Aluminum, with its excellent combination of strength and lightness, is reducing the weight of planes and cars, buses, trucks, trains and boats, and thus decreasing energy consumption and pollution from transportation. Not surprisingly, the use of aluminum in trains, railcars, underground carriages, buses and boats, particularly for bodywork and hulls, is rapidly increasing

Aluminum displays excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, non-ferromagnetic, non-pyrophoric, non-toxic and has an attractive appearance in its natural finish. Aluminum is unrivalled as a packaging material for food and beverages, as well as pharmaceutical products.

Aluminum resists the progressive oxidization that causes steel to rust. The exposed surface of aluminum combines with oxygen to form an inert aluminum oxide film, which blocks further oxidation. Unlike iron rust, the aluminum oxide film does not flake off to expose a fresh surface to further oxidation.