Cano Water is expanding its aluminium packaging range in the UK with the launch of a new 473ml still water bottle in selected Waitrose stores from November. The lightweight aluminium bottle, a popular format in the US, is being introduced to the British market for the first time after more than five years of development and efforts to secure UK listings. The launch marks a new chapter for Cano Water, which has sold nearly 100 million cans over the past 11 years. The company has also secured a listing with foodservice wholesaler Brakes, extending the availability of its new aluminium bottle format beyond retail. Since its launch, Cano Water has avoided plastic bottles, positioning aluminium as an alternative to single-use plastic packaging. The new bottle is the format the team first came...
China’s exports of aluminium casks, drums, cans, boxes and similar container products (HS 7612) increased in the first half of 2026, with shipments rising in both quarters. Among the destinations listed, import trends varied, with some markets recording strong growth while others saw declines. Exports at a glance China exported 49,000 tonnes of aluminium products (HS 7612) in the first half of 2026, up 36.1 per cent from 36,000 tonnes in H1 2025 and 63.3 per cent from 30,000 tonnes in H1 2024. Exports increased in both quarters, with shipments reaching 27,000 tonnes in Q2, compared with 22,000 tonnes in Q1, a quarter-on-quarter rise of 22.7 per cent. China’s quarterly exports rise The country’s exports rose by 29.4 per cent year-on-year, from 17,000 tonnes in Q1 2025 to 22,000 tonnes in...
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Chromebooks have been a gadget lover's favourite ever since they were introduced in 2011. The Linux-based Chrome OS supported laptops impressed users with their speed, battery life, display, app support and other functionalities ideally suited for everyday work. However, of all Chromebooks launched recently, including the higher-end ones of the same device category, Acer's Chromebook 14 succeeded finding that special place in the bloggers' column. The laptop is reasonably priced yet looks no lesser than a MacBook, courtesy its suave aluminium build. Acer's aluminium Chromebook 14 is light-weight; hence, easy to carry, and looks class apart from the ones donning a 'plastic-y' look of the same price band. The build is strong, scratch-free and the hinge is sturdy enough to withstand frequent...
The leading aluminium manufacturing company Struga Aluminium l has developed a new industrial unit in Morocco's Larache region at a total investment of more than 92 million dirhams. The new facility will churn out a wide range of interior and exterior aluminium doors under the brand name 'Aludoors.' Strugal will also export aluminium doors manufactured at the Larache site to European and West African countries, said a senior company executive. As per Strugal's latest update, the Larache site will house two assembly lines- one for producing interior aluminium doors and another for producing aluminium doors for the exteriors. The two assemblies with a combined capacity of more than 150,000 doors per annum will be able to produce one aluminium door per minute! Strugal, a leader in the...
The Indian Railways is gradually shifting from Corten steel to lighter materials- most preferably stainless steel and aluminium, for making coaches, said sources close to the ministry of railways. A specification for aluminium body coaches has already been developed by the Research Designs and Standards Organization. According to experts, aluminium and stainless steel have more strength yet are way lighter in weight than Corten steel. So, these materials can be ideally used to build low-weight coaches. {newsStudioGallery} “Ultimately the railways has to design coaches keeping in mind the dynamics of a moving train. The design of the coaches must be made for safer conditions. If facilities are not augmented to maintain the large fleet, probability of accidents will increase,” said Sudhir...
The current year has seen 40 per cent jump in the price of pacifying a bit of uncertainty in financial markets. However, the price rise had some implications on industrial applications such as solar photovoltaic (PV) cell production. Silver demand for solar applications increased about 23% in 2015 YOY. By 2050, PV is expected to be the world’s single-largest power generation source. Some of the companies are in the lookout for alternative materials and methods for the manufacturing of solar cells. In this effort, one company developed an aluminium foil cell and is seeking a partner to participate in the manufacture of a product that would generate electricity at a cheaper rate. Taking this as an opportunity, one of the high tech companies, Natcore Technology Inc. has developed a...
Alumasc Rainwater, the leading manufacturer of aluminium rainwater systems in the UK, has significantly improved its lead time across its entire range of services which includes product installation, fitting, and repair. Customers can now benefit from faster service on all of the company's offerings including contemporary pressed and extruded aluminium gutters and downpipes, and standard Skyline Copings, says a senior Alumasc executive. The Heritage Cast Aluminium range is one of Alumasc Rainwater's bestselling products and the company hopes to get a good response from its customers due to improvement on its lead time. “Reducing lead times for our Heritage Cast Aluminium, from 10 working days to 7, has proved so popular with customers we’re now offering faster lead times for all our...
The association of aluminium with environmental sustainability has come a long way. Right from making the smelting process less CO2-spitting to recycling used aluminium for maximum conservation of energy, researchers across the world are leaving no stone unturned to extract the true value of the 'green' metal as much as possible. Recently, Dutch designer Daan Roosegaarde has come up with yet another one-of-a-kind use of aluminium which aims at protecting environment in a way not heard or seen before. Roosegaarde installed the Smog Free Tower, a seven-meter high aluminium structure in Beijing that removes smog from the air just like an air purifier. The prototype of the aluminium tower was first tested in Rotterdam, Netherlands. In Beijing, the pilot project is located near...
Building and construction company Danube recently introduced an all-new fire-resistant aluminium composite panel (ACP). The Dubai based firm is currently showcasing the product at the Big 5 event at the World Trade Centre in Dubai. The launch follows the UAE’s decision to stall 270 odd construction projects on the grounds that they do not comply with the Civil Defence safety standards. Danube’s Alcopanel is non-combustible, less smoke-emitting, and is available in either 4.4mm or 6mm thickness variety. It has a central fire resistant core and reduces the risk of droplets to a significant extent. The product will be used on the Riyadh Metro development project and the company is in talks with what it described as “seven or eight major projects.” According to Danube, they can produce around...
Christmas is approaching and the festive spirit is setting in all around the globe. Christmas shopping is incomplete without the Christmas tree. Keeping up with the Christmas spirit, the Wisconsin Historical Museum is organizing their new exhibition, “Ever Gleaming: The Enduring Love Affair with the Aluminum Christmas Tree” to be open for visitors from Friday, November 25. “Aluminum trees were very popular in the 1960s and we want to give guests a chance to experience the nostalgia of a bygone era,” said Mike Hollander, interim director of the Wisconsin Historical Museum. “Guests will be able to see over two dozen different aluminum trees in different colors, from the standard silver tree to a rare pink tree. Over the last 10 years, the popularity has grown incredibly, and a whole new...
The world of gadgets is so full of futuristic designs, yet there are few brands which make it to the curator's den. Apple is one such name that tops the list of creative gadget brands. The consumer electronics and technology company has outdone its own creative self with its latest release- the Surface Studio. The desktop PC with an oversized 28-inch, 10-bit colour screen sports a one-off look and comes in an case crafted out of aluminium. Microsoft has planted the desktop PC on a solid base and housed the massive screen inside a suave aluminium case. The entire set though weighs 9.56 kilograms is quite easy to handle thanks to the effortless adjustments of the aluminium frame. There is this unique feature called zero Gravity hinge that helps move the display from its upright position to...
Dudley’s Aluminium, a Cardiff-based aluminium fabricator has been awarded with some premium housing projects in and around Cardiff. Recently, the company secured a major contract to do fabrication for the new One Canal Parade office in the heart of Cardiff. The company signed the contract with BECT Building Contractors to install the Kawneer curtain walling façade of the six storey office building. The company will also install state-of-the-art windows, smoke vents and revolving doors. The project is expected to complete by May 2016. The office space will house hundreds of jobs and the project is expected to underline the growth of the commercial property sector in the Welsh capital. Other than One Canal Parade, Dudley’s have secured other high profile contracts in Cardiff during the last...
Coca-Cola is planning to introduce aluminium bottles for their brands Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Zero and Sprite in India in the next three to four years, said a top executive from the beverage firm. The 200 ml aluminium bottle is already quite popular in countries like the UK, US, and China but costs about 40 per cent more for consumers than the now available PET bottles, said Dana Bolden, vice president at Bottling Investments Group at Coca-Cola. Aluminium bottles unlike aluminium cans debuted only a decade ago but thanks to their stylish design soon made their way on to marketplaces like eBay, upscale fashion magazines and shelves of luxury retailers. The packaging solution not only speaks of a revamped styling and new-age presentation but also makes transport easier while promising a...
Building and construction sector has always been a key end user sector for aluminium industry in the Indian subcontinent. But while infrastructure has experienced a boom in rest of the region, the growth has been pretty sluggish in Bangladesh. This has had its impact on the country’s aluminium industry which logged a slow growth after having recovered from the real estate setback. As per industry sources, Bangladesh aluminium industry grew at only four-to five per cent rate over the last two to three years compared to around 15 per cent growth it registered before real estate slowdown began in 2011. What contributed to this slow yet unusual growth? - The use picked up in the industrial sector and rural areas where opportunities remained largely unexplored until very recently. Bangladesh...
The sloping front aluminium enclosures enhance the versatility of Metcase’s UNIDESK supplied by OKW, and in a wide range of applications including industrial control, office systems, point-of-sale terminals, medical devices, security and access control. The kit offers a choice of wall mounting options using either the base or rear of the enclosure. It comprises two extruded aluminium profiles that fit into the underside of the base or rear. Oval wall fixing holes allow for easier adjustment when mounting the cases. Three sizes are available to fit the M200 (200mm x 200mm x 102mm), M300 (300mm x 200mm x 102mm) and M400 (400mm x 200mm x 102mm) enclosures. The robust enclosure was originally launched as a range of sloping front desktop instrument enclosures. It can be specified with or...
Cranfield University has claimed that they have produced the biggest single metal 3D-printed part to date. The current record is held by Oak Ridge National Laboratory who built a trim and drill tool for a Boeing 777X passenger jet measuring 17.5ft x 5.5ft x 1.5ft. The University’s AM programme has produced a six-metre-long, 300-kg, double-sided spar from aerospace-grade aluminium on Cranfield’s new 10-metre metal 3D printer. The students have used Cranfield’s own Wire + Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) process to make this part. The printer would soon be upgraded to make titanium parts. According to Cranfield experts, WAAM is the most suitable process for the printing of large structural components for the aerospace sector. It is also suitable for the oil and gas, automotive and energy...
Made for Trade, A leading trade manufacturer of doors and roofs are consolidating their strong position in the industry with YOY growth of around 40%. Built on the strength of their already established brands, the company has just introduced the brand new Korniche aluminium lantern roof in the market in 2017. With this launch the nationwide manufacturer expects to enter 2017 with more solid foundations. The company has observed a quick growth in demand and an increase in enquiries about the Korniche aluminium lantern roof after its launch in November. Commenting on the new product launch, Made for Trade's Managing Director, Bradley Gaunt said: “We are all very excited about the new Korniche lantern and the introduction in the last few weeks has seen an influx of orders and a great deal of...
Aluminium's lightness, ductility and the impeccable sheen have landed it in many unusual places in the recent times. Sometimes, we have found it adding thrill to water sports by making boats speedier, while at other times we have found it enthralling people inside an auditorium with out-of-the-box (read world!) performance like the one we are getting to see in the currently running Aluminum Show. Now, the versatile metal has again made it to where it treaded very less in the past- not in actual terms of place though but in terms of genre of the usage. Famous Italian architect Giancarlo Zema has made an aluminium eco-yacht which resembles a full-fledged 'floating house.' The "Innovative Semisubmerged Architecture Studio" named Jelly-fish 45 is basically an environmentally friendly...
Consumption of aluminium foils is rising steadily all across the globe. According to Technavio's latest report, the global aluminium foil packaging market will grow at a CAGR of 3.69 per cent by volume during the period 2016-2020. Aluminium foils are produced by continuous casting and cold rolling of aluminium sheets. They are prepared in thin metal leaves and can be used to wrap around any product for packaging. They act as a major barrier to external agents like bacteria, oxygen, moisture, and UV rays. Aluminium foils are used in the pharmaceutical and food and beverage sectors. The global aluminium foil market which is primarily segmented into APAC, European, North American, and ROW (rest of the world) regions is dominated by a number of prominent vendors namely, Amcor, Alcoa, and...
Metal cans, especially aluminium cans used for beverage and aerosol packaging, are the most recycled packaging units across the globe. They can be recycled at the end of their lifecycle without degradation in quality, and that makes them the preferred packaging material for brands across industries, ahead of other materials like plastic and paper. The demand for aluminium cans in the U.S. and Europe has always been on the higher side. With the growing middle-income group population, changing lifestyle, and evolving consumer preferences, the consumption rates in the Asian and South-east Asian countries are also rising steadily. According to a recent report, the global metal cans market is expected to reach USD 52.83 billion by 2020. Following are the top five aluminium can manufacturers...
