A short summary: aluminum.
We could write a whole book about this, and there are plenty of others out there already, but we think it's good to dedicate a topic to aluminum. As a design agency, we often work with it and are also known for designing click connections using aluminum profiles (more on this later).
Everywhere around us
Aluminum has become an indispensable part of our daily lives. You wake up to your smartphone alarm, then open your bedroom door to make a delicious cup of coffee in the kitchen. Without realizing it, you’ve already come into contact with aluminum products several times. And whether you go to work by car, bicycle, or public transport, you use aluminum. Bus shelters, modern cars, and many bicycles are all (partly) made of aluminum.
Endless possibilities
To use aluminum for all these applications, countless alloys are possible, each with unique properties. Aluminum is generally known as a lightweight metal with good heat and electrical conductivity, and it is not ferromagnetic.
By adding copper, magnesium, manganese, and silicon, numerous properties can be optimized.
The production methods are endless, and so are the applications. Aluminum is extremely suitable for extrusion into any conceivable shape. It is also castable and, in most cases, very easy to machine. The high degree of design freedom makes this material very suitable for designers to use for any conceivable solution.
Sustainability
Sustainability has been a frequently heard term in recent years, and aluminum scores relatively well in this respect as well. We say “relatively” for a reason; there are a few caveats. In short: Mining the raw material needed to make aluminum, bauxite, and converting it into aluminum requires a considerable amount of energy. On the other hand, once aluminum is aluminum, it can be recycled indefinitely. The melting temperature is around 660 degrees Celsius, which means relatively little energy is required to shape it into a new form.
We are fans of aluminum, and many of the products we design include aluminum components. For example, check out our sound walls for along highways, the BU10 field lamp, or various awnings for Lewens. During the design process, we know how to use its unique properties to create an optimal product. Large or small, mass production, series or one-offs; a lot is possible with aluminum.
Do you have questions about product development at Fabrique Invent or do you see opportunities for product optimization in aluminum? Feel free to contact us.
Fabrique Invent & Boal Extrusion
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