NOVELIS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH OHLER® - FLEXROHRE - Heat & Energy Components

The market for an ever-increasing array of consumer electronics parts is made possible by continuing innovation in integrated circuitry, new software applications and the exceptional properties of industrial aluminum, such as its light weight, high formability, superior heat dissipation, electrical conductivity, high corrosion resistance and attractive surface properties. Whether it is smartphones, tablets, laptops or flat screen TVs, aluminum is an integral component in the design, development and production of the latest personal devices and in-home entertainment systems. Novelis is leading the way in producing customized, premium flat-rolled aluminum for many consumer electronics parts and products, including aluminum enclosures and aluminum cases. Our aluminum products, developed according to customer specifications, are supplied in coil or sheet form, then slit or cut to length by third-party distributors or customers themselves.

Novelis offers industrial aluminum coils and sheet in alloys for the main board and back cover of LED TVs and LCD monitors. Leading LED TV manufacturers, including Samsung and LG, call upon Novelis to supply critical parts such as back panel, bottom chassis, bezel and stand structures for some of the largest, most brilliant displays on the market today.

Smartphones, laptops and digital music players rely on the durable, lightweight and attractive qualities of aluminum. Our technically sophisticated material impacts the latest designs, providing both a technical advantage, as well as an attractive visual ambience. Aluminum enclosures dissipate heat, while the material’s resistance to the effects of weathering makes it ideal for use in outdoor applications as varied as housings, rod antennae and satellite dishes.

Good formability and conductivity make our products useful for condenser case products produced via drawing processes. Manufacturers of these aluminum case applications rely on Novelis to provide high-quality aluminum coils or sheet in alloys such as 1050 and 3004. Novelis produces pre-painted aluminum for scales, dials and nameplates in laser engraving quality, in the form of a surface-treated coil or sheet. Specialized coatings are applied by rollers. Printing is possible via standard commercial inks and paints with no special materials required.

The versatility and benefits of aluminum parts for home appliances are now a common feature of kitchens – ovens, refrigerators, dishwashers, coffee makers, pots and pans – adding elegance to everyday life at a lower price point. Industrial aluminum used in household appliances is easy to clean, thermally conductive and resistant to dents, marks, scratches and corrosion. Aluminum is especially suited for the design and construction of refrigeration systems. Aluminum refrigeration transmits heat rapidly, facilitating the cooling process and guaranteeing highly efficient operation. Some of the biggest names in refrigeration worldwide use Novelis’ aluminum products in painted, brushed, plain or embossed form.

Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Power converts light from the sun directly into electricity via the photoelectric effect. Aluminum makes an ideal substrate material to support the thin film of photovoltaic solar cells, as well as a safe, attractive housing for the absorber. Its lightweight nature makes the units easy to move, and its resistance to corrosion extends the lifespan of the units. Sheet-rolled, bonded industrial aluminum can also make an effective support for PV units.

Sunlight can also be channeled and focused to heat water, which can drive steam turbines in large-scale power plants. This Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) was once dominated by glass mirrors due to their unmatched reflectivity. Recent advances in aluminum reflectivity and brightness, partially due to our processing innovations, however, have made the material an effective substitute. Compared to glass, aluminum solar panels offer significantly lighter weight and better ratio performance versus cost.

The key to successful power generation through wind is efficiency, and industrial aluminum is playing a key role in making wind turbines lighter. Working together with our partners, we’ve created a smaller, lighter tower casing behind the rotor blades, as well as an innovative aluminum enclosure for the turbine’s generator that is lighter and more efficient than fiberglass composite housings used previously. This housing reduces fire risk thanks to aluminum’s incombustibility and helps cool the generator due to aluminum’s thermal conductivity, extending the aluminum enclosure’s functional life. It also maximizes the unit’s recyclability and protects the generator from lightning, since the aluminum acts as a Faraday cage and is non-combustible in the event of a lightning strike.

At Novelis, we know that renewable sources of energy hold the key to the future, and we stand ready to do our part to make these energy sources as effective, efficient and safe as possible. An essential part of harnessing renewable energy is finding ways to store and transport it. We’ve partnered with automotive manufacturers and battery suppliers to help create superior aluminum energy storage solutions. Aluminum foil is important in lithium-ion batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles because it can serve as the cathode layer. At the same time, aluminum cartridges and cooling plates provide effective housing for the lithium-ion batteries, cooling them and protecting them from the elements.

To produce industrial aluminum of this caliber, Novelis begins by carefully controlling the composition of the alloy, then taking exceptional care in the casting procedure to avoid non-metallic impurities. The surfaces of the aluminum ingots are then sawed and scalped to remove any new impurities before rolling. These ingots are preheated for long periods for optimal homogenization of the metal structure, then hot- and cold-rolling procedures achieve high surface quality. “Bright rolling” delivers the highest possible surface consistency and reflectivity. The result is an aluminum surface reflective enough to be used as a mirror.