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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An amazing discovery was made earlier this year when Chris Coates, site manager at the Halton Mill received a phone call from one of his factory workers. It was reported that an unidentified aluminium car chassis has been uncovered in the corner of the scrapyard at the Wicks recycling yard in Cumbria, UK. What came forward with the unveiling suggested that Lancaster might have had a chance of becoming a car manufacturing area near the end of the World War II. The journey begins in November 1944, when Denis Kendall, the MP of Grantham announced the idea of a ‘People’s Car’ acquirable for just £100 and an additional £25 tax. This led to the foundation of a new company named Grantham Productions Limited, which he wished to base on the British Manufacturing and Research Company (BMARC) on...
Novo Capsule, a Switzerland-based joint venture, is the pioneer in producing aluminium coffee pods compatible with Nespresso machines that leave a smaller carbon footprint and have almost 8 per cent increasing demand in the near future due to its sustainability quotient. No wonder Novo Capsule is leading the production cycle to suffice this extraordinary demand for aluminium coffee pods. Spresso Novo-Cup, in collaboration with Leuthold Mechanik, a Swiss manufacturer of tools for deep-drawing Aluminium together create the brain of Novo Capsule; the companies oversee the operations of the world's largest unit for manufacturing aluminium espresso capsules. The coffee pod manufacturing business has seen steady growth despite the harrowing situations of the global pandemic, and as the National...
Hero Lectro, the premium e-cycle brand of Hero Cycles & e-bikes in India, recently introduced three new variants of their existing C and F series line-ups - the C1, C5x, and F1. The new e-cycles have cutting-edge aluminium alloy 6061 frames for higher structural strength and corrosion resistance. "Having launched the first e-cycles in India, we at Hero Lectro are today witnessing its widespread adoption across the length and breadth of India," said Aditya Munjal, Director at Hero Cycles. Aluminium alloy 6061 is a great option for bicycle frames. It offers stiffness, toughness and structural strength, strong corrosion resistance, and favourable machining properties. When welding is necessary as it is with bicycle frames, the 6061 alloys, which is alloyed with silicon and magnesium, is a...
Headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, Go Fast Campers has declared itself making the world's strongest truck topper that can support up to 800 pounds of dynamic load. The truck topper has been internally reinforced with steel, whereas; the outer tubular space frame consists of extruded aluminium. Apparently, this GFG Platform Topper is sturdier than the bed rails of any other contemporary pick-up truck. To prove the static load capacity of these toppers, the company has very carefully balanced a 4,500-pound Ford F-250 on top of a GFG Platform Topper mounted Toyota Tacoma. Although Jalopnik alumnus Wes Siler finds this an exaggeration, the move definitely justifies the company's claim. These aluminium-clad toppers are suitable for mini-trucks and can be used during camping expeditions and...
Emirates Global Aluminium, UAE’s largest organisation excluding the gas and oil sector, arranged for a virtual knowledge-sharing session chaired by the first Emirati astronaut, Hazzaa AlMansoori, to discuss the uses of aluminium in space. At this moment, astronaut Hazzaa AlMansoori has been preparing for the next mission with his team in the United States and seemed very upbeat about sharing information with the employees of EGA. His stories are deeply related to his phenomenal 2019 space endeavour. He was eager to share his purview on how aluminium has redefined the space sector with infinite possibilities for innovation. Aluminium is a vital substance for the aerospace industry for its heat and corrosion-resistant properties. EGA Youth Council member Amal Al Sayegh conducted the panel...
The heart of Scandinavia is bracing itself to receive the world's first zero-emission aviation technology developed by a group of Heart Aerospace engineers. A hangar at Gothenburg is currently housing the discovery. As Fredrik Kampfe from the Swedish Aviation Industry Group correctly puts it: "If not here, where else should be first with zero-emissions aviation?" Sweden has set an extraordinary goal where the country is on a journey towards achieving fossil-free domestic flights by 2030. The aviation industry also aims at making each outgoing flight from the country fossil-free by 2045. This is quite a big leap for the aviation industry since, for the first time, sustainability is at the peak of everything else. The Heart Aerospace engineers have custom-constructed an aluminium framework...
On Wednesday, September 21, Ball Corporation declared that it completed the sale of all its beverage packaging business in Russia to Arnest Group for $530 million to divest from the Russian market. Ball said Arnest Group, the largest manufacturer of aerosols in Russia and CIS countries, has purchased all of Ball’s Russian business. However, the sale is not likely to affect Ball’s business out of Russia by any means. "This decision is the result of many months of consideration, delivering a solution that best secures the future of Ball's colleagues and assets in Russia. We believe this is a sound outcome for Ball in these geo-political circumstances," said Dan Fisher, president and CEO Ball Corporation. In March, Ball Corporation curtailed operations across all its three manufacturing...
On September 20, it was declared that Ball Corporation would unify with Boomerang Water LLC, a sustainable water bottling technology provider that helps reduce the application of single-use plastic bottles. After the conglomeration, Ball would be completely responsible for supplying the aluminium bottles for Boomerang's patented machines that collect, sanitise, refill and cap glass or aluminium bottles with fresh water to be sold on the retail market. Ball aluminium bottles would be available sporting Boomerang technology at cruise ships, campuses and resorts, in a way generating lesser environmental residues than the use of single-use plastic bottles may cause. Boomerang has an amazing mono-machining technology that can accept empty aluminium and glass bottles, eventually washing,...
Aluminium-air battery developers from India, Log9 materials has raised INR 77 crores or US$9.65 million from Amara Raja Batteries, the second largest automotive battery maker in the country after Exide. This is the second round of investment by 'Amaron' battery makers after the initial fund was raised to boost the Bengaluru-based start-up. Amara Raja Batteries with the present investment has inherited a 15.4 per cent stake in Log9. The funding opportunities are still wide open for Log9 where the company might welcome other major investors. Previously, in August 2021 Log9 had accumulated a lumpsum amount of US$8.5 million through the Series A+ investment round led by Amara Raja Batteries and other prevailing players like Exfinity Ventures and Sequoia Capital. To date, the company has...
Asyad Group, a logistic solutions provider from Oman has notified about the successful development of the second ship built at Asyad Drydock which has locations very close to the commercial port of Duqm. Operational, the 24 meters long boat, MEFK Pearl will run through the Port of Fujairah. Asyad is the leader in making turnkey steel and aluminium ships equipped with superlative technological prowess. This addition in the series would be a milestone for the company as it strengthens Asyad’s position as a steel and aluminium ship provider in the entire world of logistics, marking them as a turnkey solution provider. Aluminium is lighter than steel and is the most suitable metal for constituting the outer shell of a water vessel. Moreover, its anti-corrosive nature also appeals to the...
The US-based health drinks company Hylux has unveiled its unflavoured spring water in a new recyclable, customisable aluminium bottle. Initially, the bottles will be available to selective organisations to sell and distribute within their networks, with Northeastern University’s Boston campus being the first customer. To widen the reach of the new-launched bottles, Hylux is already corresponding with sports teams and other large organisations. Soon, the bottled spring water will be availeble online as well. “I couldn’t be more excited about providing organisations with a way to hit their eco-targets, particularly because aluminium has a lower carbon footprint than glass and plastic,” said CEO Lamar Letts, who founded the brand in 2014. He added, “What’s even better is that our custom...
The Modus Brewing, owned by Grant and Jaz Wearin, has recently decided to open limited partnership brewing opportunities to firms in welcoming the Summer of 2022 and beyond. In their excellent facility at Newcastle’s suburb of Merewether, Modus is trying to amplify its production rate of 5+ million litres which mainly makes Modus Cerveza, Modus Beer, non-alcoholic beer, NORT and Perky Seltzer. Modus has a fine aluminium cans packaging line, and with its counter pressure CODI filler, upgraded from Krones, can also pack liquid into glass bottles using the filling method. One can expect advanced quality beverage packaging from the firm. Aluminium is by far the most sustainable and safe beverage packaging option available at this point, and Australia has concerns regarding the use of glass...
A JV agreement has been signed between Altech and Fraunhofer IKTS to commercialize the CERENERGY® sodium alumina solid-state battery technology. Altech Chemicals believes that CERENERGY® batteries are the revolutionary grid storage alternative to lithium-ion batteries. This agreement will enable the development of a 100MWh project on Altech's property in Schwarze Pumpe, Germany. The proposed factory will create 10,000 10KWh sodium alumina solid-state battery modules annually at 40 per cent to 50 per cent less expensive than lithium-ion batteries. These modules are anticipated to retail for between €7,000 and €9,000 apiece. Creating the CERENERGY® batteries by IKTS took more than eight years, as well as €35 million for research and development and €25 million for the functioning pilot...
The Drinktec event scheduled to be held in Munich from the 12th to 16th of September would display the flagship product of the Guala Closures Group, an aluminium packaging company. The product in focus has been named Talog, a tamper-evident cap made of aluminium and a plastic tamper-evident band that separates into halves the first time the seal is broken. Talog has been accepted widely by various renowned water brands. Guala features another closure type called the Alu-Star, which is entirely made of aluminium and sports a tamper-evident ring that shatters into multiple pieces as the packaging is opened for the first time. The broken parts remain attached to the cap. Founded in 1954, the Guala Closures Group hailing from Italy, is one of the leaders in producing aluminium packaging...
Ferrari has long been planning to introduce an SUV to its luxury car series to align pathways with its contemporaries. The dream has come true with the revelation of the first-ever SUV created for the brand Purosangue SUV. The lower chassis structure of the car has been forged entirely from a high-strength aluminium alloy. This new addition to the Prancing Horse’s 75-years old history doesn’t resemble a conventional SUV; rather, it is a four-door four-seater luxury car. Although this is the very first Ferrari model with four-door specifications, the brand has kept its standard while supplying the 6.5-litre naturally-aspirated V12 engine that generates a massive 533kW thrusting the vehicle to 100kph in 3.3 seconds. Ferrari claims the 8-speed dual-clutch transmission changes faster than the...
On September 13, Constellium SE declared it is providing aluminium Auto Body Sheet solutions for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class models manufactured in China, Europe or South Africa and exported globally for purchase. Constellium supplies aluminium required to mend the roof, tailgate, fenders and hood of the Mercedes-Benz car. Aluminium is the most suitable option for constituting lighter and more agile vehicles and is crucial for developing a modern vehicle design that ensures safety and durability. Constellium provides Mercedes-Benz C-Class with its flagship corrosion-resistant Surfalex® solution for the outer closures to yield extraordinary surface quality for precision designs. Constellium Securalex® adorns the inner closure parts adhering strictly to the most important pedestrian safety...
The Global Aluminium Can Sustainability Summit organised by Ardagh Metal Packaging and Crown Holdings is aimed at uniting people from various global organisations belonging to the aluminium value chain to activate the decarbonisation of aluminium that is used for producing can sheets. The event, in collaboration with the Cans Manufacturers Institute and the International Aluminium Institute, would present information on recycling and circularity. The event is to be held in Rome, Italy, where almost one hundred estimated aluminium and energy sector members have been invited to be a part of the great discussion from September 13 to 14. The Cans Manufacturers Institute is comprised of entities such as the U.S. metal can manufacturers and their suppliers, whereas the International Aluminium...
The American multinational technology giant Apple Inc. announced that its latest series of new iPhone14 has been created using environmentally friendly materials. The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus have been composed of sturdy and svelte aerospace-grade aluminium and feature five different colours. However, the plus point of this smartphone is that it is made using 100 per cent recycled tungsten metal in the Taptic Engine and 100 per cent recycled rare earth elements used in all magnets, including those used in MagSafe, to protect the environment from the adverse effects of different metals in products. The Taptic Engine simulates activities, such as clicks on a stationary touch screen, using haptic technology to provide users physical input. The robust Ceramic Shield front cover, unique to...
