By S. Tichy, K. Büchner, S. Wibner, and H. Antrekowitsch, Montanuniversität Leoben, Chair of Nonferrous Metallurgy; and P. Pucher and B. Prillhofer, AMAG casting GmbH. Natural gas is commonly used as an energy source in aluminum recycling furnaces, particularly for achieving high melting throughputs. While the direct use of electrical energy has the potential to […]
By F. Eberl, J.P. Masse, and B. Davo, Constellium. In aircraft wing structure design, two types of concepts predominate today — largely metallic aluminum wing structures used for short-medium range, single-aisle aircraft, such as the Airbus A320 or Boeing B737, and largely composite wing covers used for the latest long-range, twin-aisle aircraft, such as the […]
Metra Group, headquartered in Rodengo Saiano, Italy, is a global manufacturer of complex extruded aluminum profiles, supporting the needs of industrial, building and construction, and other markets. A key strategic sector for the company for decades has been the railroad industry, which is seeing growing demand for aluminum as the industry focuses on improving the […]
By J.P. Weiler, Meridian Lightweight Technologies, Inc. Magnesium is an essential material widely used in the automotive, aerospace, and metallurgical industries due to its lightweight properties, high strength-to-weight ratio, and recyclability. However, supply chain disruptions, price fluctuations, and geopolitical factors significantly impact its market dynamics. Understanding these trends is crucial for industries dependent on magnesium […]
By Andrew Halonen, Mayflower Consulting LLC. The automotive industry landscape is shifting once again. For the past decade, the industry has seen heavy interest in electric vehicles (EVs), with automotive OEMs making significant investments to convert their vehicle lineup to EVs. However, OEMs are now taking a step back and reconsidering their electrification strategy.1 The […]
General Extrusions International (GEI), which came under new ownership at the end of 2023, operates a 225,000 sq ft extrusion plant in Youngstown, OH. The plant houses two press lines, including a 1,675 ton, 7 inch Youngstown press and a new 25 MN, 8 inch SMS press (installed in 2022). The 7 inch press line […]
Dee Zee is a manufacturer of components and accessories for the automotive market. In line with its focus on continuous improvement, innovation, and technology, the company expanded its operation with a new vertical powder coating line at its Broadway campus in Iowa. The line was installed in February 2025, with commissioning currently in progress and […]
By J.P. Weiler, Meridian Lightweight Technologies, Inc. Editor’s Note: This is the sixth in a series of articles highlighting developments in the magnesium industry, with the aim of addressing common misconceptions. The first five articles focused on primary production of magnesium, automotive and other applications, magnesium’s effect on aluminum alloys, and magnesium myths. This sixth […]
By Alton Tabereaux, Contributing Editor. The U.S. was once ranked as one of the top primary aluminum producing countries in the world. It grew significantly thanks to the war efforts during World War I in the 1910s and through to the 1940s. Since 1940, there have been 28 different aluminum smelters built in the U.S., […]
