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...
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President John Dramani Mahama has announced the government’s intention to ban the importation, production, and use of Styrofoam plastic takeaway containers in the country. He made this declaration during the formal launch of the One Tree Per Child Initiative at Kwabenya Community Senior High School in Accra as part of the World Environment Day celebrations. The President informed manufacturers and importers of Styrofoam about the government’s decision, emphasising that, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, they would ban both the importation and production of Styrofoam in Ghana. President Mahama added that food packaging in the country would instead be made from paper and aluminium materials. “One of the most pernicious polluters is...
What if a product comes into light that not only carries your luggage but also helps you find a seat anywhere? You read that right because Rimowain's collaboration with Vitra has turned their former aluminium luggage into a limited-edition luxe living room decor. Image source: rimowa.com Crafted by the innovations of two major German engineers, making the impossible possible. The Swiss furniture company Vitra and a luxury luggage and bag manufacturer, Rimowa, recreated their former aluminium suitcase to aid people with aesthetic sitting stools and toolboxes. Thanks to aluminium, the master of converting travel mobility into a seater of living spaces has finally come to light. The luggage that transforms into a seat for a full-grown person is made with a signature grooved aluminium...
Emballator, an aluminium packaging company, has announced the construction of its new 8,000 m² facility in Lempäälä, Finland. This new project will be a part of the strategy to support growth and optimise material flows for the company. Developed in partnership with Meijou Oy, the factory aims to enhance service for existing and new customers and is scheduled for autumn 2026. With a long-standing reputation for high-quality packaging solutions, Emballator reinforces its commitment to innovation and sustainability through the new factory. By investing in advanced technology and environmentally friendly practices, the company aims to boost production capacity while minimising its environmental footprint. Christian Höglund, Head of Paint & Construction, Emballator, said, “We want to continue...
The world has already witnessed a transition from fuel cars to electric passenger vehicles. This transition had one significant challenge: locating the right place to charge EVs. Well, this is no longer a concern for all future EV owners. As shared by Thane Heins, a Canadian Physicist embarked on creating an innovation at the University of Ottawa, enabling all EVs to recharge themselves while driving, eliminating the need for plug-ins from 2025 onwards. Image source: evfy.in As proposed by Thane Heins, the Electromagnetic Field Energy repulsion has been used significantly to make all the EVs self-charging cars. The innovation also encourages using internal combustion engines (ICE) to provide propulsion energy. This is because it enables EV cars to convert electrical energy into mechanical...
The proposed doubling of tariffs on imported steel and aluminium to 50 per cent is sparking concerns across the packaging sector, with warnings that the move could increase food costs and disrupt supply chains. The Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and the Aluminium Association have voiced strong opposition to the policy, citing widespread repercussions for businesses and consumers. Image credit: crowncork The tariff increase, announced by President Donald Trump during a visit to a Pittsburgh steel plant, is intended to protect the domestic steel industry. The announcement coincided with his recognition of Japan-based Nippon Steel’s planned acquisition of US Steel. Despite a recent court ruling blocking many levies, these specific tariffs remain unaffected. Also read: Coca-Cola looking to...
Every Can Counts, a global initiative committed to encouraging aluminium drink can recycling, has analysed data from the first four months of 2025, based on official monthly reports by RetuRO, Romania's Deposit Return System (SGR) operator. The findings reveal that Romania is making significant strides in sustainability. Between January and April 2025, the national recycling rate for aluminium cans soared to nearly 74 per cent, more than double the 35 per cent reported by European Aluminium for the country in 2022. Which country scored the big? Not only this, during the first four months of 2025, Romanian countries like Bucharest, Timiș, Cluj, Ilfov, and Constanța emerged as national leaders in aluminium can returns, both in terms of volume and consistency. These regions benefit from...
Ball Corporation, a leading aluminium packaging provider, has teamed up with Açaí Motion, a Brazilian natural energy drink brand, to launch a new line of sustainable aluminium cans certified by the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI). These ASI-certified cans reflect a commitment to high environmental, social, and governance standards across the entire production chain from mining to final manufacturing. The certification supports transparency and responsible sourcing, empowering consumers to choose products that align with sustainable values. According to Ball, the cans are equipped with its exclusive internal coating technology, designed to preserve the beverage’s flavour and nutritional value while enhancing shelf life. This innovation meets consumer expectations and gives Açaí...
Pakistan Aluminium Beverage Cans Limited (PABC) concluded Q12025 (January to March) with net sales of Rs 4.65 billion, marking a modest 1 per cent Y-o-Y increase most importantly, avoiding a decline. The company also recorded a Y-o-Y surge of 4.29 per cent in its gross profit, arriving at Rs 1.445 billion from Rs 1.385 billion clocked during Q1 2024. In a market where Coca-Cola Pakistan and Pepsi-Cola International have seen mid-single-digit drops in domestic volumes, maintaining stable revenue reflects a noteworthy outperformance. Across the region, Western soda brands faced a 7 per cent sales downturn in the first half of 2024 due to ongoing geopolitical tensions. Market researcher NielsenIQ reported a 7 per cent decline for Western soda brands across the Middle East and South Asia in...
BYD's largest car carrier, the BYD Shenzhen, has made a powerful debut on the global stage, docking in Brazil just one month after setting sail on its maiden voyage. The massive vessel arrived at the Port of Itajaí, delivering 7,300 brand-new BYD new energy vehicles (NEVs) a major milestone in the company's international expansion. Towering at 219.9 meters in length with a beam of 37.7 meters, the BYD Shenzhen is a floating giant. Spanning 16 decks and capable of carrying up to 9,200 vehicles, it boasts a loading capacity equivalent to 20 football fields a true titan of the seas. Officially delivered on April 22 in Yizheng, Jiangsu province, the ship is the fourth car carrier in BYD's growing fleet, reinforcing the automaker's commitment to sustainable transport and efficient global...
In a bold move that merges high design with eco-conscious innovation, Ideal Standard has launched Alu+, a cutting-edge shower system crafted from 84 per cent recycled aluminium. Captured in a stunning video by Dezeen, this latest offering is a testament to how sustainability and luxury can effortlessly coexist. Crafted to reduce environmental impact without compromising performance, Alu+ features advanced water-saving technology that limits flow to just eight litres per minute for the hand spray and 12 litres for the overhead faucet. The system is entirely free from chrome, lead, and nickel materials often used in traditional fittings but flagged for their potential risks to water quality. Every plastic component is crafted from water-compliant polymers, while the packaging is recyclable...
Alfiniti, Inc., a leader in aluminium manufacturing, has expanded its production capabilities to support the fabrication of aluminium corona rings. These capabilities enable Alfiniti to produce components to customer specifications, utilising advanced techniques in bending, flattening, punching, sandblasting, and welding of aluminium tubes and flat bars. Key Facts: Expanded capabilities: Alfiniti can now fabricate aluminium corona rings in-house using bending, flattening, punching, sandblasting, and welding of tube and flat bar. Customer focus: All rings are produced in customer-supplied designs, with options for custom geometries, surface treatments, and sizes. “Our focus is on meeting our customers’ unique design needs,” said Steve James, Managing Director of Alfiniti. “By enhancing our...
Environment over everything. Apple has made a secure transition from the use of two generations of premium titanium to aluminium for the production of its latest iPhone 17 Pro Max. Both the performance and the environmental implications are intensive, representing a strategic masterstroke reshaping the next-generation smartphone manufacturing process. Image source: zeera wireless Owing to Apple's commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030, the transition to aluminium from titanium will have a more positive environmental impact than marginal performance. As per the report by materials science data, by incorporating aluminium, the company has reduced their carbon footprint by 67 per cent if compared with production using titanium. Irrespective of titanium providing a 6:1...
South Australia’s Nepenthe Wines is raising the bar on sustainable packaging with a smart, simple innovation featuring a fully recyclable tearaway cap across all its still wines. As a certified B Corp and proud member of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia, Nepenthe knows that small changes can drive big impact. The new cap design lets consumers easily separate aluminium from glass, boosting recycling rates and keeping valuable materials out of landfills. Following three months of rigorous testing to ensure product quality and storage standards, Nepenthe Wines has now introduced fully removable aluminium tearaway capsules across all its still wines. The change, timed to coincide with World Environment Day on 5 June 2025, marks a permanent shift in the winery’s packaging approach. “With...
On Tuesday, May 27th, Dong-A Otsuka (CEO Park Chul-ho) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Novelis Korea, the world's leading aluminium rolling and recycling company. The partnership aims to promote resource recycling and sustainability for THE Masinda, Dong-A Otsuka's canned drinking water product, in alignment with its role as an official sponsor of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting. As part of the agreement, Dong-A Otsuka will add QR codes to the packaging of THE Masinda products. These cans are made from aluminium sheets with a high recycled content, produced at Novelis' Yeongju facility. Recycling aluminium saves up to 95 per cent of the energy and greenhouse gas emissions compared to primary production from bauxite. These QR...
In movies and some places (sometimes in real life too), the number 13 might be the ultimate bad luck charm, but on the periodic table, this number represents one of the most sustainable and recyclable metals on earth – aluminium. Aluminium, the silent hero, is making its presence felt not only on the grounds but also in the sky. NASA's cutting-edge X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft, featuring mostly aluminium in its construction, has made a significant stride in its journey. The X-59 was put through its paces as its subsystems and flight computer were rigorously tested to ensure seamless coordination between hardware and software. This major milestone clears the runway for the X-59's highly anticipated first flight later this year, bringing the dream of quieter supersonic travel...
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Australia (CCEP) has unveiled a cutting-edge canning line at its Richlands manufacturing facility in Brisbane, Queensland. Backed by a major $75 million investment, this new line isn't just impressive it's the largest and most efficient in CCEP's entire global network. With the power to produce up to 120,000 aluminium cans every hour, it marks a bold leap forward in speed, scale, and sustainability for the iconic beverage brand. Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) Australia relies on aluminium, especially in its iconic cans, as a key part of its packaging. As the world's largest Coca-Cola bottler, CCEP is leading the charge in sustainability down under, actively working to cut plastic waste and boost the use of recycled aluminium in its operations. This...
YKK recently announced that it will now source only low-carbon aluminium alloy wire for its zippers. This transition is made possible through a partnership with Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. and Sumitomo Electric Toyama Co., Ltd., which will supply the sustainable aluminium material. Conventional aluminium smelting is highly energy-intensive and generates varying levels of CO₂ emissions depending on the energy source used. In contrast, the low-carbon aluminium chosen for this initiative is produced using renewable energy, resulting in less than four metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions per ton of aluminium ingots, significantly reducing the material's environmental impact. "Through these efforts, we aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to climate change mitigation by...
In an era where aluminium innovation and sustainability are reshaping India’s construction skyline, Aluwind Infra-Tech Limited has firmly planted its flag as a growth engine with both financial momentum and strategic clarity. The Pune-based fenestration and façade solutions provider reported a stellar 51.59 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) revenue growth in the second half of FY25, backed by expanding operations, rising urban demand and a slew of forward-looking moves that signal its evolution from a project executor to an ecosystem builder. H2 FY25: Robust revenue, strong margins, strategic vision In the second half of FY25, Aluwind clocked INR 6.37 billion (USD 76.7 million) in revenue, up from INR 4.21 billion (USD 50.63 million) in H2 FY24. EBITDA also rose 37.63 per cent to INR 83.47...
