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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Yunnan Aluminium said on Tuesday its board had unanimously approved a joint venture with Israel’s Phinergy and another Chinese firm that will make aluminum batteries, its latest bid to cash in on China’s electric vehicle (EV) boom. Aluminum batteries produce electricity from a reaction between oxygen and aluminum. They have been touted as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries as a source of power for electric cars. The venture, which has the working name of Yunnan Phinergy Chuang Neng Metal Air Battery Co Ltd, will have a registered capital of 813.82 million yuan ($128.97 million) and be based in Kunming, in China’s southwestern Yunnan province, according to a Yunnan Aluminium filing to the Shenzhen stock exchange. Yunnan Aluminium and Phinergy will each own 32 percent in the venture,...
The next generation 992 Porsche 911 is all set to make its debut later this year. Auto industry reports say the German automaker has used aluminium and high-strength steel in construction of its new flagship. Source:www.auto.ndtv.com The new generation 2019 Porsche 911 is based on an evolved MMB platform, which ensures more weight savings on the car, thanks to the use of aluminium and advanced steel in its construction. "The car cabin will also be more digitally connected this time round, with more tech wizardry and a digital interface added to the mix," an NDTV expert review confirms. Porsche hasn't confirmed power figures yet on the new 911, but the coupe will be offered in a number of variants including the Carrera 2S and 4S, Targa top and turbo charged versions. The car will be...
Kian Joo Can Factory Berhad, a manufacturer and distributor of aluminium cans, tin cans and steel cans in Malaysia, recorded revenue of RM494.4 million in Q4, 2017, an increase from RM429.3 million in Q4, 2016. The increase in revenue was contributed by increase in demand for the Group's products and upward adjustments of selling price to absorb the increase in cost of direct material, the Group said. Profit before taxation was RM22.8 million compared to RM36.2 million in Q4, 2016. In the Cans Division, Group generated a total operating revenue of RM313.4 million in Q4, 2017, from RM281.9 million in Q4, 2016 due to increase in demand and adjustment in selling price for aluminium cans to reflect higher cost of materials. “Profit before taxation of this Division decreased by RM18.0 million...
A consortium of four European organizations has developed a method for producing self-reinforced fuselage panels by applying aluminium wire to said panels via additive manufacturing. Firms Stelia Aerospace and CT Ingénierie, and École Centrale de Nantes, all of France, and Constellium of the Netherlands developed the groundbreaking method under the auspices of their research and technology project DEFACTO (DEveloppement de la Fabrication Additive pour Composant Topologique). Source: Stelia Aerospace The project distilled the technology into the form of a small robotic tool that merges printed aluminium wire onto the surface of an aircraft’s fuselage, then fixing it in place by electric arc in a process known as WAAM (Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing). According to the project’s press...
Global aluminium household market is readying for a big rejig after a lull for over a decade now. A recently published market research report predicted a 20-45 per cent or above growth rate for the global aluminium kitchenware category only, in the developed economies. Globally, household articles and kitchen ware industry players who have been relying on stainless steel and other materials till now, are again shifting their focus on aluminium because of its lightness and endless recyclability. With advancements in coating technologies, the market will grow at a steady pace in the years to follow. France remains a major exporter of aluminium household articles, followed by Germany and other European countries. During the past three years, from 2015 till 2017, France exported 80657.5...
The interest of aerospace industries in AM has been continually growing and the adoption rate itself describes a curve looking like a taking-off plane. As announced, the promising German-Russian joint venture “FITNIK” has started operations as of January 2018. Partners are the FIT Additive Manufacturing Group based in Lupburg (Germany), specialized in rapid prototyping and Additive Design and Manufacturing services, and NIK Ltd., based in Zhukovsky (Russian Federation), an engineering consulting firm active in the Russian and international aerospace market providing engineering and consulting. The cooperation combines two specialists united by one goal: To open up the Russian market for AM. Whereas FIT will provide ADM (Additive Design and Manufacturing) expertise and services for the...
Aluminium is adorning more and more innovative building structures around the world primarily for it formability and lightweight advantage. The rounded shell of a school sports hall near Prague is aesthetically covered and disguised with reflective aluminium panels. The sports hall is designed by a local architectural firm Sporadical in the town of Dolní Břežany, to the south of the Czech capital. The hall can be used by the school and public for sports and as a cultural venue. According to the architect, the building's semi-spherical unique form gives it a distinctive contemporary feel. The neutral design complements the evolving urban context, while also covering the overall mass of the building. "The dome draws the scale closer to humans, the metallic surface mirrors the surroundings,...
UK bought US$644.1 billion worth of goods from around the globe in 2017.The country’s imports of aluminium container for compressed gas witnessed a drop in volume and value in 2017. UK expects an increase in imports of this product in 2018. In 2017, Czech Republic exported 3331 tonnes of aluminium containers for compressed gas to UK (estimated).The other top exporters are Germany, Hungary, Netherlands and Canada. Global trade data suggests that UK imported 11472 tonnes of aluminium containers for compressed gas worth US$82.6 million in 2016.Aluminium containers for compressed gas import totalled 8759 tonnes and was valued at US$55.5 million in 2017. A total volume of 9859 tonnes of aluminium containers for compressed gas will be imported by this year end. The value of import will also...
U.S. consumers could end up paying more for a six pack of beer or a can of vegetables if President Donald Trump takes actions on U.S. Commerce Department’s tariff recommendations on steel and aluminium imports. Critics are of the view that such protective actions may harm many U.S. end-user industries, including breweries and canned vegetable companies that use imported aluminium for product containers. “Anything that raises our raw material costs will affect the bottom line,” said Henry Schwartz, founder and CEO of MobCraft Beer, a Milwaukee brewery. Switching off again to glass bottles again would cost money on additional equipment and bottles are not as appealing to consumers as cans. According to industry statistics, for every dollar worth of beer produced in the U.S., brewers spend...
Leading business intelligence provider on global metal markets, CRU shared in its latest market insight that aluminium demand from electric vehicles will increase 10-fold from 2017 growing up to 10 million tonnes by 2030. The usage of aluminium automotive body part components made of extrusions and rolled products will be higher in comparison with the present day vehicles with internal combustion engines. On the contrary, secondary aluminium castings used in today’s vehicle parts will witness a gradual decline as more than 90 per cent of the vehicles on road will be battery powered. EVs will specifically boost primary aluminium demand while imposing a limit on aluminium scrap demand, CRU noted. As per forecast global battery-powered electric vehicle (BEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicle...
Shares of Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co. fell after the U.S. Commerce Department recommended higher tariff on imported aluminium and steel. The possibility of these tariffs raising the prices of raw materials for vehicles has generated concern in the market bringing down the share performances. Both companies reversed gains after Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross proposed a 24% global tariff on steel shipments into the U.S. and a 7.7% duty on aluminium imports. The American Automotive Policy Council, a Washington-based trade group that represents GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, forecasted earlier in 2017 that import restrictions would hurt the car industry and its workers. Ford closed down 1.4 per cent while GM dropped 1.8 per cent in Friday trading. Fiat Chrysler’s U.S....
WernerCo, an international manufacturer and distributor of access products, fall protection equipment, secure storage systems and light duty construction equipment, has acquired ZARGES Group, following receipt of regulatory approvals. Edward Gericke, President of Americas business of WernerCo said: “ZARGES Group is a strong market player in continental Europe and will join WernerCo’s portfolio of industry leading brands. Both companies operate in complementary markets with the same understanding on product quality, design and delivery.” Image Source: ZARGES Germany based ZARGES Group manufactures aluminium products for access, storage solutions and special construction. The company’s aluminium product gives stability and high corrosion-resistance. The company has three production sites in...
Car park areas are no longer going to be the same monochromatic, sci-fi lab like architectures as they used to be. Maple and Morgan Sindall along with architects AHR are working on a façade made of aluminium panels for a new multi-storey car park in Manchester’s Salford. The façade with the kite-shaped aluminium panels will lend the new building a striking 3-D hexagonal look that will be a far cry from other concrete car parks of the city. Source: www.maplesunscreening.co.uk The concept comes from an Abu Dhabi skyscraper where similar aluminium facades have been used. The façade will provide glare and sun protection from all angles while allowing ample sunlight inside the building. Maple technical design team has been working closely with AHR architects since May 2016. The project is...
China is taking sincere steps towards green car by boosting electric vehicle productions and sale. While the government is increasing subsidy on EVs they are also making sure that automakers are encouraged and compelled to make EVs with higher range on a single charge so that more and more people can afford EVs and substitute gas fuel cars with them. Under the new subsidy rules, which took effect Monday 12 Feb, China is increasing subsidies for electric vehicles that can travel with a range of 400 kilometers (249 miles) and more on a single charge, to 50,000 yuan ($7,900) from 44,000 yuan. This was confirmed by a finance ministry statement. Subsequently, the new rules have specified at least 150 kilometers on a single charge as benchmark to be eligible for incentives, which used to be 100...
President Donald Trump is gearing up for a protective trade policy to safeguard the interests of domestic metal producers, especially steel and aluminium industry. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN) believes that while trying to achieve a level playing field by imposing tariffs on imported aluminium and steel, Trump may actually hurt the interests of end users like the Recreational Vehicle industry. "That would really slow the momentum down in what is a booming industry in the RV industry, the boating industry, all the manufacturing all of it that uses both steel and aluminum," Walorski said. Trump highlighted how the domestic steel and aluminium industries are being decimated by dumping of metal in the markets by other countries during a meeting with Republicans and Democrats at the White House...
In order to boost revenue by the end of 2018, SGB MY Sdn Bhd, a unit of Germany-based SGB SMIT Group is planning to venture into manufacturing aluminium oval transformers in Malaysia. Managing director of the company Franz Hierz said the company expected the aluminium transformer to grow popular in other countries in the region like the Indian sub-continents, Australia and the Middle East. Due to the cost advantage aluminium is slowly substituting copper in transformers offering customers a more viable option. "The aluminium oval transformer has made a huge impact on the European market and is now ready to make its debut with a big bang in Malaysia and the Asian region," Hierz said during the introduction of the aluminium oval transformer at the Powering Energy Efficiency Conference held...
Chinese electronics and software company Xiaomi has entered Indian television market with a premium brand. The Mi TV- built on an aluminium alloy frame is priced same as its high-end yet affordable counterpart- 4K LED televisions in China. Source: VentureBeat What sets Mi TV 4 apart from other televisions available in the market? – Its design. The TV is built on an aluminium alloy frame and features a stand and brushed metal finishing, which makes it look suave and lightweight at the same time. Xiaomi has done away with the bezels in the frameless panel, and that has made the television 38 per cent slimmer than the Samsung Galaxy S8 smartphone! The 4.9-mm thin smart TV from the house of Xiaomi will be launched in a flash sale on February 22 this year. With a host of new-age features and...
Trina Solar announced that its State Key Laboratory (SKL) of PV Science and Technology (PVST) has set a new record of 25.04% total-area efficiency for a large-area (243.18 cm2) n-type mono-crystalline silicon (c-Si) Interdigitated Back Contact (IBC) solar cell, with open-circuit voltage up to 715.6 mV. The result was independently certified by Japan Electric Safety and Environmental Technology Laboratory (JET). The IBC solar cell is the most complicated but with the highest cell efficiency for mass production c-Si solar cell today. The record-breaking n-type mono-crystalline silicon solar cell was fabricated on a large-sized industrial phosphorous-doped Cz Silicon substrate with a low-cost industrial IBC process, featuring conventional tube doping technologies and fully screen-printed...
