By Lynn Brown, Long Point Associates. While climate change — and the associated focus on the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of various materials — has recently taken a back seat in Washington, numerous aluminum extrusion users remain focused on reducing their environmental footprint. To support their efforts, the Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) has recently introduced […]
By J.P. Weiler, Meridian Lightweight Technologies, Inc. Magnesium, the lightest structural metal, has remained a material of interest in aviation and aerospace for nearly a century. With a density lower than that of aluminum and comparable with carbon fiber composites, magnesium alloys offer an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio and machinability that appeal to aircraft applications. However, […]
By Kevin Widlic, Editor. Right in the center of Hydro’s 350,000 sq ft extrusion plant in Georgia is a sign that the aluminum extrusion industry in the U.S. is taking a fresh step forward. It is the facility’s hybrid electric extrusion press, and it is something to see. The new press in Gainesville started operation […]
Gemini Group expanded capacity and scale of the press tooling capabilities at its Consolidated Tool facility in Muscle Shoals, AL. The new equipment allows the operation to offer full-scope services to extruders of aluminum. copper, and brass, ranging from design and engineering to machining, validation, and refurbishment of large containers and press tooling components. This […]
The North American aluminum industry has faced uncertainty in recent years amid challenging market conditions and shifts in international trade. However, as Jason Weber (pictured), president of the Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC), indicates in this interview, the aluminum extrusion industry remains resilient, finding ways to innovate and ensure stable billet supply. Prior to becoming the […]
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) both reported damage to their primary aluminum facilities due to Iranian attacks on March 28. EGA noted that its Al Taweelah site, which produced 1.6 million tonnes of primary aluminum in 2025, sustained significant damage during the Iranian missile and drone attacks at Khalifa Economic Zone […]
By Kevin Widlic, Editor. Hydro Extrusions just inaugurated a new 12 inch, 60 MN press at its aluminum extrusion plant in Tønder, Denmark. The official opening was held in September 2025, serving as the centerpiece of the plant’s 50th anniversary celebrations. The event included weekend ceremonies together with customers and suppliers and with past and […]
By Alton Tabereaux, Contributing Editor. The Venezuelan aluminum industry was once a regional leader with advanced technology and skilled labor. However, it has seen steep declines over the past decade, with production at its two aluminum smelters being largely curtailed thanks to dramatic power shortages. As a whole, the country has faced a national power […]
By J.P. Weiler, Meridian Lightweight Technologies, Inc. Introduction Magnesium has long played a quiet but vital role in modern industry. As a primary alloying element in aluminum, a lightweight structural metal in its own right, and a critical input into titanium production, magnesium is integral to sectors ranging from automotive and aerospace to electronics and […]
