
Singapore is exploring solar photovoltaic (PV) roof tiles that could allow heritage buildings to generate clean electricity without compromising their traditional appearance, as the Energy Market Authority (EMA) steps up efforts to advance solar technologies through partnerships with public and private sector organisations. EMA will collaborate with Swiss technology innovation centre CSEM and the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) to pilot the use of solar PV roof tiles on heritage State buildings. Designed to resemble traditional clay roof tiles, the technology could enable more roof space to generate clean electricity while preserving the overall appearance of historic properties. Traditional clay-tile roofs are an integral part of the character of Singapore’s heritage precincts....
A Swiss-Polish research team has achieved up to 97.9 per cent relative density in extrusion-printed AA6061 aluminium by removing the solvent-debinding stage and extending the sintering process. The approach offers a potential alternative to conventional processing routes for sinter-based aluminium additive manufacturing, where oxidation has remained a major obstacle. The study, led by the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), was published in Progress in Additive Manufacturing on October 15, 2026. An earlier version appeared as a preprint in May, making the journal publication the latest stage in the research’s release. The researchers combined a single-step wick-debinding process with a longer sintering hold to improve the density of printed aluminium...
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Novelis, a global leader in sustainable aluminium solutions and the world's largest aluminium recycler, has announced the opening of the Ulsan Aluminum Recycling Centre. With this facility, Novelis anticipates reducing carbon emissions by 420,000 tonnes annually. This reduction is equivalent to the annual CO₂ absorption of around 19 million trees, assuming an average of 22 kilograms per tree. The new facility, a joint venture between Novelis and Kobe Steel, represents a $65 million investment and boasts an annual production capacity of 100,000 tonnes of low-carbon aluminium sheet ingot. "The Ulsan Aluminum Recycling Centre is a strategic investment aimed at meeting growing customer demand for sustainable, low-carbon aluminium across beverage packaging, automotive, and speciality product...

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) is introducing Schweppes Mix, a new range of ready-to-drink cocktails in 250ml aluminium cans. This brings Schweppes' renowned mixer expertise to the pre-mixed cocktail market for the first time and is expected to launch nationwide in April. With a legacy rooted in trust, flavour, and craftsmanship, Schweppes has been a staple in the mixer industry for both bartenders and consumers. Now, the company is elevating the ready-to-drink cocktail experience by combining premium spirits, perfectly balanced flavours, and its signature high-quality mixers, all packaged in a sleek, single-serve can for ultimate convenience. Gin Twist and Paloma Bliss are the two new flavours that will be launched in 250ml aluminium cans. Schweppes Mix is the perfect choice for...

Talwandi Sabo Power Limited (TSPL), a Vedanta Power company and the largest private thermal power producer in North India, has enabled the establishment of Punjab’s largest torrefied bio-pellets manufacturing facility. This initiative supports Vedanta’s Net Zero 2050 goal to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainability. Image Source: Vedanta Power Located near TSPL’s 1,980 MW power plant in Mansa, this pioneering project will transform agricultural stubble into high-grade bio-pellets — a cleaner, greener alternative to coal — while also addressing the critical issue of air pollution from stubble burning. This initiative is expected to reduce TSPL’s daily coal usage by 5 per cent, potentially cutting up to 2.6 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions. The torrefied bio-pellets are made from...

Metlen Energy and Metals has kicked off Q1 2025 with a striking surge in activity, posting total sales of EUR 1.50 billion (a 31 per cent upgrade on the EUR 1.143 billion generated in Q1 2024) steered forward by double-digit gains across Metals (an increase of 11 per cent), Energy (31 per cent growth) and a standout Infra and Concessions division (171 per cent). Energy output climbed 35 per cent to 3.1 TWh (renewables up 78 per cent to 0.6 TWh), while Metals production dipped marginally by 2.1 per cent to 58 thousand tonnes amid capacity realignments. The quarter also saw planned infusions of investor confidence, wherein Fairfax Financial’s EUR 110 million exchangeable bond will elevate its stake to 8.35 per cent, and a EUR 295.5 million commitment to an integrated bauxite-to-gallium...

Hydro and Nemak, the two old allies, have reportedly formed another strategic partnership to develop low-carbon aluminium casting products for the automotive industry to decarbonise the car manufacturing sector and help automakers reach their sustainability goals. What goes into producing the new low-carbon aluminium casting products is more post-consumer scrap and the right mix of cleaner energy as power sources like natural gas and electrical boilers at Hydro’s Alunorte alumina refinery in Brazil. Hydro and Nemak have embarked on this new, long-term collaboration to develop foundry alloy aluminium solutions with a CO2 footprint below 3 kg CO2 per kilogram of aluminium. Otherwise, the partnership between Hydro and Nemak is old in the industry with the supply agreement of Hydro REDUXA...

Whispers of a lighter Apple Vision headset have been floating around for months, and they resurfaced with fresh momentum recently. According to a report by Bloomberg, the tech giant is planning to incorporate both aluminium and titanium, with the former gracing the outer shells, maintaining its sleek, familiar look and holding onto its sustainability factor. On the other hand, rumours suggest that titanium will feature in the internal structures of future Vision Pro models. Adding to the intrigue, the leaker tease suggests that the new, lighter model could sport a colour palette inspired by the iconic black finish of the iPhone 5 era — a nostalgic nod wrapped in cutting-edge innovation. Aluminium is a key component of Apple’s sustainability strategy, with the company making notable...

On April 27, 2025, Alba (Aluminium Bahrain) announced their adaptation of the AI-powered analytics platform Seeq, the first aluminium smelter in the Middle East with such cutting-edge technology. This has been done in a strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia's Crucial Solutions and Services (CSS) to witness seamless integration. Image source: LinkedIn.com Why Seeq? Seeq is an advanced analytics platform designed for process manufacturing industries, enabling users to rapidly analyse and visualise time series data from various sources to enhance operational efficiency, sustainability and profitability. On this strategic partnership, Ali Al Baqali, the CEO of Alba said, "Since its inception in 1971, Alba has always been synonymous with scale and quality. Today, we are adding another...

Lindian Resources Limited has announced the issuance of 20 million fully paid ordinary shares as part of its 100 per cent acquisition of the Lelouma Bauxite Project in Guinea. This strategic move further strengthens the company’s position in the bauxite market and is expected to provide significant growth opportunities for stakeholders. Image for representational purposes Lindian Resources had previously secured 100 per cent ownership of the Lelouma Bauxite Project in Guinea, West Africa. The acquisition, announced in April 2025, supports Lindian’s strategy to expand its aluminium resource base. The company finalised the deal after issuing 40 million fully paid shares to vendors, per agreed terms. The Lelouma Project hosts a JORC-compliant resource of 900 million tonnes at 45.0 per cent...

In the recently held trade event, Canton Fair, in China, the nation’s businesses approached their Indian counterparts to help escape the tariff whip. In the past three months, China started off with witnessing a 10 per cent tariff and then the curve shot upwards to recently being whiplashed with a whopping 245 per cent tariff. And the ripple effect has started to hit other Asian countries as well. Image Source: https://www.angelone.in/ As revealed by Ajay Sahai, Director General of the Federation of Indian Export Organizations, at the Guangzhou-held Canton Fair, which is still on the event chart and is to conclude on May 5, several Indian firms were approached by Chinese companies to supply goods to their US customers. The arrangement here would be to supply the commodities under the...

Just weeks after unveiling the Oppo Reno 13 and Reno 13 Pro in India, fresh leaks are already stirring excitement about the next chapter in the Reno series. Shared by renowned tipster Digital Chat Station on Weibo, the leaked images hint that the upcoming Oppo Reno 14 is taking a stylish trip down memory lane — showcasing a design that seems to draw heavy inspiration from classic iPhone models, especially the iconic iPhone 12. Given that the Reno 13 and Reno 13 Pro both featured durable aluminium mid-frames, it is likely that the Reno 14 will continue this trend, aiming for a sturdy yet refined construction. It remains uncertain whether the Reno 14 will include the rumoured “Magic Cube” button, a feature speculated to debut with the Oppo Reno 14 Pro. Although Oppo hasn't officially...

As the world accelerates towards a sustainable future, Hindalco Industries is steering its efforts toward the electric vehicle (EV) revolution. With an ambitious INR 45,000 crore (USD 5.22 million) capital expenditure plan, the company is setting its sights on a greener tomorrow by dedicating 10 per cent of this investment to electric vehicle components. This strategic move will include INR 850 crore battery foil unit and a flat-rolled products plant in Odisha, along with an extrusion facility in Silvassa, the sources said. The company is also exploring additional opportunities in auto component manufacturing, with Gujarat emerging as a potential hub for its next growth phase. Last month, the Aditya Birla Group reaffirmed its plan to invest INR 45,000 crore over the next few years across...

Global aluminium businesses have been ramping up efforts in the recycling vertical with mounting demand and resource constraints. However, during the ongoing calendar year, the green initiatives have come under pressure with geopolitics playing a major role in the ruptured system. Image source: IAI Of course, global developments are throwing a wrench into the industry’s momentum. Or else, why would companies like Coca-Cola decide to move away from its aluminium can packaging to pet bottle packaging? In February 2025, the US slapped a 25 per cent tariff on all aluminium imports, citing global overcapacity. Though the tariffs were briefly paused, they came roaring back and bigger. As of March 12, 2025, a blanket 25 per cent tariff now hits all aluminium imports, including derivative...

Sunil Gupta, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Vedanta Ltd’s Aluminium Business, has taken over as Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Odisha State Council for the 2025-26 term. Gupta previously served as the Council’s Vice Chairman during 2024-25 . Meanwhile, Suresha G, Executive Director (Odisha Assets Operation) at AM/NS India, has been appointed as the new Vice Chairman. The announcements were made during CII Odisha’s annual day event last month. “CII aims to catalyse inclusive economic progress across the state by expanding its operations, particularly in western Odisha, and partnering closely with the government. We will also focus on strengthening the industrial ecosystem by promoting green building certification, enhancing export potential, and improving...

With an aim to boost Maryland’s tech infrastructure, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has been identified as the lead tenant for the ‘Bauxite I’ data centre project on the site of the former Alcoa Eastalco Works near Buckeystown. Image for representational purposes only The project, spearheaded by Rowan Digital Infrastructure, will transform the long-dormant 2,100-acre industrial site into a hub of digital activity. AWS plans to construct four highly equipped single-story buildings, covering nearly 777,000 square feet and delivering approximately 300 megawatts of computing capacity. As for Frederick County, Amazon’s investment will establish Maryland’s first AWS Availability Zone, expanding the company’s cloud footprint beyond its highly congested Northern Virginia operations. The data centre is...

On Thursday, April 24, 2025, US President Donald Trump signaled a possible easing of trade tensions with China, boosting market sentiment. As a result, aluminium price has grown in India by 1.32 per cent to INR 234.5 (USD 2.75). The optimism in the market has further been evoked by Trump’s announcement that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell would continue in his position. However, despite the uptick in market sentiment, the aluminium gains have witnessed a restrained growth, largely due to a stronger US dollar, which typically weighs on commodity prices. Additionally, concerns over a global oversupply because of growing aluminium production amid weaker consumption in some parts of the world have kept price movement relatively range-bound. Globally, aluminium production is showing an...

The aluminium industry is riding a wave of contrasts—soaring highs and unexpected lows—making it an especially captivating space right now. The sector has been buzzing with a string of major developments, each shaping the narrative in its own unique way. Amidst the ongoing tariff tension, India's decision to revive the 'zero-for-zero' concept served as a breath of fresh air. Backed by its industrial sector, India is advocating for tariff-free trade on aluminium, steel, and automobiles as part of a proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the United States. To know more, click here. The Indian government is reportedly set to begin bilateral trade talks with the United States on April 23, 2025, aiming to resolve the longstanding issue of the 25 per cent tariff on aluminium and steel...

Maxion Wheels, a global leader in wheel manufacturing, announced its participation in Transport Logistic 2025, scheduled from June 2–5 in Munich, Germany, where it will reportedly showcase its latest commercial vehicle wheel offerings, including its newly introduced forged aluminium truck wheels, aiming to meet the evolving demands of the transportation industry. Image source: maxionwheels.com The new line of aluminium truck wheels features the most in-demand sizes and is available in three premium finishes, delivering top-tier durability and visual appeal. Thanks to aluminium’s lightweight properties, the wheels also enhance fuel efficiency and increase payload capacity. Mark Gerardts, Chief Executive Officer of Maxion Wheels, stated, “Our new forged aluminium wheels not only complete...

Hindalco Industries Limited has wrapped up the week on a high note, marking a strategic entry into the electric vehicle component sector by successfully delivering 10,000 aluminium battery enclosures to Mahindra for its BE 6 and XEV 9e electric SUVs and commissioning a dedicated EV component manufacturing facility in Chakan, Pune. The facility, established with a capital investment of INR 500 crores and spans over 5 acres within a national industrial park, is aligned with three key objectives. First, it marks Hindalco's strategic entry into EV component manufacturing. Second, it highlights the rising demand for lightweight, crash-resistant battery solutions. And third, it supports the Indian government's 'Make in India' initiative by creating 1,000 new jobs. To address the growing demand,...