Aluminium Manufacturing

Extruded aluminium components play a key role in a huge variety of applications, and offer a range of advantages:

Strong and ductile
Aluminium profiles and components offer good strength to weight ratio, as well as increased strength in cold environments. An extremely ductile metal, aluminium is a good choice for structural components. Its strength to weight ratio makes it an essential component in a range of transportation applications, such as planes, trains and cars.

Malleable
Aluminium is the second most malleable metal, offering high levels of design freedom and making it relatively easy and cheap to process. We are able to extrude aluminium into a variety of bespoke shapes, including complex cross sections, and can machine it in a number of ways, including precise and close tolerance machining, and near-net shape production.

Conductive
An excellent conductor of heat and electricity, aluminium is often used in electrical applications, such as powerlines and conductors, and for thermal reasons in items like radiators and car parts. Combined with its relatively light weight, aluminium's conductivity makes it a good choice for energy transfer applications.

Corrosion resistant
Aluminium forms a thin, dense and self-repairing layer of oxide when in contact with air, giving excellent protection against corrosion. Anodising thickens the oxide layer, enhancing this natural defence. Aluminium is ideal for use in outdoor, urban and industrial settings, reducing maintenance costs and preserving the quality of outward appearances.

Non-magnetic
Because aluminium is a non-magnetic metal, it’s well suited to use in high-voltage applications, as well as in electronics and sensitive magnetic devices. It is often used in magnet x-ray devices, for example, in order to avoid interference with magnetic fields.

Recyclable
Aluminium can be recycled time and again without losing any of its intrinsic qualities. Combined with its relatively low energy requirements during manufacture and its low weight, aluminium is ideal for environmentally responsible applications.

Non-toxic
After oxygen and silicon, aluminium is the most common element in the Earth’s crust. Aluminium compounds also occur naturally in our food. Aluminium is widely used in environments where food is made and prepared, in food and beverage packaging, and in a range of household applications.

Suitable for finishing
Already attractive in appearance and varied in application, aluminium alloys respond well to a huge range of surface treatments and finishes that enhance the metal’s intrinsic qualities, such as anodising for corrosion resistance, and polishing, burnishing and powder coating for decorative purposes.

Diverse
With eight families of alloys in total, aluminium is suited to extremely diverse applications. Add to this the wealth of ways that aluminium can be treated, machined and worked, and you have a versatile material that can cater to a range of highly specific functional requirements.

Reflective
Aluminium is a good reflector of both visible light (around 80%) and radiated heat (95%). Highly polished aluminium can be used to shield products or areas from light, radio waves, and infrared radiation, making it suitable for a huge variety of industrial, commercial and medical applications.

Non-combustible, non-sparking
Aluminium doesn’t emit sparks, making it an appropriate choice for use in settings where explosive or highly flammable materials are present. Likewise, aluminium is non-combustible: it doesn’t burn, even when exposed to extremely high temperatures, and does not produce toxic fumes.

Seamless
Aluminium can be extruded into intricate, one-piece shapes and cross-sections, minimising the need for mechanical joining methods. Combined with high tensile strength and ductility, the lack of seams makes them less likely to weaken, loosen or break due to repeated use.