Anodized

The surface of aluminium can be hardened by anodizing and protected against corrosion as well as stained. This allows for a range of colours and thicknesses to be produced for aluminium panels, which can largely meet the demand for front panels.

The anodic or ‘electrolytic’ oxidation (‘anodization’) of aluminium creates a dense and very hard oxide layer on its surface that is firmly bonded to the source material. Such a technically produced anodized coat can be precisely controlled in terms of thickness, hardness and appearance. It offers protection against mechanical influences and is weather and corrosion resistant.

The fact that the technically produced anodized coat is transparent means that the metallic lustre of the material – unlike aluminium with a naturally oxidized surface – is fully brought to bear.

The anodized coat can also be stained by means of supplementary processes. Either dye molecules (adsorptive) or metal salts (electrolytic) are embedded in the mesh of pores created by the anodization.

To seal these pores, the anodized and optionally stained aluminium is then immersed in a sealing bath. This forms optically transparent alumina hydrate, which is stored in the pores and thus seals them.

Please click the open images to enlarge them.

The following table shows the thicknesses in which the anodized aluminium panels of different colours are available in stock or can be procured at short notice (for thicknesses up to 40 mm, see ‘Other designs’). For larger views of the individual colours, please refer to the previous section.

Aluminium colour sample	Anodization colour	Available panel thicknesses [mm]
Aluminium colour sample	Anodization colour	1	1.5	2	2.5	3	4	5	6	8	10	12	15
Tolerance ± [mm]		0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.25	0.3	0.4	0.4	0.5	0.5
	Natural
	Black
	Blue
	Gold
	Bronze
	Green
	Red

	In stock, front side (face side) is flawless, reverse side may show traces of processing and handling (roller marks, scratches) as well as a different anodized coat thickness.
	In stock, front side (face side) may have irregularities (such as small scratches or small impacts), reverse side may show traces of processing and handling (roller marks, scratches) and a different anodized coat thickness.
	Must be procured, front side (face side) may have irregularities (such as small scratches or small impacts), reverse side may show traces of processing and handling (roller marks, scratches) and a different anodized coat thickness.

Cut surfaces created by the milling process on the aluminium source material are generally not post-processed, which is why they appear ‘blank’. Please note our ‘Finishing options’. This effect can generally be avoided with the ‘Powder coating’ option.

The strength and stiffness of the panel material as well as the available working surfaces of our machines limit the maximum dimensions for machineable main plate surfaces. The requirements of the clamping devices, etc. limit the minimum dimensions for machineable main plate surfaces.

Thickness [mm]	Short side [mm]		Long side [mm]
Thickness [mm]	minimum	maximum	minimum	maximum
1.0	10	100	10	250
1.5		130		350
2.0		285		1100
2.5		500
3.0		800
4.0
5.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
15.0

Minimum and maximum working surfaces of anodized aluminium panels

We will be happy to check in individual cases whether, especially for larger panel thicknesses, larger working surfaces than specified here are possible.