29 08, 2012

Uses Of Aluminum: Consumer Products

2017-01-26T23:37:31+00:00August 29th, 2012|

We’ve talked a lot lately about industrial uses of aluminum – cars, bridges, construction, etc. But what about those day-to-day products that make a direct impact on your life?

Let’s get the obvious ones out of the way: soda cans. The aluminum industry makes countless soda cans, and thankfully, many of those are recycled. Aluminum foil is also a kitchen stable, and that’s one of the industry’s key drivers. Similarly, aluminum cooking pans – used for catering, baking, or shaping yummy treats like cupcakes – are also commonly known as aluminum consumer products.

But sometimes, it’s not quite as obvious. Take a peek into your garage and you’ll find aluminum products all around. See that metal ladder? There’s a good chance that’s aluminum – its strength and light weight make it ideal to carry around when hard-to-reach places need to be fixed. The frame for that gas grill? Also probably aluminum. And don’t forget that aluminum baseball bat (yes, we know it doesn’t sound as good as a ball hitting a wood bat – tradition still stands).

Aluminum’s also in computers, from the chassis to parts within hardware, along with other sporting goods such as lacrosse sticks, scooters, and bikes. Would the world fall apart without aluminum? Maybe not so, but it’d be a lot less fun – and a lot harder to cook.

24 08, 2012

Aluminum As Art And Safety – At The Same Time

2017-01-26T23:37:31+00:00August 24th, 2012|

Here’s one unconventional use of aluminum for you – New York University’s famous Elmer Holmes Bobst Library atrium had a recent addition of special aluminum screens to its 150-foot-high staircases and surrounding balconies. Designed and installed by noted architect Joel Sanders, the aluminum screens were created based on an inspiration from old-school computer graphics. The result is a stunning look that blends the shine of golden sheets while also looking pixelated.

Of course, their visual appeal hides their true purpose: to save lives.

As a 150-foot-high structure with a large open space, the unthinkable has happened in the course of the Bobst Library’s history. In the past decade, several students have used the library’s large height to commit suicide. The new aluminum screens act as a barrier to prevent access for suicide jumpers.

“You really don’t lose the visual qualities of the original atrium,” says Andrew T. Repoli, a director of construction management at New York University. “This is almost like a beautiful piece of lace that’s been stretched taut against the balcony slabs.”

For more on NYU’s innovative new use of aluminum, visit the City Room Blog at the New York Times.

10 08, 2012

The Most Earth-Friendly Metal

2015-06-18T15:33:38+00:00August 10th, 2012|

Take a look around – whether you’re at home or at work, there’s a good chance you’ve got aluminum in your view. From door frames to support structures to everyday knick-knacks, aluminum is everywhere.

But did you know that there’s a really good chance that the aluminum around you used to be something else? That’s right, your door frame has some, if not all, old soda cans and other recycled aluminum in it. Don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it sounds – and it doesn’t mean that your stuff will smell like Mountain Dew. In fact aluminum recycling’s been around since the early 1900s – and it’s not just from soda cans. Anything from siding to wire to computers can be recycled, so much so that about one-third of American-produced aluminum stemmed from recycled materials over the past five years.

Why is aluminum so recycle-friendly? Part of it is material science – its properties don’t break down during the recycle process. It also uses far less energy to recycle aluminum than to create new materials, which makes it good for the environment and good for industry.  In fact, if you’re thinking big picture, recycled aluminum even benefits the economy, as the smaller contributions to landfills mean fewer resources go to creating and managing those spaces.

3 08, 2012

Aluminum: Built Ford Tough

2017-01-26T23:37:31+00:00August 3rd, 2012|

A few weeks ago, we told you how the auto industry has begun looking at aluminum for use in its manufacturing – specifically, as a lighter replacement for steel.

Tesla may have hit the market first, but Ford is looking at a change that will represent a bit of a culture shift for its customer base – building the bestselling Ford F-150 truck mostly out of aluminum. From the Wall Street Journal:

“The radical redesign will help meet tougher federal fuel-economy targets now starting to have wide-ranging effects on Detroit’s auto makers. But Ford will have to overcome a host of manufacturing obstacles, plus convince die-hard pickup buyers that aluminum is as tough as steel.”

The change to aluminum will trim about 15% of the truck’s weight – 700 or so pounds – to help it achieve better gas mileage. It’s hard to get into the strength debate in simplistic terms, since treatment and other material properties affect just how “tough” aluminum and steel really are. For a good breakdown, check out this article from yacht designer Michael Kasten.

Aluminum is the future of the automotive industry, and its acceptance really comes down to educating the consumer about its strength and safety properties.  In summary, Kasten puts it this way:

“As we will see, the issues of strength are tipped somewhat in favor of aluminum, mostly for the reason of its lighter weight.  Being much lighter, aluminum will permit a more robust structure within any given weight budget.”

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.

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.

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.

1 02, 2012

The Solar-Powered Recycling Robot

2015-06-18T15:33:39+00:00February 1st, 2012|

Recycling aluminum has become fun with the solar-powered recycling robot, Dr. R.E. Cycler, that crushes aluminum beverage cans to prep them for recycling.

The robot, whose full name is Dr. Robotic Environmentalist Cycler, is the latest creation of Florida Robotics, a company that makes entertainment and promotional robots to sell in the U.S. and 30 other countries.

To see the Dr. R.E. Cycler in action, people place a can in his mouth and watch through his clear chest and belly as the can gets crushed. The robot crushes a standard 12-ounce aluminum can to less than one inch in size in seconds.

Click here to read the Earth911 article and watch a video of Dr. R.E. Cycler in action.

24 01, 2012

Hybrid Cars: A lesson in construction efficiency

2017-01-26T23:37:31+00:00January 24th, 2012|

According to a recent article, in Metal Center News, consumers are shifting to hybrid cars because they are more fuel-efficient, and because the use of aluminum in their construction makes the cars lighter.

The article projects growth through 2025 given consumer preference and the upcoming federal CAFE regulations that will vastly increase the miles-per-gallon requirements and CO2 emissions restrictions of all North American light vehicles.

Click here to read the original article and learn more about the use of aluminum for hybrid cars.

3 01, 2012

Nuggets of Truth: One Manufacturer Highlights the Management of her Extrusions Business

2017-01-26T23:37:31+00:00January 3rd, 2012|

At Taber, we pride ourselves on being American made. As a recent article states, competition in foreign markets (China and Mexico) is always a constant consideration and choosing to remain an American made extrusion company is mark of our resilience and dedication to American innovation.

As we kick of 2012 we wanted to touch upon a recent article which features fellow American made manufacturer, Stacy Wilson of MillworX Precision Machining, who was recently interviewed regarding the ebb and flow of her company. Her responses resonated with our American made message and as such we wanted to share some nuggets of that piece that are in line with our mission at Taber.

Like MillworX Precision Machining, Taber believes that the best days are “when the customer is satisfied” and as such, we strive to offer products that go above and beyond traditional extrusion offerings. Another great point shared by Wilson is that, “To be a top-graded manufacturer you have to have a 100 percent performance record.” At Taber we pride ourselves on excellent customer service and internal performance- giving each and every client the best product possible. Lastly, we take the utmost pride in the fact that we “make complicated parts every day, that have to be touched by a lot of people.” Our teams of skilled experts are the integral facets of our business and our products celebrate their talent and skill everyday in the marketplace.

CLICK HERE to read the original article and learn more about American made extrusion companies.

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