Phinergy and electrical contractor Rosendin Electric have published a second white paper examining how aluminium-air generators (AAGs) could support data centre power needs beyond conventional backup systems. The paper outlines three potential uses, including providing power for AI and cloud facilities, increasing available grid capacity and supporting renewable microgrids. Titled “From Backup Power to Grid Enabler: Use Cases for Aluminum-Air Generator (AAG) in AI-Era Data Centers,” the paper compares aluminium-air generators with diesel generators and lithium-ion battery systems. The report comes amid growing pressure on electricity infrastructure from data centre expansion. In Northern Virginia, more than 9,000 backup diesel generators serve data centres, according to Virginia Mercury....
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 &...
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The building and construction (B&C) sector is confronted with major sustainability challenges. Among a host of certification schemes in operations globally, the Living Building Challenge (LBC) stands as the most rigorous one. The scheme basically challenges the industry players to move beyond sustainability and adopt regenerative development on a wider scale. Aluminium construction systems have made major inroads into this novel B&C space. How? Let’s find it here… For architects and firms daring to take the LBC building challenge meeting the materials imperatives turns out to be the most difficult thing. In fact, they need to recognize the difficulty early in the design process so that they have enough options to explore and decide accordingly. When undertaking regenerative projects or...
Spanish train Talgo today commenced its second phase trial from Mathura at 120 km per hour speed with senior officials from Spain and Railways onboard. The train with nine coaches made from aluminium started the journey at 12.40 PM from Mathura and reached Palwal at 1.33 PM covering the 84 km distance in about 53 minutes, said a senior railway official who is part of the testing team. The trial between Mathura and Palwal will go on for 25 days and the speed will go up to 180 kmph this time, he said. Asked about the trial results, he said "prima facie it seems to be okay. But it will be known only after the examination of the various datas being recorded during the trial journey." Earlier, the speed was ranging between 80-115 km per hour during the first trial between Bareilly and...
Ball Corporation stocks were rising 9.39 per cent to $76.68 on Thursday after the company reported mixed 2016 second-quarter results but provided a positive outlook based on its recent acquisition of Rexam. Ball acquired London-based metal beverage can maker Rexam for $6.1 billion in cash and equity at the end of June. After the deal, Ball became the largest manufacturer of beverage cans in the world. Commenting on the results, CEO John A. Hayes said, "Our strong second quarter results, the completion of legacy metal packaging growth projects, a robust aerospace backlog and the recent Rexam acquisition provide a very solid foundation for a multi-year, value-compounding growth period for our company and our shareholders." "One month into the acquisition integration, business-related...
Aluminium consumption in Indian auto industry is still far below the global average. The market for automotive aluminium sheet, hence, is presently at a nascent stage. Nevertheless, the industry has already started re-aligning its focus on weight reduction of vehicles both for small and mid-sized cars as well as commercial vehicles. For the last two decades now, the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra have been building aluminium intensive buses. Top OEMs like Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), Eicher Motors and Ashok Leyland are experimenting with technologies, materials and exploring possibilities to develop lightweight, energy efficient vehicles. For them, aluminium stands as the metal of choice. But since Indian market is still much cost conscious, especially for...
A small chapel at Sayama designed by Japanese architect Hiroshi Nakamura, which features extreme gables and a roof covered in 21,000 aluminium shingles has won Architizer's 2016 A+Awards. Nakamura and his Tokyo studio NAP created the Sayama Forest Chapel for a site at the edge of a forest, which forms part of the non-denominational Sayama Lakeside Cemetery in Japan's Saitama Prefecture. The studio – best known for its Ribbon Chapel wrapped in twisting staircases – was assigned a small triangular plot adjacent to a quiet road for the chapel, which provides mourners with a quiet place to pray. "I envisioned an architecture that reflects on the life as it lives by the water conserved by the forest, and eventually returns to this place after death," said architect Hiroshi Nakamura....
Bicycle die castings manufacturer AForce took to the world's largest funding platform Kickstarter to launch its new aero tubeless aluminium wheelset, AL33 wheels. Already a 'hit' AForce claims its new offering- “the fastest aluminium bicycle wheel” till date, already has 43 backers pledging more than the €18,000 funding goal, with 27 days still to go. The Dutch company foresees a good demand for the aluminium wheelset which it has priced affordably. Its performance, the company says, matches that of a carbon fibre wheelset. Already a supplier of carbon fibre rims, AForce will be penetrating the aluminium wheels market for the first time with this product. AL33 is a light, durable and aerodynamic wheel that is tough enough to survive the friction on pebbled pathways. The rim profile mimics...
BURNDY, a manufacturer and provider of connector, grounding and tooling solutions to multiple markets, announces new additions to its grounding product line. The aluminium lay-in lugs are most suitable for solar panel applications. The connectors are for use with frames with a maximum thickness of 1/4 in. They may also be used for cable to bus or cable to steel connections where the lay-in feature is necessary. Manufactured using high strength aluminium alloy, these connectors have the versatility to be used with aluminium and copper conductors. The serrations are provided to establish better contact and cut through oxidation, ensuring low contact resistance and high conductivity. The anodization on aluminium rails is nonconductive and electrical current cannot pass through this layer....
Nobody wants to mess around with the truck market in the U.S. Ford knows it very well too and they are not going to upset a buyer base while launching a new truck. The company sees no risk with 2017 Super Duty which again made of aluminium. With its years of experience in the pickup truck market, Ford already laid the ground work with its latest F-150 for its complete switch to aluminium. Ford has recently claimed that the switch to aluminium hasn't hurt sales at all, and the lighter weight of aluminium has proved to be a boon for fuel economy. Ford’s rival General Motors recently attacked the F-150 with a counter advertising blitz for its all-aluminium body. Despite counter advertisement, F-150 sales were still up in the next month. This raises a valid question regarding the validity of...
The Aluminium Extruders Council (AEC) has been recognized as an “approved provider” by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) for their educational webinar platform. According to Jeff Henderson, AEC President, AEC webinars are designed as an effective method to circulate essential information about the aluminium extrusion process, applications, design and more to engineers, designers, architects, specifiers, and academia. “With AIA’s recognition of AEC as an approved provider, those webinars can be even more valuable,” he added. This expanded program will be launched on August 24, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. EDT with a one-hour webinar targeted to the architectural community: “Leveraging Aluminium Extrusions’ Attributes for Effective Building Solutions”. AEC is bringing together notable...
DEHN Africa has introduced a novel aluminium earthing and short-circuiting solution which is supposed to find wide-scale use in railway overhead line installations. When using aluminium-cable earthing and short-circuiting devices instead of copper-cable for railway systems, switchgear installations or overhead lines, the advantage of the weight-reduced cables becomes immediately evident. The new aluminium earthing and short-circuiting device (single-pole, 50 mm² or 70mm²) from DEHN Africa is considerably easier to transport and use than conventional devices. In the past, high copper prices led to material theft and damage, meaning that the new earthing and short-circuiting device with aluminium cables offers. The new offering from DEHN Africa comes in a variety of different models,...
A 100 per cent "made in Hull" workboat, which will support the offshore wind farm industry, has had its official launch. The MMS Crusader is the first in a series of aluminium catamarans to be purpose-built to support the offshore renewable energy sector. Capable of carrying out a number of roles, from fuel or crew transfer to dive support or guard work, the aluminium vessel was built by MMS based at Alexandra Dock, Hull. Established for 28 years, the company has mainly been involved in ship maintenance and repair and, in addition, has built various workboats. Operating vessels is a new and separate division of the company called MMS Offshore Renewable Services, for which MMS Crusader has been built. Rob Langton, managing director of MMS, said: "We originally started planning the design...
Cowley's residential tower block in Oxford, UK, is abuzz with the sounds of drills and machinery as the biggest refurbishment work in the locality's history is currently under way. Workers from Willmott Dixon Energy Services have started work on Hockmore Tower in Pound Way. Plans are on to encase the building in a giant aluminium 'envelope'. Construction manager Richard Crook said: "Hockmore has its own challenges logistically because it's on top of a shopping centre. We are working with [Templars Square shopping centre owners] New River Retail, who are helping facilitate us getting up on roofs, and work is progressing nicely." The 58-flat tower is third of Oxford’s five similar properties to under a revamp under the £20m project. Unlike other towers which are supposed to get an...
Ball (BLL) delivered a strong performance in the second quarter of FY2016. CEO John Hayes said on Thursday that with this performance the firm has set up a foundation for a "multi-year, value-compounding growth period." One stone in that 'foundation' is the recent buy-out of London-based (aluminium) beverage can manufacturer Rexam. However, market watchers believe this source of growth could cost consumers! "This is now a concentration of power," said TheStreet's analyst Jim Cramer in a recent world TV show, "You saw a remarkable quarter coming when that consolidation occurred ... they are going to put the screws to everybody." The $6.1 billion acquisition, which was completed on June 30, created the world's largest beverage can manufacturer. But in order for the merger to happen...
Asus is gearing up to launch its latest generation ZenFone 3 series in New Delhi soon. The mobile phone maker's annual Z3NVOLUTION event, which started last year, will see the unveiling of the ZenFone 3 series phones that were announced at Computex 2016. ZenFone 3 Deluxe is Asus' new flagship that will be featuring a light aluminium alloy unibody. The company has started sending out invites to the media for the event which is expected to be graced by CEO Jerry Shen. The aluminium alloy-unibody featuring lightweight ZenFone 3 Deluxe will come with a 5.7 inch full HD Super AMOLED display. It has been equipped with ultra-thin bezels and is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, Adreno 530 GPS with 6GB RAM. The smartphone supports QuickCharge 3.0, sports a reversible USB 3.0 Type-C port, and has...
Cambridge Nanotherm, a producer of innovative Nanoceramic thermal management technology for LEDs, has launched ‘Nanotherm DMTH' - a double-sided substrate interconnected by laser drilled 100um through-hole vias. The technology development enhances Nanotherm DM’s position as the leading substrate choice for high-brightness LED packaging applications. Nanotherm’s patented electro-chemical oxidation (ECO) process converts the surface of aluminium into a super-thin ceramic layer, forming a Nanoceramic dielectric with exceptionally high thermal conductivity. This thermal performance helps keep LED die temperatures low ensuring longer lifetime and better colour rendering by removing excess heat as efficiently as possible. The new product is based on Nanotherm’s award winning DM technology which...
Hyderabad, India's IT hub has many firsts to its credit. The city, headquarter to some of the biggest multinational companies of the world, once again brought home the bacon recently by becoming India's first 'green' city. Today, a majority of all construction projects here are filled with appealing buildings featuring energy-efficient structural components made of aluminium. Ever since India joined the global green building movement, Hyderabad has pioneered to come up with infrastructure and housing development projects that conform to the regulations set by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC). Presently, there are about 63 registered buildings among 250 IGBC-rated green building projects in Hyderabad, according to data retrieved from IGBC. Most of these skyscrapers are completed...
The widely used CCC (Certified Collateral Corporation) has recently updated its MOTOR estimating guide in response to the recent burst from the OEM sector stressing pre- and post-repair scans. Taking into account the growing use of aluminium in the automotive sector, the August 2016 revision of the guide has included a new passages on aluminium — which will cover all kinds of panels and hoods/trunk lids — welding and refinishing related to aluminium in automobile. Initially, the Special Substrate Metals section of the guide had pointed out that aluminum is heat- and corrosion-sensitive. But the section now guides users about the OEM repair procedures for aluminium and emphasises the variety of automotive aluminium parts in use. As CCC specified in its guide, “Variances can be found in...
According to a recent report, the global alcoholic beverage packaging market is slated to grow at a CAGR of 4.81 per cent during the five year period starting 2016 through 2020. Change in the lifestyle of consumers, introduction of new products and flavours, and increase in the number of breweries, wineries, and distillers worldwide have been identified as some of the major factors driving the market. Aluminium and aluminium alloy based materials serve as the mainstay for alcoholic beverage packaging industry. A moderate to high growth rate of the market, hence, indicates at a healthy growth in demand for the packaging medium as well. For further information on this, read AlCircle Blog . In the report, the market has been divided into the following segments based on geography: • Americas...
