Romania’s aluminium can recycling rate increased to 80.5 per cent in the first nine months of 2026, compared with 75 per cent in the same period last year, according to data published by RetuRO, the administrator of the country’s Deposit Return System (DRS), and analysed by Every Can Counts. The number of aluminium cans returned between January and September was 6.3 per cent higher than in the corresponding period of 2025. The return rate also improved to 85 per cent from 82 per cent a year earlier. Aluminium cans were the only packaging category to record growth in the first nine months of 2026, as the total number of deposit-bearing containers placed on the market declined by 2.4 per cent. The number of cans placed on the market increased by 2 per cent, while plastic and glass packaging...
Following major international fitness trade gatherings like FIBO, commercial gym operators and wellness studios are expanding their mind-body exercise offerings. Global market demand for commercial Pilates equipment continues to accelerate across Europe, North America, and the Asia-Pacific region. In particular, lightweight yet structurally resilient aluminium reformers have become the preferred choice for modern studio spaces. However, this sudden surge in commercial demand presents significant procurement challenges for studio managers, franchise operators, and equipment distributors. While exhibition halls and online B2B platforms showcase hundreds of visually similar machines, the underlying structural engineering varies dramatically between manufacturers. Evaluating a wholesale basic...
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Porsche Design's iconic series gets a new product named P'8951, which is the ultimate sunglass for those seeking innovation and style. It has been crafted fully out of aluminium, and this limited-edition eyewear takes inspiration from the legendary Porsche 911 and traverses the limitations of design and technology. With meticulous precision, the frame front and temples of the P'8951 are expertly milled from a single block of aluminium, giving it a futuristic and sleek look. The captivating brown gold mirror shield lens further accentuates its bold and confident appeal, making the user stand out from the crowd. But the P'8951 is not just a pretty affair. Its high-performance polycarbonate lens incorporates Porsche Design's Vision Drive lens technology, ensuring an exceptional visual...
Farnborough-based TISICS has introduced new lightweight metal composite landing gear that it says may save £650k per aircraft per year in fuel expenses. Light Land, developed in collaboration with Safran Landing Systems, is believed to be the world's biggest metal composite built for civil aviation. It is composed of aluminium and titanium and serves as a prototype for what TISICS claims would be a variety of metal composite components that may lower aviation emissions by 9.6 million tonnes if used on wide-body aircraft. According to the business, their composites provide a weight reduction of 30-70 per cent, excelling at high-strength steel and surpassing the strength and rigidity of titanium at a 40 per cent lower density. "We're hugely excited to showcase the potential of Light Land...
Singapore-based healthy snack brand SnackRight attempts to weather larger economic uncertainty by concentrating on product innovation and shelf-life extension to expand its sales channels. The company plans to include packaging materials like aluminium foils in their arrangements to expand its presence in the mass market. "The current shelf life of our products is about six months. We are looking to improve that - such as adding nitrogen and aluminium foil into the packaging - so that we can have them in more retail outlets like FairPrice Finest and Cold Storage. This is our goal for 2023," said the firm. Aluminium is one of the most sustainable and recyclable metals on the planet. As a result, it is strongly recommended for usage in various end-use sectors like packaging, transportation,...
Baiurdo VI, a 34.5-metre sailing yacht, has been sold, with James Pool of Y.CO representing the buyer and Simon Goldsworthy of Edmiston representing the seller. Baiurdo VI was designed by Gilles Vaton and built-in aluminium by the German yard Abeking & Rasmussen in 1992. Since then, the yacht has undergone frequent improvements, including a thorough renovation and new hull paint job in 2019 and a subsequent refit in 2021. Eight people are accommodated in four cabins, each with an en suite, including a primary bedroom, VIP suite, double, and twin. A team of four may be accommodated in additional crew quarters. The yacht has a range of 3,000 nautical miles at 9 knots when powered by a single 345hp Mercedes diesel engine. According to Y.CO's James Pool, "Baiurdo VI is a pedigree Northern...
Constructed with premium materials and finished with a nano-ceramic coating inspired by porcelain, Google's Pixel tablet is unmatched in its class. Additionally, it is constructed with over 30% recycled materials, including 100% recycled aluminium in the device's case. The Pixel Tablet, specially designed for entertainment, flaunts a high-definition 11-inch display and includes a Charging Speaker Dock that can transform it to fit the core of one's smart home. As Google's latest and most advanced device, it runs on Android and features the Tensor G2 chip developed by Google . One can experience high-quality video calls with the Pixel camera technology from Google, which provides clear and sharp visuals. Users can enjoy vibrant and vivid colours on the screen for an immersive entertainment...
Skyportz, a leader in air taxi infrastructure, has unveiled an excellent design for a vertiport to facilitate the swift establishment of an international network of air taxi landing sites. These innovative aluminium vertiport solutions are affordable and modular, providing a turn-key option for smaller property sites seeking to participate in the Advanced Air Mobility future. The modular monocoque aluminium shells are available in three sizes that can be joined together, depending on space requirements. During the launch at Paris’ Airshow, Skyportz CEO Clem Newton-Brown, asserted: “The focus in the industry to date has been on larger vertiports located at existing airports. This is the low-hanging fruit which will form the essential backbone of an Advanced Air Mobility ecosystem.”...
Canadian Solar, a Chinese module producer, is exhibiting its 700 W bifacial TOPCon solar modules this week at Intersolar Europe in Munich, Germany. Canadian Solar said in December 2022 that it will commence mass manufacturing of TOPCon solar modules in the first quarter of 2023. IP68 junction boxes and anodized aluminium alloy frames are standard on the modules. They can work in temperatures ranging from -40 to 85 degrees Celsius with a system voltage of 1,500 volts. The double-glass panels weigh 37.8 kg and measure 2,384 x 1,303 x 33 mm. They have 2.0 mm heat-strengthened glass with an anti-reflective coating on the front and a 2.0 mm glass layer on the rear. “Canadian Solar’s TOPCon modules will increase the energy yield of PV systems and deliver one of the most competitive balance of...
Fashion house Prada's Spring Summer 2024 menswear show featured a unique design created by Dutch studio AMO. The show occurred in the Deposito space of the Fondazione Prada art centre in Milan, which Rem Koolhaas designed. AMO covered the walls, floor, and ceiling with aluminium, creating a cage-like structure for the show. However, the ever-shifting "walls" of the space were formed by 3,000 kilos of slime dripping down from the ceiling, creating green puddles on the floor. Industrial lamps around the ceiling lit up the catwalk, giving it a clinical feel. Prada added in a statement: "The concept of fluidity framing the human form again expands, represented through the show space in the Deposito of the Fondazione Prada. Abstract walls are evoked through fluid interruptions, forming an...
NORD DRIVESYSTEMS now offers a solution for the needs of drive technology for harsh environmental conditions in the range of products acquainted with conventional geared motors. The nsd tupH Sealed Surface Conversion System from NORD has a unique treatment that renders drive surfaces with aluminium housings exceptionally corrosion-resistant, comparable to stainless steel. The nsd tupH surface treatment protects gear units, smooth surface motors, frequency inverters, and motor starters in washdown-optimised cast aluminium housings against corrosion. This is not a coating but an electrolytic treatment that forms a protective layer permanently linked to the substrate material. The treatment is not only cost-effective but is also available for a larger product range composed of aluminium. As...
Rosatom encouraged the Special Design & Technological Bureau of Applied Robotics to create an amphibious robot that can work in emergency situations at nuclear facilities. The robot is lightweight due to the use of aluminium in its construction and can carry objects up to 25 kg while conducting visual reconnaissance on land and underwater. The Deputy General Director of the bureau, Ilya Laverychev, exclaimed: "The mobile robot is a four-track chassis with a manipulator. The robot is controlled by the operator from the console, either remotely or by cable, depending on external conditions and the technology of work. The operator controls the situation in the area of the manipulator in real time using television cameras." The four-track chassis with a manipulator is controlled by an...
A report released by the Aluminum Association titled "2023 North American Light Vehicle Aluminum Content and Outlook" shows a robust demand for sustainable transportation will increase aluminium use by nearly 100 net pounds per vehicle (PPV) by 2030. A new survey by Ducker Carlisle, a global consulting and M&A firm, also cites that aluminum demand will grow through the decade's end, backed by electric vehicles' entry into the mass market. "Consumers want cars and trucks that are more sustainable, more electrified and filled with more technology, and automakers are responding with a host of innovations, all enabled by high-strength, low-weight and infinitely recyclable aluminum," said Mike Keown, chair of the Aluminum Transportation Group and CEO of Commonwealth Rolled Products. He added,...
Huawei has started delivering the first batch of its AITO M5 e-vehicles (electric vehicles) to the customer who had requested the vehicle shortly after its availability. The dimensions of the new automobile are 4770 x 1930 x 1625mm, with a wheelbase of 2880mm. A range-extension version and a pure electric edition are available, all with an all-aluminium alloy chassis, front double wishbone, and rear multi-link independent suspension. "Thanks to the trust of the users, we have once again witnessed the "Wenjie speed"! This new car brings innovative intelligent range-extending technology, which allows the vehicle to automatically adjust according to road conditions, with abundant power and further reduced energy consumption. In addition, the HarmonyOS smart cockpit and HUAWEI ADS 2.0...
Chong Zi En, a 26-year-old National University of Singapore (NUS) student, created Paw Wheels, an assisted walker for mobility-impaired elderly canines. The WINK is a regional train manufactured by Stadler Rail, a Swiss rolling stock manufacturer. It's a two-car multiple-unit train with a lightweight aluminium superstructure intended for branch routes with low passenger traffic. McLaren, the world-famous supercar manufacturer, has made its mark in India by releasing the much-anticipated Artura hybrid electric sports vehicle. The McLaren Artura is the first car to utilise the McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA), designed specifically for hybrid applications. Marlish Waters of the United Kingdom has introduced a 150ml beverage can for its tonics and mixers line. The new...
The European Tube Manufacturers Association (etma) announced the "Tube of the Year 2023" winners and the winning tubes were presented in Amsterdam at the end of May. This year, the POREfessional tube by Benefit Cosmetics, part of the luxury company LVMH, won under the aluminium tube category. Alltub France manufactured these tubes using more than 95 per cent post-consumer recycled (PCR) aluminium. The tubes have been finished with a matt, translucent lacquer that highlights the brushed metal of the tubes beautifully. The etma annual conference and the third World Tube Congress, both well-attended, provided an appropriate backdrop for the prize presentation. The winners in the categories of aluminium tubes, plastic tubes, laminate tubes, sustainability, and prototypes were chosen by a jury...
Ikea's experimental design arm, Space10, has devised a solution to the challenges of moving furniture. They have created the "Couch in an Envelope," which weighs only 22 pounds and can be folded into an envelope. The couch maintains sustainability standards and is circular due to the use of aluminium in the make. This innovative couch was designed to challenge the conventional norms of couch design and make it more adaptable to modern living. Space10 used AI to create a modular couch that is easy to recycle or give away and can be handled by people who work from home. The company collaborated with design studio Panter&Tourron to create a "couch for nomadic living" using artificial intelligence (AI). The furniture is sustainable, lightweight, and 100% recyclable due to the use of...
Ark, a London-based EV startup, has just launched the Ark Zero electric quadricycle, which is being touted as the UK's most affordable electric vehicle. The tiny aluminium vehicle measures 2,500 millimetres in length, 1,202 mm in width, and 1,625 mm in height, making it more compact than the Citroën Ami. The Ark Zero EV has been designed to promote sustainable transportation and a cleaner transformation of the UK's automobile sector. It is made entirely of 100% recyclable aluminium, which makes it lightweight and strong. The vehicle's body and chassis are combined into a single unit, constructed entirely of lightweight and sturdy aluminium using monocoque technology. This design enhances the vehicle's strength and rigidity, making it safer in the event of an accident. Aluminium was chosen...
Norwegian aluminium producer, Hydro will offer engineering support, manufacturing, and delivery of its flagship aluminium components for the 780 kW SolarDuck offshore floating solar plant. The construction will take place off the Coast of Tioman Island in Malaysia and has been scheduled to be accomplished by 2025. The Executive Vice President of Hydro Extrusions, Paul Warton, exclaimed: "Solar energy is part of the necessary shift to renewable energy. Extruded aluminium solutions are the perfect fit for such installations with their light weight and strength, and the fact that they require little or no maintenance.” As early as 2021, Hydro had supplied its patented aluminium profiles for SolarDuck's pilot structure. Hydro extrusion plants in Lichtervelde, Belgium, and Magnor, Norway, will...
The WINK is a regional train made by Stadler Rail, a Swiss rolling stock company. It's a two-car multiple-unit train with a lightweight aluminium superstructure designed for branch lines with minimal passenger footfall. WINK is a German acronym for "convertible, innovative short train for local transportation." The train is part of Stadler's sustainable portfolio of regional trains and was introduced in 2017. The WINK train's modular design is inspired from the FLIRT train, which has over 1,400 operational units. The trains have a completely accessible driving unit placed between the two carriages. They are outfitted with energy-generating components, traction elements, and auxiliary systems, which offer a very adaptable driving system. Like the Flirt's, the end bogies are powered by the...
