India's Diet Coke shortage in 2026 exposed an unexpected weakness in the country's aluminium industry. Despite being the world's second-largest primary aluminium producer, India struggled to ensure adequate supplies of aluminium cans when disruptions to Middle Eastern shipping affected imports of specialised can-sheet material. The episode highlighted a structural gap in the domestic aluminium value chain: producing the metal is one thing, but converting it into higher-value finished products is another. The shortage emerged during the summer drinking season, when Diet Coke became increasingly difficult to find on Indian shelves. Quick-commerce platforms reported limited availability as shipping disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict affected aluminium supplies through the Strait...
Tesla's ambitions for its Optimus humanoid robot extend well beyond factory automation, with the company envisioning a future in which robots could support vehicle servicing, logistics and even last-mile delivery. However, turning that vision into a commercially viable product will require more than advances in artificial intelligence and robotics. It will also depend on access to aluminium, critical minerals and the downstream manufacturing capabilities needed to produce increasingly sophisticated hardware at scale. Tesla has already taken an important step towards that ambition. On October 21, 2026, the company announced that Optimus production had begun on its high-volume manufacturing line in Fremont, California. Tesla described the units coming off the line as its first...
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The end user sector has been in the news for a number of reasons. To being with, the shortage of aluminium cans has sent shockwaves throughout the sector. The majorly affected with this incident are the local or craft breweries. Beer drinkers may have to pay more for their favourite craft brews in 2022. Due to supply chain issues, aluminium cans are in short supply. Furthermore, wholesalers have changed the minimum amount of cans necessary to fulfil an order, making it more difficult for small brewers to buy the cans they need. This was followed by the news of KAISHA Packing, a pharma-packaging company situated in Mumbai, India, has successfully supplied over 2 billion doses of flip-top aluminium seals for packaging COVID vaccines. During the vaccination drive, the aluminium seal is...
On December 9, Australian based Graphene Manufacturing Group Ltd. (TSXV: GMG) (FSE: 0GF) ("GMG” or the "Company") announced that the pilot production and testing plant (“Battery Pilot Plant”) for its G+AI Batteries is now operational. GMG is a clean-tech firm located in Australia that manufactures graphene and hydrogen by breaking methane (natural gas) instead of mining graphite and is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: GMG). The G+AI Batteries are graphene aluminium-ion-batteries. They also announced that the first G+AI Batteries in coil cell format have been produced. In early 2022, more equipment to enable the production of G+AI Batteries in pouch pack cell type is planned to arrive. "The commissioning of our Battery Pilot Plant is an important milestone for GMG. Not only will...
The pandemic has caused disruptions, in many sectors of the industry, including aluminium cans. Aluminium cans are in low supply due to supply chain difficulties. However, companies in Lowcountry, Carolina, stated that it is not a big issue. Tradesmen Brewing Co., a renowned brewery in South Carolina, is located conveniently at Interstate-26 but the majority of its patrons are not locals. This, according to them, may restrain them from carrying items in cans due to the scarcity and increased prices. In 2018, Charleston's Tradesmen Brewing began using cans for its artisan brews. Staff claimed they used growlers for packing before that and throughout the can scarcity. “Anybody would say, ‘Yeah, I’ve seen a difference in the price of my favorite beer in the last couple months. It’s gone...
Saturnose, a US-based battery development company, is working on an aluminium-ion battery that it hopes to commercialise next year. The Delaware-based company is testing an improved altered aluminium ion (Ea2I) battery with an energy density of 550Wh/L, which is 20 percent higher than the best lithium-ion battery energy density of 475Wh/L, according to the company. The Ea2I battery has an average of 10,000 cycles of use, which is twice as many as a lithium-ion battery's maximum 5,000 cycles. Saturnose claims that its driving range in an electric vehicle (EV) is over 1,000 kilometres, much exceeding the 800 kilometres claimed by the finest lithium-ion battery on the market. The company's objective is to gradually replace lithium-ion batteries, which are not cost-effective. Saturnose's new...
Novelis Incorporation, the world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, announced that it achieved a significant milestone on the way to achieving Aluminum Stewardship Initiative (ASI) certifications in every region where it operates. After achieving ASI certifications in Europe, Asia, and South America in recent time, Novelis aims to complete ASI certifications for its can manufacturing facilities in North America by mid-2022. Eleven of Novelis’ European manufacturing sites have achieved the ASI’s Performance Standard & Chain of Custody Standard Certifications. In Asia, the company’s South Korea operations at Yeongju and Ulsan Aluminum, have received ASI’s Performance Standard Certification; and in Brazil, Novelis' plant in Pindamonhangaba has earned ASI's Performance Standard...
The Mumbai, India based pharma-packaging house, KAISHA Packaging has successfully delivered over 2 billion doses worth of flip-top aluminium seals used for packaging COVID vaccines. The aluminium seal is used as a closure for injection vials during the vaccination drive and is one of the vital parts of the vaccine package that ensures tamper-proof delivery. The premium manufacturer of pharmaceutical closure systems for vials, KAISHA Packaging has been a persistent and largest supplier for these seals to all the vaccines available in the Indian domestic market and overseas. To ensure an unfailing supply of vaccines and corks any shortages or gaps, the company accomplished to line up and stock an enormous volume of raw material. KAISHA Packaging not only effectively manage this challenge,...
In 2022, beer drinkers may have to pay extra for their beloved artisan beverages. Aluminium cans are in low supply due to supply chain difficulties. Furthermore, wholesalers have modified the minimum quantity of cans required to satisfy an order, making it more difficult for small breweries to purchase their usual quantities of cans. "We actually have a number of sources of cans but usually when someone like Ball's Caliber makes a change, the industry tends to follow the leader. We were lucky to get a shipment of cans these last few weeks," stated Adam Wojcik, PHX Beer Co.'s brewery director. The news of Ball Corp., aluminium can producer increasing the minimum amount of cans that some makers must purchase from one truckload to five truckloads, has already sent shockwaves throughout the...
The Malaysian state Sabah occupying the northern part of the island of Borneo has been anticipated to begin its first electric bus (e-Bus) trial run soon in Kota Kinabalu, the state capital. Muhammad Khairulnizam Hasnan, the chief communications officer of Qhazanah Sabah Bhd (QSB), the Sabah government's strategic investment arm stated that: “The final preparations were being carried out and the routes for the e-bus service were being finalised.” However, the e-Bus service is initiated by QSB in association with Gemilang Coachwork Sdn Bhd, one of Asia's leading e-Bus and aluminium bus body manufacturers. "A few other matters are being ironed out as well with the various authorities before we can get this trial service rolled out next year," he added. "We are eager to get it going and the...
The aluminium rolled and extruded products activities of Mitsubishi Aluminium Co. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Materials Corp., also located in Japan, have been agreed to be acquired by Apollo Global Management Inc.'s Japan-based portfolio firm Showa Aluminum Can Corp. The purchase comprises all of Universal Can Corp.'s shares, which Apollo defines as a manufacturer of aluminium beverage cans. Mitsubishi Materials and Hokkan Holdings Limited, a Japanese packaging company, jointly controlled that operational unit. “This transaction will bring together two highly complementary businesses, each with a proud heritage of providing high-quality aluminum products to a variety of end-markets and customers. “We are also pleased to have worked with Mitsubishi Materials to structure...
Ball Corporation one of the world's top aluminium can manufacturers, has sent shockwaves through the craft beer sector by raising the minimum amount of cans that some makers must purchase and announcing price hikes. Starting January 1, non-contract clients, which include many smaller brewers, will be required to buy at least five truckloads (approximately 1.02 million cans) of each of their beverages. Previously the minimum buying number for each product was one truckload. According to notices given to brewers, Ball stated that beginning 2022, it would no longer be allowed to hold extra cans from non-contract customers in its warehouses, and that the price-per-can would increase by roughly 50 percent for at least certain non-contract clients. The announcement comes as Ball Metal Beverage...
The Coffs Harbour based company producing a large range of aluminium and glazed balustrades, Advance Metal Industries Australia (AMIA) is all set to expand its operations and accredits to the NSW Nationals in the state government’s Regional Job Creation Fund. Gurmesh Singh, the Nationals Member for Coffs Harbour stated a $260,000 grant will help Advance Metal Industries Australia to build a new fabrication facility to augment its present product offerings, turning out13 sustainable jobs for the Mid North Coast. “The new facility will be fitted out with machinery that will allow the company to speed up manufacturing times from three days to two hours for its custom-made aluminium windows, doors, and balustrades”, Singh said. Gurmesh further added: “The new fabrication shop will...
On 25 th November 2021, Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, the Japanese manufacturing company said that it will sell its aluminium business that produces beverage cans and automotive parts, to the US investment fund Apollo Global Management for an undisclosed amount. The company in a statement said that even though, the aluminium market is anticipated to scale globally, but Mitsubishi Materials has categorically decided to divest its aluminium business as it is complicated to find an alliance with its other business segments such as copper products for electric vehicles and cement. Mitsubishi Material further added that due to the outcome of the deal will book a 29 billion yen or $251 million loss as a restructuring charge in the January-March quarter, but the loss has been discounted in...
The aluminium food container is considered one of the budget-friendly food-grade containers and the most commonly used packaging solutions across food industries. It provides outstanding product protection due to its strong and durable feature and may requisite less secondary packaging than other packaging types. However, the product is shelf-stable, reduces wastage and is refrigeration friendly. The very thin layers of aluminium foil are quite sufficient to attain the required packaging process. The Netherlands, which ranks among the richest countries of the European Union, exported 3355 tonnes of the aluminium container during 2019-20, attracting $28.21 million from the export. In 2019, the north-western European nation, Netherlands exported 1165 tonnes of aluminium containers that...
Armenia is an industrial-agrarian country, as metal products remain as one of the major exports. The economy of Armenia counts on manufacturing, services, remittances, and agriculture, while Russia is Armenia's principal export market. The Joe Biden administration has introduced new tariffs on Armenia’s aluminium foil import to the US, which is considered as the largest export of Armenia to the United States. The former Soviet republic, Armenia exported 83,219 tonnes of aluminium foil during 2019-20, incurring revenue generation of $206.81 million from the export. In 2019, the export of aluminium foil by Armenia was documented at 37,421 tonnes, generating earnings of around $96.30 million, whereas, in 2020, the export revealed remarkable growth of 22.38%, as the export volume escalates to...
Irish financier-chaired Ardagh Metal Packaging (AMP), the New York-listed beverage cans group, has recently acquired Quebec-based Hart Print, a Canadian digital printing service provider that allows drinks companies to print colourful artwork on aluminium cans. Hart Print, founded in 2018, is the first company to offer digital printed cans in the North American market, said Ardagh without disclosing the financial details of the deal. According to AMP, this deal will help the company respond flexibly to larger customers’ shorter-run requirements, including new product introductions and targeted promotions. More than 75 of new products launched in recent days in the North American beverage market are in cans, based on consumers’ preference for sustainability of metal packaging. And for...
Welsh aluminium fabricator, Dudley’s Aluminium has been awarded a project in Bridgwater that is destined to become an iconic attraction for locals and visitors alike. Dudley's Aluminium, which was created in 1993, will collaborate on Northgate Yard, a mixed-use revitalization project in the heart of the Somerset town, with Willmott Dixon Construction. The 40,000-square-foot leisure and entertainment complex will include a seven-screen cinema, an eight-lane bowling alley, a sports bar, and eateries, with Scott Cinemas and Allstars Bowling as its initial tenants. An outdoor children's play area and manicured parks will be added to the neighbouring Brewery Field. In addition to Kawneer commercial doors and capped and structural silicone glazed curtain walling, Dudley's Aluminium will install...
Sean Kingston is the owner of WilCraft Can, a mobile canning firm that helps craft breweries package their beer around Wisconsin and the adjacent states. According to him, the COVID-19 outbreak boosted demand for aluminium beverage cans as breweries of all sizes moved away from kegs and toward packaged goods that could be drunk at home. According to Kingston, the supply of cans is still limited more than a year later. Every customer, from tiny packaging companies like his to large brands, has a certain allotment of cans from the company who create them. "We created an allocation with the specific can supplier we’re working with late last year. So they are able to provide us with our allocated amount. We actually only had one miss on an allocation, where they were not able to supply,” said...
The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative has announced that it has successfully certified Ball Beverage Packaging South America (BPSA) against both the Performance Standard and Chain of Custody Standard Certifications for the manufacturing of aluminium can bodies and can ends at 15 facilities across the country. Ball is the first can manufacturer in South America to achieve dual ASI Certifications. Earlier in 2020, the company achieved dual certification for its 23 facilities in the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. In total, Ball has 38 dual certified facilities across the world. The independent, third-party audit of the Ball BPSA facilities was carried out by DNV Business Assurance Services UK Ltd. Fiona Solomon, Chief Executive Officer at ASI, said: “ASI warmly congratulates Ball BPSA on...
