
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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In an industry where volumes matter the most, the rest tend to follow. Going by the March quarter numbers, Eicher Motors seems to be perfecting this art better than peers such as Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor Company. Led by strong sales growth in its Royal Enfield offering and commercial vehicles in the March quarter, consolidated revenues at INR 3,765 crore shot up 47 per cent year-on-year. From a year-ago level of 14.2 per cent, consolidated operating margin has risen to 17 per cent in the March quarter even as cost of goods sold (raw materials such as aluminium and steel products, purchased goods, inventories consumed) climbed up by 46 per cent year-on-year in line with revenue growth. Strong volume growth of over 57 per cent (operating leverage) has helped Eicher boost its margins;...

Röder HTS Höcker will be presenting its revolutionary Carbon Hybrid Military Shelter at the Eurosatory Exhibition in Paris, at the Viparis Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre between 13-17 June, at Hall 6, Stand K61. This pioneering structure is engineered with a carbon aluminium profile, making it stronger than normal aluminium but also much lighter. Eurosatory presents all aspects of land and airland defence, as well as a strong civil and homeland security focus. The exhibition covers the whole supply chain in all defence and security arenas from raw materials through to operational systems, contractors and finished products. It will also feature lifesize presentations of equipment and weapon systems throughout, as well as conferences, workshops and panel discussions. As an established...

Global demand for beverage cans will grow~3-4 per cent in 2016 and a similar growth trend is expected up until the end of this decade. This growth is being driven largely by increased consumption in emerging markets. Together, the US and Canadian markets use approximately 94 billion aluminium cans per year, making North America the largest market for can stock in the world, according to UACJ. Around 60 per cent of that amount are cans for carbonated beverages, the consumption of which have been declining in recent years, thereby resulting in sluggish demand. The remaining 40 per cent are cans for beer, the demand for which remains strong. A recent study shows that 55 per cent of all beers are packaged in aluminium cans, which is up from 50 per cent five years ago. The 5 per cent growth...

Auto China motor show in Beijing was full of electric cars this year. One of the most conspicuous was the Qiantu Motor K50, a pure electric sports car with an aluminium frame and carbon fiber body, which is based on the earlier prototype shown in Shanghai in 2015. The Qiantu K50 with a formidable aluminium frame is scheduled for production in 2017 with price tag north of $100,000. Spec includes 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.6 seconds. Two electric motors provides 402bhp of power and 479lb ft (650 Nm) of torque. The range is apparently up to 186 miles (300 km). Inside there is Tesla-style large touchscreen. According to Autocar, Qiantu Motor is building a new factory with annual output of 50,000 cars, it is assumed that most of the production will be designed for other low-spec, more popular...

Electric car maker Tesla's shares have tumbled after the company lost two executives and nearly doubled its first-quarter loss, but some analysts are turning their attention to the company’s potential effect on the global metals market, especially lithium, aluminium, and copper. The company yesterday reported a quarterly loss of $US283 million due to lower than expected deliveries, but said it would increase annual production to half a million cars two years earlier than it had planned. Despite the company’s woes, growing demand for electric cars could reshape the consumption of metals in the auto industry, some market participants say. The individual metals needed to manufacture an electric car are numerous, but potential beneficiaries range from obscure materials such as lithium to...

The largest sailing yacht ever constructed in Italy has been launched at Perini Navi’s facility in La Spezia. With a length of 70 metres and an 850 Gross Tonne volume, Sybaris has joined an exclusive group as one of the largest sailing aluminium-made yachts in the world. The all aluminium vessel has been designed by the in-house team at Perini Navi, with naval architecture consultation and sail plan optimisation from Philippe Briand. Specifically chosen by her owners, her interior design was undertaken by the U.S. studio PH Design, who have utilised high quality materials such as titanium into both the structural and aesthetic design. In addition to her generous living and entertainment areas both inside and out, Sybaris also comes with two 7 metre carbon fibre tenders, as well as a 4.5...

Wrightstyle, the leading steel and aluminium advanced glazing specialist, has been appointed by Secco Sistemi as a fabricator and supplier of their systems in the UK. The Italian company is a worldwide leader in the production of designer aluminium glazing systems for doors, windows and facades, providing architects with a beautiful and exciting range of design options. Secco Sistemi’s range comprises slimline, cold rolled, thermally broken steel systems, in an array of finishes, including brass. Secco Sistemi systems are specified worldwide for the refurbishment of historic buildings and, reflecting Italian design excellence, for new-build retail and urban architecture. Wrightstyle has been working in close collaboration with Secco Sistemi for several months, with Wrightstyle staff being...

Graham Lusty Trailers (GLT) is now building customised race car transporters. The specialised aluminium trailer builder of Australia GLT has fabricated their first 6 car transporter for Steve McFadden. Aluminium and stainless steel is extensively used throughout the trailer. Where aluminium cannot be used the company's design team fall back on stainless steel. But aluminium is clearly their metal of choice for building trailers. “Our walls are made with a special aluminium plank which has a double skin and internal bracing. This means that our transporters do not require any internal framing”, explains Operations Manager James Yerbury. “Our chassis are also made from Marine grade aluminium and depending on your choice of suspension even the suspension hangers are aluminium”. The outer...

The Rio 2016 torch has been designed to represent the diversity and vibrancy of Brazil, and the Olympic spirit. It is made from recycled aluminium and resin with a satin finish, and can be opened out to reveal coloured segments during the relay. The torch stands 69 centimetres tall when fully opened. When lit, it expands into five segments with distinct colours. Each colour represents unique features of Brazil, including its landscape, flora, fauna, people and culture. The values of the Olympic spirit - excellence, friendship and respect - are represented by the torch's triangular shape. The torch's extending sections evoke the movements of athletes. The torch is embossed with the Rio 2016 logo and the Olympic rings, which recognize the five continents of the world. Organisers said...

The Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S has shed weight thanks to the use of aluminium in many of its core components. At 306bhp and with 280lb ft of torque, the most powerful GTI ever produced has set a new front-wheel drive Nürburgring lap record, with a time of 7:49:21. The all new Clubsport S is based on the 'standard' GTI Clubsport and has been produced as part of Volkswagen's 40th anniversary celebrations of the GTI. Modifications to the car over a standard GTI are extensive. The Clubsport S has an unladen weight of 1285kg, which is a significant drop over the standard two door GTI's 1348kg. The standard Clubsport itself is 30kg heavier than the S. This is in part due to the removal of the rear seats and central armrest, as well as the use of a smaller battery. Other changes include...

Britain is all set to become home to the world’s first ever mass-produced extended-range electric delivery van this year. The Emerald T-001, expected to debut late next year, will be built exclusively on an aluminium chassis, reported sources close to the vehicle manufacturer. Based around a range-extender powertrain, the Emerald T-001 combines a 66-mile EV range with the ability to deal with a 1400kg payload arranged on three standard pallets. The technology opens the way for zero-emissions deliveries in towns and cities to arrive at a time when the annual average mileage of light commercial vehicles (LCVs) is growing dramatically due to the significant consumer shift towards internet shopping. Emerald Automotive is owned by Chinese car maker Geely, which also owns Volvo and London Taxi...

Colorado’s Ball Corporation announced last week that it and British-based American-owned Rexam PLC have come to terms with Luxembourg’s Ardagh Group over the sale of certain of Ball’s and Rexam’s assets in order to satisfy regulatory concerns involved in Ball’s purchase of Rexam. Ball and Rexam are among the largest makers of aluminium cans on Earth. Under the agreement, Ball and Rexam will be selling US$3.42 billion worth of assets to Ardagh: eight Rexam plants in the United States, ten Ball plants and two Rexam plants in Europe, and two Ball plants in Brazil. Ardagh would also receive innovation and support functions in Brazil, Britain, Germany, Switzerland, and the United States. According to Ball, the assets Ardagh would be receiving had a combined revenue of US$3 billion in FY 2015....

East African Cables Group, which manufactures copper cables and aluminium conductors and cables among other items, is waging on increased cables manufacturing and investments to return to revenue growth. This is after the regional manufacturer reported a 27 percent decline in its profits for the year 2015 of an undisclosed amount. The company has attributed the overall decline to the significant interruptions that facilitated the completion of the modernisation of the Kitui Road Copper Production plant. “The overall decline in performance was attributable to significant interruptions in our production processes as we concluded the last phase of our capacity upgrades at the refurbished Kitui Road plant,” said the firm’s Group CEO Peter Arina. EA Cables also singled out regional general...

Sonaca 200 is a two-seater, single-engine aircraft designed by Sonaca Aircraft for pilot training and leisure flights. It is the first aircraft assembled in Belgium, to be exhibited at the Aero Friedrichshafen show in April 2016. The airframe of Sonaca 200 is constructed with corrosion-resistant, semi-stressed aluminium structure. The fuselage, wing and tail of the aircraft are built using aluminium alloy. The main landing gear features glass fibre with powerful shock absorption, and is designed for use on unprepared and grass runways. The aircraft is designed and developed for the general aviation market and is currently undergoing tests in Belgium and other neighbouring countries for type certifications.

HP in collaboration with Google on Thursday, April 28, launched its latest Chromebook 13 laptop, the Chromebook 13 G1, priced at $499 (roughly INR 33,200) for the base model. It is said to go on sale this month. Looking at the Chromebook 13 G1's design, which boasts of a brushed anodised aluminium body along with the HP's glossy iconic logo, it is hard not to see the similarities with Apple's 12-inch MacBook. The anodised aluminium body laptop even bears USB Type-C ports, and no Ethernet port. It weighs in at 1.29 kgs, and measures 319.9x219.6x12.9mm, which is thinner than the 13.1mm Apple MacBook - the MacBook is lighter however, at 0.92 kgs. HP aluminium Chromebook 13 G1, backed by a 45Wh Li-ion battery, houses 32GB eMMC 5.0 inbuilt storage along with a HP TrueVision HD webcam for video...

A recent auto industry study revelaed that Jaguar has saved 500,000 tons of greenhouse gas pollution through the use of recycled aluminium in its XE. The Coventry-based car maker has been using a closed-loop aluminium recycling process to construct the XE’s bodyshell, and says that after 12 months of production it has reclaimed more than 50,000 tons of the metal – about the same weight as 200,000 XE bodyshells or six Eiffel Towers. The production process involves 11 press shops that segregate waste aluminium to be sent back into production, and is said to be 95 per cent more efficient than the sourcing of primary aluminium. These figures illustrate how beneficial using reclaimed materials can be in car production, and come after the car maker has invested a total of £7 million into the...

Popular peripheral maker Satechi is launching a new compact hub for Macs called Aluminum Mini Docking Station. The new hub expands one USB 3 port into four USB 3 ports plus adds access other networking and audio/video ports. Like a lot of other Satechi hardware, Aluminum Mini Docking Station is color-matched in silver to fit in with an iMac or Mac mini too. Specifically, Aluminum Mini Docking Station includes two front-facing USB 3 ports and a front-facing 3.5mm audio port plus two more USB 3 ports on the back next to a gigabit Ethernet port, HDMI port, and DVI video port. Satechi says the HDMI port supports 4K output or multiple monitors simultaneously with the DVI out. The specifications do not list the refresh rate but typical for Displaylink USB 3 is 30Hz at 4K or 60-120 at 1080P. In...

The Coca-Cola Co has said it has again listened to consumer demand as it brings back the 1980s fruit juice-flavoured drink Hi-C Ecto Cooler in freshly designed aluminium cans. The company said websites dedicated to 1980s and '90s nostalgia have name-checked the brand, and "a growing legion of social media fan groups have clamoured for a comeback". "Those communities convinced Coca-Cola to give the brand a curtain call," it added. Hi-C Ecto Cooler will be sold in 10-packs of 6-ounce juice boxes and in 6- and 12-packs of 11.5oz aluminium cans. The aluminium beverage cans, which will be available in selected locations including major online retailers, feature thermal ink printing technology that turns green when chilled. Aluminium has always ranked as the topmost medium for beverage...