asia – Shanghai Metal Corporation

Aluminum, Metal of choice for sustainable cans

the Aluminum Association and Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) new report states that aluminum cans are the most recycled beverage containers in the market, they have the highest recycling rate. A can usually contains 70% of recycled content, which is 3 times more than plastic or glass containers all this while being around 300 percent more valuable than other materials. A can is generally turned into a new can and back on store shelves within 60 days.
In addition aluminum cans have become lighter by 38 percent since 1972 in the United States, with a weight of 12.99 grams approximately. Aluminum cans are more than 15 times lighter than standard 12 oz. glass bottles, which makes it easier to transport bigger quantities of beverage and optimizing their transportation costs.

An Aluminum can goes through several steps during its life span from one recycling process to a new one

Stage 1 : Can Shredding

In this step cans are shredded into pieces the size of a walnut. The shreds are then passed through a double magnetic drum separator to remove any steel that may have been mixed into the bale.

Stage 2 : De-coating

Any paint or other chemical coating on the aluminum is removed by blowing hot air (around 550°C) through the shreds on a slowly moving insulated conveyor. The exhaust gases from this process are first passed through an afterburner and then used to heat incoming process air via a heat exchanger, minimizing the energy requirements of the system

Stage 3 : Melting

After the de-coated process, the aluminum shreds are put into a melting furnace containing submerged stirrers that create a vortex in the pool of molten aluminum and drag the shreds quickly down into the melt.

Stage 4 : Aluminum Casting

The molten metal is transferred into a furnace to remove impurities and start the casting process then Ingots are cast from the remaining pure metal.

Once in the mold, cool water is sprayed around and through the base of the mold. The aluminum ingot ten solidifies for the next three hours. The finished 18-ton ingots, each containing approximately 1.5 million used cans, are shipped to a mill for rolling into the sheet from which aluminum can makers subsequently produce new cans and the whole process begins again.

source: www.aluminum.org and homeguides.sfgate.com

Shanghai Metal Corporation offers a wide range of aluminum products and is conscious about ecology and sustainable business . You can visit the company’s website or contact us for any inquiry.

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Houria // SMC Editor

China, Second Biggest Producer of Copper In The World (List of Top 10 producers)

copper bloomberg — copper tubes source: bloomberg.com

Most copper is mined/extracted as copper sulfides from large open pit mines in porphyry copper deposits that contain between 0.4 to 1.0% of copper. This is the case in some mines in Chile and the United states .

According to the British Geological Survey The amount of copper in use is increasing and the quantity available is barely sufficient to allow all countries to reach developed world levels of usage.
It was reported by the US Geological Survey (USGS), the global production of metal increased by 400 million tons between 2013 and 2014 reaching 18.700 million tons, although the demand for copper decreased compared to the previous year.

1. Chile (Mine Production: 5.800 million tons)

Chile’s copper production has been increasing for the last decade although technical and regulatory issues could slow down the trend. between 2013 and 2014 the production increased from 5.780 to 5,800 tons.

2. China (Mine production : 1.620 million tons)

china's copper mine production 2006-2014 — china’s copper mine production 2006-2014 Source: statista.com

China is the largest refined copper producer, but it lacks copper mineral deposits. It has to import unprocessed copper ores and copper scrap.
China increased its copper production in 2014, putting out 1,620 million tons of the metal compared to 1,600 million tons in 2013. Reuters reports that notes that the country’s production increased during the second half of the year, due to the re-lauching of a 100,000-tonne-a-year smelter Liaoning province (North east of China) after 5 years of inactivity.

3. Peru (Mine production: 1,300,000 tons)

between 2012 and 2013 peru’s prodcution didn’t change much. In 2013 the country produced 1.300.000 tons. But it is expected that the mine production could rise by as much as 10 percent in 2014, and Peru’s energy and mines minister, Jorge Merino, has projected a 17-percent increase in copper production alone thanks to several new projects and also the the expected increase of foreign investments in the mining industry.

Copper factory – Source: cnbc.com

4. United States (Mine production: 1,220,000 tons)

5. Australia (Mine production: 990,000 tons)

6. Russia (Mine production: 930,000 tons)

7. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (Mine production: 900,000 tons )

8. Zambia (Mine production: 830,000 tons)

9. Canada (Mine production: 630,000 tons)

10. Mexico (Mine production: 480,000 tons)

Being at the heart of the booming copper industry, Shanghai Metal Corporation offers a wide range of copper products . You can visit the company’s website , contact us and follow us on twitter and facebook for more information and news on metal.

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Houria // SMC Editor

The Bandung Conference and The Promotion of International Cooperation

On the 22nd April 2015 there was the 60th anniversary of the 1955 Bandung Conference, gathering leaders from Africa and Asia. It was the first large scale Asian-African Conference, with the aim to promote Afro-Asian economic and cultural cooperation and to oppose colonialism or neocolonialism.

Twenty nine countries representing more than half the world’s populations sent delegates to the 1955 Bandung Conference. Photo from WhenInTime

“The basic idea of the Bandung Conference was that newly independent countries of Asia and Africa who were emerging from colonialism have common policies, common past and common needs, so they must work together to decide their future,” said Akram Zaki, Pakistan’s former foreign secretary, told Xinhua.

As stated by The Jakarta Post : “The success of convincing China, the then rising influence, to pledge respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of others, to settle borders peacefully and to abstain from aggression and threats were remarkable achievements of that time. It created confidence over the improved future of the new and emerging economies”

Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the 60th anniversary of the 1955 Bandung Conference and showed China’s determination in helping to create a “win-win cooperation” and common development between Asia and Africa.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd L) his wife Peng Liyuan (L) walk with Indonesian President Joko Widodo (2nd R) and his wife Iriana (R). Photo from chinadaily

The challenges in Asia and Africa are now seen as something that can be solved through economic cooperation. This is why the desire to further economic cooperation is mentioned during the 2015 commemoration and why China with its vast economic potential and its “Belt and Road” initiative is needed to play a crucial role in furthering the cooperation between the two developing continents.

As one of the leading metal suppliers, Shanghai Metal Corporation is expanding our business globally. Having collaborated with numerous companies around the world, we have truly learned the importance of having deep exchanges and cooperation with foreign countries. International cooperation brings mutual benefits when you identify shared aims and objectives and come to an agreement, it brings your project to another level. Shanghai Metal Corporation hopes that in the future the cooperation between the developing countries will bring more prosperity and leave the future generation with a much better world.

Sources : The Jakarta Post, Spyghana, Xinhua
Featured image : Voanews

Ayu P.//SMC Editor

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank & Shanghai Metal Corporation – Common Goal & Vision

We are pleased to share the latest news about China’s contribution in assisting developing countries in their sustainable growth.

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a multilateral development bank, proposed by the government of China, that has the mission to give assistance to financial needs to infrastructure projects in Asia region.

The signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding on Establishing Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Beijing
Photo from en.people.cn

The establishment of this bank is partly due to the huge infrastructure needs across the developing countries in Asia. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) estimates that Asia will need approximately 8$ trillion between 2010 and 2020 for energy, transportation, telecommunication and water/sanitation. Summing the investments from all existing institutions aren’t enough to reach that amount and the shortfall exceeds 700$ billion a year.

Photo from fastcompany

Other than its purpose as a funding institution, the AIIB is also a modern knowledge-based institution, focusing on the development of infrastructure and other productive sectors in Asia, such as energy & power, transportation & telecommunication, water supply & sanitation, etc.

Until the 2nd April 2015, almost all Asian countries and major countries outside Asia has joined the AIIB, except US, Japan, Canada and North Korea. Catherine Novelli, U.S. undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment, said that the administration generally supports the AIIB’s stated goals but has concerns over regulation and environmental issues. Other worries that the bank will help China to rival the US as the world’s economic power and in establishing its values in the world’s vision.

Photo from rt

According to Raj M. Desai, associate professor from Georgetown University, the participation of the US in the AIIB could encourage the Chinese to implement a transparent regime that adopts the world’s best practice in financing infrastructure. The President of World Bank, Jim Yong Kim, welcome AIIB and believes that the activities of a new organization can greatly help the massive need of investment in infrastructure.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) shakes hands with World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim during their meeting in Beijing, July 8, 2014.
Photo from reuters

As one of the world’s leading steel manufacturer, Shanghai Metal Corporation believes that sustainable growth improves the quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come. That’s why we put great efforts to meet the demand for steel in an eco-friendly way. We support AIIB’s mission and values in supporting Asia’s infrastructure project in a “lean, clean and green” way. We have faith that AIIB can help to support the growth of the developing countries and give them assistance in their infrastructure development.

Sources: theguardian, cnbc, washingtonpost, aiibank, wikipedia
Featured Image: nytimes

Ayu P.//SMC Editor

Shipping Industry Insights: Ports in Asia

China is popularly known as the leader of the world’s busiest ports since decades. It possesses an important number of ports that are located in different parts of the countries, the top ones are at Shanghai, Hong Kong and Shenzhen. It has been reported that each year import and export trade moving through the Port of Shanghai represents one-fourth of the value of China’s foreign trade. The importance of activities in the Port of Shanghai has been viewed as an opportunity to establish it as an international shipping center.

Port of Shanghai

Other Asian countries fills the top list of the world’s busiest cargo ports. Although the major parts of the list is composed by ports from different cities in China, we can observe a growth of activities in Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan. Check this website if you’re interested to see the complete list.

The Port of Singapore has one of the most spectacular number of trade transportation in the world. This year, it was named “Asia Container Port of the Year“, beating China. This phenomenon isn’t surprising at all. Having a limited natural resources, the country needed to exports products as a source of revenue to purchase natural resources and raw goods. As a consequence, it becomes one of the world’s largest exporter and importer.

Port of Singapore

To respond to the increase of international trade transportation, the technology of operating it has been improving. For example, more and more cargo are converted to container. The demand of “intermodal container” has been increasing since its efficiency allows the container to be moved from one mode of transportation to another without unloading and reloading the contents, reducing the cost of operation.

Graphic from BIMCO

The size of container ships is becoming increasingly larger over time with the increased uses of intermodal container.

If you are searching for a supplier of container or other shipping equipment, Shanghai Metal Corporation can help you. Our professional experts ensure only the best quality of products. If you have any question, feel free to contact us, our English speaking staffs will help you. Follow us on social media to have a better look on our products.

Credits to Wikipedia
Pictures from Google image.

Ayu P.//SMC editor

Coca Cola Saves Lives with Shipping Containers!

One of the world’s most valuable brands Coca-Cola is utilizing shipping containers in its corporate social responsibility program in developing countries within the bottom-of-the-pyramid (BoP) category. Together with Deka R&D and other major investors including UPS and IBM, the beverage company is installing container kiosks that will provide drinkable water for three billion people in the world that suffer from the lack of it.

These Ekocenters are to provide purified water for communities that have a limited access to safe drinking water. The modularly designed kiosk is made out of a 20 ft shipping container. The container is empowered with Slingshot technology that is responsible for the purification of water.

The kiosk is also meant to generate entrepreneurship in developing countries, especially among women. Along with these kiosks Coca-Cola has also launched their 5by20 program that aims to generate 5 million women entrepreneurs by the year 2020.

As discussed in our previous article about container shops, setting a container kiosk is a considerable business also in developed countries. Coca-Cola has redeveloped the concept and is now using the Ekocenters for offering locally tailored mix of products, services and resources that also include sustainable energy, wireless communications, refrigerated vaccination storage, health education, and other functionality to jump-start entrepreneurship opportunities and community development.

This CSR project begun in 2013 as Coca-Cola set up its first Ekocenter in South Africa. The company aims to install 1,500 to 2,000 Ekocenters by 2015 in Africa, Asia and the Latin and North America.

As shipping containers gain more ways of use, we in Shanghai Metal Corporation are also becoming happier in offering our international customers high-quality standardized shipping containers. For details about our large variety of products, please visit our website or just send us an inquiry and our English speaking staff will contact you. Meanwhile please remember to follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

#BuildingValueAcrossTheGlobe

Tuomas P. // SMC Editor

Pictures and original articles: Coca-Cola Company, Coca-Cola Company Press Release, Food and Beverage News, Designboom, 3BL Media, Expok News

The Architectural Embodiment of the New Asian Century

Architecture is often viewed as form of art and beauty used to illustrate humanities creativity and imagination in a physical form. It embodies the mood of an era and the limit of technological advancement.

However, power, prestige and wealth have always been illustrated through architecture. The cathedrals of Europe were always the tallest, largest and most beautiful buildings in the cities as at one time the Catholic Church was the most powerful institution in Europe. The modern world has seen religious power replaced with financial power and its symbols of importance and prestige are Skyscrapers.

Asia is developing at an incredible pace and soon the economy of China will surpass that of the USA. Not surprisingly Asia has also become the new capital for skyscraper construction as the continent illustrates its new found financial power in physical form. One must only look at the skylines of Hong Kong, Shanghai and Taipei to see that Asia is a rising financial power. As with all monuments a level of grandeur is expected and the nations of Asia have most certainly delivered.

Taipei 101, Jin Mao tower and PETRONAS Towers all show a beautiful mix of inspired Asian design along with a Western embodiment of power. Today the Majority of the 50 tallest building are in Asia and this trend shows no signs of slowing down.

Shanghai Metal Corporation is one of the leading suppliers of glass curtain walls which are required for the construction of modern skyscrapers. Making certain that the glass of these new buildings is fastened securely means that we can continue to marvel at Asias new architectural prowess with the confidence that it will stand the test of time.

To find out more, please visit our Website or send your inquiry here. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel. Or you could try our new mobile app by scanning our QR code.

Source: independent.co.uk, news/world, chinadailyasia.com, wgrz.com, globalpost.com, residences.mandarinoriental.com/taipei, 500px.com, tripadvisor.com

Jordan S.//SMC

Cheers To The Naked Greener Coke Can!

Imagine a time when we recycle all aluminum cans in the world. Now imagine a time when all aluminum cans are “greener” than they claim to be. That is what the Ryan Harc design studio had in mind when a Coca-Cola can was re-created without toxic paint that tends to sink into the metal.

Being a leader in the soft drink industry and having the US as the largest market, followed by Mexico and China, the Coca-Cola Company owns the most innovative marketing campaigns worldwide. We saw the latest marketing campaign launched in China, Coke Lyric bottle, and Chok, the so-claimed best marketing campaign in over 35 years released last year in Hong Kong, reaching the top of the local app downloads for iOS in a single day, 380,000 downloads in one month, and over 9 million total views for the television commercial.

Although seen as an innovative player in the marketing space the Coca-Cola Company has yet a lot to catch up on the sustainability side. It is true that the aluminum cans are 100% recyclable, but it does not mean that the cans are as green as they could be. The current design favoring flashy colors uses toxic ink that tends to seep into the metal. What the consumers don’t realize is that the memorable experiences promoted by the marketing efforts tag along the risks for their own health and the environment that surrounds them.

In an endeavor to address such an issue, the NY-based Design studio Ryan Harc created a colorless can design that will reduce the cost of recycling and pollution. At least elegant, the minimalist touch given to the Coke can uses a pressing machine to insert a convex logo as an alternative to the colorfully toxic sprayed can.

The gains in environment benefits when skipping painting are huge if looked from the right perspective. Based on Alcoa statistics for aluminum can recycling, over 112 billion aluminum beverage cans are sold per year in the USA alone. But before aluminum cans can be recycled, the coating that goes on the cans to make them more beautiful and appealing on the shelves must first be produced, which in other words means CO2 emission by thermal or chemical burn-off. According to a report examining the potential coatings market opportunity for soy-based products estimates that 33 million gallons of coatings are sold per year in the US (2007 data).

Although only present in the design studio, the colorless pressed cans could also become a real product along with last summer’s Coca-Cola’s refreshing Ice Bottle packaging. Introduced in Cartagena, Colombia, consumers were seen enjoying a bottle of Coke direct out of ice instead of plastic or glass bottles; very practical, innovative and eco-friendly Coke packaging as the Ice Bottle melts away right after use.

Shanghai Metal Corporation offers a wide range of aluminum sheet (aluminum plate) widely used in the manufacturing of Coke aluminum cans. To find out more about us, please visit our Website, WordPress, LinkedIn , Twitter , Facebook and Instagram. Or you could try our new mobile app by scanning our QR code. Moreover, we sell directly from Alibaba , EC21 and Tradekey.

#BuildingValueAcrossTheGlobe

Sources: gamification.co, trendhunter.com, psfk.com, treehugger.com

Pictures: bevreview.com, greenerpackage.com

Camilla G.//SMC Editor

Containers – The New Political Soapbox

The traditional soapbox has been proved outmoded this month – the must-have accessory for the modern politician in Pakistan seems to be the shipping container.

According to the BBC, even Imran Khan is said to have spent more than $120,000 (£70,000) on one. “These shipping containers that you have placed on all four sides are not enough to stop this ocean of people!” declared cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan at a rally on Tuesday night. He was addressing Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Originally, the Pakistani government strategically placed a number of shipping containers near political institutions, ready to be placed as a blockade for potential protesters. But party workers have discovered that containers make excellent stages for rallies, and they are now an indispensable item for any big political event.

To the endless interest of Pakistan’s media, they can also be converted into mobile homes. In January last year, ul-Qadri held a four-day sit-in in Islamabad. While his supporters were out on the street, he slept inside his customised container, fitted with heating and a bathroom.

It was later reported that Khan’s party had had a container converted at a cost of some 12.5m Pakistani rupees ($124,000; £75,000). It is equipped with meeting facilities, a bathroom, and a nifty spiral staircase leading to the roof – and is supposedly bomb-proof. See our previous articles regarding container homes and their increased popularity in the USA and Europe.

Shanghai Metal manufactures shipping containers. We are the leading manufacturer and supplier in China. From the acquisition of raw materials, packaging and exportation, SMC ensures only the best quality of products. By assigning professional experts at every stage of production, we ensure continuous support in our worldwide business. To find out more, please visit our website, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Or you could try our new mobile app by scanning our QR code.

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