Sheet metal fabrication is one of those things where the choice of material is absolutely going to matter for the end result. Choosing between steel and aluminium sheet suppliers, for example, can have an all-encompassing effect on what you’ll eventually get. This is why it’s essential to understand what makes them so different before ever making the choice.
Aluminium is abundant, affordable, versatile, and highly resistant to corrosion. Steel is strong and durable, which makes it ideal for demanding roles like in heavy construction. With fabricated sheet metal being so high in demand in multiple fields, those qualities will play major parts in meeting certain requirements.
The more specific those requirements are, the more careful the choice needs to be, especially when looking for fabricated aluminium sheets in Perth.
The Importance of Sheet Metal Fabrication
To say that fabricated sheet metal is one of the pillars that are keeping the global economy from collapsing would not entirely be without merit. There are plenty of others, of course, but taking just one would cause catastrophic damage to the world at large. It’s used for so many things and in so many industries. In fact, a recent projection placed the forecasted growth of the sheet metal industry at USD 450 billion by 2033.
Automotive, food and beverage, manufacturing, transportation, aerospace, and chemicals, just to name a few. Without sheet metal fabrication, it wouldn’t be too farfetched to imagine they would collapse.
On the other hand, using the wrong type of material that the fabricated sheet metal is made of could just as easily lead to undesirable results.
Aluminium Sheets
The aluminium sheet products market is a quickly growing sector, especially as other industries are rocketing to the stratosphere. The field of electric cars alone is responsible for a huge jump in the demand for aluminium sheet metal. A lot of this can be attributed to the issue of cost, but that’s not all.
Aluminium is categorically easy to work with even when compared to other versatile materials. It’s strong, non-toxic, resistant to rust and corrosion, perfect for containing chemicals, and is used extensively in the tech industry.
What’s more, aluminium sheet products are recyclable and easy to repurpose. This can have a significant positive impact on the environmental efforts that are sweeping pretty much every corner of the world market.
Steel Sheets
While they are not as versatile as their aluminium counterparts, it would be a mistake to think that fabricated steel sheets are not adaptable, at all. A lot of things can be fabricated out of this product that is in use in a multitude of industries that often intersect with aluminium sheets.
What makes steel sheets stand out, however, is the specific set of requirements that are inherent in certain types of projects. One such scenario where this option would be perfect is the need for something heavy.
Steel sheets have more weight than aluminium with all things being equal. This means that, while it can’t easily be used for something like daily transportation, it is perfect for heavy machinery.
In this manner, steel sheets are also prized for their durability. It can withstand a significant amount of beating. This makes it ideal for use in remote areas where the need for weathering harsh conditions is high and the opportunities for repairs and replacements are low.
With that said, there are also several other factors that can make choosing steel sheet metal more challenging. The alloy mixture is one consideration, which could then affect the cost and its other qualities. Some are stronger than others with varying degrees of resistance against corrosion.
Insulation is also another factor to consider.
Which Is Better?
Now that all of those details are out of the way, how do you determine which of the two materials you need for any given situation? Some of the details were already covered in earlier sections, but it always pays to be more specific.
Getting one of the biggest concerns out of the way first, let’s talk about the subject of cost.
Generally speaking, the global metal industry is always shifting. There are patterns, to be sure, and periods where prices hold long enough that both consumers and businesses can capitalise on the trend.
Sometimes aluminium is cheaper than steel before the reverse eventually becomes the case. You’ll learn of this yourself when looking for fabricated aluminium sheets in Perth. Due to the skyrocketing demand for aluminium, its price has also risen as a result. However, the material is still cheaper than steel when taking all of its aspects into account from its raw form to maintenance.
Following that, we have potential uses and coverage, which is where aluminium is clearly superior. There are simply more markets, niches, and opportunities for profit that are available with aluminium sheets compared to steel.
This isn’t to say that aluminium is automatically more profitable across the board. There are simply more markets that prefer it in the modern age.
Now we come to the versatility of aluminium sheet metal. There’s no denying that the material can be used for pretty much anything, even for roles that would have been nonsensical to most people.
It’s also lightweight, resistant to corrosion, an excellent way to conduct electricity and protect against surges, and great for insulation. When putting all of those qualities together, it’s not difficult to choose fabricated aluminium sheets in Perth over steel.
Conclusion
To sum up, unless you have specialised needs that fall under specific circumstances, it’s much better to go with aluminium sheet suppliers than their steel counterparts. You stand to gain more from the decision regardless of what you need it for, as long as it’s in conventional settings.
With aluminium sheet metal, you save money, have more opportunities to take advantage of, and any mistakes made in the process of fabrication are less problematic. Aluminium is recyclable too, so it’s good for the environment.
