30 12, 2011

Positive Predictions for Q1 2012 US Aluminum Extrusion Market

2017-01-26T23:37:31+00:00December 30th, 2011|

According to a recent article, the aluminum extrusion industry is in a growth period as “many remelters are sold out through January

[2012].”  Forecasters furthermore claim that “pent-up demand [for] next year’s [product]” will yield anywhere between a 10-15% increase in comparison to last year’s Q1 results.

Spikes in sales started in November and are scheduled to last into Q2. Despite this fact some business owners are weary of a potential backslide within the market but overall the majority of industry professionals do not believe this will happen. “Assuming no significant economic setback,” extrusion demand next year will be up 2-3% on the low side and 6-7%” on the high, one professional claimed.

Overall manufacturers believe “demand in 2012 [will be] even better than 2011” because “indications in the economy” are “trending in the right direction.” Especially when you look at the housing and car manufacturing industries.

CLICK HERE to read the original article and learn more about the positive predictions for Q1 2012.

20 12, 2011

Industry News: New Aluminum Smartphone & Tablet Cases Inspired by Aerospace Designs

2017-01-26T23:37:31+00:00December 20th, 2011|

Are you in the market for a new smartphone or tablet this Christmas? Then you’ll want to know about a new line of innovative accessories debuting this Winter by San Francisco based startup, EDGE, featuring aluminum construction.  The company is launching their “introductory line of premium accessories,” i.e. smartphone and tablet cases made out of “high-strength aluminum,” that is guaranteed to protect your tech device.

What makes these accessories innovative?

“EDGE Design’s case boasts a unique patented chassis design with a polymer band that suspends the phone or tablet inside the case, preventing the metal from shortcutting the antennas and providing shock absorption if the device is dropped.” In addition to the design- “a unique serial number is engraved in each EDGE™ case to guarantee authenticity and streamline the process of product registration, which extends the owner’s warranty from 12 to 24 months.”

While the device’s concept was devised to fill an need in the marketplace- the physical design was inspired by the classic Pininfarina car company known for “modernizing” many of “today’s

[European] cars.” The accessories will be made in the US “to ensure quality,” as the company prides itself on both the aesthetic of their products as well as their functionality. Aluminum serves as the showpiece for this new line, which is sure to be a hit in the states and abroad.

CLICK HERE to read the original article introducing these products and to learn more about EDGE’s exciting new line of tech accessories.

23 11, 2011

There’s More to America Recycles Day than Meets the Eye

2015-06-18T15:33:40+00:00November 23rd, 2011|

The results are in from America Recycles Day! As a following up to last week’s post announcing the yearly event, an article was released this week detailing the success of this year’s campaign, which garnered nearly 3 million aluminum cans for the benefit of local charities.

Since its inception in 2003, the Industry challenge has collected and recycled over 295 million cans nationwide. The competition, which asks 68 manufacturing facilities to partner with local schools and organizations for 108 days, exclusively benefits non-profit charities and community groups like the Boy and Girls Club and Habit for Humanity.

“Our contest provides an opportunity for can manufacturers and their employees to give something back—not only to the environment, but to their local communities,” said Robert Budway, president of CMI. “Our industry is proud of its efforts to optimize aluminum beverage can recycling while re-energizing the recycling ethic among consumers. We are even prouder of our efforts to reach out and help individuals that are really struggling in this tough economy.”

Awards were given to the top earning manufacturing plants this year, reflecting “the highest per-capita collection rates based on the number of pounds of aluminum collected per plant employee.” Winning branches were located across the nation’s Midwestern region in Illinois, Ohio and Indiana. The results of which were as follows: “Rexam manufacturing plant won first place…with 614,261 cans collected and recycled. [And] second and third place went to two Ball Corporation plants [who] collected 723,360 and 249,249 cans, respectively.”

CLICK HERE to read more about the impact of America Recycles Day and those who made the campaign such a success this year.

16 11, 2011

America Recycles Day

2015-06-18T15:33:40+00:00November 16th, 2011|

This Tuesday, November 14th was “America Recycles Day,” spearheaded by The Aluminum Association. Praising the material the Association said, “Aluminum’s recyclability and durability means that 75% of all aluminum ever produced is still in use today.” As one of the most recycled materials on the planet- it is also one of the most energy efficient to recycle. In fact it only “requires only 5% of the energy and saves 95% of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with primary aluminum production.”

Aluminum cans are highly recycled “with 58.1% of aluminum cans recycled in 2010” in the US.  But The Aluminum Association is looking to raise that figure to 75%.  This year’s theme, “recycle today and always,” was meant to encourage consumers to always consider recycling a priority when using said containers. Amazingly, “recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to power a TV for 3 hours or a 100-watt light bulb for 4 hours,” so we should all take their message to heart. And it seems like people are when you look around, suggested Heidi Brock, President of the Aluminum Association.

“The great thing for me is to see someone cross the street to use a recycle bin instead of tossing the can in the trash container next to them. Or when I see a recycling bin that’s larger than the trash bin,” said Brock.  “That’s how we know we are getting the message out and people are listening.  We are all in this together.”

Anyone interested in recycling at their home or business can learn more about aluminum can recycling by visiting the following sites: www.aluminum.org/can and www.Earth911.org.

CLICK HERE to read the original article and learn more about “America Recycles Day.”

3 11, 2011

Leaders in Manufacturing call for Increased US Competitiveness

2017-01-26T23:37:31+00:00November 3rd, 2011|

The Jacksonville Journal’s recent article recapping the Clinton Global Initiative in New York, states that Andrew Liveris, CEO of Dow Chemical, has been concerned that the “country is rapidly falling behind its

[manufacturing] competitors overseas.” And furthermore that America is facing an all out crisis within the industry.

While Liveris’ quotes were stern and straightforward, the entirety of his sentiments were meant to motivate a stagnant or perhaps misguided American manufacturing agenda. While he warned, “If we give up on manufacturing, we will be giving up on innovation.” He countered saying, “we can reinvent the sector that was once the source of America’s greatest pride. So let the rebuilding begin.”

The most crucial point Liveris made at the talk, which the article expels, is the connection between innovations manufacturing and American prosperity. The focus of this posts being on the former. “We can’t survive on ideas alone,” the article recounts Liveris saying whose sentiments are echoed further in his book, “Make it in America: The Case for Re-inventing the Economy.” In short, Liberis proposed that it’s time to shift the focus of American business back from overseas and onto American soil through competitive incentives. For example:

1. Create a new manufacturing tax credit that reduces the effective rate substantially.
2. Make an R&D tax credit permanent.
3. Create a new economic growth bank that funds sustainable jobs and businesses controlled by a bipartisan board.
4. Change the legal immigration policy to make America more hospitable to foreign entrepreneurs.

CLICK HERE to read the original article and to learn more about the current US Manufacturing “crisis.”

17 10, 2011

Evaluating Craft Beer’s Switch to Aluminum Cans

2017-01-26T23:37:32+00:00October 17th, 2011|

In “Is Craft Beer’s Move to Aluminum a Dirty Choice?” John Heylin weighs the pros and cons of the newest trend in craft beer packing: aluminum cans. Helyin argues that the move to aluminum packaging is a reflection of consumer demand, as more craft beer drinkers are active and prefer containers that do not break as easily as glass. Helyin also cites the unbreakable nature of aluminum as an additional benefit to the manufacturer, who often looses product when working with glass. And if this wasn’t enough, aluminum is of benefit to distributors as it’s lighter and less expensive to ship. So why is Helyin so against the industry’s new trend?

While Helyin feels the craft beer market established itself on a green, organic image which they are moving away from by using mainstream method’s of manufacturing, packaging and shipping, his main concerns were the processes used to acquire the material from the earth. But the fact remains that aluminum is better for beer. Seeing that it’s nearly 100% recyclable, cans costs less to manufacture than glass, have a longer shelf life – creating less waste and above all, are a better preserver of quality and taste, all seem to trump his environmental focus. While Helyin’s points should not be dismissed as it is always important to consider the costs of mining the earth, it is also necessary to consider what material is best suited for a product that will undoubtedly be around until the end of time. Watch Inc.’s “New Product Trend: Craft Beer in a Can” video below to learn about the first USA brewer to use aluminum and positive ways it has affected the production and use of the product.

CLICK HERE to read the original article and learn more about craft beer’s switch to aluminum cans.

CLICK HERE to watch Inc.’s video about the first brewing company in America to use aluminum cans and the many ways it’s benefiting to the industry.

28 09, 2011

iPhone’s New (Aluminum) Design Has the Potential to Change the Smartphone Market

2015-06-18T15:33:40+00:00September 28th, 2011|

It is rumored by a Wall Street analyst that the newly redesigned iPhone 5 will have an all-new aluminum back, replacing the existing glass back of the iPhone4.  The newly issued iPhone4 is also predicted to have a new uniform aluminum design.  Two key advantages to their use of this new material are its lightweight and durability. Beyond this- the cost to produce the phone will be dramatically reduced allowing Apple to see more profit based on their use of this new material.

“The two anticipated new iPhone models are expected by analyst Chris Whitmore with Deutsche Bank to push Apple’s smartphone sales even higher. He sees the so-called ‘iPhone 4S’ as a handset with a bill-of-material cost lower than $150, allowing Apple to sell it for between $300 and $350 without a carrier subsidy.”

Whitmore claims this cut in manufacturing cost will enhance Apple’s sales in the midrange smartphone market, possibly achieving margins up to 50 percent.  The lower cost of the materials will undoubtedly generate more profit for Apple and be a better product for consumers.

Initial reports concerning iPhone’s new design first came out in March of 2011 but for now exact details are still under wraps. One thing for sure, these reports suggest aluminum will be the key material that will change the “face” of the midrange smartphone market.

Click here to read the full article from Apple Insider.

12 07, 2011

Aluminum Can Recycling Rate Reaches Highest Level in More than a Decade

2015-06-18T15:33:41+00:00July 12th, 2011|

The U.S. recycling rate for aluminum beverage cans has reached its highest level in a decade, with 58.1% of all cans recycled last year – a rate that is more than double that of any other beverage container, according to the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI).

Nearly 56 billion aluminum cans were recycled in 2010, leading to a used beverage container (UBC) recycling rate of 58.1% – the highest in 11 years.  Because it takes 95% less energy to produce a can from recycled material, the high recycling rate also resulted in significant energy savings.  The amount of energy saved just from recycling cans in 2010 is equal to the energy equivalent of 17 million barrels of crude oil, or nearly two days of all U.S. oil imports.

Aluminum beverage cans are unique in that they can be infinitely recycled back into new cans, keeping waste out of landfills and providing a significant amount of the material to make new cans.  Indeed aluminum cans not only have the highest recycling rate of all beverage packages, they also have the greatest amount of recycled content – by far – at 68%.

Read the full article about the aluminum can at The Aluminum Association.

6 07, 2011

Aluminum Association Releases Video Honoring the Flag’s Unsung Partner: The Aluminum Flagpole

2017-01-26T23:37:32+00:00July 6th, 2011|

The Aluminum Association is paying tribute with a video of the flag and its unsung partner, the flagpole.  The video includes images of the American flag flying over various U.S. historical locations as well as the extrusion process used to create flagpoles.

Among the most notable applications of aluminum flagpoles are the 50 flags representing each state that fly around the base of the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.  At one time, flags were flown on specific days of national celebration using temporary wooden flagpoles.  For the George Washington Birthday celebration of 1958, it was determined that the flags would be flown permanently at the Monument, and aluminum flagpoles were installed.

These flagpoles represent the modern age of aluminum production, a material used in applications ranging from wiring to automobiles to building facades and beverage cans. Aluminum is lightweight, durable, and does not corrode; these properties make it the perfect material for permanent applications, such as flagpoles, that must uphold Old Glory under even the harshest weather conditions.

To see the video, visit the Aluminum Association’s Facebook by CLICKING HERE.

Or visit YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RvfLj2CY6Y

7 06, 2011

Aluminum: A Closer Look at The Element

2015-06-18T15:33:41+00:00June 7th, 2011|

Aluminum is the most abundant metallic element in the Earth’s crust (about 8%) and is the third most common element after oxygen and silicon. Unlike copper or gold, aluminum cannot be found in nature in the pure state because of its high affinity with oxygen, being so always combined with another element like in alum (KAl(SO4)2∙12H2O) and in aluminum oxide (Al2O3). So, up to 1820, the aluminum was unknown as a metal.

In the 19th century the production process was so expensive and available quantities so small that aluminum was a precious metal ($1200/kg in 1852). Indeed, Napoleon III emperor of France had a baby rattle and some other small objects made of it, and a story tells that during a banquet the most honoured guests were given aluminum utensils, while the other guests were given gold utensils.

Presently, aluminum is the second largest used metal in the world, mainly due to its light weight, high strength and recyclability.

Aluminum is heavily used in the transportation industry because of its durability, strength and lightweight. Aluminum weight is one third of steel or cast iron. Taking into account increased thickness of the aluminum parts compared to steel, 1 kg of aluminum replaces 2 kg of steel, leading to lighter cars, trucks, etc… with reduced fuel consumption and CO2 generation.

Without aluminum the commercial aircraft industry would not have existed. The new A380 employs 66% of aluminum in the airframe, while a Boeing 747 contains 75 tons of aluminum.

The use of aluminum for the building of ships is increasing year by year. Today, single and multiple hull boats are made entirely of aluminum alloy. This kind of marine applications involve the largest usage of aluminum per produced object (400 ton) compared to a large, all aluminum car (1 ton).

The usage of aluminum is increasing in the military field too, where it is used as a substitute for the steel.

In building and construction aluminum find a wide variety of applications, and its use is steadily increasing. It can be used to manufacture structural elements, as in bridges (for example, the Corbin Bridge in Pennsylvania has been retrofitted with an extruded aluminum deck, which is lighter than the previous deck made of steel and timber, allowing the bridge to sustain 22 tons load compared to the previous 7 tons). Curtainwall made of extruded aluminum and glass are very attractive for the design of new buildings or retrofit of old ones. Windows made of extruded aluminum are attractive, energy-efficient (with thermal broken technology), and reliable. Domes for gymnasiums, schools, theme parks, storage facilities, multi-purpose arenas, industrial roof systems, and churches are made with aluminum because of its strength and low weight. Aluminum is one of the best material also in the roof construction, because of its strength against corrosion and, hence, weathering and influence of pollutants in the atmosphere. Low maintenance aluminum facades are used to cover old houses facades made with thin or wide wooden clapboard.

Aluminum find also wide use in the packaging industry, being produced in both rigid and foil forms. Rigid aluminum containers are used for beverage and food packaging. Aluminum cans account for all of the beverage can market, but only a small percentage of the food can market. Cans are 79 percent of aluminum packaging by weight. Foil packaging is used as a wrapping foil, as semi-rigid packages such as pie plates and frozen food trays, and as flexible packaging such as cigarette foil and candy wrappers.

For more information, please visit AluminumSmeltingProcess.com!

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