2009
14.12.09 Barely has the first snow fallen and out come the skates, skis and other equipment. When buying a new toboggan, there is plenty of choice: toboggans made from plastic, aluminium or wood line up side-by-side with high-tech sledges and bobsleighs.
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14.12.09 The composite crankcase for the BMW 528i and the BMW 523i aroused particular interest when the sixth generation of the BMW 5 Series was presented recently. BMW has achieved an intelligent design here that sensibly combines aluminium and magnesium.
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07.12.09 The European Aluminium in Renovation Award 2009 has been successfully concluded with the presentation of certificates and prizes to the winners at the EU Parliament building in Brussels. The European Aluminium in Renovation Award 2009 was given for building renovation and refurbishment projects in which aluminium was used in a sensible and innovative manner.
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07.12.09 TTests are being carried out at the Materials Science Laboratory of the European Space Agency, ESA, to investigate the behaviour of aluminium alloys under conditions of weightlessness. The German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Cologne has now reported that the first two experiments performed at the beginning of November at the ISS were successful.
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30.11.09 The ‘Aluminium Automotive Applications – Material for Lightweight Construction and Design’ congress organised by GDA on 23-24 November 2009 was a total success. The congress was very well attended, with some 220 participants.
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30.11.09 Audi established what is now its Aluminium and Lightweight Construction Centre (ALZ) at its Neckarsulm site in 1994. Since then, the ALZ has most notably advanced methods of processing aluminium that are appropriate to the metal.
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30.11.09 esides high-grade, but heavy, satellite dishes made from steel, aluminium dishes are also increasingly penetrating the market. Following the launch of a new aluminium model by a well-known manufacturer of satellite dishes the trade journal Digital Fernsehen thoroughly tested it and evaluated it objectively.
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16.11.09 The Spyker C8 Spyder, the Dutch super sports car, uses aluminium more than practically any other model. Anyone who climbs into this cabriolet with its design and aluminium chassis that almost resemble an aircraft is bound to attract admiring glances.
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16.11.09 In future, one of the leading suppliers of refrigeration components in North America, Bohn, will be making increasing use of aluminium tubing instead of the copper tubes previously used. This material substitution affects about a third of the production of evaporators for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration units.
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09.11.09 A novel rocket fuel could revolutionise space travel. The surprisingly simple mixture of water and extremely fine aluminium particles is said to be more eco-friendly and safer than conventional rocket fuel but just as powerful.
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09.11.09 Aluminium/timber windows are slowly but surely becoming established in the market. The market share for this type of window has now already passed the eight per cent mark.
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02.11.09 The family-owned German company Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH has signed an agreement with Norsk Hydro ASA for the acquisition of Hydro’s automotive structures business, which produces bumpers and crash management systems.
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02.11.09 Less is more with a new air conditioner intended for use in buses and coaches: the recently introduced ‘Aerosphere World Alu’ weighs only 159 kg and has a cooling capacity of 32 kW. It has low-noise fans and results in lower additional fuel consumption.
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26.10.09 Standard vehicle wiring systems made from copper cable are a significant weight factor. In order to achieve savings here, automotive component supplier Leoni has developed alternative conductor materials that offer weight benefits. Copper-clad aluminium appears to be a very promising solution.
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26.10.09 Girders are used to bridge the spans of cantilevered halls or other buildings of this type. The greater the span, the more noticeable the supporting structure. More elegant solutions are possible if the hitherto customary steel girder is replaced by an aluminium profile.
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23.10.09 At the beginning of October, Werner Mader, GDA’s specialist for the building sector, surface treatment and corrosion, presented the certificate and prize money for first place in the “Non-residential” category of the Aluminium in Renovation Award to Martin Boden, managing director of the Code Unique architectural practice in Dresden.
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21.10.09 As long ago as the mid-1990s the German aluminium industry embraced the basic principles of sustainability and has since made an important contribution to their implementation. It is in this context that GDA is supporting the German Sustainability Award (Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitspreis).
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19.10.09 Lightweight construction is a key technology in cars that are more fuel efficient. And here aluminium plays an important part. This will be apparent at the European Aluminium Congress 2009 ‘Aluminium Automotive Applications – Material for Lightweight Construction and Design’ from 23 - 24 November 2009 in Düsseldorf.
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19.10.09 Rio Tinto has been engaged for about two years in the disposal of different engineering activities it acquired when it took over the Alcan aluminium business. Now it has found a buyer for another part of the activities: the Swiss mechanical engineering company Schweiter Technologies AG has agreed to take over Alcan Composites for USD 349 million.
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12.10.09 ALUMINIUM 2010, the trade fair for the aluminium sector, which will take place from 14-16 September 2010 with the co-operation of Gesamtverband der Aluminiumindustrie (GDA), is showing no signs of weakness whatsoever despite the difficulties in appraising the future direction of the economy.
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12.10.09 Aluminium printed circuit boards are increasingly in demand because of their light weight, good heat resistance and very uniform thermal conductivity. The aluminium board is particularly well suited for use in areas...
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05.10.09 Despite the financial and economic crisis the German Association of Windows and Façade Manufacturers (VFF) is optimistic about 2009. The sector expects market growth of almost two per cent this year.
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05.10.09 The world of die-casting will be gathering at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre from 19-21 January 2010 for the Euroguss international trade fair. Some 300 exhibitors and 6000 trade visitors are expected.
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29.09.09 Following the completion of the Germany / Austria / Switzerland section of the Aluminium in Renovation Award competition, the prize for the “Residential” category has now been presented.
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29.09.09 According to Michael Dick, Audi AG board member responsible for technical development, reversal of the weight spiral is one of the company’s most enduring objectives. Lightweight construction is a strategic undertaking for Audi and is part of its corporate culture.
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21.09.09 Solar power plants in the desert regions of Africa. This could offer an opportunity to solve energy problems in a lasting, sustainable and climate-neutral manner – a fascinating idea. Aluminium offers excellent opportunities to implement this plan.
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21.09.09 Aluminium chassis have now become criteria of quality in the field of consumer electronics. There are technical considerations that favour this chassis material for equipment from this performance category.
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14.09.09 Many homeowners shy away from a roof refurbishment because the costs for a new roof truss are often considerable. If one chooses a roof made from aluminium one can usually avoid these costs.
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14.09.09 It was with safety in mind that a leading junction box manufacturer introduced its first aluminium box onto the market about two years ago.The manufacturer says the benefits of such a construction are clearly reflected in sales figures.
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07.09.09 Behind the record-breaking performance of R8 5.2 FSI quattro is a technology with uncompromising lightweight construction as its main objective. Its 10-cylinder engine almost catapults it from 0 to 100 km/h (62.1 mph) in 3.9 seconds; the version with the sequentially shifting R tronic reaches 200 km/h (124.3 mph) in a further 8.1 seconds.
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07.09.09 Steffen Barkau of Giant Bicycles estimates that approximately 98 per cent of all bicycles have spoked wheels: “The combination of a lightweight and suitably designed hollow aluminium rim with galvanised spokes is still the most stable form of bicycle wheel.”
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01.09.09 The winners have been announced for the Germany/Austria/Switzerland section of the Aluminium in Renovation Award, a competition developed by Düsseldorf-based GDA in co-operation with the Brussels-based European Aluminium Association (EAA).
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31.08.09 Trimet Aluminium AG and Neckarsulm-based KS Aluminium-Technologie GmbH have formed a joint venture. In future, the companies will be working together in the aluminium die-castings sector.
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31.08.09 The supervisory board of Honsel AG has appointed Peter Harbig (50) as the new chairman of the company with effect from 1 September 2009. Following his successful financial restructuring of Honsel AG, the present chairman, Dr Heinz Pfannschmidt (62), is taking retirement at his own request.
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24.08.09 Lüdenscheid-based Gerhardi Alutechnik GmbH & Co. KG has invested about 13.5 million euros in a second extrusion line with a press capacity of 33 MN. The press is located in a new building which has space available for extending the further processing operations at a later date.
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24.08.09 At the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show (17-27 September 2009) Volkswagen will be presenting its ‘one-litre’ car, in other words a car capable of travelling 100 km on only one litre of fuel (282 mpg(imp) / 235 mpg(US)). The car is planned to go into series production in about 2013.
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17.08.09 Space frame structures are increasingly being used for the bodies of vehicles produced in small, and in some cases medium-sized, production runs. This method of production combines the benefit of low weight with low tooling costs.
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17.08.09 There is no doubt that electronic data processing in particular, an area where aluminium is gaining an ever firmer foothold, will increasingly play a major role in the society of the future.
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10.08.09 In recent years solar technology has developed into a significant field of application for extruded aluminium profiles. About 5 per cent of the extrusions produced currently go into this application. According to experts, this development will also continue over the next decade.
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10.08.09 A new study shows that the use of aluminium in the car industry has reached a record level and now accounts for 7.8 per cent of the average weight of a vehicle worldwide. According to experts, this development will also continue over the next decade.
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03.08.09 Neumünster-based NordAlu GmbH, which is part of Hermann Gutmann Werke AG of Weißenburg, is the winner of this year’s Industry Environment Prize (Umweltpreis der Wirtschaft). The prize was awarded by Studien- und Fördergesellschaft der Schleswig-Holsteinischen Wirtschaft for the twenty-fifth time.
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03.08.09 Pixel accelerators, graphics cards, high-end memory modules…all of these components, which have made computers more and more powerful from generation to generation, have one thing in common: higher performance is accompanied by a corresponding increase in the amount of heat produced.
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28.07.09 GDA will be holding its now traditional seminars “Surface Treatment of Aluminium”, which takes place on 24-25 September 2009, and “Technology of Extruded Aluminium Profiles” on 21 October 2009.
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27.07.09 The winners of the International Die Casting Competition 2010 will be presented at the EUROGUSS 2010 trade fair (19 - 21 January 2010 in Nuremberg).
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27.07.09 One of the first global analyses of the Moon’s surface has revealed the presence of the light metals aluminium, magnesium and titanium in addition to other chemical elements.
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20.07.09 Aluminium honeycombs are to be found in areas such as aircraft floors, missile wings, engine shrouds, bulkhead joiner panels in shipbuilding, reflector panels of telescopes, catalysts and many other applications.
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20.07.09 There is a trend today towards exclusive writing instruments with a sporting design. Kawaka, one of the oldest German brands, is now also relying on aluminium and the diverse different surface designs that are possible with this material.
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13.07.09 According to figures issued by the European Aluminium Association (EAA), about 70 per cent of the almost 32bn aluminium beverage cans used in Europe in 2007 were recycled. Based on the regional differences in the recycling rate, one can conclude that the potential for further improvement is far from exhausted.
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13.07.09 Using a analytical technique, so-called nanotomography, material scientists can now not only analyse materials chemically to see which atoms they contain, they can also show what lattice structure the material crystals have and what nanostructures they form.
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06.07.09 New aluminium alloys enable components that save weight and fuel to be designed for use in modern aircraft. Aleris Aluminum has now presented an alloy variant that promises weight savings of up to 15 per cent.
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06.07.09 The building of a new runway at Frankfurt Airport means changes are having to be made to an extra-high voltage transmission line that crosses the planned approach path.
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02.07.09 The registration period for the „Aluminium in Renovation Award“ is extended. After consulting EAA and national associotions of participating countries the competition closes on the 27. July 2009.
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30.06.09 It is possible to achieve weight savings of 35 per cent in when manufacturing car bodies when a favourable material mixture comprising aluminium, steel, magnesium and plastic is used. This is the result of a concept study based on a VW Golf V.
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30.06.09 An apron cover is used when the base frame of a large machine is located in a pit underneath the floor of the workshop and it necessitates protection for safety reasons.
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22.06.09 Novelis, global market leader for aluminium rolled products, recycled 39 billion used aluminium beverage cans in 2008, a new record. This means the company reduced its need for primary aluminium by 530,000 tonnes a year, which is about half of all the canstock processed by the group.
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22.06.09 Only a few metres away from the terrace of the Wacht am Rhein Hotel in Büderich, Germany, Deichverband Poll, an organisation responsible for maintaining the dyke of the River Rhine in the area, recently arranged for a transportable protective barrier made from aluminium...
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15.06.09 According to Switzerland’s aluminium trade association, the weakness of business activity worldwide and the fall in the price of aluminium have been affecting the Swiss aluminium industry since mid-2008.
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15.06.09 It is unusual for a series-produced motorcycle to have an aluminium fuel tank. BMW has now developed an aluminium tank that weighs about 40% less than the usual steel tanks.
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08.06.09 ‘Intigra’ is the name of a novel prefabricated garage with an angled entrance, which can be from either the left or the right. Thanks to the angled entrance, the garage has a five-sided ground plan which gives the structure....
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08.06.09 A team from the Leichtmetallkompetenzzentrum Ranshofen (LKR) research centre has announced a project to develop extremely lightweight metal frames for the electric cars of the future. According to experts, these so-called ‘space frames’....
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02.06.09 In theory, solar modules for the generation of eco-friendly electricity can be installed anywhere, so why not in the seat of a park bench? A prerequisite is that the bench, as the support for the cells, and the necessary installation be sufficiently stable and, above all, made to be long-lasting.
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28.05.09 Following a long period of continuous growth and production records, German metal foundries are now also having to cope with a severe downturn. The fourth quarter of 2008 closed with a significant decline in orders received. Orders from the automotive industry plummeted by over 60% compared with the final quarter of 2007.
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28.05.09 Novelis Inc., a world leader in the production of aluminium sheet for the car industry, has reported a more than 20% increase in the number of automotive applications compared with a year ago. Today, the company supplies the aluminium sheet used for a variety of body panels or structural parts in about 90 models of cars and vans.
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25.05.09 At the launch event for the German Sustainability Award 2009 on 29 April, 2009 Prince Charles was honoured with a statuette in the form of aluminium spheres that was specially designed for the competition.
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19.05.09 An aluminium component from Bestwig-based investment casting specialist Tital has won an award in the prestigious International Casting Contest organised annually by the Investment Casting Institute in the USA and open to participants worldwide.
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19.05.09 Thanks to the vast number of variations possible, a German gate manufacturer’s product portfolio contains a solution to suit every type of driveway and every taste – whether classical, cottage style or modern.
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13.05.09 GDA – Gesamtverband der Aluminiumindustrie e.V., Düsseldorf, is organising an aluminium congress titled ‘Aluminium Automotive Applications – Material for Lightweight Construction and Design’ from 23-24 November 2009.
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11.05.09 Audi is once again building a five-cylinder, and a very special one at that. The TT RS, which arrives in the showrooms this summer, has a turbocharged 2.5 litre engine with direct fuel injection that produces 250 kW (340 bhp).
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11.05.09 Aluminium has a positive image and is held in high esteem in Europe. That is the result of a Europe-wide survey commissioned by the European Aluminium Association (EAA).
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07.05.09 GDA has extended the registration period for the „Aluminium in Renovation Award“, which was developed in cooperation with European Aluminium Association (EAA), Bruxelles. The new deadline is 12. June 2009 (date of postmark).
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04.05.09 The first ALUMINIUM trade fair to be held in the United Arab Emirates was a success. The latest of the ALUMINIUM trade fairs, which are organised worldwide by Reed Exhibitions, was held from 29 - 31 March 2009 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
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04.05.09 Rapid growth in memory space has made a decisive contribution to the success of portable computers. The problem of reconciling small size with a high degree of rigidity has also been solved successfully by use of a rigid aluminium casing.
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27.04.09 Not at all, however the type of chocolate black or white) is decisive for the environmental footprint as confirmed by a recent LCA carried out by the Swiss company ESU-services and commissioned by GDA in cooperation with the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA).
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27.04.09 The Internationales Congress Centrum (ICC) in Berlin, which celebrated its 30th birthday on 2 April, is to keep its distinctive aluminium façade. The decision to choose this option, which had been the subject of controversy for some time, means the federal capital will keep one of its landmarks.
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20.04.09 Next year sees the rebirth of the legendary Mercedes 300 SL coupé from the fifties in the form of the SLS AMG. The ‘gull-wing’ coupé was built from 1954 to 1957 and was then regarded as the dream car par excellence in a Germany experiencing its economic miracle.
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20.04.09 Visitors to Malta’s capital La Valletta can now undertake a combined sightseeing tour of the city and its harbour without having to change their means of transport. The new Amphibious Tourist Bus has made this possible.
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14.04.09 A project aimed at using nanotechnology to improve products intended for use in the food industry has been successfully concluded following a two-year development phase. The sophisticated new surfaces, which are particularly suitable for use with cooking utensils made from aluminium or promising-looking sandwich structures based on aluminium....
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14.04.09 Versatile and innovative –a thoroughly convenient material. Consumer convenience across many of packaging’s major markets and the versatility of the alufoil sector were demonstrated through a series of truly technical innovations by the seven winners of an Alufoil Trophy 2009.
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08.04.09 Rising prices for fossil fuels and government subsidies for users have resulted in a strong boom in the German photovoltaic industry. Aluminium has played a decisive role in this boom, which is continuing unabated. The lightweight material is the basis for numerous applications...
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06.04.09 This is confirmed by a recent LCA which has been carried out by the Swiss company ESU-services and commissioned by GDA in cooperation with the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA).
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06.04.09 The lightweight door components of the new BMW 7-series limousine are based on ‘Novelis Fusion’ technology. Novelis Fusion is a patented technology which produces aluminium sheet from two (or three) layers of different aluminium alloys.
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31.03.09 It is not just at Easter that a glittering outfit made from aluminium foil turns chocolate into a stylish and special taste experience. Without them festive periods would only be half as glittering, sparkling and bright: the Easter bunny and the chocolate Santa!
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31.03.09 At its general meeting on 19 March 2009, the German Aluminium Semi-finished Products Trade Association (Fachverband Aluminiumhalbzeug) re-elected Friedrich Brökelmann, owner and managing director of F.W. Brökelmann Aluminiumwerk GmbH & Co of Ense-Höingen, as its chairman.
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30.03.09 The association’s 52 member companies from 19 European countries reported good figures for 2008. In 2008, with its extremely difficult fourth quarter, the European tube industry was stable, in contrast to the prevailing trend.
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30.03.09 Mönchengladbach-based SMS Meer has received an order for the delivery of a total of four aluminium extrusion presses to China, including the largest-ever hydraulic extrusion press, with a rating of 150 MN.
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23.03.09 When suitably designed and manufactured, high-quality aluminium sunshades can withstand winds up to Force 6 on the Beaufort Scale (about 50 km/h) even when opened out. This gives caterers valuable time to respond if the wind suddenly gets up.
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23.03.09 Today, aluminium has already gained general acceptance for use in exterior doors that have to meet demanding requirements for design and security. Now there is a range of doors available for residential and commercial construction that comprises an aluminium panel door and a matching aluminium door frame with wooden core.
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16.03.09 Aluminiumwerk Unna is planning to invest 50 million euros over the next five years. The expansion includes two new extrusion lines and the recruitment of 150 new employees for the production department.
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16.03.09 Spheros, the Neubrandenburg-based manufacturer of air-conditioning systems for buses, has started its own production of aluminium tubing. The company says it is thus reacting to the trend away from expensive and heavy copper systems to lightweight designs that use aluminium.
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09.03.09 It is something to make the hearts of classic-car fans beat even faster: Morgan introduced its first motorcar, the Three Wheeler, in 1909 and now, 100 years later, the British company is celebrating the car’s centenary by planning to introduce a limited remake edition of 500 units – made completely from aluminium.
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09.03.09 International experts from the world of die casting will be holding their industry gathering on 18 March 2009 at the Exhibition Centre in Nuremberg. The organiser is Verband Deutscher Druckgießereien (VDD, the association that represents German die casters) in co-operation with Bundesverband der Deutschen Gießerei-Industrie (BDG, the federal association representing the German casting industry).
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02.03.09 In many cases, innovative developments in automotive engineering have their origins in motor racing. This is where anything that needs to prove itself later as being safe and reliable on the road is tested under extreme conditions. It might be worthwhile therefore to take a closer look at the presentation of the new Formula 1 car from BMW Sauber.
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02.03.09 Hydro Building Systems has developed a thermally insulating coating, called ‘low-E’, for aluminium extrusions that can reduce the U-value of a structure by up to 30%. This is achieved without having to make any changes to the design of the aluminium profile.
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26.02.09 Düsseldorf, Germany - The production of packaging made partly or completely from aluminium showed a slight decline in 2008. The manufacturers of aluminium packaging produced 393,000 tonnes (t) of aluminium foil, tubes, flexible packaging and aerosol and beverage cans, 8% less than the previous year (2007: 427,000 t).
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23.02.09 Heating costs have almost quintupled in the space of ten years – and they will continue to rise. On average, windows only account for 10% of a building’s outer surface but they are responsible for up to 44% of its energy loss. With modern, retrofittable external aluminium roller shutters, the U-value of old windows can be improved by more than 45%. With energy costs increasing, this investment pays for itself very quickly in most cases – and one is also doing something for the environment.
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23.02.09 An aluminium-skating rink supplied by an Austrian company (Solkav Alternative Energie Systeme GmbH, Pyhra) utilises the beneficial properties of aluminium and sets new standards. The patented system makes it possible to install a complete ice rink made using aluminium without any major manpower requirements and to operate it economically.
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16.02.09 In addition to the frame materials commonly used for windows in Germany, namely uPVC, aluminium and wood, aluminium-wood window frames have now been used successfully for over a decade. This combination, with the homeliness of wood on the inside and the weather resistance, ease of cleaning and low maintenance of aluminium on the outside, is increasingly proving to be a beneficial compromise.
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16.02.09 Audi is planning to bring out a new A2 which will be positioned between the brand-new A1 and the A3 and should set new standards for lightweight construction. Despite its special technical features, the previous A2, introduced in 1999 and made entirely from aluminium, was unable to establish itself in the market.
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09.02.09 Norsk Hydro ASA is extending its corporate management board by the addition of two members as part of a reorganisation aimed at focussing more intensively on operations and markets. Oliver Bell, a German national, is the first-ever non-Norwegian member of the board. The changes come into effect from 30 March 2009, when Svein Richard Brandtzæg takes over as president and CEO from Eivind Reiten. Oliver Bell is also a member of the steering committee of GDA – Gesamtverband der Aluminiumindustrie e.V.
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09.02.09 The use of aluminium on an industrial scale in shipbuilding started after the development of metal inert gas (MIG) welding in the 1940s and the introduction of aluminium-magnesium alloys (5000 series) with enhanced corrosion resistance. Since then, aluminium has found widespread use in marine environments.
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06.02.09 GDA - Gesamtverband der Aluminiumindustrie e.V., Düsseldorf, conducts the competition „Aluminium in Renovation Award“ which was developed in cooperation with European Aluminium Association (EAA), Burxelles. The 2007 European Aluminium in Renovation Award shall be awarded to renovation projects/buildings in which aluminium is applied in a useful and innovative manner.
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02.02.09 There was a 1.5 per cent increase in sales of windows in Germany in 2008 to 11.7 million units, which is equivalent to an area of some 20 million square metres. However, according to a study conducted by the four leading trade associations, the general economic situation is expected to lead to a decline of up to two per cent in demand for windows and doors in 2009.
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02.02.09 Stairs for use in industrial applications are increasingly being fabricated from aluminium. An approach that utilises the specific benefits of aluminium profiles has now become standard in this sector. It enables aluminium’s higher material costs to be compensated for by savings in manufacturing and erection.
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26.01.09 Svein Richard Brandtzæg has been named chief executive of Norsk Hydro ASA, with effect from 30 March 2009. He succeeds Eivind Reiten, who has informed the board of directors that he wishes to step down after nearly eight years in this position.
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26.01.09 Modern gearboxes need to be robust, compact, efficient and economically priced. And they need to be light – this is an advantage because weight results in additional costs, particularly if the drive system has to transport the gearbox as well. Aluminium has therefore become accepted as the material for gearbox casings in a large number of areas.
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19.01.09 Modern car components should be as light and as strong as possible. Less weight is an important factor in reducing fuel consumption further. Many aspects of lightweight construction are new ground.
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19.01.09 Aluminium alloys are heated to 400-450 °C prior to hot working. In extrusion plants, this is mainly carried out in induction furnaces; this form of heating has the advantage that the billets to be processed can be heated with an axial temperature profile.
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12.01.09 When BAU 2009, the international trade fair for the building industry, opens its doors for a week in Munich on 12 January, some 100 companies will be presenting aluminium as a building material. Over 500,000 tonnes of aluminium a year are processed for building projects in Germany. The building and construction industry is thus the second most important user of aluminium.
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12.01.09 ‘boot 2009’ will take place from 17-25 January 2009 in Düsseldorf, marking the 40th time the trade fair has been held. This year the boating sector’s leading fair will again be presenting a large number of German and world premieres. From the reports issued in advance by numerous exhibitors, one can already see that aluminium is also becoming increasingly more important as a material in boatbuilding.
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05.01.09 BMW has now revealed details of the new Z4, the latest generation of its roadster, which is due to go on sale on 9 May 2009. The most important change is probably the new top: instead of the familiar soft top, the Z4 has a foldaway hardtop comprising two aluminium elements. At the touch of a button, the top can be retracted inside the boot within 20 seconds, forming a compact unit.
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05.01.09 A solution to traffic problems in the Johannesburg metropolitan area will be in place by the time the Football World Cup gets under way in 2010. Electrostar trains (from Bombardier), which have already operated successfully in England and won several awards, will be in service by then. Aleris Aluminium Bonn GmbH is supplying the profiles needed for the 96 carriages of the ‘Gautrain’ transport system.
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