
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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The Centre d’expertise sur l’aluminium (CeAl) and Alcoa Innovation have jointly announced a competition with the theme Community-Focused Architecture Starts with Aluminum . Aimed at fostering innovative use of the sustainable light metal in modern building designs, the competition will get the Association des Architectes en pratique privée du Québec (AAPPQ) as a co-organizer. Financial support for the event will come from the Ministère de l’Économie, de la Science et de l’Innovation (MESI). The earlier editions of the competition were primarily dedicated to industrial design projects for a consumer product. Next year’s edition, for the first time, will invite Québec architects to participate and showcase their designs using aluminium for sustainable building projects. The unique...

India’s overseas trade entered “the negative terrain” after more than a year shrinking 1.12 per cent in October as exporters faced a shortage of funds after GST implementation. The knee-jerk effect on the economy is expected to fade away but not before early next year. In tandem with the declining exports, aluminium stranded wire export is also inching towards a drop for the fiscal year 2017-2018, global trade data reveals. India’s aluminium stranded wire export reached a peak in 2015 when it shipped 78476 tonnes of the product valued at US$218 million. Last year, the volume dropped to 77898 tonnes. The earnings from the export were estimated at US$204 million. The figures showed a significant surge from that in 2014, when aluminium stranded wire export by India lagged at 31015 tonnes...

Vader Systems, Buffalo, New York, USA, an innovator in liquid metal 3D printing that builds 3D metal printing machines for manufacturers and researchers, has announced the first commercial sale of its signature Mk1 3D printer to BECKER CAD-CAM-CAST. BECKER is a tier one supplier of engineered aluminium automotive components from Germany. Vader’s Mk1 Additive Manufacturing system Vader’s patented MagnetoJet technology melts metal wire and produces on-demand, precision droplets of molten aluminium. The company claims that the process will produce 3D printed parts faster and with reduced operational costs in comparison to process that uses metal powder. The process is also claimed to be safer and it offers easier material sourcing. Since, Vader’s technology uses standard aluminium wire, the...

In a historical display at the ongoing Dubai Air Show, UAE unveiled its first ever spacecraft ‘Hope’ that will orbit Mars. The spacecraft made up of aluminium frame with lightweight aluminium honeycomb panels will be launched as a part of the Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) in July 2020. In July 2014, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates had announced Project Hope. Thanks to its aluminium built, the spacecraft will weigh 1,500kg with fuel. As a part of the EMM, Hope spacecraft will gather climate and atmosphere related data from Mars which will be shared for free with the public. Made using aluminium frames, the spacecraft measures 2.37 metres in width and 2.90 metres in height excluding the solar panels. In space it will charge its batteries using...

The increase in spending in building and construction sector is driving the demand for aluminium tubes and pipes globally. It is projected that the demand for this commodity will continue to increase in the years ahead. {newsStudioGallery} Italy, the 8th largest exporter in the world, exported EUR 29.38 billion worth of goods in August 2017, up 8.4 percent year-on-year. The export of aluminium tubes and pipes by the country is expected to go up in 2017. According to recent statistics, Italy exported 24742 tonnes of aluminium tubes and pipes in 2016, down from 26584 tonnes in 2015. In 2017, the country’s aluminium tubes and pipes export is estimated to rise to 24745 tonnes. The estimated value of aluminium tubes and pipes export was USD 113 million and USD 106 million respectively for 2015...

The Aluminum Association recently released the 2017 version of Aluminum in Green Buildings – A Guide to Environmental Declarations for the building and construction market. The new guidelines describe how life cycle assessments (LCA) and environmental product declarations (EPD) are awarded for green building credits in major rating systems, says the Association. Heidi Brock, President & CEO of the Aluminum Association said: “Our industry is committed to utilizing aluminum’s many benefits to advance sustainability efforts in the building and construction sector. The guide’s updates will help stakeholders in every stage of the process make informed decisions regarding environmental declarations as well as what aluminum can bring to the process.” The new guide features information including...

The European aluminium industry regrets that the Commission missed the opportunity to stop penalising lightweighting while it is essential for decarbonising mobility. The proposed regulation for post-2020 CO2 emission standards for cars and vans unfortunately still bases the targets on the mass of the vehicles. Lighter cars and vans use less fuel and emit fewer emissions. Lightweighting vehicles using light materials like aluminium can therefore help to decouple growth in transport demand from an increase in CO2 emissions. European legislation, however, still penalises the use of lightweighting by using a flawed methodology in its proposed revision of the regulation on CO2 emission targets for cars and vans. Under the proposed regulation, heavier cars would still be allowed to emit more...

Can-Pack, the only aluminium beverage can producer in Romania, is planning a major investment in order to modernize its manufacturing facility in Romania. The fund will come from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The company will introduce innovative products and resource efficient technologies. EBRD said in a press release that the bank has subscribed to 40 million euro ($46 million) in 325 million euro unsecured seven-year corporate bonds issued by the company in 2016, reports seenews.com. Earlier reports indicated that the company decided to invest EUR 50 million in its second production line. The new line will start operating in February next year. Can-Pack Romania is owned by Can-Pack Group. Can-Pack Group is one of the most technologically advanced...

An industry leader in lightweighting, Shiloh Industries, Inc. was recently honored at the 2017 International Die Casting Design Competition with an Excellence Award for the development of an aluminum cast, overdrive gear carrier. The North American Die Casting Association (NADCA) recognized the structural integrity of Shiloh’s multi-functional, lightweight casting. The innovative design maintained strength and performance requirements, while reducing part weight by approximately 60% over steel, and eliminating an extensive secondary processing saving overall costs. “Utilizing aluminum over traditional ferrous sintered metals resulted in a significant mass savings in the transmission, which can increase efficiency and improve fuel economy in the vehicle,” said Don Carter, director,...

UC RUSAL, a leading global aluminium producer, is pleased to announce that it will be supplying approximately 510 tonnes of aluminium to be used in the production of aluminium tram interiors. As part of the project, UC RUSAL will provide aluminium for a total of 300 tram interiors. This is the world’s largest contract to purchase trams for a single city. The field of urban transport engineering is a new sector for UC RUSAL and one which has significant growth potential in Russia. The new Vityaz-M trams, which contain three compartments whose interior is entirely made from aluminium, are produced by a Krasnoyarsk based machine-building components company. New trams are scheduled to be supplied to the Moscow transportation system in 2017-2019. RUSAL’s Krasnoyarsk Aluminium Smelter (KrAZ)...

Toyota Motor Corp today released a second statement stating that its vehicles' quality and performance satisfy its internal standards.The company has been investigating the impact on its vehicles following the Kobe Steel admission that it had falsified data regarding aluminium and copper products. Toyota said in a statement. "we have confirmed that our vehicles' quality and performance satisfy our own internal standards.” Last month, Toyota announced that they found no safety issues with the aluminium parts supplied by Kobe Steel. Also, Honda Motor Co, Nissan Motor Co and Mazda Motor Co said that the exterior parts in their cars which used aluminium supplied by them were safe. Subaru and other Japanese carmakers said they were still investigating the issue.

Ball Corporation, a leading beverage can maker with production facilities around the globe, announced that the company won a 2017 British Aerosol Manufacturing Association (BAMA) Aerosol Packaging Award for its Tactile can. An aluminium aerosol can is designed and produced by the company. “Tactile is an ink that provides texture on the can for a unique consumer interaction with the package. Ball is able to apply the ink around 360 degrees of the can. Enough of the tactile ink is "laid" on the can so it provides grip for the consumer,” it said. According to the judges, "The standard of the entries was extremely high, which not only made the experience hugely enjoyable, but also reminded us why the UK aerosol industry is so successful. Our congratulations go to all the entrants, and...

Leading manufacturer of high-quality capacitors Cornell Dubilier Electronics, Inc. (CDE) has announced a new development in aluminium electrolytic technology. The company’s THA Series Thinpack capacitors and THAS Series are available in the market with 85 °C and 105 °C respectively. “THA and THAS Series Thinpack capacitors offer the highest-energy density available in low-profile aluminium electrolytic technology,” the company claims. “This is comparable in height to V-chip electrolytics, tantalums and board-mounted axials, yet offer much higher bulk-storage energy density. A single THA/THAS capacitor can replace an array of SMT, axial or radial aluminum electrolytic or solid tantalum capacitance arrays.” “THA/THAS capacitor has a sealed, laser welded aluminum case that eliminates the...

Sparkling fruit wine drink Ibiza Ice has been relaunched into the on-trade with a new look, aiming to tap into a burgeoning market for fruit wine in Britain. Made with all-natural ingredients, Ibiza Ice is a blend of Austrian mountain spring water and fruit wine made from apples and pears, with ABV of 5.5%. Originally launched in 2009, it was repackaged for relaunch at the start of this year and is now available to the on-trade through suppliers Venus, HT & Co Drinks and HB Clark. The names of the two variants in the range remain the same: White Isle with lychee, lime and watermelon and Sunset with pomegranate. With a revamped design, the two variants come in sustainable 330ml aluminium bottles that are 100% recyclable and shatter-proof, with a ring-pull cap. Ibiza Ice is made 100% with...

Aleris, a global leader in the manufacture and sale of aluminium rolled products, announced that the company has signed multi-year agreement with Bombardier to supply aluminium flat rolled products for a variety of Bombardier aircraft program. Sean Stack, Aleris chairman and CEO said, "We are excited to expand our partnership with Bombardier through the supply of a broader range of products from our facilities in both Europe and Asia Pacific.” "This agreement with Bombardier serves as further validation of our strategy to continue to advance our technical capabilities and expand our global footprint to help our aerospace customers meet their goals." The company will supply aluminium flat rolled products from its facilities in Koblenz, Germany and Zhenjiang, China.

Taiwan shipped USD 28.90 billion worth of goods in September 2017, up 28.1 per cent year-on-year. The country’s exports of aluminium can have been decreasing over the last two years. The trend is expected to continue in 2017. The largest part of aluminium can is exported to Japan. Indonesia and the USA also import a considerable amount of aluminium cans from Taiwan. According to the recent estimate, in 2015, Taiwan exported 5463 tonnes of aluminium cans globally. The total revenue from can export amounts to about US$ 33 million. Compared to 2015, in 2016, Taiwan exported an estimated 2457 tonnes of aluminium can. The total revenue from the export stood at US$ 16.6 million. Considering the trend in last two years the aluminium can export by Taiwan is estimated to reach 1924 tonnes in 2017...

Ford recently announced its third quarter 2017 results which were primary driven by its all-aluminium F-150 Pickups sale. The company reported a profit of $1.6 billion, an increase of 63% YoY. On a per share basis, the Dearborn automaker earned of 39 cents per share, beating the 33 cents per share average, based on a Wall Street analysis and up from 26 cents per share last year. The better-than expected results were driven by higher revenue from sales in North America, especially in the truck and SUV segment, led by CEO Jim Hackett. The company has experienced higher profits generated by its F-Series pickups in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The average F-Series truck that was sold for $23,000 more than a year ago or at $45,400 in September has been generating huge revenue for the company....

Dell announced the launch of its new notebook XPS 15 in India. The laptop comes with company’s Infinity Edge display. XPS 15 notebook is made from single block of aluminium. According to the company, Dell XPS 15 offers a number of industry-firsts, making it the most anticipated 15-inch laptop in the world. Alen Joe Jose, Product Marketing Director, Consumer and Small Business, Dell, India said, “We are thrilled to introduce the 15-inch device in Dell’s award-winning flagship XPS line for Indian PC users.” “Designed and built to perfection with premium materials and best-in-class features, and complete with comprehensive support with premium support plus, Dell is proud to unveil the most durable, stylish laptop in the market.” It is powered by a 7th Generation Intel Core i7-7700HQ...