Aluminum Profiles: Common and Less Known Applications

When people are asked what aluminum profiles can be used for, most think of large-scale and ambitious projects in architecture and possibly transportation — this is true. However, this list is far from complete. This article prepared by BK-ALPROF explores numerous applications of aluminum extruded profiles.

Here are areas where you're most likely to encounter this material:

• manufacturing,
• consumer electronics,
• aerospace industry,
• sports equipment, and
• commercial and residential architecture.

From the house you live in to the laptop you are reading this on, aluminum profiles and similar products are everywhere. This is explained by the excellent strength-to-weight ratio of the material, which is important in conditions where every pound matters. However, in other applications, other properties of the metal such as its ability to conduct heat and resist corrosion can be the main reason for choosing this material.

Industry and Transportation

When it comes to moving heavy loads at low cost, aluminum profiles are unmatched. The most obvious examples include airplanes and spacecraft, but the material is also widely used in automotive manufacturing. A common example that may not come to mind first is trailers and diesel-powered homes on wheels, where reducing overall weight is important.

Construction, Architecture and Design

Aluminum extrusion into various shapes allows for maximum use of its high ductility. Although the task requires certain precision and smart technological solutions to ensure stability, it creates relatively accessible products capable of meeting many consumer needs at once.

Strength

First and foremost, aluminum provides strength. It allows structures to withstand wind and other external conditions while being simple and inexpensive to maintain. Fences and columns, window and hatch frames, greenhouses, canopies, and arched structures can be made from aluminum extruded profiles. The material has long become the primary metal for constructing commercial buildings and educational institutions such as schools.

Cost Efficiency

Aluminum profiles come into play where economic efficiency is key. Projects that must be completed as quickly as possible to minimize downtime but require high reliability almost inevitably include this material. Replacement and retrofitting of important bridges is a very common case: significant downtime reduction can be achieved without compromising safety and capacity by using quality aluminum extruded profiles. This is also one of the main ways to reduce electricity consumption.

Home Appliances and Electronics

Name a common household item today, and there's a high probability it contains or is based on aluminum extruded profiles. For example, condenser coils in refrigerators are manufactured using profiled aluminum. The same material is often found in offices and homes since it's part of modern furniture and interior solutions such as partitions.

When you need an assembly that is easy to configure and assemble, such as retail displays or screens, aluminum profiles are a great choice. They are also used to support important devices such as solar panels and lighting solutions, particularly in the form of fins that help manage temperature as part of LED fixtures.

Great Potential

Aluminum profiles are one of the main materials people from various industries turn to when solving design tasks, and for good reason. Covering all possible applications of profiled aluminum would be too ambitious a task for a short article. If you can think of other uses for profiled aluminum, please share your thoughts in the comments. Let's learn from each other based on unique experience and observations.