Norway will provide a guarantee of up to NOK 150 million (USD 16.08 million) to support revenue security for the planned 255 MW Thakadu solar project in South Africa, helping reduce the risk faced by investors in the renewable energy development. The guarantee will be provided to Lyra Energy, an electricity sales platform jointly owned by Scatec, Standard Bank and Stanlib. It will cover the risk of companies buying electricity from the solar plant failing to make their payments. The agreement, announced on September 14, 2026, is the first involving a private company under Norway's renewable energy guarantee mechanism. The NOK 5 billion (USD 536 million) programme is designed to encourage greater private investment in renewable energy projects in developing countries by taking on part of...
The latest escalation in the US-Canada trade dispute is putting pressure on one of North America's most deeply integrated manufacturing networks, with auto-parts makers facing higher costs and growing uncertainty over where and how components should be produced. The two countries have spent decades building an automotive supply chain in which parts and materials routinely cross the border multiple times before reaching a finished vehicle. The latest tariff measures, including duties on aluminium and steel, threaten to disrupt that model and could force suppliers to reconsider long-established production routes. The immediate challenge for automakers and their suppliers is deciding whether to absorb higher costs in the short term or make expensive changes to their supply chains. For...
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Beverage makers Lo Bros taking into account the sustainability factor has launched their latest product in a new aluminium packaging option, which is 100% recyclable and eco-friendly. Not Soda will now be available in aluminium beverage cans and it has been created with the notion of discarding the application of single-use plastic packaging solutions. Australian supermarket chains like Ritchies and Drakes are eager to hold on to the brands initiative wherein they have decided to store Not Soda in their stores. The best part behind the elaborate scheme can be explained in very few words; for every can that gets sold, two plastic bottles would be extracted from the ocean bed, which in the long run might yield extraordinary results. This is a perfectly placed initiative that will lower the...
Cellnex has successfully finished the pilot programme to test and confirm the usage of cutting-edge aluminium-air battery technology as a backup power system at its locations as part of a test programme. This was done in partnership with Phinergy, one of the leading developers of clean and high-energy-density systems based on metal-air technology that has revolutionised electricity generation using aluminium as the primary energy source. Aluminium batteries offer clean energy sources and don't produce trash that must be disposed of or pollute the environment. The project involved replacing a diesel generator set with these advanced aluminium-air batteries at Ossa de Montiel, a location close to the Lagunas de Ruidera Park in the province of Albacete (Spain). The 4kW, 20-hour capacity...
The third edition of the space-inspired hovering pen has been named Levitating Pen 3.0, just a number up from the last released model. With just a glance, it is almost impossible to realise that it is a working pen and not something just for show. The incredible physics-defying object, Levitating Pen 3.0, has been forged out of aircraft-grade aluminium and titanium, which gives it a realistic yet fictionalised outlook. The pen comes equipped with a stand, on which it has been meticulously placed upon a touchpoint. The pen keeps moving, pivoted on the stand. The Levitating Pen 3.0, as the name suggests, can literally float on its stand and spin for a stretch of 30 seconds straight using basic kinetic energy. On the stand, the pen can be placed at a 60° angle, which almost resembles the...
Denmark-based interior designer and the proprietor of B4K, Andreas Krob, has unveiled his latest creation, the FollowMe task chair for Czech Manufacturer LD Seating, an innovator connecting seating spaces with comfort since 1993. FollowMe gives a modern, utopian, space-centric vibe with its shiny aluminium framework that strengthens the construction of each chair. The aluminium super-structure does not have a very complex design; instead, it has been precisely formulated to provide ultimate comfort and an elongated skeleton to the backrest. Just as the backrest has been supported with a robust aluminium frame, the backrest, in turn, provides utmost comfort to a user, as it has been designed to follow the resident's body movement. This means if a person lies back on the chair, it gives...
For the past few months, the end-user sector has been witnessing rapid growth and massive transformations all at once and with more and more brands moving toward sustainability, it is one of the primary agendas for manufacturers worldwide. The all-new BMW 7 Series and BMW i7 brought in by Abu Dhabi Motors (ADM), the officially registered importer of BMW Group vehicles in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, have been constituted with CelestiAL, an aluminium variant produced by Emirates Global Aluminium using solar power. South Korea’s LG Chem announced that it would make a US$3 billion investment to build a battery cathode factory in Tennessee to meet the rising demand for electric vehicle (EV) components. A subsidiary of DCM Shriram Group in India, Fenesta has declared the inauguration of its 7th...
Pakistan Aluminium Beverage Cans Limited (PABC) has been coroneted to become the only manufacturer of aluminium-made beverage cans in the country by Pakistan Credit Rating Agency Limited (PACRA). On November 25, the company's PSX filing displayed two primary entry ratings: "A+" for the long term and "Al" for the short term with a steady exposure. The ratings specify the company's capability in assessing its market position and the management's capacity to run the company to achieve its full potential. Since the enterprise is witnessing growth in business and volumes, the board is willing to make shrewd financial decisions and follow rigorous norms to control the environment. The demand for aluminium cans is directly proportional to the intake of beverage drinks, which in a way, is on the...
Aluminium is not just another metal anymore. It is one of the industry's most widely used and accepted materials. From technology to architecture, aluminium can be found almost everywhere. The Jakarta-based architecture studio, GeTs Architects has designed a modern home partially covered in perforated laser-cut aluminium panels. The home, known as "GolFN," is distinguished by its patterned laser-cut screen, which shields inhabitants from glaring sunshine and torrential downpours while simultaneously enabling them to take in views of the nearby golf course and Mount Salak. The entry to the home is accessible from the right side of the building through an open ramp with a partially transparent laser-cut volume above. Due to the building's east orientation, GeTs Architects integrated...
Favvosee’s latest Nebula 2 tattoo machine kit has become quite popular among seasoned tattoo artists and enthusiasts. The machine has a shiny aluminium body that makes it attractive and lightweight. With great recorded sales, the Nebula 2 is a very potent tattoo pen that can swap between lining and shading simultaneously without changing machine heads. This can be a perfect appliance for beginners and emerging tattoo artists because of its firm grip and feather-light structure. The Favvosee Nebula 2 tattoo machine has been created out of aircraft-grade aluminium, which makes it lighter than the contemporary complex tattoo pens. Moreover, aluminium is a malleable non-ferrous metal but can be mended to form any shape that can be equally rigid. The Nebula 2 only weighs 4.16 ounces or 118...
The Mexican behemoth Envases Group Packaging Solutions (EGPS) is planning to move to Granby, USA, to launch a new packaging production line by 2023. The company will manufacture aluminium and steel packaging for its Canadian clients in the food and industrial industries. With an expected investment of $13 million, the project may create 30 jobs and take shape in a 55,000-square-foot industrial space rented on Arthur-Danis Street. "Granby becomes for them (EGPS) a strategic place because of the main roads (…). And what's more, they make a product that isn't made here. So it does not come to compete with a company that already exists and it comes to complete our niche of excellence in food processing," said the general manager of Granby Industrial, Patrick Saint-Laurent. The City provided...
Fenesta, an enterprise under DCM Shriram Group, also one of India’s largest windows and doors suppliers, has announced opening a new aluminium factory in Hyderabad. This can be hailed as the seventh manufacturing unit in India and by far the second in Hyderabad. Fenesta has allocated a wide range of products for the construction industry. The company effortlessly produces uPVC joints and aluminium extrusions that constitute its flagship profiles. Fenesta also provides installation along with giving after-sales services to its customers. All products from Fenesta are subjected to rigorous quality tests at every step of the production process to make them suitable for India’s diverse climatic conditions. Fenesta products have a huge demand in the construction sector nationally and...
China-based UA Packaging has replaced plastic with aluminium to create its latest luxurious ALU Airless jar. This is a commendable addition to the company’s aluminium packaging profile which mainly aims at serving luxury skincare brands. Aluminium is an infinitely recyclable material that can retain its original properties even after undergoing the transformation phase, making it cost-effective and more eco-friendly than primary aluminium production. Moreover, recycling aluminium creates a circular economy since, once produced, the non-ferrous metal can enter the never-ending loop of recycling and reuse. UA Packaging, adhering to the newfound ideologies of sustainability and net zero emissions, has incorporated aluminium into its usual container-making process. Plus, aluminium has a shiny...
TEAKOE, a fizzy tea beverage brand, has launched its flagship products in a new sustainable packaging option, an aluminium can which is environment-friendly and 100% recyclable. TEAKOE has collaborated with Denver-based creative agency Lamora Design to create the new brand image. TEAKOE makes refreshing fizzy beverages in various flavours, which are now available in aluminium cans to match the minimalistic lifestyle of the new generation. Moreover, with the call for net zero by 2050, global companies are adopting sustainable elements to serve as raw materials. The aluminium can not only keeps the beverage safe from any atmospheric reaction but also provides an attractive outlook for the brand itself. Though TEAKOE has changed its outside cover, the inner drink is as fizzy and tasty as it...
Deco Australia, a manufacturer of aluminium building products and finishes, has acquired a Standard Patent from IP Australia for the timber-look aluminium decking system, DecoDeck. Standard Patent by IP Australia recognises and protects designs having new and unique features different from existing products. Hence, the patent establishes that DecoDeck is one of a kind in the market. The patent also protects products against infringements or copying for 20 years per the Patents Act 1990. “Receiving this patent is another great step in protecting Deco’s Intellectual Property, which comprises Patents and Trademarks,” DECO director Ross Doonan said. DecoDeck is made from solid aluminium extrusion and finished with slip-resistant, super-durable sublimated polyurethane DecoWood powdercoat. It...
Founded in 1902, a global packaging solutions head, TricorBraun, has taken over Vancouver-based Merlot Packaging to further stabilise its position in Canada. TricorBraun can be regarded as the primary packaging supplier in North America. The company specialises in making a broad range of products, from glass bottles to aluminium containers, from plastic dispensers to aluminium closures, tubes and flexibles. The partnership will utilise the operational expertise of both companies to restructure the packaging market in North America. Merlot Packaging provides a one-stop solution for high-quality, injection moulded, robust packaging blends preferred by company owners and manufacturers in the North American zone. Merlot has been known for delivering safe and secure closure systems, including...
Automobile innovators, GAC Design has released the look of its latest concept car known as the GAC Barchetta, an all-electric sports car that flaunts a flat 2D design and no upward protruding hood. The car displays a flat design and when parked resembles a table top having a strong aluminium constitution. The chassis of the GAC Barchetta has been flattened with batteries that power the car being embedded in the car’s structure. The shiny body of the car has been comprised of 100% recyclable aluminium. Moreover, the company used the non-ferrous material to compose the car’s structure as it is extremely lightweight, which would help the car in swift movement. This utopian car resembles vehicles shown in Sci-fi films released in the 90s. With aluminium wheels that are attached to the outlook...
The Chinese tech giant Xiaomi is expected to come up with its flagship smartphone dubbed Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro. The most recent leak shows an all-aluminium mobile device body equipped with the recently unveiled Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 CPU, which is made utilising the 4nm manufacturing process. The primary camera of the much-talked-about flagship phone may have a resolution of 50 MP, with a battery capacity of 5,000 mAh. Furthermore, it is said that a Leica-tuned camera module would be included in every Xiaomi 13 series smartphone. This indicates that after the Xiaomi 12S smartphone, Xiaomi and Leica are still working together. As per the reports, the regular Xiaomi 13 may feature a flat OLED screen on the front, with the possibility of a slightly popped camera module on the...
Alumobility, a global ecosystem of leading aluminium and downstream technology partners focusing on the advanced use of aluminium by automakers, will be participating in the upcoming Sustainability in Automotive Production conference to be held in Bad Nauheim, Germany. The event will be organized by Automotive Circle. "I look forward to discussing with my colleagues how aluminum can reduce vehicle weight to realize greater efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions while addressing advanced technology needs and more sustainable manufacturing. We can do this without sacrificing safety, durability or performance, which is why aluminum is quickly becoming the material of choice for automotive manufacturers," said Alumobility's Managing Director, Dr Thomas Rudlaff. At the event, Alumobility will...
Netherlands-based KM Yachtbuilders has declared to sources that it is developing the second 23.5-metre Pelagic 77 sailing yacht, which features an aluminium superstructure and two aluminium masts. The hull construction will commence on 28 November 2022 in Makkum. This second instalment of the Pelagic 77 series is almost an accurate replica of the first Pelagic 77, also referred to as the Vinson of Antarctica, where ‘Vinson’ means conqueror. The boat will be built under a subsidiary of the same owner. The naval blueprint has been submitted by Tony Castro, who incorporated aluminium as a raw material for building the ship’s hull, with an addition of a 6.2-metre beam and two strong aluminium masts. The second Pelagic 77 will have ample area to host twelve guests while providing the user with...
