
For decades, aluminium windows and doors were largely viewed as functional elements of construction. Today, advances in extrusion technology, precision engineering and architectural design have transformed their possibilities. What once required bulky frames and conventional openings can now be achieved through remarkably slender profiles, expansive glass surfaces and sophisticated systems that bring together structural strength, durability and understated luxury. As Indian architecture becomes increasingly ambitious, aluminium is no longer simply framing spaces; it is helping redefine how they are designed, experienced and connected. Market data According to ALUMEX India 2025: Extruding the Future, India is the world’s second-largest primary aluminium producer and third-largest consumer,...
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...
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Ball Corporation recently won silver and bronze at this year's Canmaker "Can of the Year" Awards for its L'Oréal Men Expert Antiperspirant can in the "Aerosol Cans" category and its Tactile can in the "Prototype" category. Ball utilized its innovative ReAl technology to make the new silver award-winning L'Oréal Men Expert Antiperspirant can. ReAl paves the way for greater lightweighting potential, as well as stronger cans. Ball's ReAl technology provides increased strength and allows Ball to lightweight the L'Oréal Men Expert Can by approximately 12 percent. Additionally, the 80-station necker Ball uses to manufacture this can enables the production of more intricate shapes. "ReAl is an excellent fit for L'Oréal Men Expert, as the sustainability benefits of meaningful lightweighting...

Once again the WorldStar competition, organised by the World Packaging Organisation (WPO), has recognised excellence in aluminium foil innovation by naming four winning entries from the Alufoil Trophy 2017 in its own list of winners. Amcor and Constantia Flexibles provided the successful entries in the prestigious and globally recognised WorldStar competition. In the food category Constantia Flexibles scooped three of the WPO’s awards for products for very diverse uses. The Bone Shaped Container for wet dog food features very high-impact printing for maximum shelf appeal, as well as being lightweight and easy to stack when empty. The second Star was awarded to a container and lid combination for Bäckerei Stiebling’s Cakees ready to eat cake products, enabling them to be kept at ambient...

The British defence and aerospace company BAE Systems has received a US$45.3 million contract from the U.S. Navy to modernize its guided missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68). The contract includes elaborate repair work on-board the 567-foot-long Anzio and replacement of critical aluminium structures with new ones. BAE Systems will conduct the modernization work at its shipyard in Norfolk, Virginia. The location also happens to be the ship’s homeport. On completion after six months, the cumulative value of the project is estimated to go up to $53.1 million. The work is expected to begin in February next year. “As our team wraps up the first stage of modernization work aboard the Vicksburg, we look forward to the arrival of the Anzio soon afterwards to start its cruiser-mod program,” Vice...

Value-addition is “in” in all the industrial metal manufacturing sectors, especially in the emerging economies where infrastructure overhaul is in full swing. India’s JSW Steel recently launched JSW Everglow- an aluminium zinc-coated housing solution made of technologically superior steel. The product was launched for Kerala market. JSW Everglow is a super-premium steel product coated with aluminium-zinc compound. It also features a highly durable polyester (SDP) paint coating and bottom colour paint coating which makes it ideally suited for interior accent as well strong roofing solution. With this product launch JSW Steel has reinforced its focus on value-added steel portfolio. JSW Steel has developed a wide-range of innovative products leveraging its technological capabilities. Its...

Netherlands, the 9th largest exporter in the world, shipped US$435 billion worth of goods in 2016. The country’s exports of commodities have decreased during the last five years. Aluminium containers, which are used for packaging of several commercial commodities, are non-toxic, odourless and moisture resistant. Netherlands witnessed a drop in exports of aluminium containers last year. The country’s export of this product is estimated to increase this year. According to recent estimates, Netherlands shipped 964 tonnes of aluminium containers worth US$9.5 million in 2015.Aluminium containers export from Netherlands totalled 591 tonnes and was valued at US$ 7.1 million in 2016. Netherlands is estimated to export 2908 tonnes of aluminium containers and earn revenue amounting to US$317...

Reynaers Romania, a leading European specialist in developing and marketing of innovative and sustainable solutions in aluminium for windows, doors, curtain walls, sliding systems & sun screening, is targeting a 10 per cent increase in turnover in 2018. The company also aims to achieve a turnover of EUR 7 million at the end of 2017. Reynaers Romania relocated its operations to the logistic center in the south part of Bucharest, Romania in 2017. The logistic center was commissioned at the end of 2015 with an investment of approximately EUR 1 million. The company plans to develop the distribution channel by opening a new showroom in the center of Bucharest in 2018. They also have nationwide expansion plans for 2018, starting with areas, such as Cluj, Timisoara, Sibiu and Iasi. Reynaers...

Chinese electric auto maker Nio has launched sales of its first vehicle three years after the company was founded, undercutting the price of a rival model from Tesla. Electric motors mounted on each axle give the ES8 a 0-62mph time of 4.4 seconds, which is similar to a Model X 90D. The launch could put pressure on Tesla in the world's largest electric vehicle market because the USA company isn't expected to manufacture its Model X into China until 2020, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said recently. However, because of import duties that are levied, the all-electric crossover is quite expensive. These companies want to rival Tesla with smart electric vehicles that feature internet connectivity and new technologies, and by leveraging their understanding of Chinese consumers. The competing SUV is more...

Crown Asia Pacific, a division of Crown Holdings, has inaugurated its new aluminium beverage can manufacturing plant in Jakarta, Indonesia. The new facility is Crown’s first beverage can plant in Indonesia and 16th in the Asia Pacific region. The plant has an initial annual capacity of 650 million cans. Robert Bourque, President of Crown Asia Pacific, commented: “There is great potential for the beverage can in Indonesia thanks to strong economic growth and a sizable population, which ranks as the fourth largest in the world.” The single-line facility will produce standard 330ml two-piece aluminium beverage cans and a range of specialty sizes. The facility has been designed to be able to accommodate a second can line with similar capacity and a beverage end production line, allowing Crown...

Hazlemere Commercial, one of the largest suppliers of architectural aluminium products in the South East of England, has secured contract to supply all the new aluminium windows, doors and curtain walling. Kier Construction has awarded contract for their new build project at Green Ridge Primary Academy in Aylesbury, Bucks. The company will manufacture and install all the fenestration required for this new high quality teaching space. Locally based on Cressex Business Park in High Wycombe, Hazlemere will be fabricating all the aluminium double glazed products within their 38,000 square foot factory in South Bucks. The thermally broken double glazing products specified by Kier Construction on the Green Ridge Primary Academy project are Sapa Elegance 52 aluminium curtain walling, Sapa...

Major development projects are being flagged off across Malaysia driving the demand for building materials sector. AmInvestment Bank Bhd in their recent market study held an ‘overweight’ view of the sector which includes aluminium building materials. According to the investment bank, key catalysts are visible and the order books are full for construction industry players in the country. Buying of building materials such as steel, cement and aluminium has increased lifting higher-than-expected average selling prices of these commodities. “Key catalysts that potentially boost greater demand for building materials are the infrastructure development projects earmarked under Budget 2018, in which the government is committed to spending on roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, public housing,...

In a significant step towards Make in India initiative, the BrahMos missile team has used five different grades of specialty aluminium alloy developed in India to construct various critical parts of the world's first and only supersonic cruise missile. They have used five different grades of wrought aluminium alloys in eight semi-product forms, which are developed in nine different heat treatment conditions. The state-own Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) locally developed the alloy that was earlier imported from Russia. The move is also significant towards the development and capacity enhancement of the BhraMos missile, since the use of locally developed alloy in the construction of the fuel tank and airframe of the missile will save substantial costs for the...

Valspar has designed a special Acrylicoat acrylic coating for extruded-aluminium architectural products in order to deliver a smooth, glass-like, extremely hard finish. Valspar Corp.’s Acrylicoat acrylic coating features a propriety resin system developed by Sherwin-Williams Coil and Extrusion Coatings, which can give extra tough finish to architectural aluminium extrusions. The company further says the coating is well-suited for high-traffic areas such as window and door frames, metal panels, column covers and other aluminium extrusions. The coating is suitable for both interior and exterior applications. The hard surface resists scratches, and meets or exceeds the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) 2603-17 industry standard for high-performance coatings. The acrylic...

Hospital acquired infections or healthcare-associated infections are the most frequent adverse situations that arise in health-care delivery procedures worldwide. In low-to-middle income countries the frequency of HAI is almost always on the higher side. Researchers across disciplines have been trying to find a way to lower this frequency. Recently, a team of researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, was successful in coming up with a solution using etched aluminium surfaces. Source: www.biospectrumindia.com The scientists used etched aluminium to kill bacteria of both the drug-sensitive and drug-resistant varieties. They used sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide of different concentrations to etch the aluminium alloy for different time periods. The etched...

The export of aluminium containers for compressed gas from India is inching towards a major drop in 2017. From 967.67 tonnes in 2016, the export of this major commercial category of aluminium packaging is projected to reach 695.4 tonnes by December end. Imposition of Goods and Services Tax (GST) at the rate of 18 per cent is thought have impacted upon the outbound trade of the commodity. However, the post-GST effect is expected to fade out soon putting export industry in India back on the fast track. India’s export of aluminium containers for compressed gas has been increasing steadily on a yearly basis since 2015. From 249 tonnes in 2014 it surged to reach 972.6 tonnes in 2015. In 2016, the export remained nearly flat at 968 tonnes. Source: www.exporttrust.com Global trade data suggests...

Hong Kong-based investment holding company Man Yue Technology Holdings Limited won “The Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Innovative Technology Achievement Award - Innovative Technology" by The Hong Kong Federation of Innovative Technologies and Manufacturing Industries (FITMI). The company manufactures and distributes aluminium electrolytic capacitors, conductive polymer aluminium solid capacitors and other electronic components. It operates state-of-the-art aluminium electrolytic capacitors manufacturing facilities in Dongguan, Wuxi and Jiangxi of Mainland China. Mr. Chan Yu Ching Eugene, Managing Director of Man Yue Technology said, "We are honoured that our decade-long effort in R&D and production gained recognition from FITMI. Since 2004, Man Yue Technology has long been committed...

Aluminium tubes and pipes demand maintained an upward from industries such as construction, building, transportation and others. It is projected the demand for this product will grow in foreseeable future because of continuous expenditure in these sectors. According to the Product Complexity Index (PCI), aluminium pipes are the 683rd most traded product and the 422nd most complex product. Spain purchased $299 billion of goods in 2016. The country’s imports have decreased at an annualized rate of -0.823%, from $352 billion in 2011 to $299 billion in 2016. Spain’s aluminium tubes and pipes imports have been declining for the past last three years. International trade data shows, Spain imported about 8963 tonnes of aluminium tubes and pipes in 2016, down from 12160 tonnes a year ago. In...

The global caps & closures market is growing at CAGR of 4.9%-5.9% rate annually and is projected to reach US$68.71 billion size by 2021. Aluminium caps and closures market, when studied in the context of this growth, can be seen slowing down moderately because of the rising demand of plastic caps & closures, corks, and a faster shift to PET-disposable bottles. Although aluminium still remains the most viable packaging material in terms of lightness, formability, effective barrier quality, and recyclability (read- environmental friendliness), rising competition from a number of new-age packaging materials is making it somewhat unattractive to the bottle makers. Nevertheless, there are silver linings- China’s beer packaging sector, for example, is shifting to aluminium cans. With one of the...

To stand out and make a difference is not every brand’s cup of tea. BMW did it and how! The luxury car maker set the green standard for all EV manufacturers by using in its newest launch BMW i3, aluminium recycled from 560 beverage cans! The new BMW B-class, high-roof hatchback with an electric powertrain features extensive body parts made of recycled aluminium sheet. Its dash and door panels are made from seagrass and unbleached eucalyptus wood, and the centre console is nothing but recycled plastic. The leather seats inside the electric car are tanned using an olive leaf extract and the passenger cell is made from carbon-fibre reinforced plastic. And that is not all! The German factory where the new BMW i3 electric cars are being manufactured runs on wind power. The use of aluminium and...