Novelis has supplied approximately 100,000 m² of aluminium façade materials for six construction projects across the UK, highlighting the metal's growing role in architectural design, infrastructure modernisation and urban regeneration. The materials have been used across developments in Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham and London, covering applications ranging from transport infrastructure and residential refurbishment to commercial and mixed-use buildings. The projects demonstrate the versatility of aluminium in modern building envelopes, with Novelis supplying architectural materials designed to combine durability, aesthetic flexibility and performance. Aluminium supports diverse architectural applications Commenting on the projects, Michael Hahne, Vice President Commercial of Novelis...
Bahrain’s aluminium wire exports continued to gain momentum in the second quarter of 2026, with shipments rising significantly compared with the corresponding periods of 2025 and 2024. The country exported 80,895 tonnes of aluminium wire in Q2 2026, taking its total shipments during the first half of the year to 143,518 tonnes. The export data covers aluminium wire under HS code 7605, excluding stranded wire, cables, plaited bands and similar products, electrically insulated wires and strings for musical instruments. Export volume registers strong Y-o-Y growth Comparing the quarterly figures, Bahrain’s aluminium wire export volume increased by 23.76 per cent Y-o-Y in Q2 2026, against 65,366 tonnes shipped during Q2 2025. The latest quarterly volume also marked a considerable rise from Q2...
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Vimetco Extrusion has successfully commissioned a 32/35-MN-short-stroke front-loading extrusion press supplied by SMS Meer at its works in Slatina, Romania. The company uses the machine to produce aluminum profiles for the automotive industry and for building applications. Compared with conventional machines, the extrusion press reduces energy consumption by up to 25 percent and thereby meets the criteria for an ecoplants solution. The press is equipped with a start/stop function and electric servo motors for the side table and billet loader. With this “ecoDraulic” concept, energy savings of up to 25 percent are achieved compared with conventional presses with press speeds under 7 millimeters per second and billet lengths up to 1300 millimeters. The short-stroke front-loading extrusion...
The Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC) is undertaking a research that could change the face of the power sector in the next three to four years. A new aluminium and zircon alloy based alloy conductor could replace the current All Aluminium Alloy Conductor (AAAC) and the Aluminium Conductor Steel Reinforced (ACSR) used in overhead high tension wires to carry electricity over large distances. The new alloy being called new generation conductors would be able to carry the double the current carried at present at high temperature of 210 degrees Celsius. In fact, the wires are capable of carrying electricity efficiently at temperatures as high as 260-270 degrees Celsius in emergency or peak periods. This has also earned them the name of Super Thermal...
The Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) is offering a newly revised and enhanced educational workshop that provides aluminum extruders with a comprehensive review of the entire extrusion process. The AEC Process Optimization Workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, November 4 and Wednesday, November 5, 2014 at the Hilton Rosemont Hotel in Rosemont, Illinois. Just announced, the early registration discount has been extended through Thursday, October 16, 2014. The Process Optimization Workshop is a new educational workshop that offers a “soup to nuts” overview of the extrusion process, equipment, data systems, and more. The Workshop provides a comprehensive learning experience of the complete extrusion process and was developed by a dedicated team of AEC volunteers who are experts in their fields....
Altaiseer from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has placed an order with SMS Meer for two 25/27-MN extrusion presses for the Riyadh site. Altaiseer uses the presses to manufacture high-quality aluminum profiles for facades. Through the use of energy-efficient drives and ancillary equipment, the extrusion presses enable energy savings of 20 percent to be achieved compared with conventional presses. They therefore satisfy the preconditions for the distinctive ecoplants mark. The two 25/27-MN extrusion presses from SMS Meer will operate as front-loaders and allow high productivity and quality to be achieved. In addition the plants will be equipped with induction furnaces supplied by I.A.S. from the SMS Meer Business Area. The induction furnaces heat the 8-inch billets before extrusion following a given...
Sapa is one of the partners in Powerhouse, a partnership for energy-positive buildings. It has shown the way for building in the future and could become ”the Tesla of the building industry." "Buildings account for 40 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. Suppose an ordinary, worn-out office building could produce twice as much energy as it consumes? This utopian idea is now a reality – in Sandvika outside Oslo." This is how an article in the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten introduces the first "Powerhouse," which is a refurbished office building just outside Norway's capital city. The office building is energy positive, meaning that it produces more energy than it consumes over its lifetime. On top of that, it produces enough electricity to compensate for the energy used to set up...
Aluminum net shipments (including exports) by domestic U.S. and Canadian facilities totaled an estimated 2,062 million pounds during August, up 3.9 percent over the August 2013 total of 1,985 million pounds. Shipments of aluminum mill products increased 3.1 percent over the previous year to 1,301 million pounds, while shipments of aluminum ingot for castings, exports and destructive uses increased 5.2 percent year-over-year, totaling 761 million pounds. Year-to-date, producer shipments totaled an estimated 15,497 million pounds, an increase of 3.4 percent over the 2013 year-to-date total of 14,994 million pounds. August inventory levels totaled an estimated 2,786 million pounds, down 1.5 percent from the previous month and up 6.2 percent year-over-year.
The shift in the core material of the Ford Motor’s new F-150 will definitely make the car lighter and more fuel efficient but this sudden shift could mean higher repair costs for the vehicle and others like it. The new pick up will be using lightweight aluminium instead of steel which means that there is a complete change in the core ingredient. Parts from the older steel versions will not be usable in the aluminium versions. The market that is still not quite prepared for the aluminium body might not be able to offer sufficient spare parts. These kinds of vehicles are designed in such a way that it absorbs much of the impact to keep the passengers safe. If there is a flaw in the structure that is not repaired, it can seriously compromise the safety of the vehicle, says Tony Canade the...
Gulf Extrusions (Gulfex), a leading global manufacturer of extruded aluminium products, has revealed that its ‘ twisted profile’ the Middle East region’s first-of-its-kind aluminum twisted profile, has been nominated to be the most innovative product of the year and to be displayed at the innovation area at this year’s edition of ALUMINIUM 2014, the world’s leading trade show for the aluminum industry, which opened on October the 7th and will run until October 9, 2014 at Dusseldorf, Germany. Gulfex ‘twisted profile’ was developed and customized for King Abdul Aziz International Airport project facade. To make this kind of twist, the company developed a special machine to carry out the twisting of 60 degrees for a length of 6 meters. The machine was used and tested on various grades of...
Sapa Precision Tubing will present the solutions of tomorrow for the HVAC&R market at the Chillventa 2014 exhibition in Nuremberg, Germany. The trade fair takes place October 14-16. Showcasing clever design and innovative use of aluminium alloys, our representatives will explain how "less is more." In April, the European Union passed a legislation that by 2030 will bring down the emission of fluorinated greenhouse gasses (F-gas) by 79% from today's levels. This translates into several technological challenges for the HVAC&R industry. Sapa Precision Tubing is ready to cooperate with and assist our partners in developing and delivering the best solutions possible to meet these regulations in a cost effective way. Chillventa 2014 We offer a wide range of micro channel tubes for micro channel...
Novelis, the global leader in aluminium rolling and recycling, was awarded two prestigious prizes at the 2014 European Aluminum Awards yesterday during the ALUMINIUM 2014 Trade Fair. In the Building and Architecture category, Novelis was awarded the winning prize for the Blue Planet aquarium building in Copenhagen constructed with Novelis falzonal® pre-painted aluminium for roof cladding. The good mechanical formability, weather resistance, natural aluminium color and protection during handling, transport and installation deliver a material advantage and give the iconic building its outstanding look. Novelis also received a special prize for its online measuring tool for thin coatings on aluminium coils. The newly-invented, highly sensitive measurement method, which was developed in...
Russia faces threats of tariffs on aluminium foil import imposed by the European Union following a complaint registered by a group of European aluminium-foil manufacturers like Eurofoil Luxembourg and Alcomet on August 25, which included German producers Hydro Aluminium Rolled Products GmbH and AFM Aluminiumfolie Merseburg GmbH and Slovenia-based Impol doo. The European Union will set up an inquiry against Russia to see whether they are exporting below cost price to the 28-nation bloc which is known as dumping. The European Commission has nine months to decide whether a provisional anti-dumping duty needs to be imposed or not and 15 months to decide whether the duty needs to be more “definitive” lasting five years. Rusal said that the charges were “without merit” but have pledged complete...
Swiss specialty chemicals firm Clariant has entered into an exclusive partnership with Omya for the European aluminium finishing market. As per the deal, Clariant will dedicate its aluminium laboratory capacity for key developments in its performance- and process-boosting product range for consumer goods, cosmetics, automotive, sport, and architectural market segments, as well as general technical recommendations and performance reviews. Omya is focusing primarily on marketing and customer support, with a dedicated team of experts backed-up by a state-of-the-art aluminium technical service with excellent anodising laboratory facilities which are also used for client training. Andreas van Baerle, Head of Sales Aluminum Finishing for Omya, said, “We have built extensive experience in...
Fata Aluminum, a leading company in the global market for Automated casting systems for cylinder heads, blocks, pistons and Sand Regeneration systems with companies in the US, Italy and Mexico, and Eco Sand a leading company in the Brazilian market for no-bake system, sand handling and reclamation systems have signed a cooperation agreement. The target is to develop the market for Sand Regeneration through a flexible agreement that allows Eco Sand to utilize Fata Aluminum technology to localize all the manufacturing of the Sand Regeneration equipment for the no–bake systems and develop in partnership all the equipment for the green Sand Regeneration systems. Martin Wright CEO of Fata Aluminum and Jose Roberto de Souza MD of Eco sand believe that the combination of Fata technology,...
XanCan(TM), a U.S. based company, today announced the launch of its textured aluminum beverage cans (patent pending). Changes to the aluminum beverage can have been minimal at best, since its birth. The concept of texturing the sidewall of beverage cans is both innovative and revolutionary. The XanCan(TM) breathes new life into an old favorite. “Our goal is to revolutionize the canned beverage industry with packaging that puts the ‘fun’ back into functional,” says Dormini Mangum, CTO of XanCan. “XanCan are ideal for all beverage types: from beer and soft drinks, to iced teas and energy drinks. With endless pattern possibilities, beverage companies can stimulate any marketing campaign and create that competitive edge.” Most canned beverages, beer and soda alike, are best enjoyed cold. Once...
Constellium N.V. exhibits today at ALUMINIUM 2014 tradeshow its global portfolio of advanced solutions, maximizing the potential of aluminium for a broad range of applications. Constellium is leveraging its first-class R&D capabilities and competencies to meet high-level expectations of its customers, particularly in terms of weight, performance, formability and sustainability. “ALUMINIUM 2014 trade show is the right place to showcase Constellium’s latest developments in a variety of applications. We are committed to continue working together with our customers and other strategic partners to develop advanced products that meet their existing and future needs,” said Bruno Chenal, Innovation and Technology Director at Constellium. Constellium’s highlights at the tradeshow include: • An...
The Jeep Wrangler may be a timeless design, but sooner or later, time will run out and Chrysler will have to replace it with a newer model more friendly towards the earth it's designed to traverse. That will, it seems, mean a shift to aluminum construction (whether just for the body or for the entire structure) – but what will that mean for the Wrangler's long-time home of Toledo, OH? According to the latest pronouncements from Fiat Chrysler chief Sergio Marchionne, the shift to an aluminum Wrangler would likely mean moving production out of Toledo. "If the solution is aluminum," Marchionne told Automotive News, "then I think unfortunately Toledo is the wrong place, the wrong setup to try and build a Wrangler, because it requires a complete reconfiguring of the assets that would be...
One of the world’s leading canned fish brands has enhanced its popularity by adding an advanced opening solution to its relaunched mackerel can, produced by Ardagh Group. The Norwegian seafood firm, King Oscar, chose Ardagh’s Easy Peel® aluminium can end as an important convenience feature of its new aluminium can. Developed by Ardagh as an entirely new and improved approach to can openability, Easy Peel® comprises a metal ring on which an aluminum foil is heat sealed. The consumer has a safer and quicker means of opening the can, with a drastically reduced risk of spattering its contents. It is also 50 per cent lighter than a standard end. Patrick Savouré, Commercial Director, Seafood, Ardagh Group’s metal division, explains the background: “ King Oscar made the decision to add the...
Aluminum is now starting to be seen as a viable alternative to conventional steel for the construction of automobiles. While there are manufacturers that already use a lot of it in their cars, there are others that are just starting out, like Toyota. The Japanese automaker will start using it too for high-volume models as of 2016, when the all-new Lexus RX350 gains an aluminum hoot and liftgate, according to anonymous sources quoted by Automotive News. Next up will be the Camry which is reportedly slated to gain an aluminum hood from 2018 onward. Officially, Toyota is staying tight lipped about the shift to aluminum. A company spokesperson, Jana Hartline, said the automaker “has plans to use aluminum on future vehicles for hood, closures and parts for lightweighting. Also, we will...
