Alcoa, Inc recently announced plans to separate its metal-mining business from upstream manufacturing and is stepping up efforts to close higher-cost smelting and refining capacity as a global glut batters the price of the metal. After spending $3.5 billion in the past two years buying companies to bolster its manufacturing capabilities, it’s seeing increasing profitability from segments that produce aluminum mill products for construction, aerospace and automotive customers.
Over the next 20 years, Boeing, Inc. is forecasting a need for 38,050 airplanes valued at more than $5.6 trillion dollars. This will keep Alcoa and the rest of the primary aluminum rolling mills busy pumping out 7075 T651, 7050 T7451, 2024 T351 and 2124 T851 aluminum plate to keep up this this demand.
Future Alloys stocks high strength 7000 series aluminum plate which is widely used beyond the aircraft/aerospace market. Some examples are high performance bicycle and motorcycle parts, sporting goods, motion picture equipment, firearms and even the latest generation iphone.
Aluminum 2024, 6061 and 7075 Plate and bar is used in a wide variety of applications due to a high strength to weight ratio compared with other metals.
Aluminum is corrosion resistant and and virtually maintenance free. It has good heat conductivity, and conducts electricity comparable to copper products. Aluminum is non-toxic and can be used in food preparation equipment. Aluminum’s reflective nature is suitable for light fixtures, and is non-combustible and so does not burn. Aluminum is also highly recyclable, making it a “green” choice for industrial designers.