lightweighting Archives - Page 4 of 7 - Environment + Energy Leader

GE Aviation, Turbocoating Form Coating Joint Venture

December 2, 2014December 2, 2014 by Jessica Lyons Hardcastle

GE Aviation and Turbocoating SPA of Parma, Italy, have formed a 50/50 joint venture, called Advanced Ceramic Coatings, to provide thermal barrier coatings for ceramic matrix composite components (CMCs) used in jet engines to improve efficiency and fuel economy. CMCs are made of silicon carbide ceramic fibers and ceramic matrix, ... Read more »

Report: Steel Trucks Better for Environment than Aluminum

November 25, 2014November 24, 2014 by Ken Jennison

Advanced high-strength steels have a lighter impact on the environment than aluminum in light-duty trucks and SUVs, according to two new case studies released by WorldAutoSteel. The case studies examined the effect various automotive materials can have on total life cycle greenhouse gas emissions. The studies used the Automotive Materials ... Read more »

Novelis Facility Furthers Vehicle Lightweighting

October 22, 2014October 21, 2014 by Jessica Lyons Hardcastle

Novelis has opened China’s first plant that produces heat-treated aluminum automotive sheet — a key material in lightweighting vehicles to help automakers reduce carbon emissions. Each 10 percent weight reduction can result in a 5 to 7 percent fuel savings, the company says. The opening makes Novelis the only company to ... Read more »

Plastic Bottle Recycling Increases for 24th Year

October 17, 2014October 16, 2014 by Jessica Lyons Hardcastle

Plastic bottle recycling grew 120 million pounds in 2013, edging up 4.3 percent, to top 2.9 billion pounds for the year, according to figures released by the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers and the American Chemistry Council. The recycling rate for plastic bottles climbed 0.4 percent to 30.9 percent for the ... Read more »

BMW-Backed Efforts Closer to Cutting Carbon Fiber Production Costs 90%

October 13, 2014October 10, 2014 by Jessica Lyons Hardcastle

BMW and Audi AG are among more than 70 companies and organizations backing a materials-development group that says it’s getting closer to large-scale manufacturing of cars made with carbon fiber, a lightweight material that helps increase fuel efficiency. MAI Carbon Cluster Management, an 80 million-euro ($102 million) research effort supported ... Read more »

Bacardi-Owned Martini Brand Cuts GHGs 30%

September 29, 2014September 26, 2014 by Jessica Lyons Hardcastle

Vermouth and sparkling Italian wines brand Martini, owned by Bacardi, has cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than 30 percent and water use by 4 percent since 2006. The brand has also decreased its landfill waste 7 percent since 2009, a reduction of 750 metric tons. The company has implemented ... Read more »

Milliken Nucleator Cuts Packaging Waste

September 18, 2014September 17, 2014 by Jessica Lyons Hardcastle

Milliken will launch a nucleator for injection molding high-density polyethylene (HDPE) at Pack Expo International in Chicago, Nov. 2-5. The new polymer additive allows packaging manufacturers to achieve increased levels of productivity and performance and a reduction in material waste, the company says. Milliken’s nucleating agent provides packaging manufacturers with ... Read more »

Dow Names Lightweighting Technology Sustainability ‘Breakthrough’

September 11, 2014September 11, 2014 by Jessica Lyons Hardcastle

Dow has named Betamate Structural Adhesives its third “Breakthrough to World Challenges,” meeting a milestone set by the company as part of its 2015 sustainability goals. Betamate Structural Adhesives are used to bond the body structure of automobiles during assembly. Betamate technology is being used by OEMS to lightweight vehicles ... Read more »

DuPont Improves Vehicle Fuel Efficiency by Lightweighting

August 27, 2014August 26, 2014 by Ken Jennison

DuPont, together with Swedish truck manufacturer Scania, is working to create lighter parts for vehicles, beginning with the oil pan, according to The News Journal. With federal auto emissions regulations expected to become more restrictive in the US and Europe, auto manufacturers are working to find ways to limit automobile ... Read more »

Bacardi Cuts Packaging Weight 90%

July 17, 2014July 21, 2014 by Jessica Lyons Hardcastle

Bacardi has reduced its Party Drinks rum bottle packaging weight by 90 percent using recyclable PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic instead of glass. The company has also redesigned its bottle for Bacardi Classic Cocktails so it now weighs 30 percent less. PET also requires less energy to produce than glass, lowers ... Read more »

Southwest Airlines Launches Upcycling Project

July 15, 2014July 15, 2014 by Jessica Lyons Hardcastle

Southwest Airlines has launched an upcycling initiative to transform 43 acres of used leather seat coverings into new products. The LUV Seat: Repurpose with Purpose sustainability program will also benefit communities by providing employment, skills training and donated products, the airline says. Southwest developed the recycling initiative following its Evolve program, ... Read more »

First-Ever Aluminum Fan Blade for Jet Engines

July 15, 2014July 14, 2014 by Jessica Lyons Hardcastle

Alcoa will supply parts for Pratt & Whitney’s jet engines, including the forging for the first-ever aluminum fan blade for jet engines, under a 10-year, $1.1 billion deal. The aluminum fan blade will make the engine lighter, as well as more fuel and cost efficient, Alcoa says. The forging was ... Read more »

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