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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Unions have described the loss of nearly 100 jobs at a Doncaster company that was supplying aluminium frames to the construction industry as a “bitter blow”. Wilson Field, administrators of Norking Aluminium, says it has failed to find a buyer for the company, and so has been forced to make all 98 staff redundant. It says that despite having a healthy order book, the company had experienced cash flow problems and in particular had tax arrears which a Time to Pay arrangement with HMRC had failed to resolve. Insolvency practitioner Lisa Hogg said: “The directors sought our advice after a proposed finance package fell through. At this stage there were few options available for us other than to seek a new owner and despite our succeeding in finding several parties with an interest in the...
AEROBAL, the International Organisation of Aluminium Aerosol Container Manufacturers, reported a record result for 2013. With output rising by some two per cent to more than seven billion cans, the industry continued its upward trend. The industry managed to top the major seven billion mark despite economic turbulence worldwide and a slowdown in growth in several of the largest emerging markets in Asia and South America. That means aluminium cans account for nearly 50 per cent of the total worldwide output of aerosol cans. AEROBAL Secretary General Gregor Spengler says the further prospects for this modern packaging material are quite positive even though the global economic environment has become more difficult. “Of course, in the current economic situation, it is not easy to give a...
Ford Motor Company has approved 3M Panel Bonding Adhesive (PN08115) and the 3M File Belt Sander for repairs to the new Ford F150 aluminum components. “In order to make sure that repairs to the new truck were straight-forward and reasonable for mainstream collision repair facilities, Ford engineers worked with collision industry leaders, including 3M, during the development of the Workshop Manual,” said Jason Scharton, 3M’s Business Development Manager for OEM/Collision Repair. 3M Panel Bonding Adhesive has excellent adhesion to a wide variety of plastic and metal substrates and can be used to bond door skins, roof skins, quarter panels and box sides. Additionally, Ford has approved the use of the 3M File Belt Sander for grinding out self-piercing rivets, removing seam sealer and preparing...
Ducab, the Middle East's leading manufacturer of high quality cables and cabling products, has announced its annual results for 2013. Building on strong demand locally and abroad, Ducab sales revenues have grown to AED 5 billion, marking an increase of 22% per cent over 2012 sales. Growth was across the board; cable sales touched 2.9 billion (up 14%), sales of Rod and wires from Ducab's Copper Rod Plant touched AED 2.1 billion (up 34%), and Ducab High Voltage (DHV) cable sales reached AED 122 million (up 660%). Ducab's Chairman, Eng. Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri, said: "The positive results achieved by the company over the last year is testament to the strong leadership, the innovative culture, and the ability to identify and move towards market trends. As an entirely UAE-owned company, we find...
General Motors and the GM China Advanced Technical Center in Shanghai announced today the first trial run of the facility’s new Vertical Squeeze Casting machine, the first of its kind in the world designed for developing next-generation magnesium castings. GM says the VSC machine will make it easier to manufacture vehicle parts from magnesium alloy, which is lighter than aluminium and will help improve fuel economy through reduced weight. Magnesium alloy is the lightest metal currently available for mass production of automotive materials, with magnesium parts being on average 30 percent lighter than a part made from aluminum alloy. The VSC machine was designed through a joint collaboration by GM’s lightweight materials research teams in Detroit and Shanghai. It is designed to improve...
C.R. Laurence strengthens the U.S. Aluminum brand through a major expansion and renovation of its Waxahachie-based Division headquarters. C.R. Laurence is proud to announce a large-scale expansion and renovation of its U.S. Aluminum Division headquarters in Waxahachie, Texas. Scheduled for completion in December 2014, CRL is continuing to strengthen and invest in the already robust CRL-U.S. Aluminum brand by bolstering key operational growth initiatives. The Waxahachie CRL-U.S. Aluminum expansion project will essentially double the square footage of the existing building to a total of 347,576 sq. ft. The new facility will help stimulate overall production, distribution, and logistics, leading to a significant increase in stock inventories, shorter lead times, and improved customer and...
Novelis, the world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, today celebrated the ground-breaking ceremony for a new automotive sheet finishing line at its Nachterstedt, Germany, facility. Erwin Mayr, Senior Vice President of Novelis and President of Novelis Europe, made the symbolic shovel turn with Reiner Haseloff, Prime Minister of the German federal state of Saxony-Anhalt. The EUR 62 million expansion is in response to the steadily growing demand for aluminum automotive sheet for light-weight vehicle structures and body panels. The new line will add 120,000 metric tons of annual capacity to the Nachterstedt plant's automotive output. Novelis expects demand for aluminum automotive sheet in Europe to increase by an average of 15 percent per year over the next five years as carmakers...
The production of packaging made from or using aluminium showed dynamic growth in Germany last year. Manufacturers reported considerable growth in almost all market segments. Overall, the sector benefited from the generally good consumer sentiment. “Consumers are placing a high level of trust in a positive economic development,” says Christian Wellner, executive director of Düsseldorf-based Gesamtverband der Aluminiumindustrie (GDA). “This boosts consumption and leads to growth in demand for our products. The aluminium packaging manufacturers’ good order intake at the beginning of the year means all signals point to growth.” Growth in shipments to the various end markets in 2013 was as follows: aluminium tubes and aerosol cans reported above-average growth. Shipments of aluminium aerosol...
Sapa is closing its aluminum extrusion plant in Miami to optimize its organization and capacity to deliver aluminum solutions to customers in the North American market. Since the creation of the Sapa joint venture in September 2013, the organization in the United States has been engaged in a number of strategic initiatives that are designed to better meet customer needs. "The Miami location has provided Sapa with valuable production capacity and has been an asset for us,” says Patrick Lawlor, executive vice president and head of Sapa’s Extrusion Americas business area. “However, we need to optimize our capacity utilization in the southeast region and better align our product offerings with their market needs.” Sapa expects to complete the closure process by the end of June. The company...
At the Annual Meeting in Coral Gables, Florida in March, the Industry Promotion Team of the Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) announced dramatic results from its Industry Promotion efforts. The effort, which was initiated in early 2010 and took root in 2012, has been focused on the automotive, building & construction, and solar industries. Additionally, horizontal messaging has been used to promote the common benefits of aluminum extrusions across hundreds of applications. Joe Golec, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Pennex Aluminum, presented the AEC membership an update during the general session. In his presentation, Mr. Golec exhibited the new aec.org website launched 18 months ago, reported on the many trade shows where the AEC has displayed and supported the industry, the...
Demonstrating Amcor’s ability to offer the highest quality in innovative and creative packaging solutions, Amcor Flexibles is proud to be the recipient of two awards in the prestigious Alufoil Trophy 2014 organised by the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA). In the category of Consumer Convenience, Amcor EMEND® Tri-pack Formpack® with peelable lidding was awarded an Alufoil Trophy for its greatly improved openability and product protection. The product consists of a peelable lid blister pack, combining a lidding foil and a Formpack® coldformed bottom web, provided by Amcor Flexibles for Merck Sharp & Dohme Australia (MSDA). The EMEND® Tri-pack Formpack® with peelable lidding is used for medication to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by certain anticancer medicines. Due to the...
Nordbygg is the largest building and construction exhibition in Scandinavia. Two of Sapa’s aluminium building systems brands will present the latest in energy-efficient solutions and customer support tools at Nordbygg 2014. While the Wicona brand will feature several new communication tools and a large number of new WICLINE-series products at Nordbygg, Sapa Building System will take the opportunity to launch a new generation of highly insulated doors, folding doors, windows and glazed walls, in its branded architectural system SAPA THERMO 86. This new aluminium system is flexible and modular, easy to manufacture, assemble and mount, allows large dimensions and is also available with fire resistance and with smoke leakage control in the same design as the standard one, something unique on...
General Cable Corporation announced today that the European Commission has issued a decision on the liability of producers of submarine and underground high voltage power cables for infringement of European competition law. The Power Cables Case was initiated by a Statement of Objections or preliminary complaint in June 2011 addressed to twelve (12) company groups involving twenty-seven (27) companies alleging that the companies had participated in a cartel to restrict competition on submarine and underground high voltage projects from 1999 to 2009. The Statement of Objections further alleged that two subsidiaries of General Cable, its Spanish subsidiary, Grupo General Cable Sistemas, and its French subsidiary, Silec Cable, had participated in the cartel for different periods of time. In...
Sapa is strengthening its range of advanced aluminium solutions with the acquisition of UK-based Holden Aluminium Technologies Ltd. Sapa has taken over the operation with effect from April 1, 2014. Holden’s aluminium extrusion fabrication plant is located in Bromyard, England, and employs approximately 60 people. The site specializes in the supply of formed and machined components for sectors including construction, transport and general engineering. Sapa acquires UK-based aluminium components companyThe Bromyard plant will become part of Sapa’s extrusion business in the UK, joining sister operations in Birtley, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Redditch, Rotherham and Tibshelf. “Adding the Holden operation is part of Sapa’s strategic objective to become the leading supplier of value-adding...
KEMET Corp. has announced its next-generation aluminum electrolytic capacitors that boast a novel high performance axial series. The PEG130 105°C Axial Series offers features geared for LED lighting applications. LED lamp power supplies demand long component life while generating minimal heat. The line-up claims to deliver the requirements for long component life while generating minimal heat and are available with capacitances as high as 6,300uF and voltage options of 25, 40 and 63VDC, detailed the company. "The low ESR electrolyte and paper system developed for this series is important because ESR contributes directly to heat and losses in a power supply design," stated Leif Elliasson, KEMET product manager. "Depending on operational conditions, the PEG130 achieves up to 160,000 hours...
Ohio-based Aleris announced today it has purchased Nichols Aluminum, which operates a facility in Decatur, from Quanex Building Productions for $110 million cash. Nichols Aluminum, a wholly-owned subsidiary, produces aluminum sheets on Alabama 20 in Decatur and at production facilities in Davenport, Iowa and Lincolnshire, Ill. The company serves the North American transportation, building and construction, machinery and equipment, consumer durables, and electrical markets. Quanex, the company's former owner in Houston, is a components supplier for the global window and door industry. "Going forward, our full focus will be on growing our position as a leading window and door component supplier both domestically and internationally," said Bill Griffiths, Quanex chairman, president and chief...
The Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) presented Rand Baldwin, AEC President, its coveted Distinguished Service Award during the Volunteer Recognition Banquet on March 20, 2014 at the AEC Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference held in Coral Gables, Florida . Rick Merluzzi, AEC Chairman, said, “In light of the dramatic turnaround in our industry through industry promotion and successful execution of our China trade agenda managed by the AEC, we wanted to recognize Rand’s leadership and dedication with the AEC’s most prestigious award.” This award is the highest honor given to an individual whose work through the years has earned special recognition by AEC membership. The presentation of the Distinguished Service Award was unique in that it had never been presented to an individual outside of...
Boeing and Apple will work together to "weaponise" Apple technology, after the aerospace giant found aluminium-milling techniques developed by Apple to build the MacBook Air's case result in a stronger, more versatile aircraft wings than it is possible to create with its own manufacturing practices. “One of my team dropped their MacBook air and its screen shattered,” Boeing's head of speculative engineering Rolf Apilo told The Reg. “We'd often remarked that the Air looked like the 'trailing edge' of a plane’s wing. That's the rear edge of the wing that, like the MacBook Air, tapers to a thin wedge.” “Trailing edges must endure tremendous stresses including very high frequency vibration and rapidly changing temperature. So for a joke we decided to test the broken MacBook in one of our...
