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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Glass & Aluminum Saudi Arabia – the GULF’s largest innovation marketplace. Glass & Aluminum Saudi Arabia is a 4 day event being held from 6th April to the 9th April 2015 at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center (RICEC) in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Following the next decade of multi-billion dollar investments in the GCC’s construction sector with the centralization of the top projects in Saudi Arabia, Glass & Aluminum Saudi Arabia 2015 plays a big role to open this promising market in front of the international leaders to meet the needs and expectations of the industry. It provides excellent opportunity for exhibitors to establish new links and increase their market share in the region. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with its massive infrastructure and social housing...
The new age organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays have replaced the cathode-ray tube, which relied on inorganic chemicals, almost completely now. While the new technology provides sharper images, they are less stable and have a shorter life. A sustainable, inorganic display system would thus be beneficial and soon, aluminium could be an answer to that. There is a phenomenon called surface plasmonics where some metals create colors through resonance of the surface electrons. If the four primary colors can be achieved through this method then it can give rise to a new era of inorganic displays. Noble metals like gold and silver can be used for the purpose but both have their own drawbacks, not to mention they are expensive. However, Jana Olson of Houston’s Rice University has...
UC RUSAL, a leading global aluminium producer, has begun work on a new production process for making nanostructured aluminium alloys with improved mechanical strength for the electric power industry. The project is being implemented by the Engineering and Technology Centre of UC RUSAL on the premises of the Irkutsk aluminium smelter (IrkAZ). An experimental extruder will be built in the casthouse of IrkAZ that will utilise intensive plastic deformation to produce nanostructured alloys. It is estimated that the project will cost in excess of RUR 100 million with over RUR 40 million to be invested by the company. The rest of the money will come from the ‘Priority R&D for the Development of Russia’s Science and Technology in 2014-2020’, a government-sponsored federal initiative. In a contest...
Sapa and Sapa Chalco Aluminium Products (SCAP) will join forces in Berlin at InnoTrans, the largest railway event in the world. InnoTrans 2014 will be held from September 23-26. It will be the first time that the SCAP joint venture shows its products at InnoTrans, an exhibition which takes place every second year. SCAP is owned 50/50 by Sapa and Chinalco. SCAP will display some of its new products, including an innovative side-wall panel used for freight cars loading coal. It is the first time, anywhere, that friction stir welding technology has been utilized for this type of freight car. Sapa and SCAP will have a third partner to share the booth, the Danish company Sjølund, which is expert in aluminium bending. Visit the booth in Hall 8.1, Stand No. 211.
The Canadian company, Matalco Inc., is investing more than 100 million dollars towards an aluminium extrusion plant in Lordstown. The plant will be constructed in the Ohio Commerce Center on Tod Avenue. Matalco is one of the largest independent aluminium recyclers in North America and also make premium quality aluminium billets. They have zeroed in in the Lordstown region as it is a perfect location for them in terms of easy highway and railroad access and the proximity to its customers. Lordstown too is offering a fair offer of 10-year 75% tax abatement. The Mayor of Lordstown is also quite happy with the arrangement as it will bring new jobs, nearly 80, growth and investment as well as great aid for schools in the area. There is almost $60,000-80,000 per year gain for the school...
The biggest aluminium wheel manufacturers in the world, the China-based Dicastal North America Inc, has come to an agreement with the city of Greenville to open a facility in the abandoned buildings of United Solar Ovanics (USO) creating around 300 jobs in the area. Over 35 US states had been competing for this project and now Greenville along with Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and Right Place are welcoming the company as per the announcement made on Wednesday. This facility will be the first Dicastal facility outside China where already 17 units exists. The MEDC, Right Place and the city have come up with the winning incentive package that has persuaded the company to make the $140-million investment for the Greenville project. The director of business development of...
Al Ghurair Group, United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based business group is going to set up an aluminum factory with 50 million USD jointly with Tracon Trading, a local company. After discussing with President Dr. Mulatu Teshome, owner of the Group, Majid Saif Al Ghurair told reporters that preparations have been finalized and operation will commence in the near future. Previously, the Group has been supplying aluminum to Ethiopia jointly with Tracon Trading, he said. The government has decided to provide 25,000 hectares land, of the total 60,000 hectares land needed for the project for the time being, he said. The factory would help to satisfy the local demand for aluminum and export to Eastern African countries, according to Elias Nur Tracon Trading Deputy Manager. The factory is expected to...
A total of 957,000 tonnes of new aluminum fabricating capacities will be added late this year in Qinghai, local media reported. The newly-increased capacities will bring up the province’s total aluminum fabricating capacities to 1.789 million tonnes in 2014, it added. Besides, high-value added capacities will reach up to 800,000 tonnes, accounting for 44.7% of its total.
The Hong Kong’s University of Science and Technology is conducting a research to come up with a new aluminium-based material that is being called the ‘fibre-reinforced aluminium’. The new material is supposedly 30% stronger than aluminium, and lighter and less expensive than steel making it a possible replacement for steel and cement in buildings. The construction of this new material is being done on the nano-level where the structure of carbon and aluminium is being altered so that they fuse together without the use of glue. In buildings, a layered combination of gypsum, foam and other materials with the new material is said to save 50% of energy. The gaps in the building that leak the air out of the rooms causing more consumption of energy to heat or cool the room can be restricted...
Pat Quinn, Governor of Illinois announced the opening of an aluminum manufacturing facility in Olmsted by Louisiana-based AFCO Industries. The plant is expected to create 19 jobs and drive the economy forward. “We are grateful for AFCO’s commitment to Southern Illinois,” Quinn said in a press release. "Manufacturers like AFCO are major contributors to Illinois' economy and support our local communities. I welcome AFCO to Illinois, where our hardworking men and women are second to none." According to AFCO they have chosen Olmsted in Pulaski County considering its easy access to AFCO’s customer base, cost benefits and quality labor force. “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...
Warwickshire aluminium forming company Impression Technologies has announced a £300,000 to further aid growth. The company specialises in developing processes that maximise the strength and lightweight properties of aluminium in the automotive sector, where it works on weight reduction to impact on lowering CO2 emissions. The investment, acquired through Mercia Fund Management, will be used to fund further R&D of the patented aluminium forming processes, manufacture demonstration parts and build a technical and commercial team as the company continues to target automakers. Impression Technologies is already part of one UK government sponsored research programme, in automotive with Lotus Cars and other UK partners and one EU sponsored project in the aerospace and automotive fields, with 15...
Aluminium used in iconic buildings around the world is expected to remain in tip top condition for decades longer than first anticipated, researchers have found. A study, led by renowned architect Prof. Michael Stacey on behalf of the International Aluminium Institute, examined buildings ranging from Cribbs Causeway retail park in Bristol to the FT Printing Works in London and USB Offices, 1 Finsbury Avenue, also in London. After poring over their findings, the report’s authors are recommending that: - Coated aluminium used in buildings is now being given warranties of up to 40 years. - Aluminium used in window frames should be given a service life of 80 years, an upward revision of 40 years - Aluminium used internally has an infinite lifespan - Coated aluminium has also stood the test of...
Sapa has decided to close its Guelph facility in Ontario after they reviewed the aluminium market in Canada. The facility is located at a prime location that facilitated valuable fabrication and horizontal paint capacity, despite that, Sapa plans to close the facility so that they can optimize on Canada’s current need. They are hoping to enhance operational capabilities and offer extruded aluminium products that is better suited to Canada’s requirement. Sapa is shifting its fabrication project from the current location to its sister location in nearby Mississauga. The paint section of the Guelph facility will be distributed among regional paint partners. The company is aiming at a smooth transition for the affected customers and employees as well as the sister location. Around 15 people...
Solvay has acquired Flux Schweib- und Lotstoffe GmbH (Flux) to complement its aluminum brazing capabilities and products with fast-growing formulations for automotive heat exchangers and stationary heat, ventilation and air conditioning units. “A flourishing and innovative German company, Flux will become part of Solvay’s Global Business Unit (GBU) Special Chemicals whose aluminum brazing products are recognised as the industry standard under the Nocolok brand,” said a Solvay press release. Flux, which reached sales of Euro 21 million in 2013, has its headquarters and production site in Garbsen, close to the Solvay Special Chemicals site in Hannover. The combination of Solvay’s fluorinated chemical research and innovative capabilities with Flux’s outstanding know-how in formulations and...
A Michigan-based plant Chemetall has teamed up with Ford to prepare their aluminium-bodied F-150 for the local winter by helping with environmental testing techniques for the surface treatment of the aluminium based bodies. On Monday, 15 September, a special supplier certification was awarded to Chemetall Surface Treatment Company, 1100 technology Drive. The aluminium body is already cutting down 700 pounds from the Ford’s popular pick up trucks, now with Chemetell, they are now testing how long it takes for the paint as well as the other parts of the vehicle to erode in the Michigan winter. Several Ford executives visited the plant site on Monday to hand over the Q1 Supplier Status certificate as well as take a tour of the premises. Chemetall is a prime producer, supplier and developer...
The Association’s “Index of Net New Orders of Aluminum Mill Products” for August was down 2.4 percent from July. Orders for flat roll products (sheet, plate, can stock and foil) declined 1.9 percent over the previous month, orders for extruded products were down 4.0 percent, while orders for redraw rod were off 2.7 percent. Compared to August 2013, total orders increased 2.4 percent . On average, orders recorded by domestic producers through August 2014 were essentially flat compared to last year. Excluding domestic can stock, year-to-date orders are up 3.3 percent over last year. Shipments of can stock totaled 377.9 million pounds during August 2014, up 3.5 percent over the August 2013 total of 365.1 million pounds. Compared to the previous month, shipments rose nine-tenths of one...
Bremco Aluminium, founded in Birmingham 1921, recently announced that they would be renovating Messer Airport Highway facility and they have already invested $5 million for the project. This company that manufactures secondary aluminium alloys is based in Birmingham. Two 220,000-pound furnaces is an important addition to the upgrade out of which one had already started operating in early 2014. There is another 220,000 pound furnace in the pipeline along with a new pollution control system. The specialty of these new pollution control systems is that the can handle both reverberatory furnaces as well as the rotary furnace simultaneously. The company did not reveal whether the upgrade will create more jobs.
A team of researchers from Texas A&M University have revealed the work-hardening and plasticity properties of twinned aluminium with incoherent twin boundaries using an in situ nanoindentation technique. Twin boundaries in nanotwinned metals help to maintain thermal stability, electrical conductivity and ductility, whilst also helping to improve mechanical strength. This has led to scientists becoming increasingly interested in studying the properties of nanotwinned metals. Earlier studies have predominantly concentrated on nanotwinned metals having low stacking-fault-energy and coherent twin boundaries. However, the plasticity of twinned high stacking-fault-energy metals have previously not been very well understood. Materials with incoherent twin boundaries, such as aluminium, can be...
