The aluminium cast plate is of enormous importance for industry: machine, plant and mould construction, but also the optical industry and many others benefit from the properties of the aluminium cast plate: extremely low stress, excellent dimensional stability and savings due to the exclusion of distortion, fewer rejects, faster processing times and the prevention of additional annealing. In addition, the aluminium cast plate naturally also has all the classic advantages of aluminium: easy machinability, easy to recycle and low weight. A double benefit for the user! In certain applications, the cast aluminium plate has now almost completely replaced the conventional rolled aluminium plate.

alimex - pioneer of the cast aluminium plate process

The aluminium cast plate process was invented at alimex in Willich. In the 1970s, alimex founder Helmut Geller had the idea of "cutting the raw material for both rolled and cast plates (the so-called rolling ingot) like a sandwich", says Marc-Wilm Lünemann, Head of the CNC division at alimex. "Since then, the process has been continuously developed at our Willich site and we have become a globally sought-after specialist whenever the material aluminium needs to demonstrate its incomparable advantages."

What is the difference between rolled and cast plates?

Rolled plates are produced by rolling the starting material down to the desired plate format in rolling mills. During this process, enormous stresses and direction-dependent properties are pressed into the material. These can only be partially - and above all laboriously - eliminated in the subsequent production process. The production of cast aluminium plates works completely differently. After heat treatment, the starting material is sawn on special plate saws. As a result, the plates have no direction-dependent properties, but an almost homogeneous structure and relatively identical properties over the entire plate surface.

The advantages of cast aluminium sheet during further processing

This consistent strength of the cast plate makes work easier for the machinist who produces precision components from the cast aluminium plate - because he does not have to take account of changing stress or strength ratios and therefore does not have to continuously adjust the parameters set in the milling machine. This reduces both machining times and tool wear. Aluminium cast plates from alimex ensure outstanding material properties for aluminium semi-finished products and components of all sizes: this is how alimex helps customers to secure competitive advantages.

Where are these plates and the components made from them used?

In mechanical and plant engineering, for example, where people count on high-precision aluminium solutions. The material properties that are particularly in demand in these sectors, such as the robustness of the material, low weight and good machinability, are achieved through targeted processing of the material based on the aluminium cast plate process. The use of aluminium treated in this way enables efficient and cost-effective applications, even with complex geometries.

However, alimex also supplies precision parts and plates to the optical industry. In particular, the mirror-smooth precision cast plates guarantee optically perfect quality thanks to a special milling technique. For this, alimex received the European Aluminium Award.

The solutions that alimex has developed for mould and prototype construction are also based on the aluminium casting plate process. They are characterised by excellent low-stress and machining properties as well as high strength properties - all typical of cast aluminium plate!