HexaTech, Inc. has announced the immediate production release of its new 100 mm diameter single-crystal aluminum nitride (AlN) substrate, marking a significant step in the company's efforts to scale up manufacturing of the advanced semiconductor material. The launch builds on its earlier three-inch diameter substrate introduction and strengthens its product portfolio for commercial optoelectronic and high-power radio frequency (RF) applications. The company, which describes itself as the world's leading commercial supplier of single-crystal physical vapour transport (PVT)-grown AlN substrates, said the new product combines material performance with production scale and customer value. 100 mm launch marks another step in substrate development The latest product launch follows a focused...
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....
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Acer has released full-body aluminium Chromebook 14 after the spectacular response it received after Chromebook launch. Now, with the new Acer Chromebook 14, the computer manufacturing brand has upped the feel and focus of the product. Chromebook 14 comes with a dual-core Intel Celeron processor along with standard Intel HD graphics integration. It features a 1080p screen at 14 inches, 4GB of RAM, Wi-Fi 802.11ac and up to 12 hours of battery life. The fully aluminium body comes in “Sparkly Silver” and runs under three-and-a-half pounds. The full-body aluminium Acer Chromebook 14 is on pre-order right now for $299.99 online.
An automotive supplier in Fairfield is expanding to make aluminium vehicle parts for one of its automaker customers, a company manager told Fairfield City Council members at their meeting Monday. According to market reports, Pacific Manufacturing of Fairfield, a Tier 1 auto supplier to Toyota, was planning an approximately $50 million, 72,000-square-foot building expansion at its facilities on Seward Road. Expansion plans could also add about 60 new jobs over the next three years. The project received approval Monday for the Ohio Job Creation Tax Credit from state authorities, as well as property tax incentives from the city government. “With this new expansion, we’ll expand to a new customer, which will be Subaru. This allows us to advance in new technology, meaning aluminium, more...
The next-generation Renault Clio could feature hybrid technology drawn from the new Euro-market Scenic MPV – but it won’t be a plug-in, according to a UK report. The body of the car employs a mix of high-strength steel, aluminium, magnesium and thermoplastics to save weight. The current fourth-generation Clio, which debuted in 2012, is only available with turbocharged petrol engines in Australia, while European markets also get turbo-diesel options. A recent report says the next Clio is likely to feature a mild hybrid system, similar to that featured in the recently revealed Scenic MPV. In addition to hybrid tech, the next Clio could utilise a suite of specialised aerodynamic features as seen with the futuristic 2015 Renault EOLAB concept, which had a claimed fuel use of 1.0L/100km. The...
The International Space Station, located 250 miles above the earth, is an assemblage of aluminium, titanium, steel and Kevlar components, worth USD 160 billion. David Nixon, a British architect with special interest in space architecture, in his book has described it as a masterpiece of architecture and engineering which can be placed at par with the Eiffel Tower and the Golden Gate Bridge. Outside the constraints of earthbound gravity, structure of the space station follows different rules, Nixon writes. It has a different concept of “up” and “down”, and has the convincing quality of most objects designed to meet extreme functional imperatives. Aluminium, by virtue of being lightweight and non-corrosive, finds use in a number of applications across industries. Presently, it is being used...
According to a recently published market research report, the global aluminium blister packaging market is all set to grow at a CAGR of 6.80 per cent over the period 2015-2019. A blister pack is made up of aluminium foil (or plastic) with a cavity or pocket made from thermoformed plastic. It helps protect products from contamination and external conditions such as humidity. Blister packs are manufactured primarily through two processes: thermoforming and cold forming. According to the report, demand for interactive and user-friendly packs is rising because of the rise in the number of retail outlets worldwide. Blister packs not only safeguard products against harmful gases, ultraviolet rays, humidity, and mechanical hazards, but also provide brand recognition and a user-friendly interface...
Car assemblers in Pakistan are likely to further increase prices of their different variants aimed at passing on the financial impact of recent increase of 15 percent in Regulatory Duty (RD) on iron and steel products and 10 percent on aluminium alloy, according to well informed industry sources. Indus Motors which assembles Toyota cars recently increased the price of cars and would raise them further by passing on the impact of RD to the consumers. The two other players: Suzuki and Honda are also expected to increase prices. All the parts and sheets are either made up of imported steel or aluminium which are primary raw materials and any impact on their prices will be passed on to the consumers. The impact of increase in imported steel and aluminium on vender industry will also...
Eaton has added to its Crouse-Hinds series with the new Sunnector aluminium direct-current (DC) collection system, which is designed for use with 5 MW and larger-scale, grid-tied solar PV projects that incorporate fixed-tilt ground-mount racking. The power management company says the new system includes wire harnesses and combiner boxes meant to support DC strings made with aluminium wire, which help reduce labor and material costs by 15 per cent, on average. According to Eaton, the system allows installers to take advantage of lower-cost and lighter-weight aluminium wire while providing equivalent performance to copper wire. Cost savings correlate to string length, and the system is designed for applications where string run lengths are longer. While taking advantage of the cost savings...
As the global car industry is going greener, South Korean carmakers are working on making car bodies as light as possible to guarantee higher fuel efficiency, meaning less greenhouse gas emissions. Kia Motors Corp. said Thursday that it used aluminium made by U.S.-based leading automotive aluminium maker Novelis Inc. for its new hybrid utility vehicle Niro slated for launch next week in the car’s hood and tailgate in an effort to reduce the overall weight of the car. Its sister company Hyundai Motor Co. also used aluminium for its first dedicated hybrid IONIQ. The Korean car makers hope to improve fuel efficiency and lower emissions by using aluminium, which is known to weigh one-third of steel, in their cars. Hybrid cars are usually heavier than gasoline-run cars because they are fitted...
The automotive sector being driven largely by innovation is steadily moving away from copper toward lightweight aluminium to help the industry cut vehicle weight. This has become imperative since they need to meet stricter emission standards. Having already switched to aluminium radiators from copper, it had been cautious of expanding the use to wiring, partly because aluminium is more susceptible to corrosion. But Japan's Furukawa Automotive Systems, a unit of Furukawa Electric Co, has developed new corrosion-proof terminals for aluminium wires in a harness, the backbone of a car's electrical system, a spokesman said. Furukawa has been supplying aluminium wire harness systems to Honda's light vehicles and Toyota's luxury vehicles. "We expect aluminium wire harnesses for use in vehicles...
Constellium N.V. announced today that it has signed a contract with Airbus to support all of their leading aircraft programs. The agreement – currently under Airbus Group Corporate approval - further solidifies Constellium’s longstanding partnership with Airbus and confirms its position as a leading partner for aerospace aluminium products and solutions. Under the new agreement, Constellium will supply Airbus with a broad range of advanced aluminium rolled products for airframes including wing skin panels, aero-sheets for fuselage panels, as well as rectangular and pre-machined plates for structural components. Constellium and Airbus will deepen their cooperation in logistic and recycling solutions to reduce inventories along the supply chain and support the ramp up of key Airbus programs...
In the ongoing race to make vehicles more fuel efficient while making them safer as well, one automaker addressed the issue by increasing the use of aluminium in the manufacturing of their offering, making it the lightest vehicle in its class in the process. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica will hit the showroom floors later this year with a curb weight of 4,315 lbs. This represents a 250-lb. weight reduction over the model’s replacement, the Town & Country, and makes it the lightest minivan on the road at the present time. “What we decided to do was support the structure where it needed to be reinforced and take away weight everywhere we knew could,” explained Jessica LaFond, chief engineer of minivans for FCA. “And then went after just every ounce.” The process...
The aerospace industry growth trajectory reflects a strong aircraft demand in the foreseeable future. This will drive demand for aluminium alloys over the long term. The worldwide commercial passenger and cargo aircraft fleet, as well as the annual number of passengers, are forecast to double over the next two decades. According to Deloitte, over the next 20 years, passenger and freight traffic are expected to grow at an average annual growth rate of 4.6 per cent and 4.4 per cent respectively, contributing to increases in aircraft production. The need for improvements in fuel burning, lower maintenance costs, and reduced noise and emissions alongside will drive aircraft manufacturers to optimise design solutions for a new generation of aircraft. Airbus Group and Boeing had a combined...
Jaguar, the iconic British luxury car brand, has been excelling in product engineering and delivering great sales figures after India's Tata Motors acquired it in 2008. The company, post-acquisition, launched the F-Type sports car and the XE sedan. The XF's new generation luxary car with aluminium upgrades was introduced by the car maker featuring elaborate changes made in engine and interiors. The only product that was left to get the new generation makeover was the XJ flagship sedan. Latest industry reports suggest Jaguar is gearing up to get the transformation done on the model. A report says the next generation of the XJ will debut in the international market around 2019. The model will be unveiled featuring new-generation V6 hybrid drivetrain will be unveiled in 2017-2018. The new...
C.R. Laurence, the world leader and wholesale distributor to the Glazing, Industrial, Construction, Architectural industries, completed its new 105,000-square-foot CRL-U.S. Aluminum Super Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The Super Center combines a CRL Service Center and a U.S. Aluminum Service Center in the region. With the new Super Center, customers now have the convenience of having both brands under one roof, which will improve customer service and streamline operations, according to CRL officials. The new Super Center will allow the company to enhance manufacturing processes, creating greater stock inventories, and delivering shorter lead times. It will serve as the principal distribution point for Georgia and surrounding areas, and bring local door and aluminium frame production to the...
Luxury British home and garden furniture brand, Bridgman is offering one lucky reader the chance to WIN a Mayfair Dining Table and 4 Chairs (worth £789) to celebrate the official opening of its new Wilmslow showroom. Family run Bridgman has been designing and manufacturing the highest quality indoor and outdoor furniture made of futuristic material such as aluminium for UK gardens and interiors, as well as leading hotels and restaurants across the globe, since 1977. The latest showroom opening, Bridgman Wilmslow, sees the company bringing its expertise and handmade craftsmanship to Cheshire with a 2,200 sq ft space on Bank Square. The showroom is set to display a wide selection of Bridgman's signature outdoor and conservatory ranges made from highly desirable 'All Seasons' and...
Prysmian Group, world leader in the energy and telecom cable systems industry has gained verification of its higher voltage cable system technology for offshore wind inter-array networks. The Group announces the successful completion of type testing of its 66 kV cable system with aluminium conductor in accordance with CIGRE and IEC test protocols, as part of the Carbon Trust’s Offshore Wind Accelerator (OWA) programme. “This new qualification milestone is a further advance along our path towards the development of innovative, sustainable and cost effective cable solutions for the offshore renewable power industry” stated Raul Gil, Prysmian PowerLink Chief Operating Officer “Prysmian is both prepared and fully geared to support the global offshore wind market, such as the UK’s Round 3...
Mercedes-Benz SA wants the government to encourage local beneficiation of aluminium, which would allow motor companies to stop importing up to 50 per cent of metals used in their cars. CEO Arno van der Merwe said on Thursday his company was working with the industry and the government to identify raw materials that could be developed locally for inclusion in cars made in SA. Some firms claim local content of 70 per cent or more in their vehicles, but the industry average is just more than 40 per cent. Local content is defined as the value added in SA of the ex-factory cost of a vehicle including parts and manufacturing costs such as labour and energy. Mr van der Merwe said Mercedes-Benz SA imported all its aluminium, which accounted for 40 per cent-50 per cent of the construction of...
Karnataka's newly-imposed ban on the wide-scale use of plastic is set to change the way the food industry works in the state. On March 11, the government notified the ban and said it comes into force with immediate effect. With this, the manufacture and use of plastic carry bags, cups, spoons and sheets are totally banned. Plastic packaging is allowed only when it is sealed at the factory level and for essential food products such as milk and dairy products. The decision has made businesses operating in the food industry, that is, look for alternative packaging material like aluminium foil or paper containers. Aluminium foil by virtue of being lightweight, semi-rigid, recyclable, and chemically inert to the packaged material, is favored by most restaurants and food outlets for packaging...
