France-headquartered Drone Volt has unveiled its Hercules 100 heavy-lift cargo drone, combining an aluminium-and-carbon chassis with a payload capacity of up to 100 kilogrammes (kg). Introduced in flight at the UAV Show in Bordeaux on October 9, 2026, the foldable octocopter is designed for industrial logistics, civil protection, firefighting and defence. Designed and assembled in France, the aircraft marks the company’s move from the 25 kilogrammes class to a 100 kilogrammes payload platform. Aluminium and carbon highlight the design The Hercules 100 has a maximum take-off weight of 197 kg. It weighs 52 kg without batteries and 97 kg with its battery pack, leaving capacity for a full 100 kg payload. Its chassis combines aluminium and carbon fibre, with a wheelbase of 3,300 mm. When...
Bering Yachts has presented the first hull of its BC60 aluminium explorer catamaran, marking the shipyard’s move to a twin-hull platform while retaining the long-range capability and structural robustness associated with its established explorer vessels. The 18.9-metre vessel has already been delivered and is afloat, with founder and CEO Alexei Mikhailov providing a detailed walkthrough of its design and onboard systems. Measuring 18.9 metres (60 feet) in length overall, with an 8.6-metre beam, the BC60 is designed as a displacement explorer rather than a high-speed production catamaran. Its all-aluminium construction, shallow draft and substantial fuel capacity are intended to support extended passages and greater autonomy at sea. The vessel has a draft of 1.58 metres and carries more...
Grow with
AL Circle
American multinational automaker Ford Motor Company is under increasing pressure from trade changes as it re-estimates the 2025 forecast. They announced tariffs will affect future profits by USD 3 billion, up by USD 0.5 billion from the previously announced USD 2.5 billion . The automaker's Station-B-related expenses were USD 800 million in the second quarter, leading Ford to post its first quarterly loss in nearly three years. Image for referential purposes only The adjusted EBIT for 2023 is now expected to fall between USD 6.5 billion and USD 7.5 billion (down from between USD 7 billion and USD 8.5 billion from its February guidance), and Ford management continues to monitor and take advantage of opportunities for improvements to the current EBIT range. Strategic missteps meet policy...
In a historic pivot that stresses the tectonic shifts in global electronics manufacturing, India has overtaken China as the top source of smartphones sold in the United States. According to Canalys, in the second quarter of 2025, India accounted for a staggering 44 per cent of US-bound smartphone shipments, surpassing China, whose share fell to just 25 per cent, down from over 60 per cent a year earlier. Vietnam, where Samsung Electronics Co. has concentrated much of its manufacturing muscle, ranked second. Image for representational purposes only The shift, while driven by the mobility strategies of Apple Inc. and its supply chain, carries far-reaching consequences for materials markets — aluminium foremost among them. The acceleration of Indian electronics exports is the downstream...
Premium American water brand Kopu is providing a turnkey sustainability solution for the luxury hospitality industry, enabling major hotel groups like Hyatt, Hilton, and Marriott to replace problematic glass and plastic bottles with elegant, infinitely recyclable aluminium packaging and a built-in recycling program. Image source: https://media.licdn.com/ For decades, the water service in high-end hotels has been dominated by imported European brands in heavy glass bottles. While theoretically recyclable, glass presents immense practical challenges in hospitality settings. “Hospitality bottled water over the last 40 years has been dominated by three imported European brands, all bottled in a different hemisphere and shipped to the U.S. in glass bottles, most of which are destined for...
As the automotive industry races toward sustainable mobility, one major challenge persists: the heavy use of rare earth materials in electric vehicles (EVs). These materials, widely used in motors and batteries, come with significant environmental costs, including global warming and ozone layer depletion. But a breakthrough from UK-based environmental engineering firm Ricardo promises a cleaner path forward. Image for representational purpose The company has unveiled a prototype electric propulsion motor, dubbed the Alumotor , which eliminates the need for rare-earth magnets and replaces copper with aluminium without compromising efficiency or performance. A new approach to EV design While EVs are often seen as eco-friendly, their reliance on rare earths and critical raw materials...
Starting from October 2025, almost all the aluminium bicycle frames from Trek, Electra, and Diamant will be made out of aluminium. These aluminium would be mostly sourced from various renewable sources like recycled material. This initiative of Trek would impact over 1,000,000 bikes produced annually and is the largest carbon initiative in its history. This shift to the use of aluminium in the production of bicycles would be a significant step within the sustainability initiatives implemented by the cycling industry so far. From the year 2021, Trek has been investigating using low-emission aluminium. The company has been focusing on an aluminium sourcing policy to help its suppliers procure it. The aluminium frames for the company would be sourced to meet the present demand of...
In the heart of Kendall Square, a Boston neighbourhood known for its practical and distinctive architectural features, the new Ragon Institute medical centre has been built. Designed by acclaimed architecture firm Payette, the building makes a bold statement with its use of aluminium, not just for looks, but for function too. Its most striking feature is not the glass or structure, but a delicate layer of tapered aluminium fins that add visual interest, improve performance and quietly reflect a growing focus on aluminium’s sustainable future. Aluminium’s evolution: from industry to ideation More than a functional and utilitarian metal, aluminium in 2025 symbolises something more. With industries navigating the challenges of decarbonisation and circular design principles, aluminium is once...
Stellantis, a multinational automotive corporation in the Netherlands, is bracing for a financial hit in the second half of 2025, expecting a Euro 1.2 billion (USD 1.4 billion) impact from new US tariffs as the global auto industry grapples with changing regulatory barriers and trade winds. After a relatively small Euro 300 million (USD 327 million) contribution in H1, the automaker believes the "real bite" will come as the new 25 per cent duties on imported cars and parts take effect (announced by President Donald Trump). Trade policies disrupt Stellantis’ North American operations Stellantis is exposed to tariffs primarily because of its large footprint in Canada and Mexico, which represented a sizable percentage of the 1.2 million vehicles sold in the US last year. While exemptions...
During the ACG Summer Conference held in late June 2025 at Ljubljana, Arturo Martorelli, Chief Commercial Officer at Gaula Closures, was unanimously appointed as the new Chair of the Aluminium Closures Group (ACG). He takes over the leadership from Franco Bove, who has held the position since the group's inception in 2011, marking nearly 14 years of service. During the same event, Patrick Broom was appointed as Vice-Chair. Globally led manufacturers of the aluminium closures and their suppliers, which represent 75 per cent of the global production, are brought together by the Aluminium Closures Group. The use of aluminium screw caps is seen mainly in the wine, spirits, mineral waters, oil and vinegar sectors. The core activities of ACG include market analysis, advancing recycling and...
Molson Coors Beverage Company rang in Q1 2025 on a challenging note, reminding investors and beverage lovers alike that even a brewing giant can feel the chill when global headwinds hit hard. In its first-quarter earnings release (Q1 2025), the company reported an 11.3 per cent decline in net sales, down to USD 2,304.1 billion from USD 2,596.4 billion, along with a significant drop in volumes. Financial and brand volumes both saw steep declines of 14.3 per cent and 8 per cent respectively, primarily due to reduced shipments and a deliberate scale down of contract brewing across the US and Canada. Gavin Hattersley, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "The macroeconomic environment and its broad effects on the beer industry and consumer, as well as competitive pressures in EMEA and...
At a time when the whole world is experiencing inflation, tariff changes and shifting consumer behaviours, Heineken N.V. stands out as an example of operational resilience and foresight. The Dutch brewing company has been operating in a challenging environment with increasing US tariffs on aluminium and steel packaged goods (including beer). However, the company continues to outperform its competitors, demonstrating that strategic dexterity and sustainability measures can effectively address persistent challenges in the beverage industry. Localised production: a smart tariff shield Heineken's minimal use of cross-border beer exports is key to its insulation from the US tariff storm. The company brews nearly 95 per cent of its beer in the same region where it is consumed. In the US, only...
In a bold move to align with global green transit practices, Kolkata Metro, one of India’s oldest metro networks, is transforming significantly to enhance its services, overall efficiency and is also stepping into a cleaner, more efficient future. As per the latest news, Kolkata Metro’s ambitious third rail upgrade marked a significant milestone over the weekend, with a critical section of the Blue Line successfully modernised in Phase I of the project . The replacement of the traditional steel third rail with a high-conductivity aluminium rail was carried out on the Down Line between Shyambazar and Mahanayak Uttam Kumar, and on the Up Line from Shyambazar to Park Street . The latest installation was executed on Saturday night in the Main Line segment near Mahanayak Uttam Kumar station....
In a high-stakes crackdown on trade fraud, the US Department of Justice has announced that patio furniture manufacturer Grosfillex Inc. will shell out $4.9 million to settle claims that it dodged US import duties on aluminium components shipped from China. The Pennsylvania-based company stands accused of playing a shell game with customs paperwork, allegedly submitting falsified documents to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to sidestep antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD) on aluminium extrusions sourced from the People’s Republic of China. Federal investigators say Grosfillex skirted tariffs by misclassifying certain aluminium parts as duty-free and packaging others into so-called furniture “kits” to obscure their true origin and avoid detection. In a twist that added fuel...
Premier Energies, an Indian solar manufacturer, has reported a robust performance for the first quarter of FY2025–26, posting a net profit of INR 307.8 crore, a 55.3 per cent year-on-year (YoY) increase from INR 198.2 crore in the same period last year. Revenue rose 9.9 per cent YoY to INR 1,820.7 crore, driven by strong operational performance and high capacity utilisation. Solar cell manufacturing utilisation reached 94 per cent, while solar module capacity stood at 77 per cent during the quarter. As of June 30, 2025, the company held a strong domestic order book of 5,545 MW valued at INR 8,603 crore. Of this, 60 per cent is allocated to solar modules, 39 per cent to solar cells, and the remaining 0.6 per cent to EPC services. Also read: Next-gen solar panels built for Rajasthan heat...
For those who see motorcycles not just as machines but as masterpieces, the Bandit9 x Ducati 821 is your next rideable obsession. Initially commissioned by a San Francisco-based collector, this project reflects a deep appreciation for Van Daryl Vincente Villanueva, the Founder and Design Chief of Bandit9 and his visionary approach to motorcycle design, marking a refined evolution of the atelier’s craftsmanship and a redefinition of two-wheeled engineering. Image source: bandit9.com Built upon the foundation of the discontinued Ducati Monster 821, the latest creation reimagines the original naked motorcycle through a distinct, monolithic design language. Every panel and surface has been meticulously redesigned and handcrafted, resulting in a seamless, sculptural form. The body features...
Aludecor an Indian manufacturer and supplier of aluminium composite panel (ACP), has introduced ‘Alubreeze’, the country ’ s first home-grown metal sun-louver system, an energy-efficient, design-forward solution engineered to reduce solar heat gain and cooling loads in modern buildings. Image for representational purpose The innovation is positioned at the intersection of sustainability and smart architecture, directly targeting India’s INR 25,000-crore facade market. Built entirely from recyclable aluminium and finished on India’s only roller-coating lines, Alubreeze is available in preset angles of 30 degree, 45 degree, and 90 degree, allowing it to reduce direct sunlight penetration in glazed structures. It not only contributes to energy savings but also adds sculptural depth to flat...
JFA Yachts has released a construction update on its 50.5-metre hybrid explorer project, confirming that the vessel is currently in the outfitting phase, well in advance of its scheduled launch later this year. This development represents a significant milestone in the company's ongoing innovation in hybrid yacht engineering. Image source: jfa-yachts.com Designed by Humphreys Yacht Design, the all-aluminium hybrid explorer showcases advanced naval architecture and exterior styling. A key highlight of the vessel is its extensive tender and toy handling capabilities. According to HYD Co-Director Tom Humphreys, "We took a highly integrated approach to the design, striving to marry all the technical, functional, and Client-specific requirements with a rigorous naval architecture effort to...
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.’s second-quarter 2025 performance revealed a clear regional contrast, with strong momentum in the Americas outpacing limited modest progress in Europe. Demand for beverage cans in North and South America surged, led by continued strength in non-alcoholic categories and 12 per cent growth in Brazil. This translated into a 21 per cent year-on-year revenue increase for the Americas, reaching USD 840 million, and a 34 per cent jump in Adjusted EBITDA to USD 133 million, boosted by strong volume mix and lower operational costs. Europe, by contrast, saw revenue growth of 9 per cent to USD 615 million, but Adjusted EBITDA declined by 3 per cent to USD 77 million. The region faced challenges such as lower input cost recovery and temporary metal timing misalignments,...
The global metal packaging coatings market is growing steadily with an estimated CAGR of around 5 per cent from 2020 to 2030 driven by increasing demand for premium, attractive and sustainable packaging. Recent insights show the future of this small but increasingly important market will continue to change as brands focus on premiumisation trends, especially in food and beverage. Premium appeal and functional fuel demand A rise in consumer desire for attractive packaging, with shiny surfaces, colours and shelf appeal to grab attention, has caused manufacturers to invest in new metal coatings such as aluminium. Not only do these coatings look good, but the ways they function are also vital to the success of the packaging. In particular, multilayer films that offer enhanced shelf life and...
