Aluminum sheet metal is a highly versatile type of metal sheet that may be used in various applications and industries. It has chemical and structural properties that make it highly desirable and useful among other metal sheet options. At Howard Precision Metals, we do not level coil in for 10,000 lbs order like many other distributors do, instead we put our sawing expertise to work on sheet products. What do you do when you need a .125” thick sheet product cut to +/-.005” tolerance? You call the experts in tight tolerance cutting. Today, with the numerous electronics applications there is a need for sheet metal to be cut into thousands of small pieces to precise tolerances. That is where Howard Precision Metals and their sawing experience comes in handy.
The production of aluminum sheet metal is carried out when aluminum material is pressed and rolled under high pressure. Aluminum sheets are generally lightweight but also possess sufficient strength to be useful in numerous industry applications. Aluminum metal sheet is exceptionally versatile and is easy to manufacture, making it among the most popular of the metal sheets available on the market.
Different coatings and surface finishing’s are also available for aluminum sheet metal.
Prior to purchasing aluminum metal sheet, it is important to know the important features that characterize this metal. Some of the most significant benefits of aluminum metal sheet are as follows:
Aluminum sheet is about 1/3 the weight of steel sheet, making it one of the lightest metal sheets on the market. This makes the sheet easy to handle and it also helps reduce the weight of structures when this is important for cost.
Corrosion is a problem in many environments and industry settings. Aluminum is one those materials that does not easily corrode. It takes exceptional aggressive corrosive forces to cause corrosion in aluminum sheet with some alloys having more corrosive resistance than others.
Although aluminum sheet metal is lightweight, it is also quite strong at the same time. Because of its strength, combined with its lightweight feature, it is highly useful in various industrial applications. It is a durable and cost-effective shape for handling forces and stresses produced in a number of structural applications.
The melting point of aluminum sheet meal is relatively low. As a result, it can be formed easily into various shapes when it is placed under a certain level of heat.
Aluminum metal sheet is ideal for use in food and chemical packaging. It does not react with many other materials too easily and therefore there is no concern for the aluminum sheet to negatively affect the food.
Aluminum sheet metal is ideal for applications involving lighting due to its reflectivity, which means it reflects light and heat away from its surface.
When exposed to fire, aluminum sheet metals are resistant to burning, with only a thin layer of the sheet metal becoming affected. Also, when exposed to intense heat, aluminum sheet metal does not emit toxic gas.
Aluminum sheet is also recyclable – this is one of the characteristics of aluminum sheet that is most recognized and used. Many aluminum metals in use today have been recycled.
You can choose aluminum sheet metal in various thicknesses and sizes as it comes in multiple dimensions.
Even though aluminum metal sheet offers a range of benefits, it is not very expensive when compared to many other metal options. However, its affordability does not diminish its quality and usefulness for a wide array of applications. Aluminum sheet metal is simply the ideal choice for many companies seeking a lightweight, yet strong and flexible metal.
Many times, the use of aluminum sheet will be based on the thickness of the metal chosen. Small scale applications tend to utilize thinner sheets of aluminum. This is where the subject of sheet metal gauge becomes important. The gauge of sheet metal allows you to know its thickness and whether it is ideal for your application.
As a highly versatile metal, aluminum sheet is used in a vast array of applications in numerous industries. The applications to which this form of aluminum is applied range from small and sensitive to large scale.
As a metal that is useful in so many industries, you can actually find this metal almost everywhere. It is commonly used for cookware and for packaging in the food and beverage industry. Aluminum sheet is also often used for the bodies and framing of motor vehicles. This metal sheet is also often used in the building and construction industry for items that include sidings, drains, and much more.
Aluminum metal sheet is also ideal for the purpose of manufacturing metal nameplates and other similar items. Aluminum sheets are used often for making motor vehicle number plates due to the fact they are available at a reasonable cost and are corrosion resistant, lightweight, and require minimal maintenance.
To learn how our team at Howard Precision Metals can supply you with the aluminum sheet metal you need for your applications, give us a call today at or send us a request for quote.
Aluminum plates are uniquely versatile and durable products with numerous applications and use in the modern era industry. Its structural, physical, and chemical properties made it one of the most popular metal sheet products globally. Aluminum sheets or plates result from pressing and rolling the raw form of aluminum into a panel form under particular pressure. These products’ manufacturing process has a unique design to make them thin and lightweight while providing sturdy characteristics to offer perfect versatility and ease of installation and maintenance.
Aluminum plates feature a range of extra coating on the surface that helps create a long-lasting material for use in an outdoor application or other challenging environments or building claddings. However, these products’ lightweight and thin characteristics make them ideal materials for everyday products such as food containers and drink cans that require high volume storage, retail, and transport.
There are various types of Aluminum plates in the market to buy for different projects. Knowing their classes can help customers to choose and buy the most efficient product for their demanding application. The followings are the most common aluminum plate systems that can be useful for industrial and construction projects.
Perforated aluminum plate’s primary usage is to create aesthetics for the area, particularly in the interior and exterior design works that require sun shades. These panels feature holes and other patterns to allow light to travel through them and provide a heartwarming vibe for both homes and workplaces. The manufacturing system of perforated panels is different from typical sheets that are available in the industry.
Aluminum composite panels, known as ACP or ACM panels, contain two fragile pieces of coated aluminum attached to the outside of the core material. They are perfect for cladding applications and building facades while being ideal for applications that require insulation and folding. Some experts call these products sandwich sheets, which are lighter than solid metal panels. They are straightforward to install and require low maintenance. Another advantage of these panels is that they can quickly receive cutting, bending, and other fabrication methods.
There is a process in the industry called anodizing, an electrochemical method for increasing the oxide layer’s thickness on the product’s surface. The process can only increase the corrosion resistance of the material, and it can also prime the panels to adhere better to the paint finish, dyes, glues, and other films.
The chequered plates are sheet metals with hatch marks on the side, which have a height of around 1.5 millimeters. These plates are also known as checker panels, tread plates, or five bar sheets or floor plates. They are sturdy and relatively thick to improve load-bearing and impact-resistance properties, ideally for exterior and interior areas with high foot and heavy wheel traffic.
Brushed aluminum sheets feature uniform patterns or light parallel scuffs and scratches present across a metal sheet’s surface to grant a unique finish. The brushed system is standard on all manner of internal fittings and fixtures. The main reason to buy this type of plate is its aesthetic characteristic which is popular due to its stylistic flourish and polished surface.
As the aluminum plates have handy and unique properties, their usage also varies and widespread to provide a complete application list. This section introduced some of the most common aluminum plate applications that are easy to find throughout the various everyday industry, construction sites, and designs.
Roofing: Aluminum plates are perfect for roofing projects due to their lightweight yet sturdy structure. Additionally, the anti-corrosion property of these plates increased the usage of larger panels for roofing applications.
Ceiling: Composite aluminum panels and Dibond are very often suitable for interior ceiling applications and large tiles. They offer a highly decorative and hard-wearing design due to their reflective, soft, and aesthetic appearance.
Balconies: Once again, thanks to the lightweight, waterproof and rigid characteristics of aluminum plates, their usage for balcony railings and fences is widespread.
Claddings and Facades: Aluminum composite panels are always the leading products for exterior claddings or facades, internal insulation, and other applications in a wide variety of commercial, residential, and industrial installations and buildings. Architects worldwide prefer to use these products in their designs due to their resistance, finishes, coats, and easy installing process characteristics.
High-Stress Applications: Medium strength structural alloys of aluminum sheets with excellent corrosion resistance are ideal for a range of force-intensive applications such as aerospace and automotive structures.
Shelters: Aluminum panels are efficient materials for constructing lightweight yet durable shelters and walkways in workplaces, public areas, and even private houses.
Floorings and Walls: Chequered aluminum sheets can provide anti-slip and damage-masking properties to be practical in high traffic areas. Additionally, decorative and perforated aluminum panels and walls are becoming popular as attractive, aesthetic, and easy cleaning fixtures in workplaces and homes.
Cable Sheathings: Cable metal sheathing commonly features aluminum foils and thin sheets due to their corrosion-resistant and easy treatment process and electrical properties.
Supports and Lifting Gears: Lightweight products in the lifting industry can increase productivity and reduce energy expenditure. Machines and devices that contain aluminum material in their structure are easier to transport to the construction area.
Caravans: Storages and accommodating construction often contain aluminum plates and sheets in their structure, making them lighter to haul and offers excellent resistance to weather conditions in areas with high exposure to different damaging factors.