The Stained Glass Industry Needs Copper Foil

The art of stained glass as existed since the Antiquity. One of the most famous and ancient usage of copper for artistic glass was done by the Egyptian. The glass craftsmen of Ancient Egypt use copper to give a bright and beautiful green and blue tone to the pieces.

During the 19^th and 20^th century that copper was added to the work pieces of religious glass art.  To obtain a dark red, crimson like effect very high concentrated copper was including in the glass staining process. This process allowed the early Christian glass stained craftsmen to perform their art in order to create the masterpieces of their time.

Nowadays, artisans, artists and craftsmen of stained glass use a different kind of copper to embellish their pieces. Copper foil tape is now applied directly to the glass, allowing artists to get more flexibility in the shape and taint of the material. Indeed, by changing the chemical composition of the alloy, the copper’s color can go from a pale grayish tone to a dark crimson red.

 

As an international manufacturer and supplier for copper foil and copper foil tape, Shanghai Metal Corporation produces its products to fit your specific copper requirements. To find out more, please visit our Website or send your inquiry here. Our English speaking personnel will be more than pleased to help you. 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.

    

Sources : Substances Used in the Making of Coloured Glass 1st.glassman.com (David M Issitt). Retrieved 3 August 2006

Photos from Google Image

Nicolas D.//SMC Editor

 

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Food Trucks Industry Switching from Cheeseburgers and Fries to Lettuce Wraps and Kale Chips

Food truck vendors started to gain popularity in the United States around 2008, when citizens had to cut back on spending due to the economic downturn. Entrepreneurs saw this change in consumer preferences as a way to provide unique cuisine options to people at their convenience. Fast-forward five years, now there are many vendors in the marketplace and capturing the audience’s attention is becoming tougher than ever before. Now-a-days consumers are more cautious about the health benefits of the food they are putting in their body and, at the same time, are spending more and more time using technology to interact with the world around them. That is where unique marketing strategies by vendors come into play.

Many cities around in the US host a weekly event where food truck vendors gather at one location from lunch until early dinner. The event, called Food Truck Roundup, takes place at different lots across the city each week to attract customers from different areas.

It is not difficult to get started in the food truck industry but differentiating yourself from the masses of other trucks lined up downtown during peak lunch hours is a different story. Many food trucks are pertaining to healthy eating lifestyles by offering food catered to those who are vegan or vegetarian. Imaner Consultants, an ethical organization who specialize in vegan website involvement, calculated that 95 percent of vegans go out of their way to buy foods from ethical companies. The group also discovered that 96 percent of vegans use the internet as a way of locating vegan products. Some food trucks have taken these statistics into consideration and work to enhance the social responsibility of their trucks and portraying their vision on social media sites. When catering to vegans, vendors consider not only the type of produce they use when preparing each dish but also the type of fuel used in their trucks and the types of packaging and utensils used to eat the organic dishes.

The Cinnamon Snail, based out of New York, New York, won Mobile Cuisine’s 2013 Vegetarian/Vegan Food Truck of the Year. The truck is known for its assorted pastries and desserts, soups, salads, and burgers.

Aluminum foil is used by many trucks as a way to serve hand held meals like sandwiches and wraps. The foil is not only an easy clean up for guests but its recyclable capabilities cater to those concerned with preserving the earth. Vendors see it as a way to get the food to customers quicker and using foil doesn’t require any extra packaging material. It is a cost effective way to ensure the food inside stays the same temperature from the time it comes off the grill to the time the consumer opens it up to enjoy. Shanghai Metal Corporation offers a wide array of aluminum foil for packaging. To read more detail on the types of foil we offer be sure to check out our website here. Be sure to join the conversation in our LinkedIn Group, Facebook, and Twitter.

Sources: IBISWorld, Imaner Consultants, mobile-cuisine.com

By: Kristie Kaaa / SMC Editor

Chocolate Bar Industry Trends Are Volatile While Aluminum Foil Industry Remains Steady

Chocolate bars were the first product to be wrapped in aluminum foil in 1910 by the Nestle Company and the trend caught on like wild fire. Fast forward more than 100 years, the candy industry in the United States has had its ups and downs. Chocolate and candy consumption has followed the movements in the economic cycle; decreasing when money is tight during a recession and increase when consumers have more disposable income during periods of expansion. At the current state of the US economy, chocolate consumption is growing because people are more willing and able to spend their money on indulgences but in order for candy companies to stay afloat, they will need to adjust to consumers changing tastes and buying habits.

There are a few barriers in the chocolate bar industry. First, leading producers in this industry collectively account for an estimated 67.7 percent of industry revenue. This stronghold on market power makes it difficult for small companies to enter the market. Mergers and acquisitions are becoming more common, adding to the muscle of the few. Second, Americans are showing growing health concerns shifting demand for white and milk chocolate to healthier alternatives such as reduced-fat, dark, and organic chocolate. Lastly, the price of sugar is expended to increase later in the year, posing a threat to the industry. Large firms will be able to pass the cost increase on to consumers but many small chocolate shops will not have the ability to do so.

While health trends have hampered demand for industry products, producers responded quickly by introducing new products that appeal to health-conscious Americans.

Luckily the aluminum foil industry has been less volatile than the chocolate bar industry. As producers become more creative with their packaging techniques, aluminum foil for flexible packaging has expanded into goods with steady demand indicators. Consumers are now looking for their food and beverage products to be transportable, convenient, and lightweight to accommodate their on the go lifestyles. Shanghai Metal Corporation offers a wide array of aluminum foil for flexible packaging options, for the full line of products visit our website here.

Be sure to join the discussion in SMC’s Linkedin group page, Facebook, and Aluminum specific twitter.

Kristie K.//SMC Editor