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is a company specialized in aluminium products, starting from its early days as a supplier of reflector components for local Italian companies to its present position as a supplier to all the world’s major lighting system producers. This specialisation has led the Group to become one of the world's biggest producers of components for the lighting technology, solar energy industries and decorative market.

Anodizing
Why Anodizing?
Cutting and processing

Anodizing

Anodizing is an electrochemical process but its use is almost entirely confined to aluminium and very few other metals can benefit from this type of treatment.
It involves the transformation of the surface layers of aluminium into a hard compact transparent aluminium oxide layer by electrochemical oxidation in an acidic solution giving a coating which is without equal in its adhesion to the metal surface.

Careful regulation of the process parameters allows fine control of the oxide thickness to maximize the reflectivity combined with optimum surface appearance and minimized iridescence phenomena.
Special desired optical characteristics can be obtained by using a wide range of special rolled surface finishes and Almeco supplies a full range of different Pre-anodised products, both reflective and decorative.

When it is being formed, the oxide layer is nano-porous and at this stage of the process dyestuffs can be incorporated into the coating to produce beautiful metallic colours. The oxide film is then chemically transformed by a hot water based sealing process which leaves it completely impermeable.

↓ 2 1250 mm plants

» Technical data

Max coil weight: 7000 kgs
Tickness: 0,2 mm - 1,5 mm

Why anodizing?

Higher purity and reflection properties

Untreated rolled aluminium has a,shiny surface, but in that surface there are rolling oils and tiny fragments of oxide, which make it impure. Also grades of aluminium used for bright rolled raw aluminium reflectors are commonly based on commercial purity aluminium containing significant amounts of iron and silicon.
These surface contaminants and the iron and silicon lower the reflectivity of the aluminium.
Raw aluminium has a total reflection of around 80%.
Additionally, untreated rolled aluminium has a fine surface texture of small scratches running in the direction of rolling.
These scratches scatter the light and make the surface appear hazy.

The electro-chemical brightening treatment Almeco uses removes impure surface layers, cleansing the material.
This greatly increases the total reflectivity of the strip, to about 90%.
The brightening process also smoothes the surface ‘scratches’ which come from rolling and reduces the amount of haze present on the surface.
This gives a much improved appearance in a light fitting, as it cuts down the fuzzy "halo" around the lamp and reduces glare.

Protection against oxidation and abrasion

The process of coil anodizing, used to make pre-anodized aluminium, puts a thin crystal hard clear coating on the metal which stops it from losing its properties during service.
Untreated aluminium has no such protection and deteriorates much more rapidly.
Abrasion during re-lamping is a particular problem with untreated metal.
You only have to rub a thumb across the surface of bare aluminium to see the permanent marks it makes.

Pre-anodized aluminium would show no permanent damage from such treatment.
It is also well protected against normal cleaning operations and keeps a high quality appearance over many years.
With proper care, a pre-anodized lighting installation will look as good after ten years as it did the day it was installed.
If raw aluminium or untreated bright aluminium is used, it quickly becomes whiter in appearance and after the first re-lamping operation the louvres will look scuffed and patchy, lighting performance will fall and the clients using the lighting will be dissatisfied.

Cutting and processing

After PVD processes, aluminium can be cut, levelled and embossed.
Almeco is equipped with precision slitting and sheet cutting equipment at both the Milan and Goncelin sites and a new slitting machine is presently being installed at the Bernburg factory with the aim of improving Almeco’s European distribution potential.

Depending on customer requirements, the aluminium surface is usually covered with self-adhesive protection film to allow scratch free final processing by the customer. The finiished pallets are shrink wrapped or boxed ready to send off.

↓ Embossing line/PE protection film application machine

» Technical data

Products:
Art. 230 hammertone (thickness from 0.3 to 1 mm)
Art. 250 rigato (thickness from 0.4 to 1 mm)

Max weight coils: 5000 Kg
Speed: 50 mt/min
Max width: 1000 mm

↓ Slitting line 1250

» Technical data

Width: 1250 mm
Slitting speed: 300 mt/min
Min width: 15 mm
Max width: 1250 mm

Max coil weight: 10000 kgs
Slit tolerance percentage: ± 0,15 mm
Inside diameter of the coil: 400/500 mm

↓ Blanking line 1500

» Technical data

Max sheet width: 1500 mm
Min sheet width: 150 mm
Max sheet length: 4000 mm
Min sheet length: 150 mm

Tolerance in length: ± 1 mm/m
Slitting speed: 60 mt/min
Max coil weight: 10000 kgs

↓ Automatic packing

» Technical data

Packing speed: 1000 Kgs/min
5 stations
Automatic station selection

In-line weighing unit
Packaging with shrink-wrap film