Simmal Ltd

Casting or extrusion – what’s the difference when working with aluminium?

Both processes are essential in aluminium manufacturing, but they each serve different purposes:

• Casting is great for complex, detailed shapes like engine parts and housings.
• Extrusion is best for long, uniform profiles like beams, frames, and rails.

Each method has its own strengths depending on your application, and understanding the differences helps ensure better performance, cost-efficiency, and superb results.

Visit Simmal to find out more: https://simmal.com/casting-vs-aluminium-extrusion/

Ever wonder how aluminium ends up in everything from car doors to drink cans? It all starts with the rolling process.

Our blog explores how rolled aluminium shapes the world around us, transforming raw bauxite into the sleek, strong, and recyclable material used in everyday products. From hot rolling for aircraft and marine structures to cold rolling for packaging and electronics, rolled aluminium offers incredible versatility and strength, and it’s key to building a more efficient, sustainable future.

Read more about this essential material and how it powers modern manufacturing: https://simmal.com/how-rolled-aluminium-shapes-everyday-products/

In 1903, the Wright brothers used aluminium in the engine of the world’s first powered aircraft.

Why? Because aluminium has always been:
• Lightweight.
• Strong.
• Thermally efficient.

More than a century later, aluminium is still key in industries like aerospace, transport, energy, and manufacturing, and at Simmal, we’re proud to supply the materials that continue to drive innovation.

Discover more: https://simmal.com

Precision aluminium for the nuclear industry.

We recently worked on a bespoke aluminium extrusion for a client in the nuclear sector, providing a complex channel profile with strict tolerances and full traceability.

Simmal worked closely with the customer at every stage, providing:
✔️ Custom tooling.
✔️ New CMM inspection equipment.
✔️ Engraving for part traceability.
✔️ Rigorous quality control from billet to final assembly.

In industries where accuracy and accountability are essential, Simmal delivers not just material but also confidence.

Read more about our work: https://simmal.com/project/nuclear/

Not all aluminium is created equal, and that’s why Simmal stocks a wide range of alloys to match your specific needs.

From marine engineering to architectural design, choosing the right aluminium alloy can make all the difference. Whether you need strength, corrosion resistance, formability, or weldability, we’ve got an alloy that fits the job.

✅ EN AW5083 – excellent for marine, chemical, and defence applications.
✅ EN AW3003 – ideal for roofing, heat exchangers, and food storage.
✅ EN AW-6060 – perfect for complex extrusions and anodised finishes.
✅ EN 5251 – a top choice for structural components and aerospace projects.

At Simmal, we help you make the smart choice when it comes to materials. From standard profiles to custom solutions, we’re here to support your success.

Learn more about our range of alloys: https://simmal.com/about-aluminium/aluminium-alloys/

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week, and it’s a chance to slow down and remember that how we feel matters.

We all have good and bad moments, and it’s ok to talk about it. Whether you’re supporting a friend, a colleague, or looking after your own mental health, even small steps can make a big difference.

Remember to:
• Be kind.
• Check in.
• Ask for help if you need it.

Let’s look out for each other, this week and always.

Where is aluminium used in solar panels?

Aluminium is found throughout modern solar systems, and for good reason, and here’s where you can find it.
• Panel frames – lightweight, durable, and corrosion-resistant.
• Mounting rails – strong enough to hold panels, light enough to install easily.
• Enclosures – aluminium protects sensitive electronics and keeps them cool.
• Cable trays – organised, durable, and long-lasting.
• Brackets & grounding links – safe, conductive, and built to last.

From rooftop installations to solar farms, aluminium is the go-to material for clean energy infrastructure. At Simmal, we supply a full range of profiles and custom extrusions to support solar manufacturers and installers across the UK.

Learn more: https://simmal.com/markets-served/energy/

It’s International Design Day, a celebration of creativity, innovation, and materials that make great design possible.

Aluminium is one of the most versatile materials designers can work with, but getting the most from it means using the right design principles:

✔️ Lightweight but strong — great for cutting weight without losing performance.
✔️ Easy to machine and extrude — when designs keep geometry consistent.
✔️ Conductive and corrosion-resistant — great for both electronics and environments.
✔️ Fully recyclable — design with sustainability in mind.

At Simmal, we support great design with great aluminium in standard and custom profiles.

Find out more: https://simmal.com/

Automotive engineering, solved with precision.

When a client brought us a new aluminium car chassis design, other machining specialists had turned it down due to the part's large size and complexity, but the team at Simmal was not dissuaded.

We developed custom fixtures, collaborated with CNC experts in the UK and Germany, and carried out precise 5-axis machining to meet exact tolerances. With over eight design revisions, we worked side-by-side with the customer, adjusting in real time, even whilst the part was still on the machine.

We went to great lengths to make sure that the design met the customer’s specifications, and the end result is what happens when experience meets innovation.

Read more: https://simmal.com/project/automotive/

Did you know aluminium is used across the retail industry?

From small stores to major chains, aluminium extrusions help create strong, stylish, and flexible displays.

Why? Because aluminium is:
✔️ Lightweight and easy to move.
✔️ Strong enough for daily use.
✔️ Sleek and modern in appearance.
✔️ Great for modular display systems.

From shopfronts to shelving, signs, racks, and restaurant fixtures, aluminium has an incredible part to play, and at Simmal, we work with the retail industry to supply exactly what’s needed, whether it’s a bespoke design or bulk profile orders.

Find out more: https://simmal.com/markets-served/retail-interior/