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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Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. has announced the completion of business combination with Gores Holdings V, a special purpose acquisition company sponsored by an affiliate of The Gores Group. The combined company, which will be named Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A., will commence trading on the New York Stock Exchange on August 5, 2021 under the new ticker symbol “AMBP”. Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. ("AMP") has received approximately $1.0 billion gross proceeds. AMP is a provider of sustainable and infinitely-recyclable beverage cans. The company is the second-largest beverage can producer in Europe and the third-largest in the Americas. “AMP is ideally-positioned to see continued benefits from the long-term megatrends of sustainability and changing consumer preferences,” said Paul Coulson,...
Ball Corporation reported net earnings of $202 million on sales of $3.5 billion in the second quarter of 2021, compared to $94 million net earnings on sales of $2.8 billion in 2020. Net earnings attributable to the corporation were $402 million for the first six months of 202i on sales of $6.6 billion compared to $117 million on sales of $5.6 billion for the first six months of 2020. "During the quarter, the company increased comparable earnings per diluted share by 32% on 13% aluminum beverage volume growth and 20% aluminum aerosol growth, and secured new aerospace contracts to achieve record backlog. In addition to global operations executing at a high level, the company started up the new Pittston, Pennsylvania, beverage can manufacturing facility, initiated further global capacity...
Bengaluru-based Mean Metal Motors has introduced a brand new Azani model as India’s first-ever all-electric hypercar. Built around a skateboard aluminium spaceframe chassis, the all-new Azani model has a futuristic design and boasts performance figure. According to the automaker, the Azani can sprint from 0-97km/h in 2.1 seconds, thanks to its 1,000hp electric powertrain. The car features a two-door coupe with a closed grille, a sloping roofline, flared wheel arches, sleek headlights as well as taillights, and blacked-out multi-spoke alloy wheels. Mean Metal Motors is using modular components for the new model of Azani, aiming to set up micro-facilities to manufacture its product and use Artificial Intelligence at various levels to increase efficiency and reduce costs. The model has...
According to FocusEconomics, the economic conditions of Angola remained challenging in Q1 2021, with GDP contracting 3.4% Y-o-Y amid the persistent impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. GDP is projected to bounce back to growth this year: The global vaccine rollout and the subsequent easing of restrictions should unchain pent-up demand. The Southern African nation, Angola during 2018-20 imported 2078 tonnes of aluminium household articles and the expenditure that occurred for the importation was accounted for $9.48 million. In 2018, the import of household articles for Angola was recorded at 210 tonnes of aluminium household articles and the foreign exchange expended was $2.09 million, whereas, in 2019, the import volume revealed a sharp rise by 1439 tonnes, as the import demand escalated by...
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative has welcomed Sanyuan Aluminium Co., Ltd. as a new Production & Transformation member, bringing the total number of ASI Members to 183. Established in 2007 in Zhuhai, Sanyuan Aluminium Co., Ltd. has two plants in Shandong province: Shandong Longkou Sanyuan Aluminium Co., Ltd. and Zouping New Sanyuan Aluminium Co., Ltd. The company mainly produces and supplies aluminium tab stock and end stock for making easy open ends of beverage and food metal cans. In all, Sanyuan Aluminium has four coil coating lines, two slitting lines, four coating lines, three printing lines and two cutting lines, with an annual production capacity of around 100,000 tonnes. The primary overseas customers include Crown Group and Ball Group, while domestic customers are ORG Group,...
Pakistan Aluminium Beverage Cans (PABC) reported that its profit climbed to Rs387 million during the quarter ended June 30, 2021, from Rs16 million during June quarter 2020. The growth was due to hike in sales and drop in finance cost. PABC’s sale came in at Rs1.9 billion in the three months under review as compared to Rs1.1 billion in the April-June period of last year. “Sales of the can producing company nearly doubled as they inched closer to Rs2 billion,” said Topline Securities analyst Sunny Kumar while talking to The Express Tribune. “Similarly, margins of the company rose from 22% to 40%.” “Another reason behind the surge in sales was that eateries were closed at the same time last year, hence the jump in sales was also witnessed due to the low base effect,” he said. “Export of...
MMP Industries, the manufacturers of aluminium powders, pastes, aluminium conductors and aluminium foils has received a large scale order from the Hyderabad based pharmaceutical company Hetero Healthcare Limited to supply aluminium foil products. The Nagpur, Maharashtra headquartered company continuously prospers to deliver a quality product, fortifying to build customer satisfaction and association for a longer period. However, MMP Industries has notified the bourse regarding work received by the company. MMP revealed that it has received an order worth 15MT from Hetero Healthcare Limited towards the supply of aluminium foil products. Hetero caters to a different product of various therapeutic groups and aims to improve the people's quality of life with the product line and a continuous...
UK's first alkaline ionised water business Actiph rolls out vitamin sparkling water brand Acti-Vit in aluminium cans. Actiph said: “The new flavoured sparkling water drinks had one of the highest vitamin concentrations on the market. They contain 100% of the RDA of vitamins B5, B6, B9, B12, C, D and zinc and 15% of the RDA of magnesium." The drinks are packaged in aluminium cans and have been launched in three flavours: Tropical Boost, Blackcurrant, Apple & Raspberry and Lemon, Lime & Orange. “Its multipack format launched at Ocado last month and the brand was in advanced discussions with several other major retailers”, it said. “The drinks would appeal to health-conscious consumers who were moving away from sweetened drinks and juices.” Jamie Douglas-Hamilton, Founder and Director of...
RUSAL, a leading global aluminium producer, has unveiled the first consignment of lighting poles made of aluminium alloys to the domestic market, in partnership with the Krasnoyarsk Metallurgical Plant (KraMZ) and Alluminate Company. These are the first aluminium lighting poles produced in Russia. The poles are made of anodized extrusions produced from Rusal’s low-carbon aluminium ALLOW. Owing to aluminium, the poles are resistant to corrosion, precipitation and damage, allowing them to be used in coastal regions and urban environments. Earlier this month, KraMZ supplied its first consignment of 24 lighting poles to a five-star hotel located in Vladivostok. The poles came with all the necessary technological openings, hatches, and embedded parts. They were also equipped with smart...
According to BBVA Research, the Spanish Economic Outlook for Q3 2021 stated that the country’s GDP growth is estimated with a revised up-rise up to 6.5% for 2021. Moving ahead, the stronger progress of global activity, accumulated excess savings, the end of health restrictions and accommodative monetary and fiscal policies will boost GDP up to 7.0% in 2022. The South-western European nation, Spain exported 934 tonnes of aluminium containers during 2018-20 and the earnings accounted for the export was $6.08 million. In 2018, the export of aluminium containers was recorded at 168 tonnes and the earnings counted was $1.28 million, whereas, in 2019, the export saw growth by 77.28%, as the export volume rose to $1.44 million. Spain’s export of aluminium containers in 2020 was registered at 468...
On 31st July 2021, India’s leading designer and manufacturer of modern rolling stock Titagarh Wagons Ltd stated that its plant in Italy has flagged the first train for Pune Metro coach, made of aluminium out of the 34 trains. In August 2019, Titagarh Firema SpA, a wholly-owned subsidiary of city-based Titagarh Wagons bagged an INR 1100 crore international bid to supply Pune Metro as many as 102 ultra-modern aluminium-bodied coaches, however, each train will comprise of three coaches. The company said that the first prototype of it was launched at a virtual ceremony in presence of the Ambassador of India to Italy, Neena Malhotra, Ambassador of Italy to India, Vincenzo de Luca, Maharashtra Metro Cooperation Managing Director Brijesh Dixit and others. It was outlaid that three of the 34...
The aluminium end-user segment remained in the spotlight due to the investment announcements of the two big shots. Novelis is investing more than $7 million to recruit 37 new employees and resumes several pieces of idled equipment at its manufacturing facility in Terre Haute, Indiana. The world’s leading beverage packaging company, Ball Corporation will contribute $383.8 million to over $1 billion projects with Red Bull and Rauch’s beverage manufacturing hub in Concord, Cabarrus County, USA. According to a recent report, Showa Denko K.K., a Japanese chemical company, has decided to double Oyama Plant’s capacity to produce aluminium heat radiators for power modules used in electrified vehicles, including battery electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and plug-in hybrid vehicles. To know more:...
Hawkins & Brimble, a British men’s grooming brand, is reportedly adopting aluminium packaging for three of its most popular product lines. The aluminium packaging is produced by Vetroplas in conjunction with its Spanish partner Envases. The packaging is slick and aesthetically pleasing, achieved by offset printing and matt lacquer. Hawkins and Brimble is initially bringing the change to its three popular lines: The Energising Elemi & Ginseng Body Wash with aloe vera, Revitalising Shampoo with Pro Vitamin B5, and a Conditioner with coconut oil. All products are refillable from a 100 per cent recyclable pouch. Simon Dix, managing director Vetroplas, said: ‘Hawkins & Brimble is one of an increasing number of ethically-minded companies which really care for the planet and are determined to do...
Aluminium cans are generally used for the packing of beer or beverages, but this time it is utilized for peanut mixes. Snack Pow, a new company in the city of Sherbrooke, Quebec offers snacks in more environmentally friendly aluminium containers. The snacks company of Canada focuses on package aluminium cans to stand out from the competition and promote the circular economy. Snack Pow has also reached out to several craftsmen from the region to develop the can. The company is also working upstream with Les Aliments Jardi, known for its bulk foods. The company stated: “We can find cans in vending machines at the University of Sherbrooke for a while. We carried out qualitative studies there to hit the nail on the head for colours and patterns.” “The idea was also to create practical cans....
As per the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OCED) snapshot, Czech Republic’s GDP following the sharp plunge in 2020 is projected to regain by 3.3% and 4.9% in 2021 and 2022, respectively. The country has countered one of the highest infection and death rates in the OECD region and progress in vaccinations has been relatively slow, delaying the relaxation of containment measures. The recovery will nevertheless gather pace in the second half of 2021, once the population is more extensively vaccinated, triggering a rebound in services and boosting private consumption and investment. Inflation has picked up due to rising food and fuel prices. The landlocked country in Central Europe, Czech Republic exported 203,930 tonnes of aluminium cans during 2018-20 and the revenue...
According to a recent report, Showa Denko K.K., a Japanese chemical company, has decided to double Oyama Plant’s capacity to produce aluminium heat radiators for power modules used in electrified vehicles, including battery electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and plug-in hybrid vehicles. As per the report, Showa Denko has started the installation of the additional production line, which is expected to begin operations at the beginning of 2022. Aluminium heat radiators for power modules produced by Showa Denko adopt direct vacuum brazing between insulated substrates and other parts including aluminium fins produced by Showa Denko. The company’s aluminium heat radiators for PMs are small, having large heat dissipation capacity and alloy-free design of coolant pipes, thereby having a...
According to a recent report, Ball Corporation, the world’s leading beverage packaging company, will contribute $383.8 million to over $1 billion project with Red Bull and Rauch’s beverage manufacturing hub in Concord, Cabarrus County, USA. The three companies together will make the investment by 2027, creating more than 600 jobs at an overall average wage of $57,393. Headquartered in Colorado, Ball Corporation is a global leader in supplying recyclable aluminium packaging for beverages and aerosols. Since inception in 1880, the company has built more than 60 production facilities around the globe, with 21,500 employees. In the new joint venture, Ball Corporation will manufacture aluminium cans for Red Bull and other customers in a new 800,000 square foot state-of-the-art operation....
Spain's advancement with the vaccination process and uplifting restrictions progressively will speed up the economic activity strongly. According to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report, the Spanish GDP is projected to rise by 5.9% in 2021 and 6.3% in 2022, supported by pent-up demand, the national recovery plan and a gradual pick-up of tourism, while the reduced uncertainty will lead to a sharp decline in precautionary saving and support private consumption. Investment is expected to pick up significantly from the second half of 2021 as expectations improve and the Next Generation EU funds provide additional support. The nation on Europe’s Iberian Peninsula, Spain imported 8062 tonnes of aluminium stranded wire during 2018-20 and the expenditure occurred...
