Present Trends in Methods of Production of Aluminium Alloy Slabs and Billets for Working

PRODUCTION of aluminium in all parts of the world is increasing rapidly and continuously at the present time. For example, in Europe, 400,000 metric tons of primary aluminium were produced in 1950, but by 1956 this output was more than doubled. Apart from two minor recessions
in 1953 and 1957, an increase has occurred each year.
Increase in output of the aluminium industry as a whole
is very evident in the wrought field, and is related
increasingly to various applications in industrial and
domestic markets. Examples of comparatively new wrought aluminium alloy applications are evident in the building industry, vehicle bodies, shipbuilding and kitchen ware. Greater demand in the wrought industry, more than in
other fields of aluminium production, has had to be met
by marked changes in production techniques. Such changes have had to enable outputs to be increased whilst maint-aining and improving metal quality. The purpose of this paper is to comment on changes in techniques now evident, and to describe briefly some of the newer production
methods now being adopted.