ALUMINUM
Aluminum is one of the most widely used materials on earth. The advantages of this unique metal are weight, strength, formability, corrosion resistance, and sustainability. Its versatility is unmatched; whether it is used in the aerospace industry, the construction industry, as kitchen appliances, packaging materials, or even entry doors.
Its properties make Aluminum so versatile
Aluminum is extremely weather resistant because it reacts with oxygen in the air to form a thin layer of oxide. This thin layer is very dense and provides excellent corrosion protection. The oxide is also self-repairing if damaged. Aluminum does not rust like steel or iron. This oxidation is a natural effect to protect the material.
Aluminum can be formed and shaped many different ways. This malleable material can be rolled, bent, formed, cast, cut, milled, and drilled which makes aluminum the ideal material in design. More and more industries are moving to aluminum to best meet their design criteria.
Its high thermal and electrical conductivity is used in electrical engineering and electronics or simply in the kitchen. For many applications, it is advantageous that the metal is non-magnetic.
Aluminum remains operational even at extreme cold temperatures down to -452 ° Fahrenheit, near the absolute zero point. Aluminum does not burn, and even in extreme heat there are no toxic fumes or gases. With a melting point of around 1,112 ° Fahrenheit, the fire protection properties are very good.
Aluminum can be formed and shaped many different ways. This malleable material can be rolled, bent, formed, cast, cut, milled, and drilled which makes aluminum the ideal material in design. More and more industries are moving to aluminum to best meet their design criteria.
Its high thermal and electrical conductivity is used in electrical engineering and electronics or simply in the kitchen. For many applications, it is advantageous that the metal is non-magnetic.
Aluminum remains operational even at extreme cold temperatures down to -452 ° Fahrenheit, near the absolute zero point. Aluminum does not burn, and even in extreme heat there are no toxic fumes or gases. With a melting point of around 1,112 ° Fahrenheit, the fire protection properties are very good.
Enhanced BY DECORATIVE COATINGS
Aluminum does not necessarily require additional protective layers because of the property of protecting itself with an alumina layer itself. Nevertheless, for decorative reasons coatings are used in many cases - for example for the Groke entry doors.
Groke's Powder Coating Facility - Germany
For Groke aluminum doors, the process of powder coating is carried out in an innovative facility, which makes a color change possible in five minutes. This allows individual customer wishes to be realized in virtually all color shades. For perfect results, pure plant conditions prevail in the plant, and 95 percent of the waste water is re-used in a circulatory system. The impact, scratch and weather resistant coating of each product goes through strict quality controls.
An important building material for modern architecture
The areas of application for aluminum are correspondingly broad - also in architecture.
Already in 1898 it was used for the first time in construction, when the Domes of the San Gioacchio church in Rome were cladded with aluminum panels.
The first components made of anodized aluminum were used in the Empire State Building, built in 1931. The Taipei 101 skyscraper, headquarters of the Taipei Financial Center, is 1,666 ft. high. Its facade is made of aluminum, designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 125 mph and earthquakes up to a magnitude of 5.
Already in 1898 it was used for the first time in construction, when the Domes of the San Gioacchio church in Rome were cladded with aluminum panels.
The first components made of anodized aluminum were used in the Empire State Building, built in 1931. The Taipei 101 skyscraper, headquarters of the Taipei Financial Center, is 1,666 ft. high. Its facade is made of aluminum, designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 125 mph and earthquakes up to a magnitude of 5.
Aluminum is extracted from bauxite
Aluminum is made from bauxite, which is also called aluminum ore.
It is made up of various aluminum minerals such as iron oxides, the clay mineral kaolinite and a small amount of titanium oxide. The bauxite ore is mechanically crushed, then mixed with caustic soda and pumped into pressure tanks where steam heat and pressure is applied to form a solution of sodium aluminate. Aluminum hydroxide seed crystals are added to the sodium aluminate solution to cause precipitation. During this process, the aluminum becomes solid.
Rotary kilns are used to heat the crystals to temperatures over 1800° F which removes any remaining impurities, leaving a fine white powder known as alumina, or aluminum oxide. During the smelting process the aluminum is extracted from the alumina. The finished aluminum can then be processed with die casting, chill casting or sand casting.
It is made up of various aluminum minerals such as iron oxides, the clay mineral kaolinite and a small amount of titanium oxide. The bauxite ore is mechanically crushed, then mixed with caustic soda and pumped into pressure tanks where steam heat and pressure is applied to form a solution of sodium aluminate. Aluminum hydroxide seed crystals are added to the sodium aluminate solution to cause precipitation. During this process, the aluminum becomes solid.
Rotary kilns are used to heat the crystals to temperatures over 1800° F which removes any remaining impurities, leaving a fine white powder known as alumina, or aluminum oxide. During the smelting process the aluminum is extracted from the alumina. The finished aluminum can then be processed with die casting, chill casting or sand casting.
MOST MODERN PRODUCTION PLANTS AND RECYCLING
Better eco-balance through state-of-the-art production facilities and recycling.
Through further developments of the technology and process optimization as well as the use of state-of-the-art filter technology, today aluminum in Germany is produced according to the highest production standards in the world. Emissions such as gases or dust from fluorides are almost completely absorbed in the production process. Wastewater is recycled and used again in the production cycle, filter dusts are recycled and the waste gases from recycling plants are also cleaned.
Approximately 75 percent of all the aluminum produced worldwide has been re-used over the last 100 years. The building sector has a recycling rate of 95 percent and this percentage continues to rise. Groke Door is committed to our environment. Our energy management system optimizes the use of state of the art technology to absorb emission gases and dust from fluorides in the production process. 95 percent of the waste water used in our powder coating process is re-used in the circulation system. Groke Door is certified according to ISO 50001.
Through further developments of the technology and process optimization as well as the use of state-of-the-art filter technology, today aluminum in Germany is produced according to the highest production standards in the world. Emissions such as gases or dust from fluorides are almost completely absorbed in the production process. Wastewater is recycled and used again in the production cycle, filter dusts are recycled and the waste gases from recycling plants are also cleaned.
Approximately 75 percent of all the aluminum produced worldwide has been re-used over the last 100 years. The building sector has a recycling rate of 95 percent and this percentage continues to rise. Groke Door is committed to our environment. Our energy management system optimizes the use of state of the art technology to absorb emission gases and dust from fluorides in the production process. 95 percent of the waste water used in our powder coating process is re-used in the circulation system. Groke Door is certified according to ISO 50001.
