28 07, 2012

Aluminum: The Hot New Beauty Treatment?

2017-01-26T23:37:31+00:00July 28th, 2012|

Aluminum has a softer side, and we’re not just talking about soda cans. Yes, we’ve talked a bit about buildings and cars recently, but how about something a little more feminine? Women (and men!) spend a LOT of money trying to maintain their youth – so much so that studies show that during a recession, even more money is spent on beauty products than usual.

Now that just might involve a bit of the aluminum industry. Straight out of Japan, you now have the aluminum mask that rejuvenates for your facial skin. Well, supposedly, anyway. From Gizmodo:

“To use it all you need to do is strap it to your face for a given length of time, and then sweat the wrinkles and blemishes away. Since aluminum doesn’t breathe, the mask basically traps a layer of high humidity around your face, which apparently is a good thing.”

While the idea of wearing an aluminum mask doesn’t sound as relaxing as a spa visit, who knows? This is, after all, the land that brought you the toilet-training tiger and robot cockroach. And it’ll only take $31 to try it out – less than a visit to a spa.

18 07, 2012

Uses Of Aluminum: Construction

2015-06-18T15:33:38+00:00July 18th, 2012|

For the everyday Joe, aluminum is probably only thought of in the commercial sense: soda cans, wrapping foil, etc. Our new Uses Of Aluminum series of posts will educate the reader on how widely aluminum is used throughout the world.

When it comes to construction, people often think steel. After all, steel is generally seen as the strongest metal — that’s why Superman is called the Man Of Steel, not the Man Of Copper. However, the construction industry is constantly evolving with the latest casting technology. That means a greater range of materials used for critical purposes, and aluminum is near the top of the list.

Bridges, buildings, homes, even oil rigs — aluminum is everywhere in our daily lives. Why is this? Aluminum’s low weight is a major selling point. Of course, low weight means nothing without other properties, and aluminum comes with the strength and durability necessary for use in a variety of situations.

Those situations include traditional uses such as frames, siding, and roofing. However, the construction industry is always pressing forward with new and innovative ideas, and with aging bridges and structures requiring renovation and reinforcement, aluminum’s many benefits make it a smart alternative to the materials of the past.

12 07, 2012

Solar Power Shines On Aluminum

2017-01-26T23:37:31+00:00July 12th, 2012|

It’s going to be in your cars. In fact, it’s already in your high-end electric car. However, aluminum’s going to do much more than get you from A to B in the future. Aluminum will help you power your homes and offices in a renewable way. That’s right, aluminum’s becoming a key component of global renewable energy focus – in particular, the solar industry.

The Tennessee Valley Authority, an energy provider for seven states, has overseen the installation of four solar plants using aluminum as part of the solar tracking system. This system requires stiffness and flexibility at a lightweight — and like everything else, needs to come at a manufacturing cost that fits the budget (or makes it better). Aluminum fits that bill perfectly.

Is this a trend that will continue? The solar industry continues to grow thanks to a greater cultural emphasis on green energy. After record industry numbers in 2011, the Solar Energy Industries Association is anticipating 35-50% more construction in 2012. It’s a great time to go solar, and it’s a better time to think about using aluminum for industrial purposes.

3 07, 2012

Tesla Goes All-In With Aluminum

2015-06-18T15:33:38+00:00July 3rd, 2012|

Last week, we told you about how the automotive industry is ramping up its use of aluminum for a new wave of chassis and doors. Tesla Motors, manufacturer of high-end electric cars, has leapt beyond the curve, shipping out the new aluminum-bodied electric 2012 Model S on June 22.

Tesla Motors has always stepped to its own beat when it comes to consumer cars (the company also says electric powertrain components within the industry), as its electric Roadster is far more powerful than other electric vehicles on the market. So it wasn’t that surprising when Tesla decided to swap out composite materials for aluminum in their new Sedan.

Why the change? Strength and safety were the key drivers, as they should be in any vehicle. After that, Tesla’s Franz von Holzausen cited manufacturing costs and efficiency, along with weight. The result is an electric vehicle that looks and performs like a Tesla, except it’s got an aluminum body beneath the bells and whistles. (And if you’re curious, the Model S’s design goal including the aluminum body is a 2012 five-star NHTSA safety rating.) As the car enthusiasts at Winding Road put it, “When we headed out onto the road, the sense of solidity in the body structure was impressive. The car feels as if it was carved from solid billet aluminum rather than assembled from pieces bolted or bonded together.”

Does the talk of a high-performance aluminum-body car get your motor revving? Check out the specs of the 2012 Model S at Tesla’s official site.

27 06, 2012

Auto Industry Sourcing More Aluminum For Body, Door

2015-06-18T15:33:38+00:00June 27th, 2012|

Fuel efficiency is on everyone’s mind these days. For consumers, that stems from the price at the gas pump, but for auto manufacturers, the guidelines proposed by the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards have engineers and scientists thinking forward. While a wide range of design and manufacturing options can impact fuel efficiency, car manufacturers are looking at replacing steel body frames and doors with aluminum.

Alcoa’s Randall Scheps recently spoke at the American Metal Market’s Aluminum Summit, noting that the auto industry’s aluminum demand was trending up — way up. “We have every car maker calling us, wanting to increase their aluminum content, wanting to start new R&D (research and development) projects about how they can convert bodies from steel to aluminum, wanting to convert hoods and doors from steel to aluminum.”

The CAFE goal is 54.5 MPG by 2025. Is that doable? As Scheps puts it, “It’s an unprecedented time in the aluminum industry, and car bodies are the next frontier.”

21 06, 2012

Taber’s Customized Capabilities Are Key

2015-06-18T15:33:38+00:00June 21st, 2012|

For us, the unique, customized capabilities are key. Taber Extrusions’ specialty is the manufacturing of complex and intricate extrusions which competitors consider difficult or even impossible. Our full range of extrusion presses, from 1800 and 3000 ton to large 8600 ton, give us unmatched flexibility and profile capabilities.

One of the largest extrusion presses in the United States, our 8600 ton press has the capability to extrude both 16 and 20 inch round billets, and 10” x 28” rectangular billets with a maximum circle size of 29-1/2” and up to 85 lbs. per foot. With the ability to extrude large, intricate configurations, such as lightweight but strong one-piece extrusions, the customer can incorporate whole assemblies of small components into one extruded part. This is just one example of our customized capabilities. Contact us for any questions!

14 06, 2012

Aluminum Demand Climbs in First Quarter

2017-01-26T23:37:31+00:00June 14th, 2012|

Did you know preliminary estimates of total aluminum demand in the United States and Canada for the first quarter totaled 5.8 million pounds? This is a 7.5 percent increase over the first quarter of 2011, according to the Aluminum Association, Arlington, Va.

Also, domestic aluminum production increased slightly in April after slipping in January and February from a two-year continuous upward momentum.

Read the full article here.

5 06, 2012

Aluminum Extrusions Mirror Creates Optical Illusions

2015-06-18T15:33:39+00:00June 5th, 2012|

According to Fast Co.Design, the small Spanish design studio MUT Design has created a mirror, Zig Zag, a series of octagonal aluminum extrusions faced on one side with a strip of mirror.

The extrusions are airbrushed in rusty oranges and muted blues, forming lovely gradients of colors “inspired by the favorite landscapes of the team.” They are then soldered together at varying widths and oblique angles, creating reflections that fracture and displace the user.

Read the full article.

30 05, 2012

Aluminum Extrusion Market Booming

2015-06-18T15:33:39+00:00May 30th, 2012|

According to Steel Guru, the aluminum extrusions market in the United Arab Emirates is booming, and is “estimated to be in excess of 175,000 tonnes about 35% of the total GCC demand growing at a CAGR of 8% to 9% for the time period from 2011 to 2017.”

Read the full article.

23 05, 2012

430 km/h Train Built with Aluminium Extrusions

2015-06-18T15:33:39+00:00May 23rd, 2012|

According to SteelGuru, an experimental high speed train designed for speeds up to 430 km/h was unveiled on May 17. The HEMU-430X (High Speed Electric Multiple-Unit 430 km/h eXperimental) has been developed with the aim of putting South Korea’s major cities within 1½ h of each other.

The use of high-strength aluminium extrusions offers a 5% weight reduction compared to KTX-Sancheon, and the body has improved sound insulation.

Read the full article.

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