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...
Grow with
AL Circle
Alexandria-based AFCO Industries recently announced it is expanding with a new facility in Olmstead, Ill. The $1.9 million plant will perform aluminum extruding and painting operations and employ 19 people. "As a 68-year-old, 100 percent employee-owned company, we are looking forward to being good corporate citizens of the state of Illinois," AFCO chairman and chief executive officer Jim Waters said. "In our visits to the region, we found an eager and available workforce and a manufacturing-friendly government that assisted us in our search for a suitable expansion site." AFCO is a leading provider of fabricated building parts — notably aluminum but also including plastic and fiberglass. The company employs about 400 people, roughly half of them at its Alexandria facility. It also has...
Even though the Nigerian aluminium industry is plagued with a number of problems, Tower Group is still strong in all ramifications and remains the leader in the sector, industry stakeholders have said. “Tower is the leader and is the only company in the industry that can wade through challenges in Nigeria and yet make reasonable profits,” said a CEO of an aluminium firm, who preferred anonymity. Tower Group, now part of the global Comcraft Group, is a pioneering leader in aluminium products in West Africa, having been in the country since 1959. The Group has the single largest vertically integrated operations, with presence across West African countries. Diversity and consistent quality have been keys to the market leadership of the firm over the years, say analysts. Tower is well-known...
Aleris announced today that its new rolling mill in Zhenjiang, China has attained qualification to supply aluminum aerospace plate to Bombardier Aerospace. The achievement of this milestone represents a significant step for Aleris towards supplying aluminum plate from its Zhenjiang mill for use in the production of various Bombardier aircraft. Aleris has supplied aluminum aerospace plate to Bombardier from its Koblenz, Germany site for several years. Aleris Zhenjiang, which was opened in early 2013, was modeled after the Koblenz facility to meet the needs of both global and regional aircraft manufacturers by establishing a local supply of commercial aluminum aircraft plate in Asia Pacific. "We are pleased to expand our partnership with Bombardier as we are able to serve them now from both...
The Aluminium Federation of South Africa (Afsa) is the body representing the country’s aluminium industry and according to them, in the next 5 years the local demand for rolled aluminium products will double and create new job opportunities in the industry as well. Aluminium is increasingly becoming popular for its light weight that aids fuel efficiency in the automotive industry, its conductivity for the electric industry and its non-corrosive and non-poisonous quality for the food packaging industry. According to the Afsa estimates, out of the total 171,000 tonnes of aluminium consumed in South Africa, 15.9% share went to packaging industry, 21.6% in the electric industry and around 14.2% in the automotive industry. The recent switch from tin-plated steel cans to aluminium cans by the...
By 2025, more than 75% of all new pick-up trucks produced in North America will be aluminum-bodied, according to a survey of vehicle manufacturers conducted by US-based consulting and research firm Ducker Worldwide. The study, which confirms a significant breakthrough for automotive aluminium into high-volume vehicles, surveyed all major vehicle manufacturers and reports that Ford, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler will become the biggest users of aluminium sheet in the next decade. It also forecasts that the number of vehicles with complete aluminium body structures will make up 18% of North American production, from less than 1% today. Vehicle segments that are revealed as emerging aluminium content leaders are pick-up trucks, sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and midsize and full-size...
The State Grid Corporation of China has released a list recently that includes aluminium alloy wire and cables in its new technologies promotion plan. SMM interviewed some insiders in the industry on September 24th at the 6th All China International Wire & Cable Industry Trade Fair which revealed that there are some bottlenecks that is preventing widespread use and production of aluminium alloy in wire and cable production. The biggest obstacle in the implementation of the new change is the lack of national standards for aluminium alloy wire. The market is piling up with detailed requirements for aluminium alloy conductors and rods yet there is no sign of any national standards for the wires and cables for which the market players have been waiting for a long time. A reliable source...
Now we know which aluminium aerosol cans are the best. An international jury made up of journalists from some of the most-important and best-known can magazines and packaging journals from around the world has reached its decision and chosen the winners for 2014. A can produced by German manufacturer Tubex for Dove won the category for aerosol cans that are already on the market. The look of this deodorant can exudes a promise of freshness and purity. The photo-realistic reproduction of a pomegranate with finely colour-graduated seeds on a characteristically shaped aluminium can is really outstanding. Apart from its very impressive look, the can’s actual innovative character becomes apparent only at second glance. The 125 ml product is filled with a deodorant concentrate and less...
South Africa’s leading beverage can manufacturer, Rexam is making inroads in the Brazilian aluminium bottle market which has been established recently. The company had earlier launched the Smirnoff Ice limited addition in 2013, this year they are back with Germânia 55 beer in Fusion bottles. It is the first time that the Fusion bottle, which is considered to be South Africa’s lightest bottle, will feature a drink like this. Tiago Avena, the commercial manager of Rexam in South Africa expressed that after the success of the 24oz can versions of Germânia 55, partnership with New Age will continue to bear fruit. The use of Fusion bottles is an innovation in the Brazilian market that is not only sustainable but has an youthful appeal as well. "The aluminium bottles showcase the high...
Following several other automakers, Toyota is turning to aluminum to make its vehicles lighter. Next year, the 2016 Lexus RX 350 crossover will become the company's first model with an aluminum hood and liftgate built in North America, while in 2018 the popular Toyota Camry sedan will get an aluminum hood as well. It appears the aluminum sheet will come from a joint venture between Kobe Steel and Toyota Tsusho Corp., a trading company affiliated with Toyota Motor Corp. Toyota will be among the venture's first customers, several sources confirmed. Talks on site selection and final details for the joint venture are expected to conclude this month. The plant will be able to produce 100,000 tons of aluminum sheet annually. "Toyota has plans to use aluminum on future vehicles for hood,...
Aluminium Extrusion Industries plc has increased sales by 11.88 percent by their focus strategy and marketing penetration despite country’s ongoing battle with cheap imports. In the first half of 2014, this Nigerian roofing company has upped its revenue by 11.8 percent, jumping from N894.91 to N1 billion when compared to same period last year. The ever increasing energy costs have pushed the cost of sales by 15.83 percent to N889.86 million in 2014 rising from last year’s N768.19 million. Even the cost of sales margin has increased by 88.87 percent from last year’s 85.90 percent. The operating expenses have also risen by 10.50 percent which put pressure on Aluminium Extrusion bottomline decreasing the profit after tax (PAT) by 44.08 percent. Despite all these obstacles, there is growth of...
In its latest issue, Automotive Industries reports on how the application of Sapa’s HYBRAZ coating benefits the overall performance of aluminium tubes in heat exchange applications. The magazine article features Sapa’s Dagmar Steiner, who works for the company’s Precision Tubing Technology Center – the team devoted to applications and development in the field of aluminium tubing. The article explains the environmental, health and safety benefits, and heightened performance, that aluminium tubes attain when pre-treated with HYBRAZ coating. Sapa's HYBRAZ coating healthier for aluminium tubesUsing the pre-treated tubes in the manufacturing of aluminium heat exchangers leads to several improvements, compared with non-treated tubes. One, it enables the customer to eliminate the entire fluxing...
Dubai-based Gulf Extrusions Co has made plans to expand their capacity with a new plant that is due to come up by next year owing to the rise in global demand especially in the industrial and construction sectors, said a company executive. The general manager for this Al Ghurair Group company, Modar al Mekdad, said that they are looking to grow their annual capacity to 100,000 tonnes over the 3-4 years. They are already one of the largest aluminium product makers in the Gulf. Mekdad further informed that 30 percent of their products are exported to Europe, Africa, India and the Middle East and caters to more than half of the construction market in UAE. The firm is currently churning out an output of 50,000 tonnes at the Dubai plant. There is another plant coming up in Abu Dhabi, close to...
Alcoa, the inventor and global leader of forged aluminum wheels, said that it will roll out its lightest heavy-duty truck wheel in Europe to help fleets increase payload and fuel efficiency. Announced at the 65th International Motor Show (IAA) Commercial Vehicles tradeshow in Hannover, Germany, Alcoa is now selecting fleet partners for the European launch of its lightest forged aluminum wheel ever, the Ultra ONE™ with MagnaForce™ alloy. The wheel will be available in Europe during the second half of 2015. Fleets worldwide are turning to lighter weight aluminum wheels versus steel wheels to help increase payload, improve fuel efficiency and meet emissions regulations. “Alcoa’s Ultra ONE wheel offers heavy-duty performance without the heavy weight of steel wheels, and it looks great, too,”...
Aleris announced today that it will invest $350 million to upgrade capabilities at its aluminum rolling mill in Lewisport, Kentucky. The investment positions Aleris to meet anticipated significant growth in North American automotive demand as the industry pursues broader aluminum use for the production of lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles. Aleris is currently a leading supplier to the European premium auto industry, which has led the transition to aluminum driven by tighter emissions standards. The Aleris Corporation "We have partnered with customers in the premium automotive segment from our Duffel, Belgium facility for years to develop and produce some of the most technically advanced lightweight aluminum solutions available today," Steve Demetriou, Aleris Chairman and CEO said. "We...
UC RUSAL, one of the world’s largest aluminium producers, and ELSO Group, a large Russian heating appliances manufacturer, with a leading position in this field, have announced plans to set up a joint business for manufacturing aluminium radiators at the Nadvoitsy aluminium smelter, one of RUSAL’s production sites. The joint venture called ‘Russian radiator’ will be launched in the third quarter of 2015 with its early-stage annual capacity of approximately 2 million radiator sections. It is planned that by 2019 the production site will reach its full design capacity of 4 million radiator sections a year, for which RUSAL will supply 4,000 mt of aluminium annually from its aluminium smelter located in Nadvoitsy. The radiators will be sold locally in Russia and other CIS countries. The joint...
With powerful rumble of its four engines, the 69-year-old B-17 bomber “Aluminum Overcast” lifted off from Trenton-Mercer Airport Monday afternoon, casting a shadow from its 103-foot wingspan. “We find that a lot of people have a connection to the plane,” said pilot Neil Morrison, who has been flying the Aluminum Overcast for about a decade, before taking the plane over Ewing, Princeton and Bucks County, Pennsylvania on one if its flight tours. Although the numbers of living World War II veterans who may have had firsthand experience fighting in the B-17 or those who may have fought with the bomber planes overhead have shrunk in recent years, the plane still has appeal to many. “We see plenty of grandkids who had a great uncle or a father that flew the B-17,” he said. The flying piece of...
Constellium N.V. announced today at InnoTrans 2014 its new streamlined CNC-machining capability for producing customized parts ready for assembly. The Company will feature an interactive cross-section model composed of its PAVIM structural extrusions based on the Warsaw Metro’s body shell, and will present its broad portfolio of light-weight materials and sustainable engineering solutions. Constellium is continuously focused on optimized alloys, die design, process and extrusion technologies to further reduce weight for the next generation of supplies to the global railway markets. A step-change in extrusion linear weight has been achieved with the newly developed and innovative extrusion product family PAVIM, allowing production of large structural extrusions with thin inner-webs,...
Guangxi Wanhai Investment Co. signed an agreement with the local government to build a 50,000-tpy aluminum fabricating project in Guangxi province, local media reported September 18. The project, to be built in Baise Xinshan Aluminum Industry Demonstration Park, will cost 500 million yuan ($ 389) in total investment. The park has hosted 38 companies, covering aluminum smelting, fabricating and recycling, etc.
