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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New Major Contracts from Los Angeles to Frankfurt - Europe’s highest skyscraper will be clad with an aluminium-glass façade made in Gundelfingen, Bavaria. Josef Gartner GmbH was awarded the contract for the building shell of 460m high Lakhta Centre in St. Petersburg. Gartner will also manufacture the façades for The Circle at Zurich airport, the largest building project in Switzerland. The façade cladding for both major contracts will cover an area of over 165,000 sqm or about 23 football fields. Lakhta Center in St. Petersburg, Russia has been designed as a mixed use complex. The 460.7m high tower will be twisting upwards like a winding needle. Its complex aluminium and glass façade is twisted by 0.8 degrees. The glass will be cold-formed as this presents a cost-efficient method which...
The manufacturers and suppliers of aluminium aerosol cans who are operating in the UK have been witnessing an unparalleled growth in 2015. The year till now has practically pushed some aluminium aerosol can suppliers to their capacity limit, revealed a recently published market research report on the British aerosol packaging market. The buoyancy in demand for aerosol cans made of aluminium is largely attributed to the brand owners who provided the necessary market impulses with innovations and strategic promotions. Individual branded companies reportedly suffered from a shortening of aerosol cans. This for example had a negative impact on the business of consumer goods giant Unilever. The first two months of the current business year, however, were still characterised by brisk demand,...
Two Brothers Racing introduces a new aluminium canister option for the wildly popular S1R Black Series exhaust that caters to a growing trend of budget-minded riders in 2016. Available in both slip-on and full system applications for most popular brand platforms the S1R Black Series is the latest and greatest creation from the masterminds at Two Bros. “We love the S1R for the sound and performance but we know not everyone is looking for a full carbon fiber race set-up,” states Mark Jacobs director of sales at Two Brothers Racing. “Our goal was simple, provide our customers options in price without giving up performance” he adds. The research and development department at Two Bros truly hit a home run on the new S1R Aluminum exhaust. This beautifully polished canister compliments any bike...
Manufacturers in the electricals segment are abandoning copper for its lighter and cheaper rival aluminium after a decade of technological innovation that is saving some companies hundreds of millions of dollars. Sapa, a supplier of aluminium components, said it has seen a pickup in demand. Developments in aluminium wiring that compensate for lower conductivity and less flexibility, new ways to stop corrosion and more efficient conductors, mean there is more scope to replace copper in power grid cables, auto wiring, air conditioning and refrigeration systems. Saudi Electricity Co. said it has already saved 2.4 billion riyals ($640.09 million) by shifting from copper to aluminium in its medium voltage distribution network. “We started more than a year ago and we plan to continue,” said...
Crysteel Manufacturing's Aluminum Landscape bodies combine the strength and convenience of Crysteel's Landscape Tipper with the lightweight efficiency and durability provided by aluminium construction. Crysteel's Aluminum Landscape bodies offer up to 13 per cent more payload capacity than comparable steel bodies. They also have lower maintenance costs and greater durability, since aluminium doesn't require painting and won't rust, according to the manufacturer. “Our new Aluminum Landscape line is a great choice for contractors in the landscaping, refuse/waste and recycling industries who need a reliable body to take on the toughest jobs,” said Joe Paulsen, general manager of Crysteel Manufacturing. “Crysteel Aluminum Landscape bodies are lightweight and corrosion resistant, so they haul...
Utility vehicle manufacturer Fruehauf has designed a new series of tip-trailers, which, for improved strength, durability and weight-saving reasons, are manufactured using Alcoa's Endur-Al aluminium sheet. Endur-Al is 52 percent harder than a standard aluminium alloy of type 5083 H111, and 20 to 30 percent lighter than steel. Sheet made of Endur-Al is used for the floor and side walls of the AgroMax grain transporter, and for the OptiMum and the OptiMax for open construction jobs. Production of this new trailer fleet is commencing now. Endur-Al was developed by Alcoa as material that can withstand extreme weather conditions. Performance characteristics include excellent surface hardness, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and workability. That is why in numerous tests Endur-Al has...
Kulicke & Soffa Industries, Inc., a global leader in the design and manufacture of semiconductor, LED and electronic assembly equipment, today announced the introduction of a comprehensive solution dedicated for Fine Aluminum (Wedge-to-Wedge) Wire Bonding – with the new launched VitaCap™ Series of Capillaries and IConnPS PLUS™ Ball Bonder. VitaCap™ is made from K&S’ leading ITA™ ceramics material, engineered for high quality Aluminium wedge bond and tail bond formation on any wire direction. Its unique features fit well with IConnPS PLUS™ Ball Bonder’s special wedge-to-wedge feature. Together, they deliver an innovative wire bonding platform for applications that uses fine Aluminium wire diameters (0.6-2.0 mil), supporting the Automotive, RF, Medical, LED and consumer segments. The key...
Deemed a major security hazard, transport body in Pune is now replacing fibre parts with aluminium or other metal. After a spate of recent road accidents, Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mandal Limited (PMPML) has now taken up commuters' safety on a priority basis and started removing seats and other fibre body parts of several buses at the Swargate depot. "We need to think about whether to go for the same fibre bodies or the buses with aluminium body frames. The ones with fibre seats and other fibre parts are dangerous, especially considering the recent incident of fire at Shivajinagar. Our engineering department will be studying this," said T S Dharurkar, the transport body's general manager (operation and engineering). Currently, of the 1, 200 buses owned by PMPML, 489 CNG buses have fibre...
The production of aluminium aerosol cans worldwide remained stable at a high level in 2015. The member companies of AEROBAL (International Organisation of Aluminium Aerosol Container Manufacturers) reported total production of 5.4 billion aluminium cans and thus a repeat of the previous year’s record result. AEROBAL’s secretary general Gregor Spengler is very pleased with the result: “Repeating 2014’s record is a rather good achievement considering the very difficult conditions in 2015; with economic turmoil in China, Russia and some emerging countries, the enduring problems in Greece, Ukraine and above all the Middle East, the global uncertainty resulting from the development of the oil price, and some considerable fluctuations in exchange rates. It demonstrates the strong capabilities...
Abarth & C. S.p.A., the noted racing car and road car maker, has unveiled its new 124 spider racing car model. Developed with input from the Abarth Racing Team, the rear wheel drive roadster features a mechanical Limited-Slip differential as standard to secure drive and traction. Weighing just 1,060 kilograms, most if it concentrated between the axles and the engine for better handling, the 124 has a weight-to-power ratio of 6.2 kg/HP - the best in its category says Abarth. The spider is available with a six-speed manual or the automatic Sequenziale Sportivo gearbox with paddles behind the steering wheel. Stopping power comes from the Brembo braking system, with aluminium front callipers. On the inside, the controls are in tune with the car's sporty set-up with the position of the...
The civic authorities in Australia are planning major facelift for their car parking facilities across important cities this fiscal. While there are some reports that indicate a dip in car ownership due to younger generations shunning cars in favour of car sharing, the recent ABS figures show car ownership remains high, with 12 million vehicles currently on Australia’s roads. With so many cars, the question turns to increasingly stretched parking facilities. The planned modernisation could include improvements in the facilities’s façade, or more practical changes to the car park’s internal layout. The resulting benefits are not just about delivering a better car park experience, but also providing safety benefits, such as improved driver orientation, wayfaring, or undertaking an audit of...
The new architecture school building at the University of Portsmouth, England, is donning a suave, contemporary look, thanks to the designing expertise of architects from Penoyre & Prasad. Aluminium-clad blocks on concrete piers have been used for construction of this building around a landscaped courtyard. The building provides a new home for the School of Architecture and Interior Design, flanking a new courtyard at the heart of the institution's city-centre campus. The facility has been built as part of a masterplan to improve connectivity between various campus buildings. Glazed teaching spaces jut out above the entrance, continuing the line created by the curtain wall of an adjoining remodelled building. The openings in the northeast corner are surrounded by angled aluminium frames...
Aluminium casting firm, Sarginsons Industries Ltd., has reported a growing demand for hollow aluminium chassis components for use in electric vehicles. The Coventry-based manufacturer reports it is increasingly being asked to develop lightweight parts for electric vehicles, from self-driving cars through to buses and recycling trucks, necessitating the need for aluminium to replace the more traditional steel. But replacing a solid steel component with a hollow aluminium one and keeping the same strength and safety of the heavier part is not without its challenges. Anthony Evans, managing director at Sarginsons, explained: “Lightweighting is increasingly important in the automotive sector, particularly in electric vehicles as it contributes vastly to increased battery range and makes...
Embracing the global trend (which has seen a number of craft brewers move to the packaging format), the Spanish craft brewer will package its Rubia, IPA and Vikingathor expressions in Rexam’s 330ml aluminium cans, launching in March 2016. Designed by Arriaca with the support of Rexam, the minimalist yet bold aluminium can designs reflect the rebellious nature of the pioneering brand. Rexam’s value added matt over varnish gives the cans a premium finish, echoing the quality of the beer and appealing to Arriaca’s discerning target audience. Speaking about the collaboration, Jesus León, CEO Cervezas Arriaca, says, “We made this decision having recognised the benefits of the aluminium can in terms of sustainability and its capacity to conserve liquids. Rexam is well known in the industry for...
A United States defense contractor has developed a laser amplifier using Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (YAG) nanopowder. The new amplifier allows for rapid target engagement, low cost, and a high quantity of rounds. nGimat, Co., a contractor to the Air Force Research Laboratory, developed the technology on a small scale with financial assistance from the United States Army. However, when another defense contractor expressed interest in a scaled-up version of the technology, nGimat lacked the capital to meet such a demand. When the Army was unable to fund the project, the Air Force, via its Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR), stepped in and provided a US$750,000 grant to make the project happen. “The Department of Defense has worked hard to improve...
Painter Nguyen Van Phuc in the Mekong Delta has developed techniques to make bas-reliefs on aluminium. He is reportedly the first to do it in Viet Nam. With a precise mind and skilled hands, the artist turns waste materials, such as empty aluminium beer or juice cans, into sophisticated works of art. "I happened upon an idea to make bas-reliefs on aluminium," Phuc recalls. He said he has since then created many paintings using water colours, oil paints and has made wooden sculptures, but, "these materials are too popular, so I decided to develop a new sculptural style and medium for me: aluminium reliefs". Phuc has chiselled hundreds of works, including the Don Ca Tai Tu (Southern Folk Music), which won second prize at the Can Tho Arts Fair in 2012. Also, Cho Noi Cai Rang (Cai Rang...
The Tesla Model S, the world’s most-wanted electric car, which has recorded a whopping 100,000 units sale as of December 2015, has been lauded by the critics for its impressive safety rating, range, and design. However, it is also worth considering that it is the incredible raw materials that go into the Tesla Model S that help to make all of these things possible. The Tesla Model S body and chassis are built almost entirely from aluminium, which comes from bauxite ore. Aluminium is lightweight, which helps to maximize the range of the battery beyond that of other EVs. The total amount of aluminium used in the car is 410 lbs (190 kg). The Tesla battery pack weighs 1,200 lbs (540 kg), which is equal to about 26% of the car’s total weight. This puts the car’s center of gravity a mere 44.5...
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia, a local unit of the Japanese automotive giant, has inaugurated its fifth factory in the country on Monday in Karawang International Industrial City, an industrial area in West Java. The opening marks a significant milestone for Indonesia after the country took control of its domestic aluminium supply three years ago, as part of its aspiration to to add more value to its natural resources. The factory will produce aluminium-block engines, known as R-NR, for domestic and Asian markets, Koei Saga, senior managing director at parent company Toyota Motor Manufacture, said. The company chose Indonesia as its third country in which to establish engine manufacturing, after Japan and China, as the country is the world's largest producer and consumer of...
