South Asia’s beverage-can manufacturing capacity continues to expand, with Bangladesh preparing to enter the industry through a USD 100 million aluminium beverage can plant while new and expanded facilities advance across India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. However, the planned Bangladeshi project still faces a key infrastructure hurdle: securing a gas connection before production begins. Chinese-owned Alu Hi-Tech Industries Ltd is developing Bangladesh’s first aluminium beverage can plant at Kaliakoir Hi-Tech Park in Gazipur, north of Dhaka. The facility is designed to produce around 1 billion cans annually, with approximately 90 per cent of its output earmarked for export markets. The company registered with the hi-tech park in 2024, when work on the project began. Construction has...
Europe’s beverage-can market outperformed other regions in the third quarter, prompting Ardagh Metal Packaging (AMP) to accelerate its investment plans with two new production lines at existing facilities in the UK and Spain. Global beverage can shipments rose 2 per cent year on year in the three months to September 30, while Europe recorded 6 per cent growth, contrasting with a 1 per cent decline across the Americas. AMP announced the expansion alongside third-quarter results that exceeded its own earnings guidance, allowing the company to raise its full-year adjusted EBITDA outlook. Chief executive Oliver Graham said demand remained resilient across the company’s markets, supported by strength in key beverage categories and continued gains for cans within the wider packaging mix. The...
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Industrial designer Guillaume Bloget has designed an aluminium kayak featuring a folded double-wall structure and a cork seat during a research-creation residency organised by France's Rhizome Association. The project, named Sharp, was inspired by the lakes surrounding the association's workshop. Bloget said the local environment led to the concept of creating an aluminium kayak with a hydrodynamic hull designed to deliver smooth gliding performance on the water. The kayak's structure is formed through a folding process that creates a double-wall aluminium body, which the designer said makes the vessel unsinkable while maintaining a lightweight construction. Explore: The most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report – Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036:...
India’s automotive industry is coming into a phase in which vehicles are expected to provide more while consuming less. Consumers want a better range, greater safety, powerful performance and more features, but they also expect vehicles to remain affordable and reasonable. This creates a difficult engineering challenge. Every additional battery module, sensor, safety element or electronic system adds weight. A heavier vehicle requires more energy to move, reducing efficiency and increasing operating costs. In electric vehicles, it may also require a larger battery, which further increases both weight and price. For India, lightweighting is therefore not simply a design trend. It is a significant path to making mobility more efficient, affordable and sustainable. India produced more than...
Aluminium du Maroc is a Moroccan company that makes aluminium profiles and related products for the construction and industrial sectors. It turns raw aluminium into finished and semi-finished products for builders, manufacturers and installers in Morocco, and also sells to some export markets. Its business is closely linked to construction activity, infrastructure spending and industrial growth in North Africa. The company's main activity is aluminium extrusion. In this process, aluminium billets are heated and pushed through dies to create different shapes. These profiles are used in windows, doors, façade systems, curtain walls, partitions and other building applications. By processing primary aluminium into finished products, Aluminium du Maroc connects metal suppliers with companies...
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The macro mandate: Global automakers are desperate to increase EV range and reduce vehicle weight. The heaviest components are the battery and the traction motor. To slash weight, OEMs are issuing a clear mandate to their Tier 1 suppliers: replace heavy copper motor windings with lightweight aluminium. The cost-cutting trap: Suppliers are rushing to produce "Copper Clad Aluminium" (CCA) windings to win these lucrative OEM contracts. However, attempting to cut corners by using excessively thin copper cladding (20 per cent) is resulting in catastrophic factory-floor defect rates, fractured wires, and immediate OEM rejections. The strategic solution: To survive this transition and capture the EV motor market, suppliers must abandon basic extrusion methods. Pilot-scale data...
As commercial solar installations grow in scale, the supporting infrastructure around rooftop arrays is becoming an increasingly important area for engineered aluminium applications. North American solar mounting manufacturer Opsun Systems Inc. has added to this space with the launch of its SunRail Inverter Rack, a structural aluminium system developed to support string inverters on commercial and industrial (C&I) flat roofs. The newly launched system brings inverter mounting into a standardised racking framework, addressing a part of rooftop solar installation that has often required project-specific solutions at the construction site. Opsun has begun immediate shipment of the product from its regional manufacturing operations in North America. At the core of the rack is 6000-series...
Ocean Pacific Marine, based in Campbell River, British Columbia, has been awarded a USD 74.7 million contract to build three aluminium coastal patrol vessels for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The aluminium patrol vessels are designed to operate at speeds of up to 28 knots with a range of 450 nautical miles. They can accommodate up to six personnel and are equipped for coastal security, diving and underwater recovery operations, as well as towing. The vessels will be built through a joint venture with Camarc Design, a Scottish naval architecture firm known for designing high-speed patrol vessels used by police, coast guard, naval and rescue agencies. The 27-metre vessels will be used by the RCMP to support law enforcement, search and rescue, and emergency response operations...
Window Magic has launched WM AURA, its new ultra-luxury aluminium fenestration range, while unveiling Window Magic Atelier, a dedicated luxury fenestration experience centre in South Delhi, marking a new phase in the company's expansion in India's premium construction market. The company said the Atelier is designed as an immersive destination for architects, developers, interior designers and homeowners, showcasing luxury doors, windows and façade systems through dedicated experiential zones featuring the brand's latest products and design capabilities. The launch of WM AURA has been developed in collaboration with a European specialist in advanced aluminium architectural systems, combining international engineering expertise with solutions tailored for the Indian market. Explore: The...
Anheuser-Busch has announced an investment of more than USD 20 million in its facilities in St. Louis and Arnold, Missouri, to expand production capacity and strengthen manufacturing operations. The investment includes upgrades to brewery and aluminium can manufacturing equipment to support growing demand for brands such as Michelob ULTRA and Busch Light. The company will also establish a new technical skills training centre at its St. Louis brewery to develop the next generation of manufacturing professionals. The centre will provide training in mechanical, electrical, digital and operational skills and will complement the company's existing Technical Excellence Centre. The investment is part of Anheuser-Busch's Brewing Futures initiative, under which the company plans to invest USD 600...
Copper prices spiked to a record high in late January, touching nearly USD 15,000 per tonne, driven by supply shortages alongside surging demand from the green-energy transition and data centres. Aluminium, by contrast, trades at roughly a quarter of copper's price. The catch is performance: aluminium conducts electricity at only about 61 per cent of copper's efficiency, meaning aluminium conductors must be around 1.6 times larger to carry the same load. Copper is also about 3.3 times as heavy as aluminium by volume, which is part of why the trade-off still works out favourably for weight-sensitive applications like EVs Industry sources say companies typically start weighing a switch once the copper-to-aluminium price ratio climbs to between 3.5 and 4.0. That ratio hit a record 4.3 in...
Aluminium can manufacturers are introducing new designs and technologies to improve sustainability, production efficiency and consumer convenience. Companies including Canovation, Henkel Adhesive Technologies and Sonoco say the industry is focusing on circularity, lightweighting, resealable packaging, water-based sealants and digital manufacturing tools to meet changing market needs. Jeff Grajewski, Chief Operations Officer at Canovation, said the next generation of aluminium can innovation is being shaped by sustainability, cost, health and safety regulations, branding, and consumer experience. He noted that while sustainability remains important, new packaging solutions also need to provide a clear economic benefit, comply with regulations and offer added value to both brands and...
Zimbabwe's electricity transmission network is facing growing attacks as vandals increasingly target aluminium components after the utility replaced copper equipment to reduce metal theft. The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) said criminals have adapted to changes in the power network by stealing aluminium infrastructure that was installed in place of copper components. Speaking at a media briefing, Cloud Chakanyuka, ZETDC's Regional Transmission Manager, said vandalism continues to disrupt electricity supplies and pose serious safety risks. According to Chakanyuka, copper theft had been a major challenge, prompting the utility to retrofit parts of its network with aluminium. However, theft has continued in areas including Chegutu and Ngezi, where vandals...
Rising copper prices are encouraging automakers and manufacturers to increase the use of aluminium wiring as a lower-cost and lighter alternative, with companies such as Ferrari and BMW expanding its adoption across new vehicle models. The shift comes as the price ratio between copper and aluminium has climbed above 4.2, making aluminium a more economical option for electrical wiring. Although aluminium offers around 61 per cent of copper's electrical conductivity, it costs roughly one-quarter as much, allowing manufacturers to reduce material costs by using thicker aluminium cables where design requirements permit. Vehicle weight has also become a major consideration, particularly for electric vehicles. Copper is around 3.3 times heavier than aluminium, making aluminium wiring an...
Australian-based architectural firm Billard Leece Partnership (BLP) has completed construction of the Wattle Building, which is designed to provide innovative facilities for delivering acute care services to patients at the Children's Hospital at Westmead in Sydney. Extending over 57,000 square meters, the hospital has been designed with child-friendly, state-of-the-art facilities to ensure that children can receive medical treatment in a comfortable environment. The Children’s Hospital at Westmead has been constructed within the existing precinct of health – and education-related buildings in Sydney and has been developed to provide a new model for a hospital by providing areas within the building that support playfulness, movement and social interaction. BLP Managing Director, Tara...
Norwegian aluminium producer Hydro has showcased how aluminium supports modern football, highlighting the metal's role in broadcasting technology and stadium infrastructure during major sporting events. According to the company, aluminium's combination of light weight, strength, electrical conductivity and recyclability makes it a key material used throughout the broadcasting chain, long before live match footage reaches viewers. Hydro noted that aluminium is widely used in camera rigs, broadcast trucks and production equipment, where its lightweight properties improve mobility while maintaining structural strength for live event coverage. Explore: The most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report – Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade...
Xiaomi has revealed the new Sky Blue colour option for the REDMI K90 Ultra, one day before the smartphone's official launch in China, with the device featuring an aluminium alloy CNC frame. The device will be introduced on June 30 at 7:00 pm China time. The latest teaser shows a low-saturation blue finish with a flowing metallic texture and a flat metal camera module. As part of the REDMI K Ultra series, the device is expected to serve as the basis for the Xiaomi 17T Pro in global markets. The Sky Blue version joins the previously announced Space Silver colour option. Xiaomi has focused on premium materials for the new model, using an aluminium alloy CNC frame with an anodised finish. The silver and blue metallic design gives the phone a premium appearance while maintaining its focus on...
Amer Yachts has produced another of its latest 42-metre superyacht concepts. The Amer 42A has been designed by the highly regarded architect, Antonio Luxardo. The yacht is built entirely from aluminium and combines cutting-edge engineering with modern design to create a lightweight, high-performance vessel that meets the shipyard's vision for its new production line. The exterior of the yacht has been influenced by the flow of ocean waves and does not feature traditional straight deck lines. Instead, the Amer 42A has smooth curves and many different layers of glass, which help to create a fluid and sporty profile. In addition, the sculpted lines of the yacht provide both aesthetic appeal and structural integrity. The Amer 42A has an all-aluminium superstructure and hull, which provides an...
SilverStone has introduced the ALTA T1, a premium HPTX super-tower computer case built with an aluminium unibody chassis and anodised aluminium panels. The case is for enthusiast PCs, professional workstations and AI inference systems. It’s made from aluminium sheet metal 4.3-8 mm thick. The ALTA T1 fits many motherboard sizes (SSI‑EEB, SSI‑CEB, EATX, ATX and smaller). It has eight expansion slots and can hold up to four dual‑slot graphics cards, making it suitable for high‑performance computing. The case supports two power supplies, either two standard ATX PSUs or one ATX plus a 2U CRPS redundant unit for flexible workstation or server setups. The upper compartment provides space for graphics cards up to 55 cm long and CPU coolers up to 18.8 cm high. When an expansion card support...
China's electric vehicle (EV) exports reached a record USD 9.2 billion in May 2026, up 49 per cent from a year earlier, as demand from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) continued to grow, according to data released by energy think tank Ember. The figure exceeded the previous monthly record of USD 9.1 billion set in April 2026. During May, China exported about 448,000 electric passenger vehicles, including around 279,000 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and 169,000 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The increase comes as several Southeast Asian countries step up transport electrification through incentives, lower import duties, charging infrastructure development and new regulations aimed at reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels. ASEAN Imports Reach New High...
