An aluminium frame structure is often preferable to one in steel, but what you choose depends on the requirements of the final application. We explain the major differences between aluminium and steel. We then consult our design engineers, who work with this daily, to hear their insights on the matter.
Steel and aluminium, what is the difference?
Steel is by far the most common metal for all types of construction, followed by aluminium. The price of steel is relatively low. However, if you choose stainless steel, it is usually more expensive than aluminium. Steel has a high density, and the metal is prone to rust. Aluminum offers numerous advantages as a construction material. The density is low, only one third of steel, while maintaining high strength. Aluminum is very easy to clean with detergents, acids, bases, solvents and steam. It works perfectly for low temperature environments, as the material retains its durability and even becomes even harder.
Advantages of aluminium:
- Low density, only one third of steel.
- Very weather resistant, aluminium does not rust.
- Vapor tight.
- High strength, there are alloys that are as strong as structural steel.
- Aluminum is a soft material that is easy to process
- Sustainable - 100 percent recyclable.
- Low weight to transport.
- Non-toxic and hygienic.
When should you choose a steel stand? In short, for constructions that require high weight, steel is often the right choice. The same applies in cases of heavy and rough handling. When a rigid and stable frame is needed, steel is usually the preferred option. Some applications can even require additional weights to be mounted on the stand to make it sufficiently stable.
From the designer's point of view – flexibility a winner
We spoke with Rollco’s engineers, who work daily on designing aluminium frames, to hear their thoughts on aluminium versus steel frames.
An aluminium frame is constructed of profiles with fixed slots and is easily assembled with various types of fasteners. You can quickly reposition a fastener to modify the structure, making it an extremely flexible system. The aluminium profiles offer high precision and are perfectly straight from the start, which is a big advantage.
Building a steel frame involves processes such as welding and painting. Due to the many steps involved, lead times are often longer, as the parts need to be sent to various external subcontractors. This also impacts the overall cost, making it higher. As steel beams have no holes or any attachment surfaces, manual machining is required to connect e.g. sensors or electricity. Aluminum profiles excel with their slots, allowing for easy attachment of various accessories.
Wide range of accessories
For an aluminium structure, you will find many accessories, "ready to go". There is a large selection of ready-made parts such as wheels, feet, hinges, handles, etc.
– If you are in the design phase and need to build a prototype machine, it is very smart to use aluminium profiles, says Rollco's designer. You can then easily adjust and made additions afterwards in case you need to expand or modify your construction.
Simple assembly of aluminium profiles using fasteners.
