Ducati has unveiled the Desmo450 SM, a new production supermoto developed from its Desmo450 MX platform, featuring an aluminium twin-spar frame. This is designed to combine low weight, rigidity and strength. The motorcycle made its debut during World Ducati Week and is aimed at competition use. The Desmo450 SM uses the same aluminium frame architecture as the motocross model. Ducati says the frame has also been designed to allow a straighter intake route while maintaining the strength and rigidity needed for high-performance riding. The bike has a fuel capacity of 7.2 litres. The company has also focused on reducing weight in other areas. Its Bartubeless wheel system, for example, removes inner tubes and cuts rotating and unsprung mass by 1.2kg. The motorcycle also features a cast...
China’s aluminum door and window manufacturing sector includes a range of suppliers offering thermal-break systems, customized solutions, OEM/ODM production, and products for international building projects. A recent industry guide highlights Guangdong Dejiyoupin, Guangdong EEHE, Foshan CIVO, Sichuan Yazhixuan, and Sichuan Mingrenju, citing their production capabilities, product portfolios, project experience, customization services, and testing or certification coverage. The companies differ in their areas of focus. Dejiyoupin is highlighted for its production capacity and international certifications, while EEHE is noted for patents and a broad range of project solutions. CIVO focuses on factory-direct customization and climate-oriented systems, while Yazhixuan provides OEM/ODM...
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Andersen Corporation, America's premier window and door manufacturer, broke ground on its new 500,000 square foot manufacturing and distribution facility in Goodyear, Arizona. The company plans to invest more than $105 million in the development with the expectation of creating more than 415 jobs during the first phase of this expansion. The manufacturing campus will be owned and operated by Andersen Regional Manufacturing, Inc., a subsidiary of Andersen Corporation, and is expected to be operational in early 2020. "Our vision is to make the world a better place by living up to the promise that everyone benefits from their association with Andersen – our employees, customers, distribution partners, suppliers, shareholders and the communities in which we live and work, which now includes...
The world’s largest consumer tradeshow CES 2019 at Las Vegas reportedly witnessed a launch of a flagship commercial laptop the Primus NX301 by Nexstgo. The event also reportedly observed Nexstgo’s partnership with Foxit, a leading US-based software company, to have its PhantomPDF preinstalled as a Universal Windows Platform in all Nexstgo commercial PC products. Alex Chung, CEO of Nexstgo, expects 2019 to bring in a great demand for quality ultra-thin laptops at competitive prices across Asia-Pacific markets. And in that aspect, Nexstgo, according to him, will continue to deliver breakthrough commercial and business-grade laptops that are innovative and will suit changing tastes of consumers. He particularly said at the event, “An example of this is our partnership with Foxit to provide...
Global packaging company Amcor partnered with Danone to develop new packaging for cold-fill dairy products. The transparent 200-ml polyethylene terephthalate (PET) jar with a wide-mouth opening and an aluminium-PET-aluminium closure with a 65mm over cap in clear polypropylene (PP) was developed for Danone’s La Serenísima’s yogurt. Martin Darmandrail, New Business Development Director for Amcor in Argentina said: “This wide-mouth PET jar is an entirely new format offering for cold-fill dairy products. In a market historically dominated by thermoformed PP and polystyrene containers, we’ve shaken things up with a yogurt package with the durability, freshness, performance, manufacturing, and sustainability benefits of PET.” The new PET jar supports the 100% natural positioning of Danone’s La...
A Dutch shipyard Royal Huisman reportedly announced its plan to build a 59.7 metre world performance cruising sloop: Project 404. Following the footsteps of the shipyard’s previous vessels such as 58m Ngoni and 56m Aquarius, the new and highly advanced vessel would expectedly harness exceptional sail power and system technologies. The shipyard’s aim with this new build is to raise the bar for power and efficiency, especially in terms of operating system and integrated rig technologies. Besides, the impressive performance capabilities will come with luxurious interior and extensive amenities, per the report. Alongside, it will display its true modern beauty, featuring Alustar aluminium hull and low profile carbon composite superstructure. The team behind this project is consisted of...
Keeping in mind the space problem in almost every household, South Korean designer Jongha Choi has reportedly created a collection of space-saving, collapsible furniture yet again. This new range of furniture is comprised of stools and tables made from aluminium. The collection is called De-dimension as the furniture in this collection is transformable from flat, two-dimensional forms into functional, three-dimensional forms and vice versa. While the new collection of furniture is space-efficient and suitable for increasingly popular micro homes, Choi’s focus was on achieving an illusion of perspective. According to Choi, he wanted to create the experience of a two-dimensional image in a three-dimensional space. "I have already experienced three-dimensional forms through various...
LIXIL, maker of pioneering water and housing products, entered into an agreement with AluK, global leader in designing aluminium windows, doors and façade systems, through LIXIL’s renowned brand TOSTEM, to cater to the windows and doors market in India. TOSTEM is celebrated for its high quality manufactured aluminium sash windows & door systems. Sandeep Mathur, General Manager LIXIL-LWS said: “The confluence of TOSTEM and AluK will ensure that the customers in India get the best in design, quality and innovative technology, combining European Design with Japanese Manufacturing.” “The products will be fully built and glazed at a modern 150,000 sqft facility at Manesar and distributed through a strong network of channel partners. Emphasis on quality and reliability will permeate every part...
An award-winning London-based architect and interior design company Universal Design Studio has reportedly decorated the interior of Rimowa’s inaugural Berlin store with aluminium to create sync with the premium luggage brand’s material palette. Rimowa has used aluminium to form its signature ridged suitcases. Universal Design Studio has used the same metal throughout the shop in celebration of its "textural beauty and material possibilities". "We were inspired by the materiality, proportion, and precision of the Rimowa core range and with a focus on the culture of global travel," Hannah Carter Owens, director of the studio, told Dezeen. Universal Design Studio has created a series of aluminium display fixtures for the store’s three rooms and kept the existing ornate ceiling moulding and...
Aluminium extrusion manufacturer FONNOV Aluminium has launched new surface treatment aluminium, a new product with fluorocarbon paint coating (PVDF finish) and waterborne paint coating. The company claims the new product will make a breakthrough in city architecture and home decoration. FONNOV Aluminium manufactures colour anodized aluminium profiles, powder coated aluminium profiles, wood finish extrusion aluminium, fluorocarbon coating aluminium extruded profiles for architectural and engineering industries like window and door, building and constructions, transportation, infrastructure, automotive, energy, and etc. PVDF coating aluminium is mainly used in large-scale curtain wall construction. PVDF coating normally offers excellent weather resistance, strong abrasion resistance in...
According to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), retail sales of passenger vehicles in China shrank 6% in 2018 from a year earlier. This marked the first decline in more than 20 years. In December 2018, about 2.26 million passenger vehicles including sedans, SUV, multi-purpose vehicles (MPV) and mini-vans were sold, standing 19 per cent lower than December 2017, CPCA said on Wednesday January 9. The total sales of passenger vehicles are expected to register a decline of 6.6 per cent year on year in January 2019, according to the report jointly issued by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) and WAYS. The estimated sale is expected to stand at 2.26 million.
Seoul-based designer Jeonghwa Seo has once again proved that creativity knows no bound by furnishing a café and wine bar with an unfinished quality of cast aluminium, oak, and brass. Infusing a theme like furniture that celebrates the qualities of raw materials, Jeonghwa has custom-made the space of Et Cetera in Seoul that features a raw concrete interior. Seo said, “The most important aspect of this project was to show the pure quality of the materials. I wanted to create a space where people can experience them.” Cast aluminium, welded into elongated and elliptical shape, has been used as a base for larger pieces of furniture. To add a further twist, the welding join-lines have not been ground down so can show off the making process. "I have been using aluminium throughout my previous...
Sterling Vineyards, a division Treasury Wine Estates, has launched three new varieties of wines in recyclable and re-sealable aluminium bottles. Sterling Vineyards brand director Rob Knott said: “It’s no surprise that we are bringing something different and very much in tune with what consumers expect from Sterling.” The aluminium bottles comes with an optional custom cap with an integrated straw, an end cap/table dispenser display that takes advantage of the bottles unique shape to feed the bottles as consumers remove them. It also offers other tools such as a 'make your own' four-pack carrier and a clear plastic tote that can carry up to four bottles with ice. These aluminium bottles are expected to become popular at sporting and concert events and other on-the-go occasions. The 375 ml...
Aluminium is a key part of our daily lives: from cars and planes to cell phones, buildings and food packaging. Aluminium cans are becoming increasingly popular as the pack of choice for soft drink beverages such as tea and juice, which were not traditionally sold in a can. 2018 saw some developments from opening of new plants to companies focussing more about aluminium recyclability in order to bring environmentally-friendly beverages to the world. {newsStudioGallery} The companies of the International Organisation of Aluminium Aerosol Container Manufacturers (AEROBAL) produced nearly 3.3 billion cans in the first half of 2018, representing a growth of about 5 per cent in comparison with the previous year. In our recap 2018 coverage, we take a look back at the top packaging news from our...
Staticus, one of the largest façade engineering contractors in Northern Europe specialised in providing design, production and installation services, has reportedly won a contract to install a combination of unitised timber and aluminium stick facades across the area of 8,700 square metres of Two New Bailey Square. Staticus will manufacture the unitised façade panels in its factory in Lithuania and install over the next 12 months. Two New Bailey Square is designed by architect Allford Hall Monaghan Morris and developed by English Cities Fund and Muse Developments. Per the report, it will provide 180,000 square metres of commercial space in Salford Central with private balconies on each floor. “An interesting aspect of this project is the external structural steel frame with its visible...
Tesla has begun constructing a new manufacturing plant for its electric cars in Shanghai, China. Tesla's CEO Elon Musk said that construction will be completed in the summer and production of its lowest-cost model, the Model 3, will start by the end of the year. This is the largest foreign-invested manufacturing project in the city, according to the Shanghai government. "We think with the resources here we can build the Shanghai Gigafactory in record time and we're looking forward to hopefully having some initial production of the Model 3 towards the end of this year and achieving volume production next year," Elon Musk said. The electric carmaker aims to produce 250,000 pure electric cars annually at first. Annual capacity will expand to 500,000 units upon full production.
Ardagh Group will invest in its Valparaiso facility, in Indiana, USA to meet the increasing demand for innovative, eye-catching beverage can tabs and ends. The plant will increase production by approximately 10 percent. The new production will be available in the third quarter of 2019. Claude Marbach, CEO, Ardagh Metal – North America, said: “We’re very proud to increase Valparaiso’s production capabilities, further positioning the plant as a world-class source of innovative, eye-catching tabs and ends.” “We are providing leading beverage organisations the best in brand-building packaging, enabling differentiation on retail shelves with the inherent environmental benefits of aluminium cans.” The 135,000 square feet facility produces the end or “top” of the can as well as the tab, which...
The Swiss packaging company Hoffmann Neopac AG will reportedly begin tube production with an investment of $30.8 million at its new production facility early this year. It already received a grant of $30,000 from the One North Carolina Fund, per the report, which looks to create economic growth and jobs to help with the project. The company will begin by producing two small diameter tubes - 1) tamper-evident nozzle tube and 2) Twist’n’use tube. Both of these tubes will utilise the firm’s patented Polyfoil materials blend. Polyfoil tubes use a combination of polyethylene and aluminium, and tubes requiring sterilisation use a polypropylene and aluminium combination. The multilayer tubes have an integrated aluminium barrier, according to the company. These extend shelf life compared to...
Shares of Bharat Forge (BFL) hit a 23-month low of INR 470 per share, down 4 per cent on the BSE in early morning trade in an otherwise firm market. This followed a after the domestic automobile companies reported bearish sales numbers during the month of December 2018, driven by adverse macroeconomic conditions. BFL is a leading global ‘Full Service Supplier’ of forged as well as machined engine and chassis components. BFL is India’s largest exporter of auto components and the world’s leading manufacturer of chassis components. The company manufactures a wide range of safety and critical components for passenger cars, SUVs, light, medium & heavy CVs, tractors and diesel engines. The company’s stocks have been trading at its lowest level since February 1, 2017 and in the last four months...
Acer, a Taiwanese multinational hardware and electronics corporation with specialisation in advanced electronic technology, has reportedly introduced a new Swift 7 laptop that boasts even thinner and sleeker look than ever before. Made of magnesium-lithium and magnesium-aluminium alloys, which are two to four times stronger than traditional aluminium alloys but much lighter, the new 14-inch Acer Swift 7 weighs only 890 gram. It features 92 per cent screen to body ratio that helps the gadget rendering a super slim look. The thickness is below 1 centimetre. The display is Full HD (1920 x 1080) and touch-enabled. It is durable as well, as it is covered in Corning Gorilla Glass 6. Under the hood, you can find an 8th generation Intel Core i7-8500Y processor and up to 16GB of LPDDR3 RAM. The...
