The use of aluminium foil varies according to the sector to which it refers. In fact, it's used in many markets such as the food&beverage to make trays, caps and packages of various kinds, both for liquids and food. The widespread use of aluminium in this sector is due to its properties: it protects food from sun exposure and from contaminants that can deteriorate it.

Aluminium is a light and ductile material: it can easily be worked into new shapes such as strips, plates and foils. It's also resistant to corrosion and can be recycled without losing any of its fundamental properties. These characteristics mean that its applications such as aluminium sheets are also required and used in several sectors.

By smooth aluminium sheet we mean a sheet on which neither drawings nor relief textures are imprinted, therefore different from embossed or treaded sheets. Smooth aluminium sheets can be worked with multiple treatments and processes to be used in the most diverse sectors. Often they are also lacquered to acquire a greater aesthetic appeal. In 2021 the market for semi-fabricated products (flat rolled products and extrusions) recorded a strong recovery despite the fact that, during the last year, the production of primary aluminum in Europe was lower than forecast due to the energy crisis and the consequent high prices.

One of the main uses of aluminum foil is the food sector. By this statement we mean two different markets. The term "aluminum foil for food", in fact, can be used both to indicate the semi-finished product that will then be used by manufacturers of food containers, and to more commonly identify the aluminium foil roll used by consumers or businesses to wrap food.

COVID-19 continues to have a strong impact on the aluminum market, also influenced by global political factors and consumer behavior. But what, in particular, are the main trends in the foil and sheet market? The growing demand for ready-to-eat snacks (RTE), due to the hectic lifestyle that characterizes part of the world population, is mainly driving the aluminum market. Furthermore, the widespread adoption of AI in various sectors, such as packaging, construction, automotive, food and beverage, is further stimulating the growth of this segment.

Before choosing the right aluminum sheet for your needs, it's essential to know its characteristics and end-use. Aluminum sheets have several benefits: lightness, durability, corrosion resistance, thermal and electrical conductivity, versatility, workability and recyclability. In particular, this last advantage allows the finished product to respect the surrounding environment since aluminum is a material that is 100 percent recyclable and reusable indefinitely, without losing its characteristics.

Before to speech about aluminum production in Europe or Italy, in particular; it's better to have clear ideas about production at global levels. China is the world's leading producer of aluminum, as well as zinc, lead and tin. Followed by Russia and India even if the gap from the first place is quite significant: China, in fact, produces 37 million tons a year while Russia and India only about 3.6 million a year.

The companies that work in the metalworking sector are always looking for suppliers that sell different types of aluminium sheets or strips: an important product used in many markets. This happens thanks to the characteristics of this product that can be easily moulded in numerous shapes and processed in different thicknesses; moreover, it has excellent anti-corrosive properties and a remarkable resistance to external pressures and environmental factors.

Is the aluminum foil malleable? Absolutely yes. This is possible thanks to the many intrinsic properties of aluminium, a material that can be used in different applications and variuos industrial sectors. Malleability is only one of the aluminum properties: these can be grouped into physical, chemical or mechanical, and can be further expanded when considering specific alloy compositions and other factors, such as temperature.

Aluminum sheets are widely used in many end-use sectors such as packaging, transport, building and construction. In addition, with the growing stringent regulations relating to reduction in vehicle weight  which will consequently lead to a reduction in carbon emissions, the demand for aluminum in the automotive industry is also expected to increase.