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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The second Global Flexible Packaging Executive Forum will take place at interpack on 5 May 2017. Following the success of the first Forum, which attracted more than 90 executives from 60 companies, the organiser Flexible Packaging Europe (FPE) has announced the business breakfast event for flexible packaging manufacturers, would again be hosted by Messe Düsseldorf, during the world’s biggest packaging exhibition. The Forum provides an opportunity for executives from flexible packaging companies worldwide to exchange ideas and discuss innovation, new technologies, trends and the challenges facing the industry while networking with other leading decision makers in the sector. Co-sponsored by Henkel and Siegwerk, the Global Flexible Packaging Executive Forum is an invitation-only event....
A panel session focused on materials at the WardsAuto User Experience Conference highlighted some interesting applications of aluminium and other exclusive materials in automotive sector. Gorilla Glass from Corning that is found in 4.5 billion smartphones and other devices is yet to secure a place in the automotive sector. Chengchung (Jim) Li from Corning talked about how this damage-resistant material Gorilla Glass can be installed on vehicles of tomorrow in the form of touchscreens as an interface for drivers. In emerging markets, Li says automakers are considering a large piece of Gorilla Glass positioned behind the steering wheel, with multiple gauges visible from underneath. Li’s panel, “Materials That Enable and Enhance the UX,” focuses on the use of exclusive materials in a number...
Leading luggage company Rimowa recently unveiled the Rimowa F13 - a beautiful recreation of the all-metal Junkers F13, which was the first passenger aircraft used back in 1919. As per industry reports, the marvellous aluminium grooved model remain true to its tech from 65 years ago. The aluminium plane had its successful maiden flight from Düberndorf, Switzerland last September. Four lucky passengers were able to enjoy the flight with heated leather seats, while the pilot and engineer were housed in an open cockpit. It is learnt that one of Rimowa's lines of luxury luggage is actually made from the same metal material as the vintage plane's exterior. The material, duralumin (a hard, light alloy of aluminium with copper and other elements) is lightweight, which easily makes the luggage a...
Lenovo-owned mobile phone brand Moto, the erstwhile Motorola, is all set to unveil two handsets at one go in an event that will be streamed Live at 12:00 pm today. The phones- Moto Z and Moto Z Play are going to be the mobile manufacturer's grand launches before festival season begins India. The original Moto Z will debut in a military aircraft-grade aluminium cover with water resistant nano-coating on the back and stainless steel-based frame around the edges. Earlier it was believed that Moto would launch only Moto Z in aircraft-grade aluminium cover, but the company's new teaser has confirmed that there's another release on the cards- Moto Z Play, a low-end version of the marquee phone for India market. The flagship phone Moto Z sports a 5.5-inch Quad HD AMOLED display with Gorilla...
An empty and overlooked office building in Amsterdam is currently being renovated aesthetically into the new Goede Doelen Loterijenhead quarters. The spectacular use of aluminium is giving the building its unique look. The building is redesigned with a series of rooftop solar panels and shimmering aluminium leaves which are both sustainable and eye catching. The project is the brainchild of Benthem Crouwel Architects who made the design keeping sustainable energy sources in mind. The newly designed office is expected to open in 2018. Currently, a total of 500 employees from Goede Doelen Loterijen are based at fifteen different locations around Amsterdam, but soon those will be merged to this new location. The employees co-operated in the design of their new building, which will take over...
Aluminium is increasingly becoming the material of choice for building commercial architecture, especially new-age sports venues (read stadiums). Elaborated renovation is being carried out to give football stadiums all over the world a swank makeover through the use of aluminium, an eco-friendly metal with immense lightweighting advantages. Whether as part of the roofing or the bleachers, aluminium building systems are being used in seating, onsite sculpture, and signage. At the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Stadium in China, 56 aluminium petals make up the roof of the building, which is slated to open next year. The roof is built using 1.2 mm thick, pre-painted aluminium sections manufactured by Novelis. Next year, the fans of the Atlanta Falcons football team and the new Atlanta United Major...
The LC 500h - the hybrid version of the Japanese premium car brand's new V8-powered LC 500 flagship coupe made its global debut at this year’s Paris motor show. The futuristic hybrid car, which is slated to arrive in Australia in 2017, turned heads at the Show with its signature big mesh grille flanked by small headlights, the long low bonnet flowing into the heavily raked windscreen and a lowly roofline swooping down before fanning out to those wide guard. Aluminium has made its way into manufacturing of the car big time, thereby bringing down the overall weight significantly. According to Lexus, the LC 500h has marked the beginning of a new phase both in terms of design and engineering. It has carbon fibre door frames with aluminium doors skins. Plus, it has an aluminium bonnet, front...
The all new Land Rover Discovery 2018 has become sleeker. The all-terrain champion of the European SUV market which made a grand debut at the Paris Motor Show yesterday has undergone a huge transformation to adopt the aluminium-intensive D7 architecture of the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport with of course, the wishbone front, air springs and multi-link rear suspension. The new Land Rover Discovery 2018 flaunts an elaborate aluminium body shell but differentiates itself from the Range Rovers by the usage of steel subframes for gaining additional strength and keeping the cabin floor low enough to accommodate sufficient headroom for the third row of seats. According to the premium car maker, the vehicle will come with a choice of five or seven seats for the US customers. Discovery 2018 is...
Leading British aluminium building system supplier Hueck UK, and McMullen Facades Ltd, a Lakesmere Group company and a specialist in aluminium facade installation have joined hands for a new south west London building project, The Pinnacle. The 15-storey tower, rising 170 feet high, is the flagship skyscrapper within the award-winning riverside project of developer St. George PLC, named Battersea Reach. The high-rise overlooking stunning views of the city will house 88 new luxury apartments and a number of spacious penthouses. The fully glazed aluminium curved façade of Pinnacle has been manufactured using Hueck's high performance Trigon L aluminium system. This unitised aluminium façade system is a versatile building component and lends itself to a wide variety of contemporary curtain...
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) yesterday unveiled a sheet of aluminium salvaged from the World Trade Center after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack, at the Baltimore Washington/Thurgood Marshal International Airport (BWI). The salvaged aluminium will be on display at the airport as a significant artefact. Andrea R. Mishoe, TSA Federal Security Director, Maryland, said, "This sacred piece of aluminium stands before us as witness to the horror of September 11, 2001, a day that changed our lives forever. It reminds us of why we are here, why we dedicate ourselves to the mission to protect travellers. Why what we do is so very important, even now, 15 years after the terrorists attacked our homeland.” The piece of aluminium which has been placed vertically on a...
Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company, the industry’s largest manufacturer of refrigerated trailers and a leading manufacturer of dry freight vans, flatbeds, and Tautliner® curtainsided trailers is pleased to announce the introduction of the new 4000AE™ flatbed trailer. “Our new 4000AE flatbed delivers the strength and long-term benefits of a durable combo trailer,” said Larry Roland, Director of Marketing for Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co. “This next-generation flatbed is an evolution of the proven 4000A® with a standard 47,000 lb. coil haul package and a unique 3’’ and 4” aluminum crossmember design. The 4000AE approaches the weight of an all-aluminum trailer yet is available at a combo trailer price.” The 4000AE flatbed replaces steel crossmembers with a new patent-pending design...
Industrial lighting company Larson Electronics announced addition of a 70 watt metal halide explosion proof quadpod mounted work light to its extensive range of offerings in the lighting equipment category. The new EPL-BS-70-TP1-100 explosion proof work light is a quadpod mounted light that provides 5,500 lumens of light coverage 7,000 square feet of work area. It is a portable light tower and comes fitted with a removable light head assembly mounted on top of a four leg aluminium stand. The quadpod is equipped with wheels that enable easy transportation of the lighting device from one work space to another. One big advantage of the equipment is- it can be assembled, adjusted and collapsed at the same time. The twelve-foot long quadpod can be collapsed to five and a half feet to suit...
In May 2016, Olaf Diegel, a Swedish professor from the University of Lund showed a unique 3D printed aluminium guitar to the world. The gorgeous instrument called ‘Heavy Metal” was packed with barbed wire and decorative roses. Recently, Dutch medical 3D printing specialists Xilloc revealed that it was also the world’s first 3D printed aluminium guitar ever made. That company has also released a video clip of how this metal guitar sounds. “The guitar was originally nick-named War and Peace, but Heavy Metal seemed a more appropriately literal name,” Diegel said commenting on his creation. This exclusive piece of creative and mechanical work was built on the extensive experience and experiments of Diegel. He designed a number of 3D printed instruments that created ripples in the 3D printing...
The Arcade, a large office building in Mumbai, has become the first self-sufficient commercial building in the country in terms of power generation and supply by installing as many as 808 solar panels, all made of aluminium. Spread across 25,000 square foot roof, the aluminium solar panels are capable of generating 250 kilowatt peak power (KWp) thereby reducing the total annual electricity bill of the building by 30 per cent. Moreover, the rooftop power generation system is connected to the city's grid, which means that electricity produced on a holiday goes to feed the public electricity supply system. “Solar power is attractive because it is abundant and offers a solution to the negative effects of fossil fuel emissions and global climate change,” said Kamal M Morarka, chairman, WTC...
Indian Railways have taken a decision to use a span made of Aluminium alloy in a steel rail bridge. In this welcoming move, Railways would replace the ageing Scherzer’s span, designed by a German Engineer, at the century-old Pamban Rail Bridge with an aluminium alloy span that will be strong durable and corrosion free. Indian officials were exploring the options of using Corrosion Resistant Steel (CRS) or less weight Aluminium alloy at the Pamban Rail Bridge that pave way for vessels to pass through the Palk Strait. M. Suyambulingam, Chief Engineer (Bridges), said that they decided in favour of the latter because of its durability and streangth. “It has been decided to make the span in Aluminium alloy, which has superior strength and longer life in the highly corrosive area,” Mr....
Aluminium is pushing its way through all value added segments seamlessly. Recently, premium accessories brand Tumi has announced the launch of 19 Degree, its inaugural aluminium luggage collection to be showcased at TFWA World Exhibition. The premium brand for travel, business, lifestyle, Tumi says 19 Degree is the perfect combination of form and functionality and the luggage will be among the top travel gears. 19 Degree is made of aesthetically-crafted aluminium with a modern and cutting-edge design and strategically sculpted angles. The contours on the chassis highlight the profile of the suitcase and give a sense of fluidity and stylish look. Over and above the comfortable travel experience, the modern silhouette blurs the lines between fashion, art and design. Commenting on the...
Lightweight metals leader Alcoa Inc. recently announced a breakthrough in resistance spot riveting called the RSR joining system, a high-performance joining solution for multi-material vehicles. RSR technology can join dissimilar materials using the same equipment as conventional spot welds but offers automakers the flexibility to switch between it and conventional welds, depending on the material. “Our RSR technology is going to be a powerful tool in the array of joining options for the automotive industry,” said Ray Kilmer, Alcoa’s Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President. “As automakers continue to design vehicles using multi- material combinations, RSR technology is the ideal joining solution. It can easily accommodate stack up changes on the assembly line and it...
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Praxis has ventured into the mountain bike wheel segment with two aluminium and carbon wheels in partnership with DT Swiss. Praxis’s Adam Haverstock sounds very confident and positive about the new launch. “We were already strong in drivetrains, so this is a naturally progression,” “We’ve designed these to be as user friendly as they can possibly be, with easily sourced spoke replacements, overbuilt flanges and custom rim designs built for strength.” Both aluminium and a carbon wheel sets will soon to be available commercially. Currently they have supplied samples to distributors around the globe. The aluminium wheel set AL24, as the name suggests is the entry level offering at $699 and will come specced with a DT370 stock hub. The wheel will also have details on the rim such as a flat...
