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"The primary demand for increased consumption is expected to come from the power sector, where aluminium is a cheaper, lightweight substitute for copper in transmission and distribution, it said. Power distribution companies and government are planning investment of Rs. 4.3 lakh crore over the next five years to expand the transmission and distribution networ"

"One expert said it was a significant step because new lightweight materials could be used and produced to airline safety standards."

Two Japanese companies are working together to develop carbon fiber materials for use in cars, according to a Reuters report. Toray Industries (3402.T) and Mitsubishi Rayon (3404.T) hope to mass produce the lightweight material by 2010 in an effot to make vehicles 40% lighter and up to 30% more fuel efficient. They also intend to develop technology to recycle carbon fiberin order to bring costs down. For years, proponents of carbon fiber materials have supported its widespread use in vehicles, but the cost of the highly engineered materials was prohibitive. Now with gasoline and steel prices on the rise, carbon fiber is becoming more economically feasible. The Nikkei business daily reported that Nissan Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co. were participating in the partnership, along with Toyobo Takagi Seiko Corp and researchers from the University of Tokyo. However, both Nissan and Honda denied that they were participating in the project. A spokeswomam for Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization said teh government is also researching the further use of aluminum and other light-weight metals to replace steel.

Nanocomp Technologies, Inc. (www.nanocomptech.com), a developer of energy-saving performance materials and component products, today announced it has been awarded a Phase One contract by the United States Air Force under the Department of Defensebs Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The intent of this SBIR project is to develop a new generation of very lightweight, electrically conductive wires, cables and materials made from carbon nanotubes (CNTs).

Light weighting as a strategy to combat emission and mileage targets has carved a niche corner in automotive original equipment manufacturers' (OEMs') and supplier's research and development. Almost all OEMs have been working on ambitious weight reduction strategies to adhere to future regulations. Light weighting has a profound effect as a long-term strategy, as OEMs transit from making ICE-powered vehicles to battery electric and fuel-cell vehicles. Light weighting as a strategy has implications in other industries such as aviation and power generation. This market insight provides insights on the key factors such as emissions, mileage targets, emission test cycles, electrification, urbanization, and cost and their influence on OEM light weighting strategies.

The European Union (EU) adopted a directive in late October that will place a cap on greenhouse gas emissions from all flights arriving at or departing from EU airports, starting in 2012.

Could this cap underpin a drive toward lightweighting in aviation?

"Efforts to produce lighter vehicles necessarily include engine parts, such as the cylinder casing, which could shed up to 20 percent of its weight if it were made of fiber-reinforced plastic rather than aluminum - without added costs. Such injection-molded parts are even suitable for mass production."