FAQ:  Anodized Aluminum or Stainless Steel?

Frequently Asked Questions: Anodized Aluminum or Stainless Steel?

Anodized aluminum can replace stainless steel in certain applications. The ways that anodized parts can be used instead of stainless steel are only limited by designers and engineers’ imaginations.

The Benefits of Anodized Aluminum vs. Stainless Steel

Some of the benefits of using anodized aluminum components in place of stainless steel include:

• Less weight
• Less expensive to produce, handle and ship
• Can be machined twice as fast as stainless steel
• Machine components with tight tolerances can be anodized without changing the dimensional requirements of the part
• More durable surface
  • An example of this was the aspirin maker having problems with a piece of equipment made from 316 Stainless Steel. The aspirin dust was causing a groove to be cut into the surface of the stainless steel parts. They were replaced with anodized aluminum parts. The new parts eliminated the problem, plus gave the added benefit of a cost reduction due to less required maintenance and part replacements.
• Energy Cost Savings
  • Anodized Aluminum replaces hardened-steel molds for plastic injection molding, saving on energy costs due to the heat retention properties of anodized aluminum

Talk to Superior's engineers and metal coating specialists about how anodized aluminum can replace more costly stainless steel in your business. We have answers and solutions that can improve your bottom line for a long time to come.