Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have developed an aluminium-based catalyst that could help make sodium–sulphur batteries last longer. The catalyst addresses a problem that has limited the technology: Sodium polysulphides can dissolve and move away from the cathode, reducing battery life. The research team, led by Professors Wang Hui and Zheng Fangcai at CAS's High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Hefei, changed the atomic structure of aluminium by replacing one oxygen atom with nitrogen. The team wrote in the press release, “This created an asymmetric structure with three oxygen atoms and one nitrogen atom around each Al atom.” It is an Al–O3N structure (three oxygen atoms and one nitrogen atom surrounding each aluminium atom). Explore AL Circle’s report ALuminium Wires &...
Ball Corporation reported a 4.7 per cent increase in global aluminium packaging shipments in Q3 2026, supported by higher volumes across its beverage packaging operations in North and Central America, EMEA, and South America. The company also announced plans to expand its manufacturing network with new beverage can facilities in Germany and India. Ball’s comparable operating earnings for the quarter reached USD 451 million, up 2.5 per cent from USD 440 million in the same period last year. Comparable diluted earnings per share increased 6.8 per cent to USD 1.10, compared with USD 1.03 in Q3 2025. On a US GAAP basis, however, Ball reported a net loss attributable to the corporation of USD 94 million, or 36 cents per diluted share. It was against net earnings of USD 321 million, or USD 1.18...
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North America’s leading producer of semi-trailers and liquid transportation systems Wabash National has appointed Gordon Groshong senior product manager, aluminium, for its tank trailer business. An industrial manufacturer of global repute, Wabash National boasts a wide range of commercial trucking equipment such as flatbeds, dry vans and other diversified products- composite panels, side skirts- all essentially aluminium die casted, in its product mix. Gordon’s is a new position that the company has created to further strengthen its position in the market it serves. Wabash produces Walker, Brenner, Beall and Bulk brand tank trailers that have carved a niche in the North American trailer sector. Gordon will be responsible for supporting the sales and product development of all aluminium...
A unique collaboration between Ball and Belgian chocolate brand, Ovidias, sees the chocolatier bring its patented packaging concept to the commercial market. Ovidias is the only company to package its chocolates in beverage cans. Using Ball’s 330ml can, the product comes in a range of flavours and is available to purchase through Ovidias’s own e-commerce channel, where the product and environmental benefits of packaging in aluminium cans are made clear to the consumer. Beverage cans provide the perfect packaging format for premium chocolates; maintaining freshness and flavour as well as protecting the product during transit, whilst remaining lightweight. In addition, the can preserves the full and creamy taste of the chocolates, and delivers an intense taste experience, without the need...
Aluminium is making interesting contributions to the building and construction sector from the cosmetic and structural sides. Recently, a Swedish architect Förstberg Ling finished design and construction of a stylish residence and studio in the suburbs of Linköping in Sweden. The exceptional building was built for Maria, a librarian and enthusiastic weaver, who is the mother of the studio's lead architect Björn Förstberg. Called 'House for mother', the home is wrapped in a sturdy corrugated aluminium cover that hides the cosy and well-organized interiors. Basically, ‘House for mother’ is made from two adjacent cabins. One of the cabins forms a home and the other a studio. Both are smartly shifted from each other to make the most out of a small plot of land. All exterior walls and the...
Meizu is expanding its product portfolio. After the successful launch of its latest Meizu MX6 and aluminium alloy-built M3 Max, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer is now gearing up to penetrate the budget segment with its brand new Blue Charm series. Yet, Meizu M3E- the smartphone crafted from aerospace-grade aluminium-magnesium alloy, released earlier this year remains a favourite with the users. The Meizu M3E is a remarkable product, using quality components in and out. The Meizu M3E is manufactured using various state-of-the-art high-precision technologies in combination with the finest materials such as an aerospace-grade aluminium-magnesium alloy for an outstanding ergonomic feeling and superb build quality. The sleek, sandblasted metal body provides the handset with a premium look...
In a recent development the Technology Mission for Indian Railways (TMIR) has been reported to be considering a partnership with India’s premiere research institutes Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC) and Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) to develop an aluminium alloy for the Talgo bullet train coaches. Ever since Indian Railways floated the idea of replacing steel with a light metal alloy for the manufacturing of railway coaches and wagons, JNARDDC’s name came up as the only institution working on aluminium alloy research. “Aluminium is a sensitive material and growth of aluminium industry is good in our country. Hence, we are working on treating it as a replacement of steel for construction of railway coaches and wagons in...
Yamaha Motor Company recently revealed the 2017 YZF-R6 supersport at the Milan Motor Show 2016. The new supersport was redesigned based on the original design of the Yamaha YZF-R1 and R1M. However, this supersport stresses on aerodynamics. For example, the new front cowl and screen help in decreasing aerodynamic drag by at least 8-percent. The YZF-R6 is powered by a 599cc inline four-cylinder engine with forged pistons. The bike features titanium inlet and exhaust valves. Lightweighting is achieved through the use of magnesium and aluminium. The magnesium head cover and engine cases together with an aluminum frame and swingarm aim to keep the weight in check. The titanium exhaust also contributes to the ethos. The bike also features a full suite of electronics, along with the Yamaha Chip...
BMW announced Thursday that the next generation of BMW 5 Series will shed 137 pounds through the use of a combination of aluminium, magnesium and high-strength steel. This falls pretty much in line with the premium car maker's earlier announcement of not using the "Carbon Core" format of the 7 series. The last generation of BMW 5 Series was also based on aluminium; the metal was used extensively in front fenders, doors, and hood of the vehicle. The upcoming 5 Series builds on this further with the trunk lid crafted entirely out of aluminium, making it lose as much as 9 pounds from the overall body. “The trunk, trunk lid, engine cross-member, rear side-members, roof and doors are constructed from aluminium,” BMW updated in a media release Thursday. “The doors, with laser-cut outer...
Aluminium has forayed into multiple arenas of our daily life. From art to automobiles the metal’s presence is almost a given today. Adding one more dimension to its vast application area aluminium has recently now made it to the stage. A new family show titled the Aluminium Show has been added by The Lutcher Theater for the Performing Arts in Orange County, Texas; it was premiered Friday last week amid great applause. The new and unique show brings aluminium- the light metal, the music and the artists together on stage in a magical creation combing visual theatre, dance, and humour into an exciting, unforeseen, multi-sensory experience. The performing troupe- Aluminum Group has used a huge aluminium sphere as a prop to represent a futuristic planet into which the play’s main protagonist...
Prism Designs has come up with their latest accessory for Apple iMac called Float Shelf, which is an aluminium panel that can be attached to the back of your iMac. The smart accessory would provide a handy stand for de cluttering the work desk. In words of Prism Designs Float Shelf is machined “from a solid extrusion of aircraft-grade aluminium, a Float Shelf is strong enough to support ten pounds (4.5 kg).” Smart use of lightweight and strong aluminium makes the accessory equally attractive as the iMac. The Shelf can be used for displaying items like photo frames, small speakers, routers etc. Float Shelf sports an “elegant tapered profile and anodized finish beautifully complement an iMac’s minimalist aesthetic.” The uniqueness of Float Shelf lies in its finish which is very similar to...
Ford Motor Co.’s best-seller 2017 Ford F-150 Super Duty has bagged the popular “Truck of Texas” award ideated by the Texas Auto Writers Association. The aluminium-body pickup truck managed to snag the top award at the 2016 Texas Truck Rodeo, where a host of other Ford vehicles too won awards in various categories. This is the 13th time Ford has won the TAWA honours. In 2014 also, the Dearborn automaker won the Truck of Texas award for it’s the then best-selling aluminium-body F150 model. The aluminium-body 2017 Super Duty was also chosen the best vehicle in the heavy duty pickup category; the F-150 with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 won Best Powertrain, and Ford also won Truck Line of Texas award. “Ford’s all-new 2017 Super Duty and its innovative use of advance materials, as well as...
Southwest Ohio's premier Jeep, Ram, Expedition Trailer outfitter Nuthouse Industries has recently unveiled its all-new shiny aluminium trailer that is sure to amaze adventure lovers intending to own a mobile living quarter. The Nuthouse Acorn, as the trailer has been named, marries a modular aluminium camping box with a flatbed trailer. It is not exactly a ground-breaking, new concept, as there are other car/toy-hauling camping trailers out there, but its shiny, all-aluminium design and layout do differentiate it from the more common white box + bed trailer designs. In comparison to other toy haulers of the same category, the aluminium built Acorn is a bigger trailer, sized to carry a full-sized vehicle, and is ideal for camping in rocky terrains. The Acorn is listed as 20 feet (6.1 m)...
Ares Shipyard in the Antalya Free Zone in Turkey has been focussing its new construction work mainly in the military sector with designs up to 100 metres in length. Now the yard is developing a range of designs using established design teams to expand its offerings into the commercial sector. Among the new designs is a 28.8 metre pilot boat to a design by Carmac for aluminium construction. Even larger is a 48.6 metre design also in aluminium that is focussed on search and rescue activities with the capability of coping with oil spills and other pollution operations. Another large aluminium design is 34 metre crew boat capable of carrying 76 passengers. Speeds range from 25 to 35 knots and the crew boat is one of several designs on offer for this role. On a smaller scale Ares Shipyard is...
According to the latest market study released by Technavio, the global aluminium foil packaging market is expected to reach USD 10.46 million tons by 2020, growing at a CAGR of nearly 4 per cent. Flexible packaging is an economical method to package, preserve, and distribute food, beverages, consumables, pharmaceuticals, and other products that require long shelf life. They are mainly designed with barrier properties like resistance to heat, oxygen, and moisture and are tailored to fit the products being packaged and according to the need of the end-uses. Flexible packaging can be customized in a variety of shapes, sizes, and appearances. Aluminium foil packaged products ensure product safety as a result of which, the demand for the market is growing in the packaged industry sector. As...
Novelis, the world leader in aluminium rolling and recycling, today announced it is supplying aluminium solutions for the all-new Jaguar XFL, the first Jaguar model from Chery Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Co., Ltd (hereinafter referred to as "Chery Jaguar Land Rover"). The XFL launched in China on August 29 and features a body-in-white made of 75 percent aluminium, the highest aluminium content achieved by an automaker to date in the Chinese automotive marketplace. Jaguar XFL's advanced design builds upon the successful launch of the Jaguar XE and XF models in Europe, which also featured Novelis aluminium and applies the same Novelis premium alloys, Novelis Advanz™, throughout the majority of the body-in-white. The application of Novelis' innovative aluminium solutions makes the mid-sized...
Laboratories are mostly serious and relatively dull architecrual affairs but in Sheppard Robson’s New Science Building, at the University of Hertfordshire, louvres wrap the building in an aluminium veil that suggests intrigue and activity within. The 9,000m² £30m New Science Building sees architecture and designing firm Sheppard Robson revisiting the laboratory format in a manner that is visually and technologically distinct from the firm’s previous work at Bristol. Yet the new building extends the trend of high-profile laboratory architecture even further. As Sheppard Robson partner Tony Poole explains: “The building had to do more than provide technically excellent and controlled spaces within a box. We wanted the architectural language to be a beacon for the university’s ambitions,...
RTD coffee company Black Medicine Iced Coffee has planned to switch to aluminium cans starting end of this year, a move it says will appropriately meet consumer preferences and convenience, not to mention portability. The company launched in 2014 in California's Oakland creates hot brews before cooling it down and bottling in small batches at its 18,000-sq.ft facility. The brand posted a 63 per cent increase in sales in the recently ended quarter vis-a-vis corresponding period previous year. "While the brand has experienced tremendous consumer response to-date, we decided to move to (aluminium) cans from bottles to make on-the-go usage even more convenient," said Black Medicine founder and CEO Chris Cooper. The California based coffee brand, prior to planning a switch to aluminium cans,...
The languishing land acquired by the Kerala government in Palakkad to set up a rail coach factory may finally be put to use as the Indian Railways plans to issue a tender to set up an aluminium coach factory at the site. The tender for the factory, to be built under the public-private-partnership (PPP) mode, is awaiting consent from railway minister Suresh Prabhu. The development comes close to the successful trails of Spanish Talgo coaches which are made of aluminium. The Indian Railways at present uses Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches which are made of steel and thus are heavier leading to high fuel consumption. “We have moved the file for the Palakkad factory to manufacture aluminium coaches on PPP basis. We did RFQ (request for proposal) once for a steel coach factory but no response...
The Aluminum Association announced the release of Aluminum in Green Buildings – A Guide to Environmental Declarations at the GreenBuild 2016 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, C.A. The Guide, which is a part of a series of guidelines being developed by the Aluminum Association for the building and construction market sector, is now available both online as well as at the Associations booth #2426 at GreenBuild 2016. The new Aluminum in Green Buildings Guide is designed in order to help all stakeholders in the aluminium value chain including aluminium producers, end-users, architects, designers, engineers and others – understand how to conduct environmental assessments for aluminium building products in an appropriate manner and make environmental declarations based on...
