Aluminum Manufacturers

Aluminum information for your small business
By Betsy D. Vanderslice, Freelance Aluminum has become a vital tool in many industries because of its corrosion resistance. You can find aluminum products everywhere, from automobiles and buildings to cookware and soda cans. As a small business owner, it is important that you have all the aluminum information at your fingertips from aluminum prices to the best dealers of aluminum metal.

If you use aluminum metal in your small business, keep these facts in mind before you buy:

1. Man has used other metals for thousands of years but aluminum has only been available commercially since 1854.

2. Aluminum is strong, light and malleable, making it perfect for a variety of jobs because you can customize it.

3. You can find an aluminum supplier in your neighborhood or on the Internet.

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.
Try:  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.
Try:  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.
Try:  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.

• 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.