Which industries benefit from aluminum the most?
- Building and construction
- Automotive
- Aerospace
- Food and beverage canning
Aluminum, as a material, is integral to our modern life. This versatile material can be found in almost everything, from beverage cans to aircraft to window frames made from aluminum profiles in the Philippines. When it comes to its variety of uses, no other metal can come close to aluminum.
Professionals and experts in different industries consider aluminum as their top choice of metal for different kinds of manufacturing purposes. In fact, there are even uses for aluminum that might not be immediately obvious at first; for instance, did you know that aluminum is a key part of glass manufacturing?
The reason that aluminum is widely used in all kinds of industries is due in part to its high strength, low density, and corrosion-resistant properties. Aluminum is also non-toxic which makes it perfect for almost any application that involves the packaging of food items. In addition to these, here are the top four industries that benefit from aluminum the most:
Building and Construction
The 1920s first saw aluminum being widely used for construction and building purposes. The applications then were primarily focused on art deco structures and decorative detailing. The breakthrough, however, came in 1930 as the builders of the Empire State Building in New York City chose to use aluminum for the major structures within it such as the famous spire as well as the interior structures.
Today, aluminum is considered one of the most sustainable and energy-efficient construction materials. It is estimated that the amount of recycled content in aluminum building materials used today is somewhere between 50 and 85 percent. Certain LEED-certified buildings that are intensely focused on aluminum have won numerous awards for sustainability all over the world for it.
Aluminum structures can weigh up to 35 to 65 percent less than steel while providing the same amount of strength. In other words, any modern skyscraper would be impossible to build without the use of this metal.
Automotive
Simply put, aluminum builds a better vehicle. The use of aluminum in various automotive and commercial vehicles continues to grow because it offers the safest, fastest, and most cost-effective and environmentally-friendly way to increase the performance of the product.
Aluminum does all of these while also reducing emissions and boosting fuel economy which maintains and even improves the durability and safety of the vehicle. Thanks to its environmental advantages, aluminum is increasingly becoming the “material of choice” for various automakers, from mass-market vehicles like the Ford F-150 to luxury cars such as Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi.
The benefits of aluminum in the transportation industry have also been demonstrated by the Aluminum Associations’ Aluminum Transport Group or ATG through research programs and related outreach activities.
Aerospace
Did you know that the advancement of rocket and aircraft technology can be directly tied to the advancement and production of aluminum alloys? Aluminum has always created the potential for mankind to fly both around the earth and into outer space—from the Wright Brothers’ use of aluminum in the engine of the first airplane to the use of an aluminum-lithium alloy in the new Orion spacecraft of NASA.
By weight, the airframe of an average modern commercial transport aircraft is composed of 80 percent aluminum. For the other parts of commercial airliners and military cargo or transport aircraft such as the wings, fuselage, and supporting structures, aluminum alloys are the preferred choice.
For space structures of all types, aluminum has always been the overwhelming choice ever since the launch of the Sputnik more than 50 years ago. Aluminum has also been used on the Apollo spacecraft, the Skylab, the space shuttles, and the International Space Station because of its ability to withstand the stresses that occur during launch and operation in space and its lightweight.
Food and Beverage Canning
Many of your favorite beverages are probably found under a pull tab or a screw top which is why aluminum cans hold a special place in the hearts of the people. The use of aluminum cans was first pioneered by Coors in 1959, and from then on, it has been increasingly used by other beverages such as sodas, sparkling waters, energy drinks, and even craft brew beers.
Because they are infinitely recyclable, aluminum cans are one of the most sustainable beverage packages. They can chill the contents quickly, provide a better metal canvas for printing, and perhaps most importantly, protect the integrity and the flavor of your favorite drinks!
Aluminum cans can provide long-term food quality preservation benefits because they can offer 100 percent protection against light, moisture, oxygen, and other contaminants. They are resistant to corrosion and do not rust which means they have one of the longest shelf lives of any type of packaging.
Key Takeaway
As technology continues to advance, expect to see the diversification of aluminum in many other industries besides the ones that have been mentioned here.
The importance of aluminum profiles in the Philippines and all around the world is steadily growing, so make sure that all of your demands are going to be satisfied by a trusted supplier.