June 2009 | Aluminium Sheet & Extrusions
Quality problems starting to be mentioned : European Market Analysis - Flat Rolled Products
Not too bad news is good news for the European aluminium flat rolled markets
As mills downsize to fit the weaker market, quality becomes harder to maintain. Dislocation in shift patterns where mills are reducing the working days per week plus employees under threat of further closures, make for poor productivity and quality control. In addition, hard pressed sales forces are accepting less favourable orders in smaller quantities, creating scheduling nightmares on the mills.
Economies of scale are also reported to be suffering and unit costs are set to rise as process volumes per specification shrink. None of this augers well for mills built for high volume and now being asked to perform as jobbing shops.
HHF maintains price
In the wake of the recent...
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