Aluminium is one of the most widely used metals for manufacturing end-use products. From water vessels to the railway, window frames to spacecraft components, or electronic appliances to beverage cans, aluminium applications in the end-user sector know no bounds. With every passing year, the use of aluminium in end-use products is seeing a significant rise to match a unique level of innovation. Low density, lightweight, corrosion resistant, and high thermal conductivity are some of the prime properties responsible for the growing use of aluminium, but what makes the silvery-white metal popular is its 100% recyclability, which saves carbon emissions and induces a circular economy.
The end-user sector is where aluminium billets, sheets, foils, extrusions and other downstream products are used to create consumer-friendly items suitable for the retail market. The industries like transportation, electronics, building and construction, packaging, and defence have dearly embraced aluminium and making an innovative use of the metal. Let us find some of them in this article.
Electronics is one those industries witnessing the most innovative applications of aluminium. Rolec’s aluDOOR is one such product. It is a continuation of popular enclosure series aluCASE, used for factory automation and sensory detection. Among the endless list of products, aluminium-graphene pouch cell battery deserves a special mention. In May-end, Nordische Technologies announced the development of the world’s first Aluminium-Graphene pouch cell battery, to be used for consumer electronics, gadgets, and future EV technology. Innovation has advanced so much that IQibla, a company specialising in products aiding the Islamic community in the world, has launched a smart ring named Zikr1 made of endurable aluminium alloy. This product counts the number of times zikr is offered.
Italian luxury brand Bulgari and motor-cycle maker Ducati have jointly launched their limited edition sports watch with an aluminium chronograph dial that materialises their inclination towards sustainability.
Aluminium packaging has reached a new high, with Hylux unveiling unflavoured spring water in a new recyclable, customisable aluminium bottle with resealable caps. Novelis Inc. has produced laminated aluminium surfaces for beverage can ends, which will be launched on September 27-29 at ALUMINIUM 2022 in Düsseldorf. The Boomerang Bottling System (BSS) serves the user with an integrated machine that accepts, sanitises, and caps aluminium bottles after refilling them with premium fresh water. These are sought-after devices by campuses, sports grounds, cruises, resorts or any other closed public place.
Aluminium coffee pods are also very much in circulation these days, with well-known players like Nespresso, Lavazza, L'OR BARISTA, and CafePod UK morphing their coffee-making technologies to match aluminium coffee pods made in-house or outsourced. Recently, Lavazza, the Italian coffee brand, has launched aluminium coffee pod to offer the Australian customer base a sustainable experience.
Among all the end-user sectors, transportation is certainly throwing a goal coming to innovative aluminium application. Yachts, bikes, electric vehicles, railway rakes, aircraft, and even spacecraft have all incorporated aluminium in as much innovative ways as possible. Svitch, one of India's largest manufacturers of e-bikes, has made foldable, aluminium electric bicycle. Svitch XE+ model features a forged aluminium alloy 6061 chassis, making it lightweight and robust. On the other hand, Scandinavia is already bracing itself to receive the world's first zero-emission aviation technology developed by a group of Heart Aerospace engineers. The Heart Aerospace engineers have custom-constructed an aluminium framework for the plane, which is currently going through various ground tests with suitable propellers and batteries.
Switch Mobility has revealed India’s first electric double-decker bus, called Switch EiV 22, which features a lightweight aluminium outer body shell that downsizes the actual weightage of the bus, keeping it in complete proportion with the passenger ratio.
Also, in the building and construction sector, aluminium has received special attention. The metal serves as a tool for limitless creativity for architects. One of the recent innovative uses of aluminium in the building and construction sector is a multi-storied skating zone named F51 in the south of England. John Burns Real Estate Consulting (JBREC) has projected the usage of aluminium in the building and construction sector will augment by 34% - 51% in the residential building and construction sector by 2024.
Another notable innovative application of aluminium in the construction sector is Enerack-developed solar carport solution made of aluminium alloy of the type AL6005-T5, specially designed for shopping centres, gas solutions, public parking lots and private homes.
Aluminium is now being used to make luxurious or designer products as well. For instance, recycled aluminium from retired aircraft has found a place in a special edition of jewellery in a recent time. Mumbai-based brand Moksh has launched bracelet, necklace, and earrings, forged in gold and aluminium. They come in sleek look and premium price tag.
Aluminium is catching a lot of eyes in the medical sector as well, where IIT Madras and IIT Guwahati have been found experimenting with aluminium prosthetic legs for disabled people so that they might also have a chance at life. And to our surprise, these legs can substitute the actions of an original limb with proper squirting moves and great supportability suitable for the Indian sub-continent.
The application of aluminium is also found in the defence sector. India has developed its first-ever indigenously made 9mm machine pistol ‘ASMI’, made from aircraft-grade aluminium. Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc., an American gun-maker from Springfield, Massachusetts, has launched its first full-size M&P pistol that features a full T6 aluminium framework.
