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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To overcome the structural rigidity and weight issues in traditional solar panels that restrict their use in flexible electronics, researchers at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia have built rigid silicon segments joined by aluminium contacts. The lightweight, highly-flexible, portable solar panels are aimed at powering the next-generation Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Source: www.i2.wp.com (suggestive image) The screen-printed aluminium contacts linking the silicon sections are positioned at the back of the solar panel to ensure optimal light absorption. The aluminium contacts will also allow modifications of the silicon segments leading to high-structural flexibility. Muhammad Hussain, the lead scientist said, the panel can be bent to different...
Novelis, the top aluminium supplier is of the view that growing automotive aluminium demand opens up new business for tier one automotive part suppliers while challenging them to get used to an aluminium dominant environment. Ganesh Panneer, Novelis vice president and general manager of the automotive division spoke about this after the inauguration of company’s recent third-of-a-billion-dollar investment in automotive aluminium manufacturing. The aluminium rolling and recycling leader promotes the use of aluminium in automotive from the sustainability standpoint as well as from a performance standpoint. Since aluminium is recyclable, it can be put into a closed-loop recycling system. Aluminium makers like Novelis can take scrap back from the plants and also from auto OEMs and feed it...
The leading flexible and rigid packaging company, Amcor has resolved to make all its products recyclable and reusable by 2025. The products include aluminium foils and aluminium cans for the food and beverage industry. With this decision, Amcor joins the list of elite consumer retail brands like Coca Cola, Loreal, PepsiCo, Unilever, and Walmart who have already pledged to to use environmental friendly materials in their product packaging. “During WEF was an appropriate time for Amcor to join major brands and retailers and be the first global packaging company in making a shared, determined commitment to address the major challenge of plastics in the environment and protect our planet for tomorrow,” Amcor CEO Ron Delia, said at World Economic Forum in Davos. According to Delia, Amcor...
Yantai Lishin Electronic&Mechanical Co., Ltd, based in Shandong Province, China, will supply die cast aluminium enclosures for electrical & electronic equipments. The company said that aluminium enclosures will prevent users of the equipment from getting electric shocks. “For electrical or electronic equipment manufacturers, aluminium cabinets or aluminium enclosures are very important to prevent electrical shocks", according to company press release. Made of ADC12 die casting aluminium, these aluminium enclosures are available in the sizes ranging from 125x80x58mm to 400x230x180mm. Yantai Lishin Electronic&Mechanical Co.,Ltd is one of the professional casting suppliers of aluminium casting, including high pressure die casting, gravity die casting and zinc alloy die casting.
Ball Corporation has announced a partnership with Spanish water brand Aguas Minerales de Firgas for the production of aluminium cans for new range of Sou Tea and Sou Tonic drinks. The 33 centilitre aluminium sleek can will be manufactured in company’s La Selva plant in Spain. Myriam Galmés, sales manager at Ball South Europe, said: “The partnership with Aguas de Firgas demonstrates that 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.” Ana Belén Quintana, commercial and marketing director at Aguas de Firgas, commented: “The design of the new beverages reflects the premium character of the brand and provides a distinctive look against competitors in both the tonic and tea markets.” “With...
The Aluminium Closures Group will sponsor this year’s prestigious international wine award, the Mundus Vini Spring Tasting. Via this engagement with a group of internationally recognized experts in the wine industry, the Group aims to expands its presence within the core market segment of fine wines. “It is a unique opportunity to take part in Mundus Vini and be directly involved in an activity of such high quality and cultural importance to the world of fine wines. We are convinced that aluminium closures can generally support the qualitative growth of wine, while we continuously develop new solutions for the industry,” said Franco Bove, Chairman of the Aluminium Closures Group The Group’s ‘Turn 360°’ campaign gives a fresh twist to the numerous advantages of aluminium closures for the...
Ford’s fourth-quarter 2017 results were out on Wednesday afternoon and report indicated that rising prices of aluminium is putting pressure on its profits. Ford’s aluminium intensive vehicles use more aluminium than its rivals and the 20% rise in price in 2017 has impacted its earnings. Aluminum closed at $2,229 per tonne on Tuesday. U.S. President Donald Trump administration’s plan to impose tariffs on imported aluminium and steel could push prices even higher. Ford gave a lower earnings estimate for 2017 and 2018 on higher prices for steel and aluminium and as well as currency volatility and said that it could cost the company $1.6 billion in 2018. Ford Chief Financial Officer Bob Shanks told analysts at a conference in Detroit last week that rising steel and aluminium prices were now...
Ahmed Abdelrazek, chairperson of the Industrial Development Authority (IDA), has laid the foundation stone of a factory of Egyptian company Good Sense Egypt for aluminium panels, with Egyptian and Saudi investments in Ataqa, Suez worth nearly EGP 200m. Abdelrazek said that the new factory is very important in terms of deepening local products in one of the most important industrial sectors, as it is considered the first of its kind to cover the gap of the local market, with an annual capacity of 3m sqm in the first phase, providing 70% of the needs of the local market and reducing the cost of importation. Abdelrazek expects the project to meet the aluminium panels needs of the local market and to export the production surplus after the completion of the second phase of the project in...
The Ducab Aluminium Company (DAC), a joint venture between Ducab and Senaat has been inaugurated today at Khalifa Industrial Zone of Abu Dhabi (KIZAD) by HH Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court. The company makes aluminium rods and overhead conductors. The new company was funded by a $60m investment in order to strengthen the UAE’s industrial supply chain in line with the UAE strategy to champion industrial investments. HH Al Nahyan highlighted the objective of economic diversification and said that the industry, with the support of the wise leadership of the UAE government, has become a significant pillar of the UAE national economy. Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the largest aluminium producer in the Middle East has collaborated with DAC to...
Aulong Shipbuilding, a joint venture between Austal and Guandong Jianglong Shipbuilding of China, has secured contract worth A$20 million for the construction of high speed aluminium ferries in China. The company will design and build four 42 metre high speed catamarans for Xidao Dazhou Tourism Co Ltd. Image: Aulong Austal Chief Executive Officer David Singleton said: “This A$20 million order is a great start to 2018, following our record sales in 2017 when we added eight commercial vessel orders worldwide, worth over A$380 million.” “Our strategic objective in China is to establish our joint venture, Aulong, as a highly credible brand leader in the very large, mainland Chinese market.” Construction of the aluminium ferries will commence from Aulong’s Zhongshan shipyard in Guandong...
UK’s imports of aluminium household articles have been declining in the last three years. UK, the 4th largest importer in the world, is estimated to import less aluminium household articles this year. According to recent statistics, China and India were the top exporters of aluminium household articles in 2017. UK imported about 14882 tonnes and 1525 tonnes from China and India respectively. Global trade shows that UK imported 22280 tonnes of aluminium household articles in 2017, down from 23348 tonnes in 2016. Considering the data for the last two year, UK is estimated to import 16855 tonnes of aluminium household articles in 2018. The cost of aluminium household articles import stood at US$ 135 million and US$103 million in 2016 and 2017 respectively. The estimated value of import will...
Germany, one of the top exporters of aluminium containers, witnessed an increase in both volume and value in 2017 after a drop in 2016. According to the Product Complexity Index (PCI), large aluminium containers are the 1131st most traded product and the 602nd most complex product. Global trade data suggests that Germany’s aluminium container export will decrease in 2018. Aluminium containers are used for packaging of several commercial commodities. Germany exported 2110 tonnes of aluminium containers in 2016. Last year, aluminium containers volume was slightly up at 2388 tonnes. In 2018, aluminium container export by Germany is estimated to reach 1890 tonnes by December end, a decline of 498 tonnes from the previous year. Value-wise, from US$30 million in 2016, the value of aluminium...
Aluminium bodied cars won all the highlights in the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The aluminium-intensive 2018 Lincoln Navigator won Truck of the Year and the 2018 Honda Accord was named Car of the Year in the North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) Awards, announced on Monday, Jan 15. For the second consecutive year, an aluminium-intensive vehicle has won a NACTOY award, reinforcing the relevance of using aluminium in cars and truck for better performance, safety, fuel efficiency, durability, towing capability, sustainability and carbon neutrality. Chrysler Pacifica was named North American Car Utility Vehicle of the Year in 2017. Commenting on the awards, Heidi Brock, President & CEO of the Aluminum Association said, “It’s no wonder Car...
In another step towards electrification of commercial vehicles in India, Ashok Leyland Limited, one of the largest commercial vehicle manufacturers in India, has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Israeli firm Phinergy to use their aluminium air batteries for electric CVs in India. The development took place as an outcome of the Israeli PM’s recent visit to India and it was announced to the stock exchanges on January 17, 2018. Phinergy develops clean and high energy-density systems based on metal-air technology. Along with making aluminium-air battery, Phinergy has developed a technology to generate electricity using aluminium as an energy source. ALL plans to use this technology for its electric CVs in India. The next few months will be utilized in developing prototypes and pilot...
The US-based company has decided to move to aluminium cans from glass bottles. Arbor Brewing Company announced that the company is switching its beer packaging from bottles to cans. The new canned beers will be available in the US by the end of this month. Mike Messink, Managing Partner, Arbor Brewing Company, said: “This is the first major branding change in the brewery’s 22-year history. In addition to sporting an updated logo, the cans feature new artwork and bright, eye-catching colors.” He added: “The new packaging includes an “Ypsi Made” stamp to emphasize the production brewery’s roots in Ypsilanti, and calls out its 1995 origins, which place it as one of the early pioneers in the Michigan craft brewing industry.”
Toyota Motor Corporation yesterday released a statement regarding impact of Kobe Steel quality issue on Toyota and Lexus vehicles. The company confirmed that they found no safety issues with the aluminium parts supplied by Kobe Steel. “We have examined the data that Kobe Steel provided (one or more years' worth) and evaluated the potential impacts of the materials purchased from Kobe Steel, using the data that contained the largest deviations from the specifications of Toyota or its suppliers,” the company said in its final report. “In these investigations, regarding all of the materials referenced in Kobe Steel's announcements on October 8, 11, and 13, 2017 we have confirmed that our vehicles' quality and performance satisfy our own internal standards.” Toyota said that aluminium...
Architectural fabrications firm Metalline has become the first to use an innovative natural stone-textured finish on their wide range of CWCT certified rain-screen aluminium cladding panels, the company said in a release recently. Rainscreen Panels supported by carriers and bracketry are designed to allow ventilation and drainage run-off in line with current building regulations. Aluminium cladding rainscreen panels serve this purpose while offering protection to the external façade of a building. Aluminium panels being lightweight help in project erection and the metal’s inherent formability enables designers to experiment with new designs. For refurbishment projects, aluminium cladding rainscreen panels work best because they are easy to install and help in giving an instantaneous...
Ford’s 2017 launch- the massive Lincoln Navigator SUV won the North American Truck of the Year award in Detroit Auto Show 2018. The aluminium-bodied SUV stood tall amid a crowd of new SUVs, crossovers and trucks. The recognition has given Ford an edge over its competitors General Motors and Fiat Chryslar in the truck and SUV categories. Ford Motor Company unveiled its Lincoln luxury brand’s 2018 Navigator SUV at the 2017 New York International Auto Show. The all new Navigator with aluminium body was positioned to compete with Cadillac Escalade. The company made a switch from steel to aluminium body for its new Navigator and that made the SUV around 90 kg lighter than its predecessors! While Ford is walking away all with all the awards and accolades for its aluminium vision, its rivals are...
