Two recent Tesla stories sit at opposite ends of the range. Tesla Model 3 is set to benefit from cost-focused Cybercab inverter technology, announced on November 1 2026. The flying car, Tesla Roadster, uses aluminum in its battery cells and underbody protection, reinforcing power delivery, thermal management and lightweight construction. The two models reveal how aluminum can serve very different engineering priorities, from making electric vehicles (EVs) more affordable to helping them deliver extraordinary performance. Tesla Model 3: the everyday car gets Cybercab hardware Nick Verzini, Tesla’s Head of Drive Unit Engineering, mentioned on a Munro Live factory tour that a new printed circuit board assembly and power stage from the Cybercab’s inverter will enter Model 3 production in...
Aluminum foil is getting a seasonal makeover as Reynolds Wrap introduces its limited-edition Snowflakes Fun Foil, bringing decorative appeal to everyday kitchen tasks ahead of the holiday season. Featuring an embossed snowflake pattern, the product combines the familiar functionality of aluminum foil with a festive appearance suited to food wrapping, holiday entertaining and homemade gifts. The new design allows consumers to use Reynolds Wrap foil for more than routine food storage, adding a decorative touch to meal preparation and presentation. Its winter-inspired pattern makes it suitable for covering dishes, preserving leftovers, packaging baked treats and creating festive crafts. Despite its seasonal appearance, Snowflakes Fun Foil retains the practical functionality of conventional...
Grow with
AL Circle
The use of aluminium in major construction structures started in 1930 within the Empire State Building, and today this light metal is recognised as one of the most energy-efficient and sustainable construction materials. The estimated recycled content of aluminium building materials used today is between 50 and 85 percent. Along with the use, the export-import of aluminium structures has also been found rising all across the globe. For instance, Italy, where the export of aluminium structures has been increasing since the last four years, found the export-import data. In 2016, the European country exported 47,014 tonnes, while in 2017 72,111 tonnes. This represents a sweeping growth of 166 per cent in Italy’s aluminium structures export in 2017. In 2018, the country’s export continued to...
According to Mr Pete Coors, vice chairman of the Molson Coors Brewing Co., despite the claim that aluminium buyers in the U.S. can avoid tariff cost by buying from US producers and importing from non-tariffed countries, aluminium continues to remain expensive with or without tariffs. Until May, 2019, U.S. companies purchased 73% of their imported aluminium from tariffed countries, but 100% of aluminium was priced as per tariff. Now after the tariffs are lifted from Canada and Mexico, 77% of the imported aluminium bought by the U.S. companies is free from tariffs. However, that has not trimmed the prices for aluminium. LME benchmark aluminium price has dropped 15% from the time tariff was implanted. Price pf aluminium scrap which contributes 70% of aluminium in a beverage can has dropped...
Toyota Motor Corp. and its Chinese partner BYD Co. will develop battery-electric vehicles and batteries as the Japanese automaker is looking at building affordable EVs for the world's top vehicle market in collaboration with its Chinese partners. Toyota and the Chinese electric automaker announced in a statement that they would manufacture sedans and crossovers to be sold under the Toyota brand in China before 2025. Toyota also announced it was teaming up with China's Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. to supply and develop batteries for lower-emission vehicles. Toyota is a late entry into the market for battery EVs in comparison to its rivals like Nissan. The automaker recently announced its plans to get half of its global sales from EVs and gasoline hybrids by 2025. To meet this early...
Bentley marks its 100 th birthday with a new futuristic concept car EXP 100 GT designed for the world of 2035. Unveiled at The Home of Bentley in Crewe, the autonomous and completely electric vehicle represents the British luxury car brand’s vision of future car design while preserving the heritage. Borrowing sleek and muscular exterior look from Bentley’s famous past models, the new 5.8-metre-long futuristic car, made from aluminium and carbon fibre, includes round headlights that overlap the grille in a nod to the Bentley Blower and a rear resembling the famous R-Type Continental. The decorative features are made from aluminium as well and some from copper. Two of the most unique things about the car are its exterior paint named “Compass” made from rice husk ash, a bi-product of the...
French shipyard OCEA launched OPV 270, its largest vessel to date, solely designed and built by them, on July 17 2019 at its shipyard in Les Sables d’Olonne. The 84 meters long OPV 270 was selected by the Coast Guard of the Philippines and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) during an international competition. She is also the largest aluminium OPV built in the world. The vessel will be called "Gabriela Silang" OCEA had an edge over others on the basis of efficient cost reduction and lesser CO2 emission capabilities. This vessel is the fifth to be delivered under a contract that started execution in late 2017 with the construction of four fast patrol boats. All four were commissioned over the year 2018 and currently in operation in the Philippine waters. OCEA said that OPV 270 is the...
Crown Holdings, Inc. announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019. Net sales were $3,035 million in Q2, from $3,046 million in Q2 2018, reflecting $80 million of unfavourable currency translation offset by increased beverage can volumes. Income from operations increased from $292 million to $383 million in the second quarter. Segment income was $386 million compared to $389 million in the prior year second quarter. Net income stood at $137 million in Q2 2019. Reported diluted earnings per share were $1.02 in Q2 compared to $0.99 in 2018. Adjusted diluted earnings per share were $1.46 compared to $1.55 in 2018. Timothy J. Donahue, President and Chief Executive Officer, said: "Our overall performance during the quarter was generally in line with expectations....
Continuous downturn in China’s new vehicle market for last four quarters has created cash crunch for a number of automakers, a report from Automotive News China says. BAIC Yinxiang Automobile Co., a subsidiary of state-owned automaker BAIC Motor Group, suspended major part of production for H2 2018 due to sales drop and lack of cash flow. The company is struggling with overdue wages and payments. The local government in Chongqing has been in talks with BAIC to rescue BAIC Yinxiang but nothing has materialized. Shanghai-based Qoros Automotive Co., a public private concern is also facing cash crunch. The company’s new-vehicle sales began falling in mid-2018 and the company lost nearly 1.4 billion yuan ($203 million) in the first three quarters of 2018 on plunging sales. The dealers of the...
Xiamen Xiashun Aluminium Foil Co., Ltd. has been certified against Aluminium Stewardship Initiative’s (ASI) Performance Standard for responsible production, sourcing and stewardship of aluminium. Xiashun’s sites manufacture and sell foilstock, litho stock (CTP), light-gauge aluminium foil that is less than 10μm and lithium battery foil. Xiamen Xiashun is the fifth company in China to achieve Certification to the ASI Performance Standard. Xiashun manufactures six- to seven-micron aluminium foil products for use in flexible packaging applications, particularly in the food and beverage industry. Vice President, Sales & Marketing of Xiashun, Eric Loh said: “As an internationally recognized standard for environmental, social and corporate governance practices related to the aluminium value...
According to the latest data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), production and sales of motorcycles in June improved across China both year-on-year, as well as month-on-month basis. Domestic production of motorcycles in the above mentioned month came in at 1.48 million units, up 2.83 per cent from May 2019 and 8.09 per cent from June 2018. In May 2019, the production had dropped month-on-month by 0.64 per cent. Sales climbed 4.34 per cent month-on-month in June and 6.74 per cent on the year to stand at 1.47 million units. In May 2019, sales were down by 1.32 per cent from the previous month. With this, the total production and sales of motorcycles in the first half of 2019 in China totalled 7.81 million units and 7.77 million units, respectively. Chinese...
Chinese economy has registered its slowest growth since 1992 last quarter at 6.2%, down 0.2 percentage point from March quarter. The negative data is indicating the impacts of the prolonged Sino-American trade war. Though U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping agreed in June to reopen trade talks, the fourth round of talks between the two countries have been delayed. China’s total exports have registered a drop in the first half of the year. Despite government’s steps like slashing taxes and reducing social security contributions, the impact has not been significant. Auto sales, another key component of consumer spending and revenue source for the country, have been sluggish in the first half of 2019. Sales of new vehicles declined 12% on the year in the H1 and...
With the growing consumption of rose wine during the summer months, more producers of rose wine are turning to aluminium closures as their preferred choice. According to a press release from Aluminium Closures Group, even in the traditional European markets, winemakers are using convenient twist and open aluminium closures for their wines. France, which is a strong market for rosé wines in the summer months has seen even traditional winemakers using aluminium closures in their packaging designs. The share of aluminium closures used in this segment has tripled to 38% in just five years. The growing use of aluminium screwcaps in wine have been driven by rise in outdoor events such as festivals and concerts and growing popularity of home barbecue parties. The various benefits of aluminium...
According to a recent report, The Cannondale Bicycle Corporation has launched the next iteration of its long-standing CAAD aluminium performance range - CAAD13. Introducing a new-look machine that is designed to be faster and more comfortable, Cannondale has added dropped seat stays, aerodynamic tubing, disc brakes, and increased tyre clearance to the new bike. Cannondale’s pavement product director David Devine explained: “Every new CAAD bike we design improves on the preceding version, but the CAAD13 represents a pretty radical new direction for us. With CAAD13, we focused on elements that really improve the ride, namely drag reduction, comfort and wide-ranging capability, while not increasing the weight.” Compared to CAAD12, the new model has more careful aluminium distribution,...
Ardagh Group, a Luxembourg-based producer of glass and metal containers, has reportedly agreed to combine its good and speciality metal packaging business with one of the world’s largest extruded aluminium containers producers Exal Corporation. As per the report, they will together form a new metal packaging company Trivium Packaging, which will be one of the world’s largest metal packaging companies. Trivium will be headquartered in the Netherlands and will employ about 7,800 people for its 57 production facilities, mainly in Europe and America. Ardagh said Trivium would serve a diverse range of multinational and regional customers operating in a wide array of end markets like food (sea food and pet food), nutrition, beauty and personal care, household care, and premium beverages. Paul...
Amcor operations in Singen, Germany have been certified against Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) Performance Standard and Chain of Custody Standard. The company will now offer its customers products with ASI certified aluminium and the option for on-pack ASI certification labels. Dr. Gerald Rebitzer, Director Sustainability at Amcor Flexibles, said: “Receiving this certification further recognises Amcor’s commitment to responsible sourcing practices and selection of aluminium raw materials that minimise environmental impact. I would like to thank all the Amcor people involved in obtaining this certification and we are looking forward to strengthening the work with our own suppliers in order to create end-to-end responsible supply chains.” Amcor uses aluminium in its packaging...
At the sixth annual Monaco Solar & Energy Boat Challenge on July 6th to 7th, the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM), in presence of HSH Prince Albert II - the yacht club's President, revealed that it was planning to construct the first Zero Emission Committee Boat. The size of the boat will be11.5-metre and will be built with aluminium due to having recyclable properties. Naval architect Espen Øino has designed the hull and structure of the boat, while Dario Calzavara has taken the responsibility for engineering. As this committee boat will be quiet with no carbon emissions, it will be used for whale watching excursions, along with all regattas organised by the Yacht Club de Monaco. The total accommodation capacity in the boat will be for up to 12 passengers. Power will come from twin 100kW YASA...
China Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Promotion Alliance data on Wednesday, July 10, shows that by the end of June 2019, China had over 1 million charging piles or power ports for electric vehicles, up 69.3 per cent year on year. For public charging piles, members of the alliance added 10,926 units last month, which brought the total number to 412,000 units, 51.5 per cent higher from the previous year. Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Shandong, Zhejiang, Hebei, Anhui, Tianjin, and Hebei are the 10 regions in China leading in having public charging infrastructure facilities. They account for 75.3 per cent of the nation’s total number of charging stations. By the end of 2020, Guangdong Power Grid is expected to invest RMB 2.7 billion to build over 10,000 charging points...
REAL Aluminium’s stand at FIT Show 2019 in Birmingham, UK drew a huge crowd as the company was demonstrating its new online aluminium quoting and ordering solution that has cut aluminium quoting times to about four minutes. REAL Aluminium offers a comprehensive range of aluminium fenestration products including aluminium doors and windows for all domestic installations. The REAL Aluminium range covers a full suite of aluminium finished products. John Adams, aluminium category director at REAL Aluminium presented three seminars to show delegates how the new software helps them to quote REAL Aluminium products in just four minutes. He also showed how the company is making the most of the growing aluminium sector. “It was a terrific show and the sheer number of visitors to the seminars...
Italian car manufacturer Maserati is reportedly expected to launch Levante Trofeo in India by later this year. Comprising of 22-inch forged aluminium alloy wheels, the SUV weighs lighter; while its carbon fibre inserts to the rear, side skirts enhance the look. The car also sports matte paint scheme internationally, which is likely to come into the Indian markets as well. The ‘Ultimate Maserati of SUVs’, as the company calls it, powers a 3.8-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 engine under the hood and churns out a whopping 590 bhp with a peak torque of 730 Nm. You can do a sprint of 0-100 km/h in flat 3.9 seconds, with the top speed limited to 300 km/h. Besides the powerful engine, what differentiates Trofeo from regular Levante is its incredible styling. It comes with a sharper revised grille...
