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Alcoa launches design competition

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-03-31 16:37

Beijing - Alcoa China announced Wednesday the launch of "2011 Alcoa Design Competition for Sustainable Innovation" in collaboration with Beijing Industrial Design Center (BIDC). In celebration of 125th anniversary of Alcoa founder Charles Martin Hall's invention of modern aluminum technology, the competition aims to show how innovative applications of aluminum can make life better and more sustainable.

The 2011 Alcoa Design Competition for Sustainable Innovation invites design talents from China's colleges and universities, institutions and design organizations to submit innovative aluminum applications design in commercial transportation, consumer electronics, green building and construction, packaging design with the theme of sustainable development, other new creative concept design, and possible applications to other industries and substitution of existing materials.

The proposal idea source could be any of the following three (but not limited to): innovative application of the aluminum to substitute existing products of other materials, innovative application of materials in new industry and new products and renovated and innovative application of the materials used in part of or the entire product.

Due to its high strength, light weight, anti-corrosion, and infinitely recyclable properties, aluminum is one of the world's most sustainable materials. Aluminum can be recycled and reclaimed infinitely, and approximately 75% of the metal ever produced since 1888 still in use today. The recycling process requires 95 percent less energy than when producing aluminum from bauxite ore. And because it makes cars and trucks lighter and stronger, it helps reduce GHG emissions. During the submission period, experts from Alcoa China Technical Center will hold campus talks among domestic universities to introduce in-depth aluminum's environmental friendly features and applications.

The winners will be announced in September 2011 in Beijing. In addition to cash prizes, selected proposals may expect to be transferred to real products with the support of professional designers.

As Jinya Chen, Alcoa Asia Pacific President commented, "Alcoa's founder invented modern aluminum smelting process 125 years ago, and then led its industrialization. Alcoa innovation has been leading industrial sustainable development and has been behind major milestones in various markets over the past century. The competition extends this philosophy. We encourage designers find new ways to use aluminum, to help build green GDP, and find China's green economic solution."

Related readings:  US set to impose duties on aluminum  Privately owned aluminum firm seeks $900m IPO  Increased aluminum prices boost Chalco profit  China's demand for aluminum may grow slowly in next 20 years

Chen Dongliang, Vice Director of China Industrial Design Association and Director of Beijing Industrial Design Center (BIDC), Shauna Huang, Vice President of Alcoa China Corporate Affairs, Wen Xianjun, Deputy of the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association, and Professor Liu Guanzhong from the Academy of Arts and Design of Tsinghua University participated in the launching ceremony. Experts from the design, material and industrial fields discussed design innovation and material applications, and praised Alcoa's efforts to explore multiple wins and use its R&D advantages.

"The competition provides a great platform for talented designers to promote themselves, realize their dreams, and greatly promotes the innovative application of materials and the development of material industries," On behalf of Beijing Science & Technology Committee, Chen Dongliang expressed his appreciation to Alcoa China and stated, "Industrial design is an important means for China to transform its industrial structure and economic development mode. The research, development and application of new material, new technology and new processes have become the backbone of industrial design improvement. "Science and Technology plus design" , is a development mode not only reflecting needs from China's green economic development strategy, but also providing enterprises with a breakthrough solution for innovation."

The competition will also be part of Beijing's efforts in competing for the title of World Design Capital.