Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get easy-to-read aluminum information delivered to your inbox

Find aluminum news and trends in newsletters that focus on your business interests in aluminum metal. Newsletters provide a concise source of information on a daily, weekly or monthly basis and offer insight into changes that affect your aluminum supply, cost and uses.

I recommend: SECO/WARWICK provides insightful aluminum information including industry events, news and case studies. Magnode's online newsletter, The Extrusion Press, focuses on aluminum production and extrusion.

Find current aluminum news and trends that focus on your business interests

Magazines provide more in-depth information than newsletters, giving your business a better perspective on aluminum trends. Many industry magazines are free to industry professionals and range from complete industry coverage down to specific areas such as extrusion or mining.

I recommend: Aluminum World covers the aluminum industry from the mine to the final product. For aluminum information and other light metal resources, look to Light Metal Age. American Metal Market covers aluminum industry news, including up-to-date coverage of aluminum prices.

Make industry contacts and get the latest aluminum information with industry assocations

Aluminum industry associations put you in touch with the professionals and their insight on aluminum news and trends. Aluminum industry associations provide leadership within the industry to promote the use and health of aluminum-based businesses.

I recommend: The Aluminum Association offers news, publications and research reports in addition to hosting events and lobbying for the aluminum industry. National Mining Association (NMA) assists aluminum and other metal mining operations by providing a voice in Washington for the mining industry and offering publications on the industry.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Free industry journals supported by an aluminum distributor, manufacturer or supplier may be heavily biased. Ensure the source of your aluminum news and trends delivers reliable information.
• •  Aluminum industry information is readily available at sponsored events that bring industry experts and professionals together to discuss industry changes, innovations and problems. Keynote sessions and the exposition floor help you keep up and offer new networking opportunities at the same time.

Guide to Aluminum Manufacturers

Aluminum information for your small business

By Betsy D. Vanderslice, Freelance

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find aluminum manufacturers and distributors knowledgeable about the uses and properties of aluminum

It is better to ask a professional if you are in doubt about exactly what size aluminum you need for a job. Find an aluminum distributor with an experienced staff willing to help you find precisely what you need.

I recommend: You can request a quote from Metal Supermarkets. Work with a representative if you are not sure what you need for your project. Watteredge Metals has hard to find metals and an experienced engineering staff to assist you with design and application.

Customize your aluminum products to avoid waste

Tailor your aluminum order to your specific needs to improve yield, increase production speeds and reduce downtime. Find an aluminum manufacturer willing to work with you. If possible, find one with no minimum order requirement to save money and reduce waste.

I recommend: United Aluminum custom rolls aluminum to meet your needs. Request a quote from Southern Tool Steel for custom orders cut to size. There is no minimum order requirement.

Contact an aluminum warehouse or wholesaler for the best deals

When you know what you want, it is important that you get it at the cheapest price possible. A metal wholesaler is a great way to save money. Some offer custom cutting and no minimum order, while others stock hard to find measurements.

I recommend: Speedy Metals stocks over 5,000 items, including aluminum, and will custom cut to any length with no cutting charges and no minimums. Parker Steel is the only steel distributor in the United States that stocks exclusively metric dimensional metals. They have a small minimum order of $85 and can usually ship your order in the same day.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Recycled aluminum makes up about 25% of the total amount of aluminum used worldwide. Don't forget to recycle the scraps from your job. You can make a little extra money and help reduce the energy used for production of new aluminum.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Make sure to buy aluminum with different performance capabilities

Buy aluminum alloy and other aluminum metal that can withstand environmental changes and is equipped to handle industrial applications.

I recommend: Aluminum distributor Watteredge Metals sells aluminum sheets and plates capable of withstanding various temperatures, as well as metal fabrication, leveling, heat treating, waterjet cutting and plating applications. United Aluminum manufactures brand-name coils to be used for annealing, slitting and brazing purposes. Mandel Metals handles conversion coating, shearing, leveling and sawing of aluminum. The company markets prime and surplus aluminum to the aerospace and commercial industries.

Find a certified aluminum distributor or manufacturer

Shop for quality aluminum products to add to the effectiveness of your projects or products.

I recommend: ISO-certified All Foils includes aluminum foils, strips and sheets among its inventory. AS- and ISO-certified Yarde Metals stocks aluminum sheet metal in various shapes and sizes. RoHS-compliant Custom Aluminum Products manufactures aluminum for commercial and industrial purposes.

Recycle any leftover aluminum and help save the environment

Aluminum has become one of the most recycled metals. Locate recycling services that work with aluminum products, and other scraps and metals.

I recommend: C & M Metals offers aluminum and other scrap metal recycling services for consumers as well as manufacturers. B & G Iron & Metals provides full-service recycling of metals such as copper, stainless steel, brass and aluminum. Metal Recycling Consultants offers assistance to businesses interested in starting recycling services of scrap metals such as aluminum.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Aluminum and aluminum products must also meet standards and specifications assigned by the Unified Numbering System (UNS), the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the American Iron and Steel Institute (ASI).

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Alumina

Alumina is an aluminum oxide. It is produced from bauxite via a complex chemical process and is white and powdery, bearing a resemblance to granulated sugar. While alumina is considered to be an intermediate step when producing aluminum from bauxite, it is also considered to be an important and valuable chemical all on its own.

I recommend: Facts, information and pictures with regard to alumina can be found at Britannica.com.

Machinability

Machinability describes the ease with which a metal is able to be worked with by machine tools. For example, aluminum is believed to have a good machinability and can be processed and worked with by machines fairly easily.

I recommend: The machinability of aluminum is explored in detail at Secat.net.

Reflectivity

Reflectivity describes the ability of a surface, such as metal or aluminum, to reflect light, as well as other electromagnetic radiations. Aluminum has been proven to have a high reflectivity. For visible light, it has an 80% reflectivity and for infrared radiation aluminum has a 90% reflectivity.

I recommend: The improved reflectivity of aluminum mirrors is discussed at PGO-online.com.

Thermal conductivity

Thermal conductivity describes a material's ability to transmit heat through itself. It also describes the material's ability to do so through direct contact with other materials and substances. Widely used in cookware, radiators and other heat exchange operations, aluminum has a good level of thermal conductivity.

I recommend: The thermal conductivity of aluminum, as well as some other common metals, is explored and explained at EngineeringToolBox.com.

Deburring

Deburring occurs when burrs, sharp edges and fins are removed from metal parts and pieces, such as aluminum pieces, via filing, grinding or tumbling.

I recommend: Ideas and concepts for deburring aluminum are discussed at Finishing.com.

Annealing

Annealing is a thermal treatment. The overall goal of annealing is to soften the metal. For instance, with aluminum, this is performed by removing all of the metals stress which might result from either cold working or coalescing precipitates from a solid solution.

I recommend: Specifics regarding the annealing of aluminum are discussed at KeyToMetals.com.