Aluminium – the mettle of a supermaterial

From medical devices and PPE kits to pharmaceutical packaging and food containers, Hindalco’s aluminium has proved to be critical in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic

Aluminium sheets rolled into
coils

Today, when the world is fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, aluminium has proved to be a critical component of essential equipment and services.

From being used in manufacturing of medical devices and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kits to food packets for those affected by the pandemic, aluminium has proved its mettle as a super material.

Aluminium doesn't occur in its purest form in nature. It was only discovered after the advent of electricity around 1850 and hence is known as one of the newest metals. Hindalco began manufacturing aluminium in 1958 and since then has successfully made it an indispensable part of our lives. Its superior alloying, thermal , physical and metallurgical properties have made it a preferred material of choice in critical industries like pharmaceutical, packaging, defence, transport and electronic and electrical in the country.

Medical devices and pharmaceutical industry

Aluminium is widely used in the healthcare industry. With a sharp rise in demand of medical devices and equipment, aluminium consumption has also surged in the medical devices sector, which is currently estimated to be valued at $11 billion in India. Moreover, aluminium is used in making surgical trays, containers, kits and other general hospital equipment. The corrosion resistance, light weight, recyclability and affordability make it a preferred metal over stainless steel.

Aluminium is also the preferred packaging material in pharma industry. Because of its rollability, light weight, strength and barrier properties, aluminium is the preferred packaging material for solid and liquid pharma drugs. Hindalco is the largest producer of pharmaceutical foil in India, supplying 30 per cent of the market. The company is the only producer of 'Alu Alu foil' – a specialised variety of aluminium foil, which provides critical medicines with superior protection against heat, light, moisture and bacteria.

In the current pandemic, foil made by Hindalco, is being used for packing Chloroquine Phosphate tablets and Hydroxychloroquine sulphate tables and other critical drugs.

Hindalco also provides aluminium for manufacturing COVID-19 testing booths

Food packaging

The food packaging industry in India has seen sizeable growth in recent years, consuming about 2 - 3 per cent of total aluminium manufactured in the country. This includes both flexible packaging as well as house foil. Hindalco is India's premier supplier of food grade aluminium foil and containers and is the leader in the kitchen foil space. Its popular brands such as Freshwrapp and Superwrap are widely used in kitchens and pantries. They have also been extensively used in packaging of food kits for the underprivileged in these unprecedented times of the pandemic.

From applications in defence to being kitchen-friendly

Aluminium has been critical to other industries in India as well. In the defence sector, it is used in building assault bridges, main battle tanks, missiles, weaponry systems, boats and also space components. Aluminium has also revolutionised the Indian transport industry. Hindalco has developed India's first all-aluminium trailer and bulker which make transport cost efficient, fuel efficient and sustainable.

The electrical and electronics sector is a major consumer of aluminium in India. It is used in uninterrupted power systems transmission and distribution through cables and conductors, lamp caps, cable wraps, light reflectors, line traps, bus ducts, control panels, solar panels, insulation, etc. In the building and construction industry, aluminium's durability and high strength-to-weight ratio allow it to be used for building structures, facades, roofing, doors and window frames and sills, ceilings, etc. It is also the most kitchen-friendly metal as it is widely used in cookware, kitchen racks and household appliances.

Hindalco is at the forefront of supplying high-quality aluminium to Indian industries. Hindalco's superior technology, manufacturing capabilities, metallurgical expertise and superior quality standards puts its products above all the rest. Sixty years ago, Hindalco set up India's first integrated aluminium facility in Renukoot, Uttar Pradesh, to make India self-reliant. Today, it is the world's No. 1 aluminium value-added player. Hindalco has been leveraging the mettle of this supermaterial for an increasing number of consumer uses, especially in critical and essential services.