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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12 bungalows at Killymoon Crescent in Cookstown, Northern Ireland have been refurbished by the Housing Executive at a cost of £300,000. The residents are now looking forward to a more convenient and comfortable winter after the renovation. The prefabricated aluminium bungalows were built in 1950. The buildings have been transformed with what is known as a ‘thermal comfort scheme’. These renovations are expected to add the value for money and thermal efficiency of the aluminium bungalows. Since the buildings were old, the thermal comfort scheme is designed to improve the condition of the bungalows to match up to the current building standards and to meet the needs of existing tenants and future applicants. The roofs, external doors and walls, windows, guttering and down pipes of the 12...
Local breweries in the US that rely heavily on aluminium cans are starting to feel the pinch of import tariffs on aluminium products imported from Canada. Winnipeg is home to over 20 different local beer breweries that now have no other choice than to pay the tariff in order to continue producing beer. “Everything is expensive enough as it is – why are we adding more expenses to everything?” said Tyler Birch, co-owner of Barn Hammer Brewing. Birch started a beer canning company in the beginning of 2018, Mammoth Mobile Canning, which cans beer for five local breweries in Winnipeg including his own. In his last shipment of aluminium beer cans, 160,000 cans costed him an average of 20 cents per can. With the tariffs and mark-ups from retailers, he is expecting a 20% increase, adding over...
The US automotive industry pleaded President Donald Trump on Thursday, July 19, to reject higher tariffs on vehicle imports, saying that these additional tariffs could cripple domestic manufacturing and cause job loss. The pleas came followed by the European Union’s announcement of preparing a list of retaliatory measures in response to possible US tariffs on foreign vehicles. In May, the Trump administration called for an investigation into auto imports that could lead to tariffs of up to 25 per cent on foreign vehicles and parts. Economists warn these automobile tariffs, on top of aluminium and steel tariffs along with heavy retaliation from US trading partners could harm the global economy. Former Missouri governor Matt Blunt, head of the American Automotive Policy Council that...
The European Union has already started preparing a ground for its retaliatory move against the United State in case the 20 per cent tariff on EU-assembled cars is levied. On Tuesday, July 17, European Union Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom announced that a list of counter-measures to potential US-tariffs is almost ready. While delivering a speech at a conference in Brussels, she said the potential US tariffs on EU car exports would be extremely unfortunate. Hence, along with member states, the country is preparing a list of rebalancing measures as a counter move, she added. Nonetheless, Malmstrom expressed hope if her visit to Washington, accompanied by EU Commission President Jean Claude Juncker could help ease tensions. They will visit next week to discuss transatlantic trade with...
Aparna Enterprises Limited (AEL), a reputed building materials manufacturing company, has declared to diversify its business into aluminium windows and structural frames by setting up a manufacturing unit near Hyderabad. The company said it would roll out the products soon. Part of the diversified Aparna Group, AEL is engaged in the manufacture of tiles, uPVC windows and frames and 17 Ready Mix Concrete units in the country. Now intending to double its turnover, the company has decided to plunge in this diversification and invest around INR 200 crore. P Ashwin Reddy, Managing Director of AEL said, “About ₹200 crore investment is likely in expansion which will include another extrusion facility for aluminium profiles, expansion of the ceramic tiles manufacturing facility at Peddapuram near...
Aluminum prices climbed 18% in the US in the second quarter of 2018, after the tariffs were announced by Trump. The tariffs are expected to affect prices of a range of end use products from beer cans, to cars to building and construction products. A local news update reported that the price of aluminium hurricane shutters is going up in in Northwest Florida. Suppliers of aluminium shutters said their prices have already started to rise. "At least the talk of the tariff has even accelerated the pricing," said Scott McCartney, the Vice President of First Choice Home Improvements. "Because you can't wait until the day the prices increase. You have to anticipate that in the industry at least 30 days in advance." The company sells and installs hurricane shutters and windows and the supplier...
As part of an initiative to develop next-generation advanced materials and manufacturing processes, Lockheed Martin and Arconic, a global technology, engineering and advanced manufacturing leader, today announced a two-year Joint Development Agreement (JDA). Together, the companies will develop customized lightweight material systems and advanced manufacturing processes, such as metal 3D printing, to advance current and next-generation aerospace and defense solutions—including new structures and systems not currently in existence. This agreement expands the longstanding relationship between Arconic and Lockheed Martin. The companies currently collaborate on advanced materials and manufacturing projects such as the development of process modeling, simulation tools and lightweight,...
Arconic, the world’s sixth largest aluminium producer with corporate headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, announced yesterday, July 16, 2018, that it signed a long-term multiyear contract with Boeing. According to the contract signed, Arconic will supply aluminium sheet and plate for all models produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It is the largest contract till date and captures growth in the build rate increased of the Boeing 737 program. Tim Myers, President of Arconic Global Rolled Products and Transportation and Construction Solutions said, “This agreement demonstrates Arconic’s commitment to deliver quality and innovation to our customers.” “We’re proud of our more than 40 years of collaboration with Boeing, and we look forward to playing a role in their continued success.”...
Boeing, the leading US aerospace and defence supplier has warned about potential damage of the growing US-China trade row. "Aerospace thrives on free and open trade," said chief executive of Boeing Dennis Muilenburg. "The aerospace sector drives economic benefits globally," he added. Like many end-users, he was also of the view that tariffs on steel and aluminium could push up costs for aircraft manufacturers. "We are concerned it could affect supply chain costs - but those supply chains are flowing in both directions [between China and the US], it is an intricate network around the world." Boeing is now looking at finding "alternative solutions" to trade disputes while both the US and China are imposing tariffs on each other's goods, said Mr Muilenburg.Speaking ahead of this week's...
Last week, Canada imposed retaliatory tariffs on several products manufactured in the United States, including a 10 percent tariff on aluminum doors, door thresholds and windows. These tariffs were issued in response to the tariffs on steel and aluminum imposed by the United States, which were recently expanded to include Canada and Mexico. Canada has stated that these tariffs will remain in effect until the U.S. rescinds its tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum. “These actions will only lead to additional price increases in the residential and commercial building markets in both countries, and will hinder progress in the renegotiation of NAFTA and in resolving the softwood lumber dispute,” says Michael O’Brien, CEO, Window and Door Manufacturers Association. According to the Department...
EarthCam, founded in 1996, is a global leader in providing webcam content, technology, and services. An expansion of their current headquarters, located on a 10-acre campus in northern New Jersey, is the result of a recent collaboration between Steven Davis of Davis Brody Bond and Spacesmith. The project, called ‘EarthCampus’, involves an extensive renovation of the 26,000 square-foot cement block building housing technology and manufacturing divisions, the key feature being the addition of a translucent aluminium facade. The architecturally stabilized aluminium foam panels were installed on a subframe and then mechanically attached to the existing block wall of the existing office building. The lightweight panels were manufactured by Alusion by a process in which air is injected into a...
Being the EU’s leading car and car exporter to the United States, Slovakia expressed its deep concern and fear over the knock-out effect of US tariffs on imported cars from the European Union. Slovakia is known to contribute a lion share to the overall car making sector – 44 per cent of total industrial production and 35 per cent of exports. Last year, 1,001,520 cars rolled off assembly lines in Slovakia and exports were worth 3.7 billion euros. “The ratio of overseas car exports to Slovakia’s GDP is significantly the highest among all countries of the EU, at up to 1.7 per cent,” said the Slovak Institute for Financial Policy (IFP) in a study. According to IMF, the automotive tariffs, if come into effect, could hard-hit Slovakia approximately 90 million euros. Martin Vlachynsky, an...
HG Power Transmission Sdn Bhd (HGPT), a 75 per cent-owned subsidiary of Malaysian Rohas Tecnic Berhad, has secured a contract worth RM37.8 million from Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Limited. The contract involves the supply, installation of aluminium conductor composite core (ACCC). "The scope of work for the contract includes, but not limited to the supply & installation of ACCC conductor by replacing existing conductor of three nos. existing transmission line having a combined route length of 121 kilometres,” according to Rohas Tecnic. “The contract will not have any material impact on RTB’s results for the year ending Dec 31, 2018 but is expected to contribute positively in the future,” it said. The lines are expected to be completed within 15 months. In February, HG Power...
Tesla Inc. has signed a preliminary agreement with Shanghai Government to build its second auto plant other than its U.S. assembly plant, the Shanghai government said in statement. The electric-car maker takes a big step in overseas expansion with a planned capacity of 500,000 vehicles a year for the proposed plant. Bloomberg reported earlier that Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, would be in Shanghai for an event with the government on Tuesday but Tesla made no official statement on the agreement plant. The escalating trade disputes between the U.S. and its trade partners are pushing automakers to expand production facilities outside the country, especially in China, while President Trump has been trying to bolster manufacturing in the U.S. Tesla is looking to expand its capacity and reach global...
Reynaers Aluminium, a European developer of aluminium products for the building sector, has reported a 15 per cent year on year increase in turnover in the first six months of 2018. The residential segment accounted for 70 per cent of sales in the first half of this year. The company will continue to expand its portfolio of projects and maintain its position as the largest Reynaers Aluminium in Eastern Europe. Daniel Popa, Country Manager of Reynaers Aluminium Romania, said: “In recent years, we are enjoying maintaining a steady trend of constant turnover. We continue to expand our portfolio of projects both in residential, office, retail and logistics, and maintain our position as the largest Reynaers Aluminum in Eastern Europe.” “Later, distribution of residential sector systems is the...
As soon as China’s 25 per cent tariff on US-made cars came into effect on Friday, July 6, German luxury automaker BMW said it would not be able to completely absorb the new tariff and thus, would raise prices on the vehicles it makes in Spartanburg, South Carolina. BMW said it is “currently calculating related necessary pricing increases” for U.S.-made models imported into China and will announce them “at a later stage.” Last year, the automaker had shipped more than 100,000 vehicles of high-margin models such X4, X5, and X6 SUV and crossover from the United States to China. China's 25 per cent tariff on imported US vehicles was nothing but a retaliatory act to the Trump’s administration tariffs on US$34 billion of Chinese imports. This posed a tough choice for automakers whether they...
Sonoco Products Co. announced on Monday that it will raise prices on all composite cans and metal ends in the U.S. and Canada by 4%, in response to recent import tariff on steel and aluminium. The price increases will be effective from Aug. 1. Sonoco is a US$5 billion global provider of consumer packaging, industrial products and packaging supply chain services based at Hartsville, South Carolina, United States. "Sonoco's global sourcing power and commitment to supply security have allowed us to effectively mitigate historic inflationary pressures," said Robin Gordon, a division vice president of sales. "However, the recent trade announcements assigning tariffs on the steel and aluminium supply, along with strong regional demand, have placed unprecedented stress on our suppliers'...
33.4 per cent stake in the capital-based pharma packaging firm Svam has been taken over by Japanese packaging giant Toyo Aluminium K.K. for an undisclosed amount. As agreed in the joint venture, Svam Packaging will now be known as Svam Toyal Packaging Industries. This partnership is expected to bring in advanced technology to tackle the menace of spurious drugs by manufacturing aluminium foil packaging solutions such as laminates for the pharma industry. Svam Packaging Industries Managing Director Satish Ailawadi said, “This partnership will help us serve our customers better and provide safer packaging products in healthcare as well as food and beverage industry.” The partners also plan to set up manufacturing units in India and abroad to cater to clients in the pharma and food packaging...
