Aluminium – the driving Force for Innovation
Innovative developments are possible in virtually every field thanks to the properties of aluminium: in the fabrication of plant and machinery, engines, the whole range of different methods of transport and transportation through to fashion and the fine arts. Aluminium combines functionality, economic efficiency and aesthetics, and coupled with the inventive capabilities of manufacturers continuously creates innovations.Aluminium for greater Efficiency and Sustainability
For manufacturers, aluminium’s lightness saves weight. Plant and machinery are thus more energy efficient and movement sequences, such as with robots, can be faster and production can be increased. The time needed to complete manufacturing processes can often be reduced by combining different functions in a single, multifunctional aluminium component.New types of alloy help reduce the amount of material used and conserve our resources in doing so.
Using aluminium, one can continuously achieve best-ever performances in the areas of economic efficiency and ecology. As examples one can mention the so-called three litre car with its fuel consumption of three litres per 100 kilometres, or façade systems that make considerable energy savings, are reliable and can also withstand the effects of extreme weather conditions without any maintenance requirements.
Aluminium for limitless Ideas
Philippe Starck’s long-legged Juicy Salif lemon squeezer
A multitude of product designers use aluminium in order to optimise all aspects of everyday objects, whether wall lamps or pendants in ever new fanciful shapes, picture frames, writing utensils or everyday items such as ladders of cookware.
Even textile designers are now turning to aluminium when they wish to integrate certain shiny effects in materials in order to interpret articles of clothing anew. For instance in shirts and blouses or in ladies stockings – for a dazzling appearance. This demands high-tech solutions in the processing of aluminium.
/ Finally, one should point out that aluminium is also popular in fine art in order, for example, to be able to create sculptures with a novel iconography which are also resistant to the elements if placed in the open.
Further innovations are foamed aluminium or aluminium artefacts for the design of individual surface structures, and both industry and artists will make greater use of these in equal measure in the future.
