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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Scientists in two US laboratories have shown that three-dimensional printed aluminium heatsinks could be lighter and more compact in size – in other words, better than conventional heatsinks. They drew this conclusion from two closely linked projects at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee Knoxville: One project proved- printed aluminium heatsink ensures not only equal but sometimes better thermal conductivity than a standard aluminium heatsink. The second has developed genetic algorithms that make use of the freedom of shape available from 3D printing to design heatsinks that fit in the same space as their conventional cousins but work better. In the first case, conventional heatsink aluminium (‘6061’, aluminium with At room temperature, the 6061 alloy had a...
Kengo Kuma and Associates has completed the design and construction for their ‘Hongkou Soho’ office tower located in the Hongkou district in Shanghai. The building creates a sense of openness through the distinctive aluminium façades and the public areas that are distributed around the building aesthetically. A number of 18mm width ‘pleats’ make up the surface of the façade giving the building its exotic look. The 95,000 sqm building is wrapped in a pattern of pleated aluminium mesh measuring 18mm in width and the design creates the visual appeal of a woven lace. Kengo Kuma and Associates has described the building facades as a ‘soft dress for women’. Apart from the beautiful design, the pleats create an interesting play in light and shadow depending on the positioning of the sun during...
The students of CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering are building an RV-12, a light-sport aircraft out of aluminium. The experimental two-seater airplane, being built as a summer project, will be kept at Brainard Airport on completion. Advanced aluminium alloy technologies, including the latest Al-Lithium products, help aircraft engineers achieve enhanced fabrication benefits by offering an optimal combination of lower density (hence, reduced weight), improved strength, and higher corrosion resistance. The CREC project seems to be completely in line with the recent trend of increased aluminium usage in the aerospace industry, which is characterised by strong demand for aircrafts in the foreseeable future. According to Aluminium Federation (ALFED), the trade association representing...
According to a recently published market report, the global building automation and control market, which was $35 billion in 2015, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9 per cent-10 per cent during 2015-2020. Building automation improves the efficiency of building systems by reducing energy consumption, improving the lifecycle of utilities, and enhancing occupant comfort, and aluminium construction systems comprising aluminium extrusions and panels play a crucial role in improving the acceptability of the building automation process. Aluminium extrusions are used for manufacturing building profile systems as fine, value-added solutions. These products are increasingly used in the form of windows, doors, facades, and sliding doors in modern high-rise buildings, commercial buildings, and star...
The world’s leading truck manufacturer Daimler is planning to use three-dimensional printing (3D) to produce steel or aluminium-made automotive spare parts. This will be done to streamline their supply chain and expedite vehicle manufacturing process leveraging the latest digital technologies. The use of 3D printing technology has been gaining in popularity among auto makers worldwide as the process helps them to pare down logistics and warehouse storage costs substantially. Instead of shipping vehicle spare parts across the globe, they can simply send a digital blueprint of a component to a printing specialist who then creates the parts using lasers to melt powdered form of aluminium, steel, plastics or glass into solidified articles. The digital technology also helps vehicle...
Kemet Corporation New (KEM) hit a new 52-week high yesterday, reaching a peak of $3.18 after opening at $2.98 and closing at $3.17 for a move of 6.02 per cent. Kemet Corp is a manufacturer of capacitors. Its product offerings include tantalum capacitors, multilayer ceramic capacitors, film capacitors, electrolytic capacitors, paper capacitors and solid aluminium capacitors. Hitting a new 52-week high is a notable milestone for any company, and it can mean a trading opportunity on either the long or short side, depending on one's perspective. Some view a company hitting its highest price in a year as a sign of momentum and think it means it's time to buy in. Others, though, tend to interpret a new 52-week high as likely signalling the end of a strong run, with the stock peaking out before...
The Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Limited (MSETCL) has planned for high ampacity power supply through cables having aluminium composite core around India’s Nashik city connecting seven of its 132 kv power stations to deliver quality power to the citizens. The decision follows major power outages in the city which has already taken off as a major business hub of the country. MSETCL has successfully tested the use of the high ampacity cables for transmission of 1,32,000 volt (132 kv) power lines between Eklahara (Nashik Thermal Power Station) and Ozhar sub-stations. After that, it has been updating its transmission lines using the technology. "The high ampacity cables will be able to withhold exta load and would not lead to such a situation (power failure)," a senior...
Santa Cruz Bicycles just rolled out a new crop of bikes that are a bit more wallet friendly than the top-tier carbon models you’ve already seen. There are new aluminium versions of the Bronson, Tallboy and 5010. There’s now also a complete range of Carbon C models- Bronson, Tallboy, Hightower, Stigmata to name a few. The launch brings the price point on complete carbon bikes down a good bit. As for the clicking and whirring bits, both Santa Cruz and Juliana are offering up new build kit options at both the high end (SRAM Eagle at the XO and XX1 levels) and the low end (SRAM NX). That’s the quick and pithy intro. Santa Cruz is now offering the latest-generation Bronson, Tallboy and 5010 models in aluminium. Frame-only options will sell for $1,899. Complete aluminium models will have...
The Swanhill farm at Jennapullin Road, Shire of Northam has yet another amazing sculpture installed on its premises. The ‘Nellie,’ placed atop the hill at the Swanhill farm, is crafted out of thousands of recycled aluminium horse shoes. Earth Solutions Avon Valley commissioned Otto Hampel to make a swan from recycled aluminium of a magnitude that can be shared by all. He chose to make horse shoes from the re-molten metal to come up with the sculpture. Nellie, which can be seen from as far as 25 kilometres, is believed to be the largest swan sculpture made out of aluminium horse shoes in the world. She will be adding to the stunning backdrop of the Shire of Northam farm, making it a must visit for the global tourists to this part of the wall.
The Lavit Capsule, developed jointly by Lavit and Alupak has won the 2016 Alufoil Trophy award for excellence in Marketing & Design. The Alufoil Trophy is organized each year by EAFA and is the aluminum foil sector’s annual premier awards competition. The Alufoil Trophy recognizes manufacturers and brands that meet environmental and sustainability targets without losing any degree of performance or quality in addition to the technical innovations, to solve complex problems or meet difficult conditions. The Lavit capsule is a revolutionary single serve beverage container containing powder beverage concentrate. When the capsule is inserted into a Lavit beverage system, the user can craft an individual still or sparkling cold beverage with the touch of a button. The capsule also features...
Alpro’s overhead transom closers are a means of hydraulically controlling the opening and closing of an aluminium door. The units are on doors fabricated and installed by HH Aluminium of Southampton. These transom closers are contained within the transom header bar of a door and are therefore well suited to use in premises where attention is being paid to aesthetics. Features include dual closing speed to allow flexibility, three levels of spring strength and 90-degree hold open facility. Keith Parry, Sales Director at Alpro, said: “Fabricators using our transom closers benefit from the ability to adjust the latching and closing force according to the weight and height of individual doors as well as type and frequency of usage. Fine-tuning to accommodate the exact needs of a pupil and...
According to a recently published report, the construction equipment market worldwide is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.11 per cent, to reach a market size of $116.20 billion by 2021, while the mining equipment market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.42 per cent, to reach $136.03 billion by 2021. The Asia-Pacific region covering countries such as China, Japan, and India has been identified by the report as the largest and fastest-growing market for construction and mining equipment. The growth, according to the published data will be diven by increasing number of infrastructural projects and revised government regulations on mining. Robust economic growth, coupled with the growing population and rapid urbanization, will also likely boost construction activities across the...
The recently ended National Conference on Non-Ferrous Minerals & Metals- 2016, which was held on 8th and 9th July in Jamshedpur, India, saw a huge congregation of professionals from the non-ferrous metal industry in India. In the satellite session of the event, focused mainly on the application products and technology trends, 20 papers were presented by renowned personalities from organizations like Hindalco, Vedanta, Mecon and many others. The technical session began with the presentation on aluminium refining cells designing by Prof. Rajiv Shekhar, IIT Kanpur who stressed on increasing industry’s focus on R&D. Hindalco, in the same session, suggested that aluminium alloys be used instead of steel for manufacturing LPG cylinders on an economical scale. The company has reportedly achieved...
Aluminium flexible packaging solutions manufacturer Aluflexpack has been granted a loan of €20 million (USD 22 million) by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to finance technology upgrades at its Croatian firm. Aluflexpack specializes in manufacturing containers, closures and lids, and other aluminium products. Technology upgradation which forms an integral part of Aluflexpack’s recent strategic expansion plans would enable the company to develop new products and increase production capacity significantly. Aluflexpack approached EBRD for the loan based on ‘demonstration of successful restricting and setting standards of corporate governance and business conduct.’ EBRD, in response, outlined the following conditions: • Environment and Social (E&S) issues associated with...
Constantia Flexibles has completed its acquisition of Vietnamese pharmaceutical packaging manufacturer Oai Hung, strengthening its presence in Asia. Headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City, Oai Hung produces aluminium blister foil and rigid film for the growing local pharmaceutical market. In addition, the company already has a meaningful presence in the dairy lidding sector having only entered this market in the last two years. The state-of-the-art production site is equipped with a cleanroom that meets high international standards. The Pharma division of Constantia Flexibles is the world’s second largest flexible packaging manufacturer for the pharmaceutical and home and personal care industries. It operates three pre-material production sites in Austria, Germany and Spain, which serve three...
Canyon Bicycles has launched the revamped Roadlite flat bar road bike, built on all aluminium frame, with the increased accessibility of flat handlebars, that the company says makes this the ideal bike for “a day-to-day ride or a new way to explore at the weekend.” The Roadlite name used to be found on an aluminium-framed drop bar road bike in the Canyon range a few years ago, but it’s now repositioned as a fitness bike in the company’s growing range, or what we would normally call a hybrid bike. We can definitely see the Roadlite appealing to people that might be keen to get into road cycling but are put off by the drop handlebars, and it would make an ideal commuting bike with the easier control the flat bars provide when weaving through traffic. “Whether you cycle as part of your...
The city of Joondalup in western Australia has a new eight-storey development added to its skyline that stands out both in terms of design and the built. The exterior design by Meyer Shircore and Associates Architects features perforated triangular aluminium panels arranged in a tessellated origami pattern, aluminium cladding with a timber finish, clear glazing and patterned concrete walls. The North West Metro Development Assessment Panel supported plans for the proposed multi-storey Government office building at the corner of Davidson Terrace and Shenton Avenue. The skyscraper featuring perforated aluminium panels will consist of five levels of office space, two levels of car parking and a ground level café and commercial tenancy. The development proposal has achieved a five-star rating...
China has built the world’s most powerful and the largest single aperture radio telescope in the southwestern province of Guizhou in expectation of an “extraordinary impact” on astronomy. Made up of 4,450 triangular aluminium panels, the $180m telescope’s dish is half a kilometre in diameter, with a total area equivalent in size to 30 football pitches. It is located in a remote limestone valley in Pingtang County to minimise electromagnetic “noise” from human activity – an important factor in the sensitivity of the instrument, which is known as FAST (an acronym for “Five-hundred-metre Aperture Spherical radio Telescope”). The aluminium panels of the radio telescope are capable of being adjusted to create a 300m sub-dish that can be focused on particular bits of the universe with 10 times...
