The Symbiosis concept pairs a premium aluminium outer shell with a transparent inner bottle, while the partners highlight low-carbon aluminium and future sustainability development. GEKA and AXILONE have partnered to introduce Symbiosis, a luxury beauty packaging concept combining GEKA’s injection blow-moulding technology with AXILONE’s expertise in premium aluminium packaging. The concept will be showcased at Luxe Pack Monaco, presenting a design that brings together a premium aluminium outer shell and a see-through inner bottle. The inner bottle’s transparent windows allow consumers to view the formulation’s colour and texture, adding a sensory element to the packaging. The combination is designed to offer beauty brands a distinctive appearance alongside a tactile product experience....
With the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays approaching, secondary aluminium alloy enterprises have successively finalized their production and holiday arrangements for the festive period. SMM recently conducted a survey on the double-holiday production plans, pre-holiday stockpiling, and raw material procurement of some secondary aluminium alloy enterprises, covering a total capacity of 4.2 million mt. The following is a summary of the survey findings: According to the SMM survey, during the 2026 Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, secondary aluminium alloy enterprises generally arranged for continuous production or brief shutdowns, though some enterprises extended their holiday duration compared with 2025. Among the 25 sampled enterprises, more than half had...
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The aluminium sector is undergoing substantial development, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, in which recycling plays an important part, making it a top priority for manufacturers and consumers. The industry's focus has switched to developing environmentally friendly practices and embracing circular economy principles. Nvolve, a world-class provider of workforce training and operational excellence solutions, has joined the Aluminium Federation (ALFED). This collaborative partnership demonstrates Nvolve's constant commitment to enhancing sustainable manufacturing practices and improving operational efficiency. Henan Zhongfu High Precision Aluminium Company in China unlocked a significant milestone by receiving certification from SCS Global (US Global Scientific Certification...
This week, the downstream segment has seen increasing activities with Epsilon Group, a Mumbai-based company, acquiring Johnson Matthey's lithium-ion phosphate cathode active material technology centre in Moosburg, Germany. The financial details of this acquisition have not yet been disclosed. Constellium has sold its three soft alloy extrusion facilities in Germany to Vaessen Aluminium for €48.8 million. The sale was completed after receiving regulatory approval. Constellium is a global leader in providing aluminium solutions for various markets, including aerospace, automotive, and packaging. In 2022, they had a whopping revenue of €8.1 billion. Russia has 150,000 surplus shipping containers due to increased Chinese imports, but the outbound movement is sluggish. This causes an imbalance...
The Swiss multinational company SIG, specializing in aseptic packaging systems and solutions, has unveiled plans to invest €8.4 million (R$49 million) in the expansion of its carton packaging facility located in the city of Campo Largo within the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba. Aseptic carton packaging, composed of layers of paper, polyethylene, and a 5 per cent component of aluminium foil, serves as a protective shield against light and oxygen for the packaging. With the completion of its fifth expansion, the facility has significantly increased its annual production capacity to 5.2 billion units, a remarkable leap from its initial capacity of just 1 billion packages back in 2011. Staffed by approximately five hundred employees, this facility operates 24/7, ensuring continuous supply to...
The rush to discover additional ventures in transition materials has instigated a reassessment of strategy at Rio Tinto. This involves an inclination towards smaller mining operations and potentially exploring more precarious, less-established locations. On October 6, 2023, Dominic Barton, Rio Tinto's chairman, indicated a more pronounced focus on aluminium, as customers are increasingly willing to pay extra for eco-friendly, sustainable products. He also emphasized the company's aspiration to participate in the growing lithium market. Dominic Barton mentioned that Rio Tinto's fresh strategy might involve embracing projects that commence on a smaller scale and have the potential to grow, often in collaboration with government or local partners, instead of exclusively pursuing the largest...
Last week was a very exciting time for AL Circle with the rebranding experience in play. Overall, the aluminium industry, too, saw a few gut-wrenching events. A fire broke out at Rusal-owned Krasnoyarsk Aluminium Smelter on Wednesday. A transformer caught fire in a 50 square metre area. No casualties have been reported yet, and the cause of the fire is unknown. German company Speira is closing down its primary aluminium production after 62 years, with the last potlines scheduled to shut by December 2023. The Rheinwerk facility will be transformed into a recycling-based foundry, aligning with sustainability and a circular economy. Speira aims to reduce its environmental footprint and conserve resources. On the brighter side, Rio Tinto's Kitimat aluminium smelter is now fully operational...
The benchmark aluminium price on the London Metal Exchange in September 2023 recorded an increase of US$123.50 per tonne or 5.65 per cent to reach US$2,307.50 per tonne. The price started flaunting a steady growth towards the second half of the month compared to the initial days. After initiating the month on September 1 at US$2,184 per tonne, the LME aluminium benchmark price dwindled the next two days by US$47.50 per tonne to stand at US$2,136.50 per tonne as of September 5. The price grew intermittently on September 6 to US$2,158 per tonne before declining further to US$2,132.50 per tonne as of September 8. From September 11, the LME aluminium price started growing steadily from US$2,154 per tonne, with a few intermittent declines. At the end of September 2023, the LME aluminium...
La Bouche Rouge, the eco-luxury beauty brand that spearheaded the movement to eliminate single-use plastics from cosmetic products, has recently entered the perfume market with a range of five natural and upcycled fragrances. These fragrances come in glass bottles that can be refilled with 100% aluminium tubes, making them an excellent choice for those who are looking for sustainable beauty products. Despite facing financial difficulties, La Bouche Rouge was recently acquired by Beauty Brands Global, a Dubai-based holding company led by Dilesh Mehta, president of British fragrance house Designer Parfums. The brand's innovative use of recyclable and refillable high-end packaging made of a variety of materials, including aluminium and vegan leather, has had a strong influence on the beauty...
Reynaers Aluminium UK was nominated for three prestigious G-awards categories: Sustainability Initiative of the Year, Promotional Campaign of the Year, and Customer Care Initiative of the Year. Toyota Motor North America and LG Energy Solution have agreed to supply lithium-ion battery modules for Toyota's upcoming battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in the United States. Knest, India's largest and fastest-growing aluminium formwork firm, has published a new ad film starring Rahul Dravid, also known as Mr Dependable, as part of its continuing statewide campaign 'As Dependable As It Gets.' The cricket legend is the brand ambassador for this campaign, which Atomium Labs created, Knest's Strategy Partner and Agency On Record (AOR). R+Co is an umbrella organisation that fosters the best-in-class...
Pro-Ject, the audiophile equipment manufacturer, has unveiled The Dark Side of the Moon Turntable to honour the 50th anniversary of Pink Floyd's iconic album and pay homage to its album cover. The unique turntable is set to release in October and faithfully recreates the album artwork of the 1973 album. The turntable exclusively features aluminium, which recreates a utopian, hallucinogenic outlook that Pink Floyd is synonymous with. The cover features a beam of white light split into its constituent colours, symbolizing the album's themes of exploration and transformation. Pro-Ject's limited-edition record player pays homage to Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of the Moon" album cover. The record player is equipped with high-end components, including an acrylic and black aluminium tonearm, a...
Hindalco Industries, the leading Indian aluminium manufacturing company, is set to establish a two million tonnes per annum (MTPA) alumina refinery plant in the Rayagada district of Odisha. In this context, the Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hindalco Industries to provide a long-term supply of raw materials for the alumina refinery project located in Kansariguda, Rayagada district. The MoU was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Balwant Singh (Managing Director of OMC), and Satish Pai (Managing Director of Hindalco). This agreement is expected to expedite and facilitate the progress of the two-million-ton alumina refinery in Rayagada, as announced by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO). Notably, this marks...
Rusal confirmed on October 5 that its Krasnoyarsk Aluminium Smelter remained unaffected despite a significant blaze erupted at the facility spanning over 21,528 square feet. Krasnoyarsk Smelter is one of the largest smelters in the world and a key site where Rusal introduces cutting-edge technologies. It is the only smelter in Russia that produces high-purity aluminium. Thanks to the prompt action of firefighters to combat the flame, no injury or damage occurred due to the incident. On October 4, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations ensured the fire did not spread to nearby structures. TASS, a state-owned Russian news agency, detailed the incident, stating that pallets immersed in flames covered an area of 21,528 square feet, and a production building took up an additional 2,153...
Clemson University's 'Green Game' combines touchdowns with recycling aluminium, showing how orange passion can turn green for sustainability. Clemson University, known for its passionate fan base that proudly bleeds orange, is adding a shade of green to its homecoming celebration. Clemson is focusing on sustainability at the homecoming game against Wake Forest to secure its fifth annual GameDay Football Zero Waste Touchdown Challenge victory. This eco-conscious endeavour is part of the Campus Race to Zero Waste program, an initiative to inspire nationwide campuses to minimise waste generated during home football games. Clemson has already triumphed in this challenge four times in 2014, 2017, 2018, and 2021. Challenges and goals: The Campus Race to Zero Waste program evaluates...
The Netherlands Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) has achieved a significant milestone since its inception in 2006. As per the latest information by government officials in a letter from infrastructure minister Vivianne Heijnen, there has been a 33 per cent reduction in the presence of littered aluminium and steel cans since the initiation of this policy, compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. The amount of aluminium or steel cans identified in the trash has shown a prominent reduction in its number. On April 1 , a 15 per cent deposit scheme was implemented for all cans. Plastic bottles are also included in the deposit return scheme, and statistics show that the amount of litter found has fallen by 66% since it was implemented three years ago. Despite the observed drop,...
A much-awaited partnership between Pepsi MAX and EA SPORTS FC is laying the foreground for the production of aluminium cans and PET bottles with a collaborative logo and footballer images. This Pepsi MAX and EA SPORTS FC alliance is to announce an exciting international campaign that coincides with the launch of the latest football game, EA SPORTS FC 24. The campaign features three renowned footballers and includes an on-pack promotion, enabling fans to receive in-game rewards by purchasing select Pepsi MAX products. The co-branded Pepsi MAX x EA SPORTS FC 24 cans and bottles, adorned with the image of football talent such as Vini Jr, Leah Williamson, and newly-appointed ambassador Son Heung-min, will be available in more than 20 markets worldwide, making it accessible to millions of...
European Union and U.S. leaders are actively working towards unveiling an interim agreement during the upcoming summit scheduled for October 20th. This agreement aims to prevent the reintroduction of trade tariffs on steel and aluminium, imposed initially during the Donald Trump administration. According to a recent report by Bloomberg News, this collaborative effort signifies a significant step forward in averting potential disruptions to transatlantic commerce. The negotiations represent a crucial element of diplomacy between these two economic powerhouses as they strive to foster stronger trade relations while mitigating any potential trade disputes that may arise. The forthcoming summit serves as a pivotal moment for both parties to solidify their commitment to fair and balanced trade...
The Aluminium Federation, ALFED, has recently published a comprehensive report in collaboration with CRU International Ltd. This report delves into the ramifications of the Russia-Ukraine geopolitical crisis on the aluminium industry in the United Kingdom. It carefully analyses the effects of import sanctions imposed by the government in both the short-term and the foreseeable future while presenting viable alternative strategies to ensure a stable supply of primary aluminium. The report aims to safeguard the UK's robust aluminium supply chain, bolster domestic production, and mitigate the repercussions of geopolitical concerns. It examines the direct consequences on UK businesses stemming from the elimination of Russian materials in imports and anticipates the shifts in market dynamics...
The Norwegian government's national budget proposal, unveiled on October 6, contains various components that have implications for Hydro's activities within Norway. Of these, the most notable and concerning one pertains to the CO 2 compensation scheme. Hydro is surprised and expressed disappointment at the additional dilution of this scheme. Furthermore, the suggested taxation framework for wind power does not stimulate the necessary level of investments to guarantee a reliable power supply for both the industrial sector and the transition towards a more sustainable, environmentally friendly future. The total impact of changes in the CO2 compensation scheme for Hydro in 2023 is estimated at a reduction of approximately NOK 1 billion. According to Hydro, the Norwegian government's constant...
Vedanta Aluminium has reportedly brought a new range of advanced wire rods to expand premium offerings for the global power and transmission sector. The new range of wire rods includes T4, AL59, and the 8xxx series, launched on the inaugural day of the Cable & Wire Fair 2023 (CWF2023) in New Delhi. Manufactured by state-of-the-art continuous casting technology, Vedanta’s new range of wire rods are fit for the applications in automotive, building, infrastructure, and electronics. The T4 alloy rod is perfect for the use in high-voltage transmission grids and in the manufacture of optical fibre composite overhead wires, offering the benefits of low-sag high strength and enhanced durability. The AL59 alloy rod boasts a higher strength-to-weight ratio, superior power evacuation, and a...
