Aluminium in everyday life – a reliable companion

Hardly any other room has us confront aluminium in our everyday lives as often as the kitchen. Many of our frequently used utensils are made entirely or partially from this light metal. Its heat resistance, malleability, and corrosion resistance make aluminium the first choice in many kitchen applications.

Typical examples of aluminium kitchen utensils in everyday life include:

• Pots, pans, and frying pans made of solid aluminium or with an aluminium core
• Aluminium foil for keeping food fresh or for cooking and grilling
• Tins for vegetables, soups, or fish
• Coffee machines and capsules

Aluminium also scores high when it comes to food storage and packaging. It reliably protects the contents from oxygen, light, moisture, and foreign aromas, thus preserving taste, freshness, and nutrients. In addition to food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals can therefore also be stored in tried and tested aluminium packaging.

Typical aluminium packaging solutions:

• Beverage cans, tubes, bottle caps
• Yoghurt lids, blister packs for medicines
• Household foil, grill trays, meal trays
• Aerosol cans for deodorant sprays

Aluminium has long been a standard material in modern devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops. The housing creates mechanical stability with a low weight and offers a particularly high-quality feel. At the same time, the metal supports heat dissipation and thus contributes to the longer service life of the electronics. We also encounter aluminium in everyday household appliances, for example in cladding, heat exchangers, or components that need to be robust and durable.

Aluminium use in everyday life and in technology:

• Housings for smartphones, notebooks, and televisions
• Cooling fins and memory plates in IT systems
• Antennae, cable shielding, switch cabinets
• Busbars, transformers

In leisure products such as bicycles, sports equipment, camping accessories, and climbing equipment, the material has proven itself thanks to its high strength and reliability. A look outside the box also shows how aluminium performs in everyday life with its advantages for interior design where it proves functional in modern furniture designs. It lends chairs, shelves, lamps, and home accessories a clear, timeless aesthetic. Thanks to its diverse surface treatments – lacquered, brushed or anodized – the material can be harmoniously integrated into a wide variety of styles.

Examples of aluminium in everyday life in leisure and design:

• Picture frames, furniture handles, designer lamps
• Ladders, garden chairs, camping tables
• Bicycle frames, rims, climbing hooks
• Soccer goals, outdoor or trekking accessories

In the construction industry, aluminium impresses with its durability, stability, and great design freedom. Façade cladding, windows, doors, or roofing made of aluminium show excellent performance due to their high resistance to weathering. Additionally, their clear design options blend in seamlessly with modern architecture. Thanks to its corrosion resistance, the material remains low maintenance even in the long term. This is an advantage that is particularly important for public buildings and infrastructure projects. Aluminium is also suited for sustainable construction: It is recyclable, non-combustible, and efficient in photovoltaic systems or heat exchangers.

Exemplary uses in construction:

• Window frames, doors, façades
• Conservatories, shower cubicles
• Sun protection systems, roof and wall elements
• Photovoltaic panels, heat pumps, and air conditioning systems

As a key material in the mobility sector, aluminium is used for vehicles depending on lightweight construction and low energy consumption – whether when accelerating, braking, or in continuous operation. As such, aluminium components are found in cars, commercial vehicles, trains, and aircraft. The resulting increase in efficiency has a direct impact on range, emissions, and operating costs. In the field of electromobility, aluminium is not only in demand for car bodies but also in battery systems, electric motors, and in heat and cooling management. The combination of high formability, corrosion resistance, and low weight makes the material suitable for modern mobility concepts that focus on sustainability and performance.

Aluminium is used in:

• Cars: bodies, chassis, engine blocks, doors, rims
• Bicycles, motorcycles, e-bikes
• Rail vehicles and bus bodies
• Aircraft and ships
• Commercial vehicles, floodgates