[SMM Aluminum Flash News] German Aluminium Industry Remains Under Pressure, Over Half of Companies Pessimistic on 2026

German lifting equipment manufacturer eepos has launched a new aluminum jib crane for manufacturing, assembly and industrial applications, with commercial availability from July 8, 2026. The crane offers a maximum lifting capacity of 1,000 kg and a boom length of up to 8 metres. It features a new swivel bearing with 270-degree rotation and is available in both column-mounted and wall-mounted configurations. According to the company, the lightweight hollow aluminum rail improves load positioning, reduces operator effort and enhances workplace efficiency. The new crane targets industries including manufacturing, assembly and automotive. Since 2024, eepos has been part of global lifting solutions provider Kito Crosby.

Aluminum scrap is rapidly emerging as a strategic resource as the global industry accelerates its transition toward low-carbon production. Secondary aluminum requires only around 5% of the energy needed for primary production, making recycled metal increasingly attractive for both economic and environmental reasons. However, tightening scrap availability has intensified global competition. Europe is estimated to require an additional 1 million tones of aluminum scrap to meet its circular economy goals, while China has increased scrap imports and India is seeking to secure overseas supply amid concerns over potential EU export restrictions. At the same time, major investments in recycling capacity, together with carbon policies such as the EU's CBAM, are reinforcing the importance of recycled aluminum. Industry observers believe future competitiveness will increasingly depend on access to scrap resources, recycling efficiency and low-carbon supply chains.

SilverStone has unveiled the ALTA T1, a premium HPTX super-tower PC case featuring an aluminium unibody chassis and anodised aluminium panels. Built with 4.3-8 mm aluminium sheet, the case targets enthusiast PCs, professional workstations and AI inference systems. It supports multiple motherboard form factors, up to four dual-slot GPUs and dual power supply configurations. The ALTA T1 also accommodates advanced liquid cooling with up to three 420 mm radiators and offers flexible storage expansion alongside high-speed USB connectivity. Designed for demanding computing applications, the aluminium chassis combines lightweight construction, durability and thermal performance. SilverStone has not yet announced pricing for the ALTA T1.