
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>Defined Corp is all set to ship its Dome- holder-cum-charger for Apple Watch and iPhone to general public, soon. Originally priced at US$99, the Dome features a minimalist circular look and is made from anodized aluminium.<br /><br />The novel dock/stand requires a bit of assembly to facilitate proper fitting in of an Apple Watch charging cable and/or Lightning cable. It also supports Nightstand mode for Apple Watch and offers iPhone case compatibility. The anodized aluminium Dome comes in silver, black, gray, gold, and striking rose gold. <br /><br /><img style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/dome5.jpg" alt="News" width="1332" height="999" /><br /><br />The Dome’s base allows users to wrap both Apple Watch charging cable and iPhone cable...

<p>William Hawley Bowlus who was born in America in 1898 invented recreational gliding, played a significant role in developing Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis, and designed the Senior Albatross, the iconic sailplane in America. He is the man behind creating the world’s first all-aluminium structured travel trailer, known as Road Chief. Wally Byam who used to work for Bowlus, borrowed the trailer, and founded a new company called Airstream in 1931.<br /><br />The original Road Chief was a vehicle that was much ahead of its time and this aero-dynamic, mirror-finish camper beauty predated Avion and Spartan with much élan. Vintage car collector John Long wrote a book on Bowlus’s design after tracking down an original model, dismantling it, and carrying...

<p>Modular aluminium profile manufacturer Boldman has developed a mobile ballistic test cell to increase efficiency and reduce costs in oil and gas industry testing. The cell uses a lot of the innovations that are used in Boldman’s existing large fixed cells, but has the added benefit of being movable, which many clients demanded as their testing locations were not always permanent.<br /><br />The maximum size the of the high pressure test cell is 6 m by 6 m by 4 m high and it will be used to test small assemblies up to 30 000 psi.<br /><br />The ballistic glass test cells are manufactured from Boldman’s aluminium profile system and specially manufactured safety glass, giving 360° visibility when testing oil and gas equipment. This visibility means companies testing their...

<p>BMW is gearing up for the launch of its second-generation i3 in 2022, reported sources close to the company. The timeline thought set at six years from now, a renowned automobile industry magazine reports, the premium car maker has already started R&D of the vehicle in a full-fledged manner. <br /><br />It is learnt from the above sources, that BMW is considering three different construction methods for the upcoming i3. The idea, of course, is to make the car affordable while not compromising on the efficiency part. The Bavarian company intends to position its new machine in the same space as the new Chevrolet Bolt, a close rival in the electric car category. <br /><br /><img style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/2017-bmw-i3-7a.jpg" alt="News"...

<p class="contentsegment"><span>Honeywell Aerospace a Phoenix-based manufacturer of aerospace parts has commissioned a new aluminium 3D printer laboratory. This is an expansion of their existing Phoenix Additive Manufacturing Center near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.</span></p> <p class="contentsegment"><span>Aluminium is a preferred metal for manufacturing aerospace parts because of its lightweight and anticorrosive qualities. Donald Godfrey, an engineer in charge of Phoenix lab believes that having an in-house facility to work with the metal will cut costs to the company.</span></p> <p class="contentsegment"><span>“This is the first aluminium lab in North America. Aerospace applications prefer aluminium and space is a huge part of our business. Doing this in-house is...

<p>Aluminium is way costlier than steel. The current official LME price of aluminium is US$1633 per tonne whereas steel billet price has been hovering around US$325 per tonne. The price difference between the two metals competing with each other in the beverage can making segment is a clear US$1305 per tonne. Since, we all know, everything boils down to money in business, then why do 75 per cent of global beverage can manufacturers prefer aluminium over tin-coated steel as the basic raw material for their end products? <br /><br />The reasons are: <br />• Formability/workability of aluminium <br />• Ductility of aluminium (in terms of the container not shattering/cracking in transit)<br />• Inertness of the aluminium and little to no potential toxicity<br />•...

<p>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… <br /><br />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. <br...

<p>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.<br /><br />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."<br /><br />Earlier, the speed was ranging between 80-115 km per hour during the first trial...

<p>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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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."<br /><br />"One month into the acquisition...

<p>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. <br /><br />But since Indian market is still much cost...

<p>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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.</p> <p><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"...

<p>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.<br /><br />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. <br /><br /><img style="vertical-align: middle;"...

<p>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.<br /><br /><img style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/enduser%209.8.png" alt="News" width="463" height="240" /><br /><br />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,...

<p>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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br /><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/2017-ford-super-duty-f-250_100559366_m.jpg" alt="News" width="640" height="426" /><br...

<p>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.</p> <p><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/sapa2.jpg" alt="News" width="250" height="210" /><br /> <br />This...

<p>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. <br /><br />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.<br /><br />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...

<p>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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.</p> <p><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block;...

<p>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'.<br /><br />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."</p> <p><img style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/Hockmore%20Tower.jpg" alt="News" width="1504" height="1000"...