cable industry. SMM, together with Tianjin Xinhong Recycling Resources Co., Ltd. & Jiangxi Baoqi New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. & Jiangxi Xindehai New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. , sincerely invites industry peers to gather in Ningjin, Hebei, and jointly embark on a new chapter for the industry! Click Registration Form to register immediately. We look forward to meeting you at the conference. Tianjin Xinhong Recycling Resources Co., Ltd. , located in Ziya Circular Economy Industrial Park, Jinghai District, Tianjin, specializes in recycling of renewable resources, non-ferrous metal rolling processing, and metal products manufacturing. The company operates a 50,000-mt/year continuous casting and rolling production line for electrical copper rods. Since its establishment, it has adhered to innovation-driven development, introduced advanced domestic and overseas production equipment and technologies following the principles of innovation, efficiency, quality, and safety. Guided by the philosophy of "Quality First, Service First", the company focuses on product excellence and customer collaboration to jointly create high-quality products. Jiangxi Baoqi New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. , situated at No. 286, Shenzhen Avenue, Jinggangshan Economic and Technological Development Zone, Ji'an City, Jiangxi Province, specializes in secondary copper recycling, non-ferrous metal rolling, and metal products manufacturing. Its main products include 8mm low-oxygen copper rods and 8mm-25mm upward-drawn oxygen-free copper rods. The company has a complete and scientific quality management system certification. Established in April 2022, the company has a registered capital of 50 million yuan and occupies an area of over 40 mu. It currently operates four production lines for oxygen-free rods using up-casting furnaces and one production line for low-oxygen rods using continuous casting and rolling. The annual production capacity includes 32,000 mt of up-cast oxygen-free copper rods and 50,000 mt of 8mm low-oxygen copper rods. Our company boasts advanced production equipment and mature production technology, offering top-notch pre-sales quality and after-sales service. Since its establishment, the company has adhered to innovation-driven development, introducing advanced production equipment and processes from domestic and overseas markets in line with the requirements of innovation, efficiency, quality, and safety. Upholding the principles of quality first and service first, the company focuses on products as its core and customers as its bridge, striving to collaborate with you to create high-quality and high-standard products. Guided by the quality policy of "integrity-based, customer-first, united and pragmatic, quality and innovative," the company's eternal business philosophy is "copper products, golden reputation," with the eternal pursuit of a "win-win" outcome with customers. We sincerely hope to collaborate with you for mutual development and a brighter future. Jiangxi Xindehai New Material Technology Co., Ltd. , located in the Industrial Park, Jintan Town, Jishui County, Ji'an City, Jiangxi Province, was established in July 2024 with a registered capital of 50 million yuan and occupies an area of over 70 mu. The up-cast oxygen-free copper rod production line was commissioned and put into operation in October 2024, with an annual production capacity of 40,000 mt of up-cast oxygen-free copper rods. The company is currently preparing to construct production lines for copper-based projects such as continuous casting and rolling low-oxygen copper rods and anode plates, as well as aluminum-based product production lines for aluminum ingots, aluminum billets, and deoxidized aluminum. These projects are expected to be put into production successively in 2025. Upon full commissioning, the company will achieve an annual production capacity of 150,000 mt of copper-based products and 50,000 mt of aluminum-based products. Guided by the quality policy of "integrity-based, customer-first, united and pragmatic, quality and innovative," the company's eternal business philosophy is "copper products, golden reputation," with the eternal pursuit of a "win-win" outcome with customers. We sincerely hope to collaborate with you for mutual development and a brighter future. ◆ Contact Information ◆ Tianjin Xinhong Renewable Resources Co., Ltd. Sales Department: Liu Runliang, 177 2012 3999 Procurement Department: Cai Rujian, 138 2041 6617 Jiangxi Baoqi New Material Technology Co., Ltd. Cui Deliang, 177 7781 3383 Zeng Xiaoqiang, 137 6712 8719 Jiangxi Xindehai New Material Technology Co., Ltd. Liu Runliang, 177 2012 3999 Click here to participate immediately 2025 SMM (Inaugural) North China Cable Industry Conference SMM Conference Contact Person Li Haiyang 135 2411 0203 lihaiyang@smm.cn

SMM May 13 Report: As May blossoms with flowers and summer begins to unfold, Jiangxi Xindehai New Material Technology Co., Ltd. recently held a grand opening ceremony. The event was attended by a distinguished gathering of guests, with hosts and visitors alike enjoying the occasion! SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. (SMM) extends its warmest congratulations to Jiangxi Xindehai New Material Technology Co., Ltd. on its grand opening! May your business prosper and thrive! May you achieve even greater success in your future endeavors! And may you contribute to the prosperity of the new materials industry! Jiangxi Xindehai New Material Technology Co., Ltd. Jiangxi Xindehai New Material Technology Co., Ltd. is located in the Industrial Park of Jintan Town, Jishui County, Ji'an City, Jiangxi Province. The company was established in July 2024 with a registered capital of 50 million yuan and occupies an area of over 70 mu. The upward-casting oxygen-free copper rod production line has completed commissioning and commenced production in October 2024, with an annual production capacity of 40,000 mt of upward-casting oxygen-free copper rod. The company is currently planning to construct production lines for copper-based projects such as continuous casting and rolling low-oxygen copper rod and anode plates, as well as aluminum product production lines for aluminum ingots, aluminum billets, and deoxidized aluminum. Production is expected to commence in stages in 2025. Upon full operation, the company will achieve an annual production capacity of 150,000 mt of copper-based products and 50,000 mt of aluminum products. The company adheres to the quality policy of "integrity-based, customer first, unity and hard work, quality and innovation" as its guiding principle. "Copper products, gold-standard reputation" is the company's unwavering business philosophy, and achieving a "win-win" situation with customers is its eternal pursuit. The company sincerely hopes to join hands with you for mutual development and a brighter future.

In the upcoming year of 2025, we foresee that the global economy will face a series of complex and volatile challenges. With the US election settled, the uncertainty of global trade policies will further increase, bringing new topics to international trade cooperation. In the geopolitical arena, ongoing conflicts and tensions have not shown significant alleviation, which not only poses a threat to global security but also has a significant impact on resource allocation and industrial layout. Against this macro backdrop, industrial transfer and supply chain restructuring have become key topics that we must pay close attention to. At the industrial level, the trend of protectionism in mineral resources is on the rise, directly affecting the stability of global copper concentrate TCs. With the rapid expansion of global smelting capacity, the profit margins of copper smelters are further compressed, and the challenges faced by the industry are becoming increasingly severe. In the field of secondary copper raw materials, the advancement of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards and the "dual carbon" goals have significantly increased market attention to secondary copper. However, the "reverse invoicing" policy implemented in 2024 and the "Fair Competition Regulations" have had a profound impact on the secondary copper industry. Looking ahead to 2025, the changes in the landscape of the secondary copper industry will have a critical impact on the entire copper industry chain. Additionally, with the cancellation of tax subsidies and other incentive measures, the space for copper cathode trade will further narrow. We expect that the procurement ratio of copper processing materials between traders and smelters will show a more pronounced differentiation. In this context, the "CCIE 2025 SMM (20th) Copper Industry Conference and Copper Industry Expo" meticulously prepared by SMM will be grandly held in Nanchang, Jiangxi from April 22-25, 2025. Yingtan Dingchen Technology Co., Ltd. will attend this conference in full force. We will keep pace with the times, aim at our goals, strive diligently, and move forward with courage! Click the registration form to sign up immediately, and we look forward to meeting you at the conference. Booth number: C9. Φ8 low-oxygen bare bright, only high-quality copper rod. Yingtan Dingchen Technology Co., Ltd., located in the Bailu Science and Technology Park, High-tech Industrial Development Zone, Yingtan City, Jiangxi Province, is a specialized enterprise integrating R&D, production, processing, and sales of copper-based new materials. The main product is Φ8 bare bright copper rod, with an annual production capacity of 225,000 mt. The company has introduced the Shuhong 225,000 mt continuous casting and rolling production line, which is currently the most technologically mature production line in China, achieving continuous production of casting, hot rough rolling, and hot finish rolling, greatly improving production efficiency and energy utilization rate. The equipment adopts shaft furnace melting technology, which preheats the copper cathode plates in the furnace with rising hot air, significantly reducing thermal energy consumption compared to reverberatory furnaces, and is currently the most advanced melting technology in China. The shaft furnace, flow channel, and holding furnace combustion system adopt advanced computer control, automatically adjusting CO values and combustion efficiency, keeping energy consumption at the optimal state, with natural gas consumption significantly lower than the industry average. At the same time, the project adopts AC variable frequency drive technology, greatly reducing power consumption. The copper rod production line of this project has a high degree of automation, excellent equipment, high production efficiency, and stable product quality, with all indicators reaching the first-class level in China. It provides high-quality, high-value-added products to downstream enterprises such as power cables, enamelled wire, automotive wire, and communication cables, with a promising market prospect. The company has unique process technology, an experienced production team, and first-class detection equipment and capabilities in China, meeting the needs of different customers and creating value for them. In the wave of innovation, we stand at the forefront. The company currently has a total investment of 1 billion yuan, and the output value in 2024 has exceeded 10 billion yuan. Currently, we are at a critical stage of development, committed to expanding the market and creating first-class famous and high-quality products. To lead the industry, become a pioneer of innovation, and forge ahead with courage! Contact: Wang Huaqiang, 139 6170 8666. SMM Conference Contact: Li Chongshan, 17349754665, lichongshan@smm.cn.

In the long river of history, wires and cables, as the "blood vessels" of modern industry, have played a pivotal role in driving social progress. Since the dawn of electrification broke the night of industrial civilization, these threads have been like the pulse of the times, delivering vitality and energy to the global economy. We are in the grand context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where emerging fields such as smart cities, NEVs, and 5G communications are rapidly evolving. As an indispensable infrastructure, the technological innovation and ecological construction of wires and cables are particularly urgent. To strengthen the exchange and cooperation among peers in the wire and cable industry and to respond to future industrial changes, enhance the collaborative exchange of the industry chain, mutual understanding, and gain a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of industry-related policy directions and market development, SMM joins hands with Zhejiang Dongyi Holding Group Co., Ltd. to hold the "2025 SMM (3rd) Wire and Cable Industry Development Conference and Wire and Cable Industry Exhibition" at the DoubleTree by Hilton Suzhou Wuzhong on May 22-23, 2025 . The event will delve into the current status and future development trends of the wire and cable industry, promoting cooperation and exchange among related enterprises. We hope that through this conference, the complementary advantages within the industry can be fully utilized to jointly promote the healthy and sustainable development of the wire and cable industry. The conference will feature a series of high-quality forums and exhibitions, not only fostering deep cooperation between upstream and downstream of the industry chain but also aiming to drive continuous progress across the entire industry through technological innovation. We look forward to working together with our peers to plan the future development blueprint of the industry! Click the registration form to sign up immediately, and we look forward to meeting you at the conference. Booth Number: B15 Innovating Industrial Ecology, Creating a Better Life Zhejiang Dongyi Holding Group Co., Ltd. is a diversified enterprise group integrating multiple industries such as "non-ferrous metal trade, copper processing, industrial park operation, and papermaking." The group's subsidiary, Zhejiang Dongyi New Materials Co., Ltd., is a key enterprise in the copper processing industry in Zhejiang Province, located in the Mamu Industrial Park of Jiande Economic Development Zone, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. The company is equipped with a full set of internationally leading production and detection evaluation equipment, including the German SMS CR3500 precision copper rod continuous casting and rolling production line, German Niehoff double-head separate motor large drawing machine, multi-head machine, stranding machine, electroplating machine, Meda, Juyi Tongchuang continuous drawing and enamelling machine, Fourier infrared spectrometer, Bost resistance tester, laser diameter detection instrument, and fully automatic high-voltage online detection control system. It also possesses a well-known wire drawing mold detection instrument in China, ensuring precise diameter control and achieving top-notch quality control and full-process online monitoring quality management. The company is mainly engaged in the R&D, production, and sales of various copper alloys, conductors, and enamelled wires. The copper conductors include 8mm copper rod, bare copper, silver-plated, nickel-plated, and tin-plated copper and copper alloy single wires, stranded wires, and braided wires, providing customers with different specifications. With its excellent product quality, Dongyi New Materials has successively provided high-quality products and services to hundreds of customers in dozens of industries such as "aerospace, national defense and military, rail transit, NEVs, electronic communications, and PV" since its establishment, earning the trust of a wide range of customers. Contact Information: Xinwu Zhang 132 2295 3158 Hongjun Li 139 0149 0833 Mingfeng He 150 8870 5222 Company Website: www.dykgjt.cn Group Address: No. 1333, Yuanshu Street, Chunjiang Subdistrict, Fuyang District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province Jiande Factory: Mamu Development Zone, Xiaya Town, Jiande City, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province Click here to join immediately 2025 SMM (3rd) Wire and Cable Industry Development Conference SMM Conference Contact Person Bo Chen 183 7089 1981 chenbo@smm.cn

In the long river of history, wires and cables, as the "blood vessels" of modern industry, have played a pivotal role in driving social progress. Since the dawn of electrification pierced the night of industrial civilization, these threads have been like the pulse of the times, delivering vitality and vigor to the global economy. We are in the grand context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where emerging fields such as smart cities, NEVs, and 5G communications are rapidly evolving. As an indispensable infrastructure, the technological innovation and ecosystem construction of wires and cables are particularly urgent. To strengthen the exchange and cooperation among peers in the wire and cable industry and to respond to future industrial changes, enhance the collaborative exchange of the industry chain, mutual understanding, and gain a more comprehensive understanding of relevant industry policies and market development, SMM has partnered with Hongliang Cable Co., Ltd. to hold the "2025 SMM (3rd) Wire and Cable Industry Development Conference and Wire and Cable Industry Exhibition" on May 22-23, 2025 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Suzhou Wuzhong . The event will delve into the current status and future development trends of the wire and cable industry, promoting cooperation and exchange among related enterprises. We hope that through this conference, the complementary advantages within the industry can be fully utilized to jointly promote the healthy and sustainable development of the wire and cable industry. The conference will feature a series of high-quality forums and exhibitions, not only fostering in-depth cooperation across the industry chain but also aiming to drive continuous progress in the entire industry through technological innovation. We look forward to working hand in hand with our peers to plan the future development blueprint of the industry! Click registration form to register immediately. We look forward to meeting you at the conference. Booth Number: B20 Copper Rod - Conductor - Cable Material - Cable, a Full Industry Chain Cable Enterprise Hongliang Cable Co., Ltd. was established in 1988 and is located in Ningjin County, Xingtai City, Hebei Province, one of China's four major cable production bases. The company covers an area of 120,000 m² with a building area of 80,000 m², employs 560 people, including 200 technical personnel (80 of whom are senior technical personnel), and has total assets of 500 million yuan. It owns more than 60 advanced production lines, including 6 catenary-type cross-linking production lines, with an annual capacity of 5 billion yuan. The company currently mainly produces power cables with voltage levels of 110 kV and below, PV cables, aluminum alloy cables, and mining cables. As the company continues to grow, it has established its own raw material production company and copper plant. The raw material company covers an area of 66,000 m² and has multiple high-intelligence fully automatic granulation production lines, advanced specialized equipment, and comprehensive detection methods. The copper plant covers 100 mu and currently has 6 sets of up-casting oxygen-free copper rod continuous casting units and 2 sets of 16 mt vertical melting continuous casting and rolling production lines, producing 8mm-17mm up-casting oxygen-free copper rods and 8mm continuous casting and rolling copper rods, with an annual production of 220,000 mt. Hongliang is a qualified supplier to major national units such as State Grid Corporation of China, China Southern Power Grid, Inner Mongolia Electric Power Group, China Railway Construction, China Railway 10th Bureau, and Shandong Expressway. Its products are exported to more than 20 countries and regions worldwide and have obtained certifications such as German TUV and EU CB. "Integrity is the foundation, reputation is gold" is our motto; "Creating high-quality products and striving for customer satisfaction" is our pursuit. Gathering wealth from all directions and making friends from all over the world, Hongliang Cable looks forward to cooperating with you to achieve mutual success! Contact Information Click here to join immediately 2025 SMM (3rd) Wire and Cable Industry Development Conference SMM Conference Contact Person Xiaolong Chen 180 1708 9983 chenxiaolong@smm.cn

On April 23, at the CCIE 2025 SMM (20th) Copper Industry Conference & Copper Industry Expo - Main Forum, hosted by SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd., Tong Qingping, Chief Scientist and PhD of China Nonferrous Metal Mining (Group) Co., Ltd., analyzed the current development status and high-quality development trends of China's copper processing industry.

On April 17, at the AICE 2025 SMM (20th) Aluminum Industry Conference and Aluminum Industry Expo - Main Forum, jointly organized by SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd., SMM Metal Trading Center, and Shandong Aisi Information Technology Co., Ltd., and co-organized by Zhongyifeng Jinyi (Suzhou) Technology Co., Ltd. and Lezhi County Qianrun Investment Service Co., Ltd., Mo Xinda, Director of the Light Metals Department of the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association and Deputy Secretary General of the Aluminum Branch, shared the theme "In-depth Analysis of China's Aluminum Processing Industry: Hot Topics and Future Development Trends." ► Bauxite Guinea exported 146 million mt of bauxite in 2024, with China importing 110 million mt from Guinea, accounting for 70% of total imports. He also analyzed the average import unit price of bauxite and the price trend of alumina. ► Aluminum Supply-side structural reform + large-scale transformation + green transformation ► Secondary Aluminum Secondary aluminum continues to increase. In 2024, secondary aluminum production reached 10.55 million mt, up 8.9% YoY. Secondary aluminum is shifting towards applications in wrought aluminum alloys. With the integration of secondary aluminum and aluminum processing, it is expected that by 2025, the usage of secondary aluminum in the field of wrought aluminum alloys will exceed 50%. Secondary aluminum is transitioning towards grade preservation and closed-loop recycling. ► Overseas Investment • Full industry chain layout • Proactive and passive actions • Concentrated investment • High popularity remains ► I. Overview of the Processing Industry China's aluminum processing equipment level is internationally leading, with a complete range of products. • Significant late-mover advantage in equipment. Extrusion (over 300 imported), hot rolling (over 200 lines), cast rolling (about 1,000 units), continuous casting and rolling (2 lines), foil rolling (over 600 units), covering internationally renowned brands such as UBE, SMS, Minox, Danieli, Voestalpine, and Aschenbach. • Domestic equipment manufacturing capabilities have significantly improved. Achieving import substitution while exporting in bulk. China's aluminum processing layout is based domestically, with consideration for overseas, showing a significant trend towards globalization. II. Situation Observation - Foreign Trade Aluminum is an important trade surplus product among non-ferrous metals. In 2024, the export volume of aluminum semis and products hit a record high, with total overseas consumption exceeding 10 million mt. He introduced that the export market for aluminum semis and products is relatively dispersed. Trade friction is a byproduct of increased export competitiveness. ► The foreign trade situation is severe, and trade friction has become the norm. • Numerous: Uninterrupted and more frequent (over 80 cases). • Various types: Conventional practices are more frequent: anti-dumping, anti-subsidy, double anti, anti-circumvention, US 301, 232; New methods are emerging: US Xinjiang-related Act, EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, EU Circular Economy Action Plan, etc. • Wide regions, most intensive in the US and Europe: US, Europe, Canada, Australia (ongoing); Southeast Asia (heating up); South America, Eurasia, GCC (increasing). • Complex situation: Bilateral to multilateral; traditional markets to emerging markets; economic to pan-political; continuously enriched toolbox (design, standards, equipment, enterprises). He indicated that there are still many uncertain factors... II. Situation Observation - Carbon Constraints ► EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) Timetable: • October 2023 - the end of 2025: Transition period • 2026: Start of carbon fee collection - carbon fees are paid by EU importers Products involved: Aluminum in CBAM includes unwrought aluminum, aluminum semis, and some aluminum products. CBAM influencing factors: CBAM = (Actual carbon content of exported products - Free quota of EU products) X (EU carbon price - Export country carbon price). II. Situation Observation - Carbon Constraints We judge that CBAM will have no impact in the short term, and limited direct impact in the long term: • Currently only includes direct emissions, and the direct emission levels of various countries are not significantly different • If indirect emissions are not taxed, there is no difference in CBAM carbon fee accounting between using thermal power aluminum and green power aluminum • Using secondary aluminum raw materials can significantly reduce carbon emissions (secondary = 3-5% of primary) • The EU market futures are relatively limited UK version of CBAM: Time: 2027, Scope: Direct emissions + indirect emissions. ► Aluminum is about to be included in the national carbon emission trading unified market According to the work arrangement of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the aluminum industry is about to be included in the national carbon emission trading market management. • Regarding the coverage of greenhouse gases, the controlled gases in the aluminum industry are carbon dioxide, carbon tetrafluoride, and hexafluoroethane; • Regarding the scope of carbon emissions, only greenhouse gas emissions directly generated by the use of fossil fuels are traded, including carbon emissions from anode consumption and anode effects; • Regarding quota allocation, the number of free quotas obtained by enterprises is linked to product production (output). • We judge that the net consumption of carbon anodes will be the core factor affecting the surplus or shortage of carbon trading quotas for aluminum enterprises. Improving the quality of carbon anodes is crucial and imperative. ► End-users' independent carbon reduction cannot be separated from material support He cited cases of carbon reduction by BMW, Apple, and Tetra Pak China. III. Several Views 1. Professional development will be the focus of building comparative advantages in China's aluminum processing. • Largest, strongest, but also the most difficult (competition, "tariff war", cancellation of export tax rebates); • Investment needs to be rational!!! Development momentum should be based on market demand, not just on becoming a large enterprise or based on government demand; • Future development should not pursue being large and comprehensive, but should be based on specialization and refinement; • Attention should be paid to cultivating new quality productive forces (emphasis on technology, products, and applications); • Persistently expand applications (substitution and anti-substitution, seeking increments). 2. Improving the ability and spirit of struggle is crucial to fully consolidating the export market. • Fully utilize the four-body linkage mechanism to fully respond to trade friction • Diversify export countries • Extend the industry chain to improve the competitiveness of export products • Go global? • China's aluminum consumption needs overseas markets, and global aluminum consumption cannot do without Chinese products! 3. Attach great importance to green development and strive to build future competitive highlands. • Continuously enrich the green development toolbox, and incorporate green and low-carbon work into the governance system of industry enterprises Ø Improve energy efficiency (technical equipment transformation and upgrading, application of graphitized cathodes, etc.) Ø Green power aluminum (25.2%; market transactions, self-built, generation-grid-load-storage) Ø Secondary aluminum (production of 10.55 million mt; grade preservation recycling is more important) Ø Carbon trading (production/electricity consumption; strive to sell quotas) Ø Domestic sales/export (do a good job in resource allocation) Ø CCER (has been restarted) Ø Financial derivatives (integration of industry and finance) Ø ...... 》Click to view the special report on AICE 2025 SMM (20th) Aluminum Industry Conference and Aluminum Industry Expo

On April 16, at the AICE 2025 SMM (20th) Aluminum Industry Conference and Aluminum Industry Expo—Aluminum Casting Technology Forum, co-hosted by SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd., SMM Metal Trading Center, and Shandong Aisi Information Technology Co., Ltd., and co-organized by Zhongyifeng Jinyi (Suzhou) Technology Co., Ltd. and Lezhi County Qianrun Investment Service Co., Ltd., He Xiangwen, Chief Engineer of the Process Department at China Nonferrous Metals Processing Technology Co., Ltd., discussed the innovation and application of short-process aluminum processing technology. 01 Overview of Short-Process Aluminum Processing Technology 1.1 Overview of Short-Process Aluminum Processing Technology Definition of Short-Process Technology: Short-process technology refers to the process of directly producing the desired product from liquid aluminum, omitting some intermediate steps in traditional processes, such as directly casting and rolling liquid aluminum into thin sheets, reducing energy consumption and production time. This process features a short flow, low energy consumption, and high production efficiency, meeting the modern aluminum processing industry's demands for efficiency, energy savings, and environmental protection. Advantages of Short-Process Technology: Energy Consumption Reduction: In traditional aluminum processing, liquid aluminum undergoes multiple cooling and reheating steps, resulting in high energy consumption. Short-process technology eliminates these steps, directly producing products from liquid aluminum, significantly reducing energy consumption. Production Efficiency Improvement: By omitting intermediate steps, the production cycle is shortened, and production efficiency is improved, enabling faster response to market demands. Current Application Status of Short-Process Technology: Currently, the application of short-process technology in the aluminum processing industry is gradually increasing, particularly in the production of thin sheets, strips, and other products, where it shows significant advantages. For example, some companies use short-process technology to produce automotive aluminum sheets, foils, and general 1-series, 3-series, and 8-series aluminum sheets, not only improving production efficiency but also reducing costs. This discussion focuses on the production of plate and strip materials, as their production process is generally the longest, most energy-intensive, and requires the highest investment in aluminum processing. 1.1 Main Short-Process Aluminum Processing Technologies Twin-Roll Casting Process, Micromill Continuous Casting and Rolling Process, Hazelett Continuous Casting and Rolling Process 1.2 Main Equipment for Short-Process Technology 02 Innovation and Development of Twin-Roll Casting Process 2.1 Typical Casting and Rolling Production Line Twin-Roll Caster: The twin-roll solidifies liquid aluminum into cast-rolled strips, with common strip thicknesses ranging from 5-12mm (fast cast-rolled strip thicknesses range from 3-8mm), and common alloy series include 1XXX, 3XXX, 8XXX, and some 5XXX. 2.1 Main Configuration of Casting and Rolling Production Line Note: The above configuration omits auxiliary facilities such as electromagnetic stirring devices, online treatment devices, dust removal, and furnace-side degassing devices. 2.2 Main Layout Methods of Casting and Rolling Production Line Mirror Layout of Adjacent Casters: Advantages: Adjacent casting lines can be managed by one team, reducing the number of personnel. Same-Direction Layout of Adjacent Casters: Advantages: Caster equipment components can be shared, reducing the number of spare parts. 2.3 Classification of Melting Furnaces/Holding Furnaces 2.4 Innovative Technologies in Casting and Rolling Process ►Innovation in Caster Roll Technology: The application of new caster roll materials and surface treatment technologies has improved the service life of caster rolls and the quality of cast-rolled coils. For example, caster rolls made of nano-composite materials or copper roll sleeves have higher thermal conductivity and wear resistance. ►Innovation in Casting and Rolling Process Control Technology: The application of automated control systems in the casting and rolling process has achieved precise control over the process. Through sensors and computer technology, parameters such as liquid aluminum temperature, composition, and caster roll speed are monitored in real-time and automatically adjusted to ensure stable quality of cast-rolled coils. ►Innovation in Liquid Aluminum Purification Technology: Advanced liquid aluminum purification technologies, such as electromagnetic stirring, ultrasonic treatment, and fine filtration, effectively remove impurities and gases from liquid aluminum, improving the purity of cast-rolled coils and altering their grain size. The application of these technologies has significantly enhanced the mechanical properties and surface quality of cast-rolled coils. 2.5 Optimization and Improvement of Casting and Rolling Process ►Intelligent Development of Casting and Rolling Process: Intelligent technologies will be more widely applied in the casting and rolling process. Through artificial intelligence and big data technologies, intelligent control and optimization of the casting and rolling process will be achieved. ►Development of High-Precision Casting and Rolling Process: With increasing market demands, high-precision casting and rolling processes will become a future trend. By further optimizing process parameters and equipment technology, thinner and more uniform cast-rolled coils will be produced. Adding a roll gap adjustment system for automatic roll gap adjustment before casting and rolling. Depending on the alloy grade, adding edge milling functionality to reduce large-area cracking of cast-rolled strips. ►Green Development of Casting and Rolling Process: Green development is an inevitable choice for the casting and rolling process. More environmentally friendly production processes and equipment will be adopted to reduce energy consumption and environmental pollution, such as using gas refining instead of solid particle refining agents. 03 Innovation and Development of Continuous Casting and Rolling Process 3.1 Micromill Continuous Casting and Rolling Process Configuration •Micromill technology combines casting and rolling into one process, using twin-roll high-speed cooling during casting. High-speed casting and rolling are performed horizontally, solving the central segregation issue and production speed limitations of traditional casting and rolling technologies. •Micromill has a faster production speed, requiring timely and sufficient liquid aluminum supply for the casting section. Therefore, the furnace is generally larger and has at least two interchangeable units, preferably using liquid aluminum as the main raw material. The throughput of online degassing and filtration is also correspondingly larger, generally matching the liquid aluminum supply. 3.1 Overview of Micromill Continuous Casting and Rolling Process •Alcoa officially announced the commercial production of Micromill technology by the end of 2015. Currently, there are only two pilot lines, located at the San Antonio and Reno plants. •This technology is suitable for producing 5XXX and 6XXX series alloys. The cast product width can exceed 1,700mm, with thickness generally ranging from 2-7mm, casting speed from 27-61 m/min, and cast billet temperature at 567℃, which can be further rolled into 1-4mm thin sheets by a continuous rolling mill (San Antonio plant data). •The main product is the blank for automotive inner and outer panels, with the biggest advantage being the ability to replace automotive panels currently produced by hot rolling. 3.1 Characteristics of Micromill Continuous Casting and Rolling Process •Short Process Flow: Traditional hot rolling of slabs takes about 20 days to convert aluminum melt into coils, while Micromill completes this in just 20 minutes. •Small Footprint, Low Energy Consumption: The footprint is 1/4 of traditional hot rolling lines, and energy consumption is 1/2. •Superior Product Performance: High solidification speed greatly improves the microstructure, resulting in fine grains. Formability is 40% higher and strength is 30% higher than traditional automotive aluminum sheets, providing greater design flexibility and better vehicle performance for customers. 3.2 Hazelett Continuous Casting and Rolling Process Configuration •Hazelett continuous casting and rolling technology consists of continuous casting and rolling, with the core being continuous casting. During casting, aluminum melt enters a mold cavity formed by two fully tensioned steel belts and two rectangular metal block chains that can move according to width requirements. The steel belts and metal block chains move simultaneously, and cooling water indirectly cools the steel belts to solidify the melt in the mold cavity, completing the casting. •Hazelett continuous casting and rolling has a higher hourly production capacity than Micromill, requiring more timely and sufficient liquid aluminum supply for the casting section. Therefore, the furnace is generally larger and has at least 3-4 interchangeable units, preferably using liquid aluminum as the main raw material. The throughput of online degassing and filtration is also correspondingly larger, generally matching the liquid aluminum supply. 3.2 Overview of Hazelett Continuous Casting and Rolling Process •Domestically, Longding Aluminum in Luoyang, Henan (commissioned in 2012) and Liansheng Light Alloy in Inner Mongolia (commissioned in 2016) each introduced one Hazelett aluminum plate and strip production line. •This method has a fast casting speed and is matched with subsequent rolling mills. The main products are aluminum foil rolling blanks and general 1XXX, 3XXX, 8XXX, and some 4XXX, 5XXX, 6XXX series products. The cast product thickness generally ranges from 16-50mm, with a casting speed of 3-8 m/min, which can be further rolled into thin sheets with thicknesses of 1.0-7.0mm and widths of 1,300-1,935mm. •The main products that can be produced include packaging foil, cable strips, container foil, and air-conditioner foil. 3.2 Characteristics of Hazelett Continuous Casting and Rolling Process •Fully enclosed liquid aluminum feed pool, maintaining natural and stable liquid aluminum flow. •The feed nozzle tip is made of special ceramic material with good thermal stability, allowing gases released from the liquid aluminum to permeate through the nozzle tip. •Steel belts have good stability and are preheated to 150℃ by induction. •High-strength magnetic support rolls are used to suppress local thermal deformation. •Special coatings are applied to the contact surface between the cast billet and the continuously moving, water-cooled steel belts. •Inert gas is injected into the mold cavity through the upper and lower parts of the nozzle tip, allowing adjustment of the steel belt cooling rate as needed. 3.3 Other Continuous Casting and Rolling Processes 1. Kaiser Micro Twin-Belt Continuous Casting and Rolling Machine •An advancement on the Hazelett continuous casting and rolling line, initially intended for specialized production of can body stock. •However, the stability and uniformity of its can stock quality are far inferior to hot-rolled blanks, so it has not been widely adopted. 2. Launa Method (Caster II) Continuous Casting and Rolling Machine •The casting principle is essentially the same as the Hazelett continuous casting and rolling line, with the difference being that the upper and lower surfaces of the mold cavity are not steel belts but chill blocks moving in the same direction. •Mainly used for producing hot-rolled coils for cold-rolled aluminum foil strips, it is also unstable in can stock strip blanks, so it has no fundamental difference compared to Hazelett continuous casting and rolling. 3. MAN Continuous Casting and Rolling Machine (UK) •Liquid aluminum enters the mold cavity formed by a steel belt and a mold groove ring mounted on a crystallization wheel. Heat is removed by the steel belt and mold groove ring, solidifying the aluminum, which is then exported from the outlet as the crystallization wheel rotates, entering subsequent rolling mills. •The product width of such production lines is generally no more than 500mm, with a thickness of about 20mm, and the hot-rolled coils are 2.5mm thick for cold rolling, limiting its adoption. 3.4 Innovation in Continuous Casting and Rolling Process Innovation in Casting Technology: Different casting technologies are adopted by optimizing nozzle structure, cooling cavity structure, and casting parameters to improve casting quality and production efficiency. For example, new nozzle materials and structures are used to allow more uniform flow of liquid aluminum into the casting mold area; different forms of cooling cavities are used to enhance the cooling capacity of continuous casting. Innovation in Rolling Technology: Advanced rolling technology is adopted to improve the quality of strips by optimizing the structure of rolling mills and rolling parameters. For example, multi-stand tandem hot rolling mills and cold rolling mills are used to precisely control the thickness and surface quality of strips. Innovation in Automation Control Technology: Highly automated control systems are employed to monitor and control various parameters in the casting and rolling processes in real-time through sensors and computer technology. For instance, the Automatic Gauge Control (AGC) and Automatic Flatness Control (AFC) systems are used to precisely control the thickness and flatness of strips. Innovation in Cooling Technology: Advanced cooling technology is utilized to enhance cooling efficiency by optimizing the structure and parameters of the cooling system. For example, multi-point cooling technology is applied to ensure uniform cooling of strips at different positions. 04 Conclusion 4.1 Conclusion Applicability: Short-process casting technology is compared to the process route that requires hot rolling for billet opening. By tightly integrating melting and casting with subsequent rolling, it produces products close to the final products of aluminum processing plants, making it highly suitable for large-scale production of single products. Advantages: Low comprehensive energy consumption, small footprint, low unit cost, and minimal personnel occupancy. Disadvantages: Product performance still needs improvement, and product variety needs to be increased. Although the short-process technology cannot completely replace hot rolling, its advantages in producing certain large-scale single products are still significant. Therefore, vigorously developing short-process technology is imperative! 4.2 Conclusion Click to view the special report on AICE 2025 SMM (20th) Aluminum Industry Conference and Aluminum Industry Expo

01 Industry Background & Rolling Process Challenges Industry Trends The explosive growth of the NEV and ESS industries has driven the development of lithium battery aluminum foil towards ultra-thinness (≤10μm), requiring a balance between lightweight, high energy density, and safety. The mainstream aluminum foil thickness has evolved from 12μm to 8μm, but the stability of mass production processes and yield rates remain industry bottlenecks. Technical Challenge Positioning Rolling Limit: When the thickness is reduced to below 10μm, the plastic deformation resistance of aluminum foil increases sharply, leading to issues such as strip breakage and surface pinholes. Performance Imbalance: The challenge of balancing high tensile strength (≥260MPa) with low elongation (≤3%) to avoid brittle fractures during battery charge and discharge cycles. Core Difficulties in Rolling Process 1. Micro Precision Control Thickness tolerance must be stabilized within **±0.1μm**, which is difficult to achieve with traditional rolling mill roll system deflection compensation. Plate shape fluctuations (such as center and edge waves) significantly affect thickness uniformity, requiring dynamic adjustment of rolling force distribution. 2. Material Deformation Resistance Management In ultra-thin rolling, aluminum grain refinement to sub-micron levels can easily trigger work hardening and residual stress concentration. Asynchronous rolling (controlling the speed difference between upper and lower rolls) is used to reduce deformation resistance, but it requires simultaneous optimization of lubricant viscosity and spray accuracy. 3. Surface Quality Control Aluminum foil surface roughness must be ≤0.2μm, with no micro-cracks or oxide layers invisible to the naked eye. Dust adhesion and roll surface scratches during rolling are the main sources of defects, necessitating cleanroom-level environments and online defect detection systems. Performance Challenges and Solutions 1. Mechanical Performance Optimization Strength-Elongation Balance: Through alloy composition optimization (e.g., adding trace amounts of Fe, Si) and intermediate annealing processes (precise control of annealing time at 300-350℃), grain refinement is achieved while enhancing ductility. Corrosion Resistance Enhancement: Development of surface passivation coating technologies (e.g., phosphate + silicone composite coatings) to resist electrolyte corrosion. 2. Battery Compatibility Verification Aluminum foil must pass 500 charge-discharge cycle tests with a thickness expansion rate of ≤5%. The interfacial bonding strength with cathode materials (e.g., LFP) must be ≥1.5N/cm to avoid pole piece delamination. Innovative Practices and Achievements 1. Process Breakthroughs North China Aluminum independently developed a six-roll UC mill + shape meter closed-loop control system, achieving thickness fluctuations of ≤±0.08μm. Innovative application of nano-lubricant spray technology increased rolling speed to 800m/min and reduced strip breakage rate to below 0.5%. 2. Mass Production Data The yield rate of 8μm aluminum foil increased from an initial 40% to 78%, with single roll length exceeding 20,000 meters. The product is applied in top-tier battery enterprises such as CATL and BYD, enhancing battery energy density by 10%-15%. 02 Expert Profile R&D Engineer at North China Aluminum Co., Ltd., holding the title of Senior Engineer. Mainly engaged in the research, development, and application of new processes, technologies, and products for aluminum and aluminum alloy plate/sheet, strip, and foil products using near-net-shape continuous casting and rolling processes and billet processing. From 2019 to the present, responsible for or involved in the company's "Research and Development and Technical Reserve of New Aluminum Foil Products for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries" project. Under the leadership of company executives, the project team achieved continuous breakthroughs in the technical performance and product quality indicators of aluminum foil for lithium-ion batteries through the design and development of alloy compositions and process technology routes. Currently, multiple high-performance lithium battery aluminum foil products in the 1235, 1200, and 1100 alloy series have been successfully developed, meeting the needs of high-end lithium battery customers such as CATL, BYD, EVE, and Gotion High-tech. Among them, the 1200 and 1100C alloy high-strength and high-elongation products maintain a tensile strength of around 250MPa with an elongation of ≥4.0%; the 1100A alloy series high-strength lithium battery aluminum foil products achieve a maximum tensile strength of over 300MPa. A clear technological leading advantage has been formed in the market competition for high-performance lithium-ion battery aluminum foil. In recent years, high-performance lithium battery aluminum foil products and technological achievements have been granted national invention patents multiple times. Major Honors: Awarded "Baoding Model Worker" in 2023, "First Baoding Craftsman" in 2022, and "Wen Qian Innovation Studio" in 2021; repeatedly recognized as "Advanced Worker" and "Outstanding Communist Party Member" by Minmetals International and the company. In 2024, the new product R&D project team was awarded the "Top 100 Team" title by the group company. For more in-depth analysis, please attend the AICE 2025 Aluminum Industry Expo on April 16, 2025 at the Suzhou International Expo Center, where the expert will deliver an exciting speech and share in-depth insights at the [Aluminum Plate/Sheet, Strip, and Foil Industry Development Forum] ! 03 About the AICE Aluminum Conference AICE 2025 SMM (20th) Aluminum Conference and Aluminum Industry Expo, deeply rooted in the upstream and downstream of the industry, will be held as an industry exchange platform focusing on aluminum mining and smelting, metal processing, and end-use consumption from April 16-18, 2025 at the Suzhou International Expo Center . The Aluminum Plate/Sheet, Strip, and Foil Industry Development Forum, as one of the most important forums of AICE 2025, will discuss aluminum plate/sheet, strip, and foil industry competition, battery aluminum foil market and technology, aluminum alloy automotive sheets, intelligent factory transformation, low-carbon recycled can stock , and other hot topics on April 16, bringing an unparalleled event to the aluminum industry in the spring. 04 Agenda - Aluminum Plate/Sheet, Strip, and Foil Industry Development Forum