Vietnam-based custom motorcycle studio Bandit9 has unveiled the Bandit9 (RED) 800, a limited-edition Ducati-based motorcycle that combines sculptural aluminium bodywork with a charitable commitment to healthcare programmes. Its defining feature is a hand-painted finish that fades from deep Racing Red at the front into exposed, hand-brushed aluminium towards the rear, making the metal itself a central part of the design. Limited to just nine units worldwide, the motorcycle is priced at USD 49,900, with Bandit9 pledging a fixed USD 14,000 from each bike to (RED), the organisation that raises funds to fight AIDS and other preventable diseases. If all nine examples are sold, the commitment would total USD 126,000. Red paint gives way to sculpted aluminium The Bandit9 (RED) 800 builds on the...
COROS has introduced the DURA 2 SOLAR, a second-generation GPS cycling computer featuring an anodised aluminium alloy frame and a braided carbon fibre back. The new model combines aluminium construction with a larger touchscreen, updated navigation functions and extended battery life. The device features an aluminium upper frame with a profile measuring just 5.7 mm at its thinnest point. Its construction combines the metal with carbon fibre to keep the overall weight at 99 grams without a mount, increasing to 138 grams with a compatible mount. The use of aluminium is part of a broader redesign that gives the cycling computer a slimmer profile. COROS has also expanded the screen size from 2.7 inches in the original DURA to 3.5 inches in the new model, improving the available display area...
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LME aluminium prices declined modestly on Friday, August 1, with both spot and 3-month contracts registering a downward shift compared to the previous session. The LME aluminium cash bid price fell to USD 2,544 per tonne, a 1.38 per cent drop from USD 2,579.5 per tonne on Thursday, July 31. The LME aluminium offer price also edged down 1.36 per cent to USD 2,545 per tonne from USD 2,580 per tonne the day before. Three-month aluminium prices mirrored this trend. The 3-month bid stood at USD 2,546 per tonne, down 1.36 per cent from USD 2,581 per tonne while the offer price fell 1.34 per cent to USD 2,547 per tonne compared to USD 2,581.5 per tonne on July 31. Forward prices for December 26 contracts also declined. The August 1 bid came in at USD 2,593 per tonne, down 1.22 per cent from USD...
Premium American water brand Kopu is providing a turnkey sustainability solution for the luxury hospitality industry, enabling major hotel groups like Hyatt, Hilton, and Marriott to replace problematic glass and plastic bottles with elegant, infinitely recyclable aluminium packaging and a built-in recycling program. Image source: https://media.licdn.com/ For decades, the water service in high-end hotels has been dominated by imported European brands in heavy glass bottles. While theoretically recyclable, glass presents immense practical challenges in hospitality settings. “Hospitality bottled water over the last 40 years has been dominated by three imported European brands, all bottled in a different hemisphere and shipped to the U.S. in glass bottles, most of which are destined for...
Canada and the US have been engaging in a tariff war for the past six months, and despite reports of "intense" negotiations in recent weeks, a comprehensive trade agreement has yet to be reached. A potential US-Canada trade agreement may still take several weeks to materialise, according to Ottawa's chief negotiator as of July 31, 2025. This statement followed Trump's decision to raise tariffs on Canadian imports from 25 per cent to 35 per cent for all goods not covered under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, despite his earlier August 1 deadline for reaching a deal. Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc held an extended meeting with the US Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, on Tuesday evening upon arriving in Washington, followed by discussions with other senior White House officials....
Mexico has secured a 90-day delay on the implementation of new 30 per cent US tariffs on selected imports, following an agreement between US President Donald Trump and Mexico’s President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum. The extension, however, is conditional on Mexico’s commitment to address a broad range of non-tariff trade barriers that have long strained bilateral economic relations. While the delay offers short-term relief, several existing tariffs remain firmly in place. These include a 25 per cent levy on products linked to fentanyl and unauthorized migration, another 25 per cent on automobiles, and a steep 50 per cent tariff on steel, aluminium, and copper. Additionally, the 17.09 per cent countervailing duty on Mexican tomatoes has not been lifted. As part of the agreement, Mexico has...
Scrap Management Industries (SMI), a ferrous and non-ferrous metal recycler firm located in Kansas City, USA, has expanded its footprint in the Midwest. It has acquired two highly operational recycling facilities, both in Kansas - the 12th & Haskell Recycle Centre in Lawrence and the East Wilson Recycle in Ottawa. These recent acquisitions are SMI's eighth and ninth locations and fit well with the company's overall strategic direction towards viable, scalable recycling solutions to promote more sustainable futures. Enhancing regional efficiency while advancing the circular economy SMI President and CEO Jerrit Burgess said, “This acquisition aligns with our long-term growth strategy and reinforces our commitment to providing sustainable, efficient and responsible recycling solutions.” The...
As the automotive industry races toward sustainable mobility, one major challenge persists: the heavy use of rare earth materials in electric vehicles (EVs). These materials, widely used in motors and batteries, come with significant environmental costs, including global warming and ozone layer depletion. But a breakthrough from UK-based environmental engineering firm Ricardo promises a cleaner path forward. Image for representational purpose The company has unveiled a prototype electric propulsion motor, dubbed the Alumotor , which eliminates the need for rare-earth magnets and replaces copper with aluminium without compromising efficiency or performance. A new approach to EV design While EVs are often seen as eco-friendly, their reliance on rare earths and critical raw materials...
Otto Junker, a globally renowned manufacturer of advanced industrial furnace systems for the metal processing sector, has successfully concluded a key decarbonisation project at Neuman Aluminium's Strangpresswerk facility in Lilienfeld, Lower Austria. Dedicated to aluminium component production, the facility is actively advancing its transition toward sustainable manufacturing practices. Image source: otto-junker.com Both companies have successfully transitioned a gas-fired billet heating plant to electric heating, marking a significant milestone toward climate-neutral production. Previously, commissioned as a gas-fired convective billet heater until 2016, the plant has now been upgraded to the energy-efficient EcoJet system. With this transition, the facility can now heat its 8-inch...
Aluminium futures slipped on Friday, with August contracts on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) trading at INR 249.30, down 0.46 per cent, after the Trump administration announced a fresh round of tariffs scheduled to take effect within a week. On the London Metal Exchange (LME), three-month aluminium contracts also declined by about 1.4 per cent to USD 2,565 per tonne. Despite the near-term dip, analysts remain optimistic about the metal’s outlook. Ajit Mishra, Senior Vice President – Research at Religare Broking, pointed to rising Chinese demand and tightening global supply as key supportive factors. He added that progress in US–China trade negotiations and Beijing’s recent approval of a massive CNY 1.2 trillion hydroelectric dam project are likely to drive sustained industrial...
Ferroglobe PLC, a London-based supplier of high-purity chemical and metallurgical-grade silicon metal for the aluminium and steel industries, reported a weak Q1 2025 performance, with revenue declining to USD 307.2 million, a 32 per cent drop year-on-year and an adjusted EBITDA loss of USD 26.8 million, primarily driven by falling prices and reduced volumes of core products. The management of Ferroglobe PLC views the current downturn as cyclical and maintains its full-year 2025 guidance for a positive adjusted EBITDA in the range of USD 100–170 million. Notably, recent trade protection measures, such as the steep US tariffs on ferrosilicon imports and anticipated EU safeguards on silicon metal, are expected to curb oversupply and support price stabilisation in the second half of the year....
When the European Union and the United States announced the formation of a new “metals alliance” on July 28, 2025, it signalled more than just tariff alignment. It marked a turning point, a coordinated effort to shield their domestic metals sectors from a common adversary: China’s state-driven overcapacity, particularly in steel and aluminium. While the alliance has been framed around steel safeguards and trade architecture, it is aluminium that now demands equal, if not greater, strategic focus. Image source: https://assets.weforum.org/ The proposed framework aims to replace Section 232-era tariffs with quota-based access to the US market for EU metals and jointly coordinate trade defence tools across aluminium, copper, and steel. European Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič summed up the...
Starting from October 2025, almost all the aluminium bicycle frames from Trek, Electra, and Diamant will be made out of aluminium. These aluminium would be mostly sourced from various renewable sources like recycled material. This initiative of Trek would impact over 1,000,000 bikes produced annually and is the largest carbon initiative in its history. This shift to the use of aluminium in the production of bicycles would be a significant step within the sustainability initiatives implemented by the cycling industry so far. From the year 2021, Trek has been investigating using low-emission aluminium. The company has been focusing on an aluminium sourcing policy to help its suppliers procure it. The aluminium frames for the company would be sourced to meet the present demand of...
As August 1 approaches, trade discussions between the US and Canada have shifted focus amid ongoing concerns over aluminium tariffs. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, speaking on July 31, 2025, acknowledged the financial strain faced by American manufacturers, particularly Ford Motor Company and signalled potential tariff relief for Canada's aluminium and steel industries. In June, Trump announced a tariff hike on global aluminium and steel imports, doubling the rate to 50 per cent. The move was justified on national security grounds, citing insufficient domestic production of the critical metals. The US and Canada are engaged in negotiations to resolve the ongoing aluminium and steel tariff dispute ahead of the approaching Friday deadline. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney...
Vedanta Limited missed quarterly profit estimates for the first quarter of FY26, as weaker aluminium and copper prices, coupled with a sharp increase in tax expenses, weighed on earnings. Despite strong domestic demand and robust operational performance across its business segments, the metals-to-oil conglomerate saw its bottom line shrink. Image source: Vedanta In Q1 FY26, Vedanta reported a consolidated net profit of INR 4,457 crore, down 13 per cent from INR 5,095 crore in the same quarter last year. This decline came even as revenue rose 6 per cent year-on-year to INR 37,434 crore, up from INR 35,239 crore in Q1 FY25, supported by higher product premiums and favourable foreign exchange movements. The dip in profit was primarily driven by a steep rise in tax expenses, which nearly...
In the heart of Kendall Square, a Boston neighbourhood known for its practical and distinctive architectural features, the new Ragon Institute medical centre has been built. Designed by acclaimed architecture firm Payette, the building makes a bold statement with its use of aluminium, not just for looks, but for function too. Its most striking feature is not the glass or structure, but a delicate layer of tapered aluminium fins that add visual interest, improve performance and quietly reflect a growing focus on aluminium’s sustainable future. Aluminium’s evolution: from industry to ideation More than a functional and utilitarian metal, aluminium in 2025 symbolises something more. With industries navigating the challenges of decarbonisation and circular design principles, aluminium is once...
LQDX, formerly known as Averatek Corp. and a developer of high-performance materials for advanced semiconductor manufacturing, has announced the successful divestiture of its Aluminum Clad Laminate IP (ACL™) intellectual property to Toyo Aluminium K.K. Toyo Aluminium, a global leader in speciality aluminium products serving the consumer, electronics, and automotive industries, will acquire specific IP rights to support the scale-up and commercialisation of ACL™. "We are thrilled to complete this transaction with Toyo Aluminium. Toyo Aluminium K.K has made a deep investment in the development of ACL™ technology, and their unique aluminium expertise enables continuing innovation and scale-up in the critical fields of advanced semiconductor packaging and fine-line IC-substrates," said Simon...
On Thursday, July 31, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price witnessed significant drop of USD 30.5 per tonne or 1.16 per cent and USD 31 per tonne or 1.18 per cent, compared to the previous day. This drop can be attributed to the ongoing economic concerns in China, where manufacturing activity shrank for the fourth straight month. As per the LME price graph, from Monday to Thursday, the prices have shown a fluctuating output. On the same day, both 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price also declined by USD 33 per tonne or 1.24 per cent and USD 33.5 per tonne or 1.28 per cent. The prices closed at USD 2,581 per tonne and USD 2,581.5 per tonne. December 26 bid price and December 26 offer price dropped by USD 33 per tonne to halt at USD 2,625 per...
European leader in aluminium rolling and recycling, Speira, has appointed Johannes Steurer as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective from July 31, 2025. Steurer has formally become responsible for the company's finance, legal and IT teams this week, bringing considerable high-level experience from within the aluminium industry. Steurer, who is 41, has an impressive track record in the industry, most notably with Swiss-headquartered flexible packaging group Aluflexpack AG. He worked with the company as its CFO from 2012 before being made CEO in 2022. Track record of excellence During his time with Aluflexpack, Steurer played a key role in guiding the company's brand direction and progressing its value creation, internationalisation, and sustainability agenda. He is also responsible for...
ABx Group Limited has reported notable progress across its rare earths and bauxite initiatives. In Tasmania, the company completed a successful scout drilling campaign, with more than 30 per cent of drill holes encountering rare earth mineralisation. It is also moving forward with its Deep Leads project, having initiated a formal Processing Options Analysis and submitted a sample to ANSTO for evaluation. In parallel, ABx is developing a continuous pilot plant designed to recycle fluorine waste and is actively engaged in discussions regarding bauxite supply from its Sunrise Bauxite Project. These advancements reinforce ABx’s strategic position in the critical materials supply chain and may carry significant implications for stakeholders in the rare earths and bauxite sectors. Image for...
