
Spanish racing driverFernando Alonso has added a one-off Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse to his growing collection of rare cars. Known as chassis 8.100, the car is distinguished by bespoke aluminium bodywork that required more than 20 tonnes of aluminium to produce, along with dedicated CAD programmes developed by Bugatti. Its history is equally distinctive, being produced after an original customer pushed Bugatti to create something it had initially considered too expensive. For Alonso, the automobile fits closely with an approach to luxury he outlined in 2024 about choosing manufacturers that treat individual customers differently rather than simply producing cars in larger numbers. To know the aluminium casting demand forecast in the transportation sector, explore our report "Global...
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...
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<p>Wheels India Ltd., a steel and aluminium alloy wheels manufacturer has reported a net profit of INR 13.07 crore for the second quarter ended September 30, 2016, up 40.99 per cent from INR 9.27 crore in the corresponding period previous year. Revenues during the quarter grew 5.41 per cent to INR 546 crore from INR 518 crore registered in same quarter previous fiscal.<br /><br />Managing director of Wheels India, Mr. Srivats Ram said that this was an achievement given the fact that there was a slowdown in the domestic commercial vehicle market in the second quarter of the current financial year. It was the non-wheel business that contributed to the company's improved sales and profitability.<br /><br />Over 50 per cent of the Indian wheels manufacturer's revenue comes from wheels for the...

<p>TWR Bifolds has recently added new premium aluminium systems to its product range. Currently, the company is a manufacturer of Synseal Stratus, an aluminium lantern roof system in its factory in Sunderland, UK.<br /><br />Commenting on the product expansion, Terry Richardson, Managing Director of TWR said: “The rise in demand for luxury home improvements such as orangeries and flat-roof extensions has brought with it an increase in lantern roof installations as homeowners look to create a light and airy atmosphere in their home.”<br /><br />“As a business that strives to remain at the forefront of innovation and to manufacture products that give our customers an edge over the competition, we are helping our customers capitalise on the lucrative lantern roof market by...

<p>BOBST, the world's leading supplier of equipment and services to packaging and label manufacturers, unveiled its new Bobst K5 Expert metallizer at the Bobst Manchester Open House held its Competence Centre on 18 October 2016. Described as the highest productivity metallizer engineered so far, Bobst K5 Expert ensures less aluminium consumption and an increased boat life. It also minimizes aluminium wire waste thereby improving collection efficiency.<br /><br />The next generation of the successful K5000 metallizer can run at speeds up to 1200m/min, is available in widths from 2450mm to 3650mm and can house increased roll diameters of up to 1270mm to meet new industry trends for improved productivity. According to Bobst, The K5 Expert houses the largest coating drum in the industry at...

<p>Leading electronic components distributor Rutronik has introduced high endurance aluminium electrolytic capacitors from Panasonic’s all new V-FT series to the market. The aluminium capacitors come with very high capacitance and strikingly low ESR values.<br /><br />Panasonic V-FT series aluminium electrolytic capacitors boast a long life time of up to 5,000 hours at temperatures of up to +105°C. This is almost 2.5 times more than the former FT series devices. Plus, these components have a high capacitance of 2200µF and ESR values that are up to 60 per cent lower than of usual electrolytic capacitors. All these benefits come packed in a downsized product reduced from size G to size F.</p> <p><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto;...

<p>According to a recent report published by Persistence Market Research, robust economic growth along with rising middle population with inclining personal disposable income is anticipated to intensify the growth of global aluminium foil packaging market during the forecast period. The change in life style which includes changed food habits has led to inclining demand for packaging.<br /><br />Besides, robust demand for aluminium foil packaging in snacks and chocolate industry are also strengthening the growth of aluminium foil packaging market all across the globe, the study revealed. Some of the major opportunities in global aluminium foil packaging market include technological development to enhance the product quality, reduction in plants losses, inclination in the obtainability of...

<p>Leading UK manufacturer of designer glazing systems Kawneer has launched the architect’s guide to aluminium in building. The 380-page comprehensive specification guide is presented in a ring binder housed within a durable slip case that makes it an item of architect's collection. It provides Kawneer’s prolific portfolio of traditional “stick” and unitised aluminium curtain walling systems, aluminium door and window systems, door and window sliding systems, aluminium framing systems, Brise Soleil, and blast enhanced and fire resistant systems. <br /><br />The architect’s guide to aluminium in building also features different sections on prompters for design consideration with proper illustrations. There prompters focused here include ventilation and...

<p>Marlborough Foundry has created the town seals for Shrewsbury and the Worcester city on the both sides of the Kenneth F. Burns Memorial Bridge over Lake Quinsigamond. The town seals display the emblems of two communities that are divided by a sprawling body of water but connected by a steel-girder bridge.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/town%20seal.jpg" alt="" width="488" height="349" /></p> <p>“First we had to make a pattern, make some tooling to create the mould,” said Karl Nye, the foundry’s vice president of marketing. “And then we had to create the mould in the sand and then fill it up with molten aluminium," he added.</p> <p>The Marlborough foundry, which is a...

<p>A Chinese aluminium mill in Zhenjiang belonging to Aleris, U.S. is now ready to participate as a supplier of more advanced products to Airbus. This is a part of the company’s strategy to shift its focus to higher value added products in the aerospace sector.</p> <p><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/AIRBUS.jpg" alt="" width="275" height="183" /></p> <p>According to Ingo Kroepfl, vice president for Aleris’s aerospace business, the plant will introduce machines that can cut production costs of the final aerospace parts and also supply higher-grade aluminium for Airbus wing skins. It is to be noted that Aleris is in the process of being acquired by China Zhongwang,...

<p>French engineering firm CNIM has unveiled the modified designs of the new shore-to-shore variant of its L-CAT fast landing catamaran. The modifications were planned keeping requirements of independent amphibious, logistics, and humanitarian relief operations in mind. CNIM is targeting the Southeast Asian region as a particularly promising market for this variable-draught aluminium hull vessel. <br /><br />The aluminium shore-to-shore variant of L-CAT fast amphibious landing catamaran offers sufficient flexibility to raise or lower a pontoon deck so as to facilitate operation in any one of three modes: in transit, the vessel is a catamaran; in beaching mode, the pontoon is lowered; and in dock mode, the platform is either totally or partially flooded.<br /><br /><img...

<p>Noted electrical wire manufacturer and supplier Encore Wire Corporation announced financial results for the third quarter of 2016-17 fiscal year. The unit volumes were up one per cent in copper pounds shipped and four per cent aluminium pounds shipped over the third quarter of last year. Margins, however, declined in both copper and aluminium wire sales. <br /><br />According to the Texas based company's Q3 disclosure, the margin declines were due to the competitive pricing environment in the industry.<br /><br />One of the key metrics to Encore's earnings is the spread between the price of aluminium wire sold and the cost of raw aluminium purchased in any given period. The company's aluminium spreads were down 17.9 per cent in Q3 2016 versus Q3 2015 and 3.6 per cent in Q3 2016 versus...

<p>British bike manufacturer Bowman Cycles has re-launched its highly coveted frameset the Palace in a new avatar. The redesigned tube set made from aluminium has contributed to a significant 150 gram weight saving. The original Palace launched two years ago had won the Frameset of the Year 2014 award. The latest version of the frame, named Palace R, in its light-weight aluminium built promises to yield higher speed and a better riding experience.<br /><br />“Learning from what made the first Palace great, we’ve refined small details, totally revised the whole tube-set and the Palace is reborn – we give you: The Palace R,” the Kent based company said in a media release.<br /><br />Bowman is known for manufacturing smartly designed frames at competitive price...

<p>There is a possibility of the use of aluminium instead of sodium in water softener system for better results and health factors. Scientists at Lehigh University are working on developing an aluminium-based water softener system that can replace the sodium-based systems that are in use currently.<br /><br />According to a report in Environmental Science & Technology, researchers have developed a new technique that uses aluminium ions in place of sodium in an effort to do away with health and environmental concerns caused by the salt released by sodium-based water softening systems.<br /><br />According to the co-author of the research Arup SenGupta, an environmental engineer at Lehigh University, if this technology is put into application, it will provide a healthier water system...

<p>Juuk Design known for transforming serious gadgets into smart wearables has come up with a brand new aircraft-grade aluminium link band for the Apple Watch. Juuk has designed four finishes for the band that will complement the aluminium Watch model in both Series 1 and 2.<br /><br />Juuk Design announced that it has received enough funding on Kickstarter for a small production run of the aluminium bands. No prize for guessing that these bands will take the Apple Watch's already high price tag a little higher, though for all the right reasons. <br /><br /></p> <p><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/watch_band003-780x520.jpg" alt="News" width="480" height="319" /></p> <p><br />Ho has...

<p>Atrenne Integrated Solutions, an electrical component and system provider for aerospace, defense, communications, and other technology-driven industries has announced a variation of their Small Form Factor (SFF) 760 Series electronic packaging design.<br /><br />This system will enable off-the-shelf Mini-ITX and PCIe commercial electronics CCA's to be installed in airborne applications that operate on high altitudes above 50,000 feet. As a standard, commercial aluminium electrolytic capacitors are designed for atmospheric pressure corresponding to 10,000 feet and below. They are not designed to operate under low pressure condition. Commercial aluminium electrolytic capacitors will operate smoothly within this system.<br /><br />Atrenne developed a hermetically sealed rugged enclosure...

<p>Ford recently announced the launch of new Kuga Vignale and Edge Vignale models in Europe expanding their luxurious Vignale range. These high-end versions of the mid-range SUVs come with “tuxedo-stitched Windsor leather interiors”, unique Vignale colours, and elaborate aluminium enhancements among other features. <br /><br /><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/Ford.jpg" alt="News" width="480" height="297" /><br /><br />The exterior highlights of Ford Edge Vignale include chrome-finish fog lamps, signature Ford Vignale hexagonal upper grille design with dark matte finish and polished aluminium surround, and 19-inch polished aluminium wheels as well as Vignale Ametista Scura...

<p>Stunning aluminium foil artwork pieces were a central feature of an exhibition by the Manchester Urban Pioneers at this year’s Favoriten Theatre Festival in Dortmund, Germany. The aluminium foil, supplied by European Aluminium Foil Association member Eurofoil, was used to create replicas of heritage building facades by overlaying and embossing the detail onto aluminium foil sheets.</p> <p><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/EAFA.png" alt="News" width="480" height="420" /></p> <p><br />The biennial festival for the performing arts, which took place 23 September to 2 October, also featured art installations, music and dance performances as well as a film and a literary program. This...

<p>A Seoul based South Korean architect has designed an eye catching café cum residence at Gyeonggi Province which is a beautiful, curved structure covered with slanted planks of aluminium.<br /><br />The Seoul-based architect, known for his novelty in architecture designing has named the building Louverwall because of its unique aluminium cladding. The louvres cover a glazed wall that faces the street and extends and curves up at one corner to form the roof of the building.<br /><br />The aluminium slats actually plays around and controls the sunlight that enters the building to create a beautiful illusion.<br /><br />"The goal is to have soft daylight in the cafe space, as it is facing due west," said the architects. "We have decided to limit the direct light of the...

<p>Satechi has recently unveiled their latest accessory for Apple devices that is a slim aluminium wireless keypad designed to work as an extension of the existing keyboard on the work desk to add wireless functionality. A perfectly matching accessory for an Apple device with sophisticated finish and slim profile, it is not just stylish but also very functional.<br /><br /><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/keypad.jpg" alt="News" width="420" height="505" /><br /><br />The wireless aluminium slim keypad works on Bluetooth technology that makes it compatible with any Bluetooth–enabled device. This wireless keypad can de-clutter the workspace by freeing it from wires and plugs. <br...