You need a reliable source for aerospace-grade aluminum. But many suppliers just ship metal, leaving you to shoulder the risk of incomplete documentation, questionable traceability, and material that might not meet stringent aerospace standards.

A supplier delivers metal. We deliver certified assurance. In aerospace, the documentation is as critical as the part itself—we forge both with uncompromising integrity, eliminating risk before your first cut.

I remember working with a new machining client from the UAE. They had a major contract for an aerospace component but were in trouble. Their previous supplier delivered the aluminum, but the material certificates were incomplete and couldn't be traced back to the original heat lot. The entire batch was rejected by their end-customer, costing them weeks of delays and a lot of money. They came to us not just for the aluminum, but for the process. We provided them with our forged rings, complete with a full documentation package: material test reports, ISO certifications, and the option for third-party validation from SGS. They didn't just buy a part; they bought confidence and a secure supply chain.

Who is the largest supplier of aluminum to the US?

You see big names in the global aluminum market and think they are the safest choice. But do these giants cater to your specific, high-precision forging needs?

While countries like Canada are traditionally the largest suppliers of primary aluminum to the US, this is irrelevant for custom forged parts. The "best" supplier isn't the biggest; it's the specialist who provides certified, tailored solutions.

When people ask about the "largest" supplier, they are usually talking about massive commodity producers like Alcoa or Rio Tinto, or national sources. These companies are experts at producing enormous volumes of primary aluminum and standard rolled products. Their business is built on scale. However, for a machining company that needs a custom-diameter 7075 forged ring with specific mechanical properties and full certification, these commodity giants are not the right fit. Their systems are not designed for high-mix, low-volume custom orders. As a specialized manufacturer, our strength lies in our focused expertise. We thrive on creating tailored solutions, like large-diameter forged discs and rings, that meet your exact specifications. For our clients in the Middle East, the most important factor is not who supplies the most aluminum to North America, but who can reliably deliver a certified, custom-forged product to their facility.

Which aluminium is used in aerospace?

You know aerospace relies on aluminum, but choosing from the dozens of available alloys is confusing. Using the wrong one could compromise the integrity of your entire project.

The workhorses of aerospace are the high-strength 7000 series (like 7075) for ultimate strength and the 2000 series (like 2024) for fatigue resistance. The specific alloy is always chosen based on the part's unique structural demands.

Not all aluminum is created equal, especially in aerospace. The choice is highly specific to the type of stress a component will endure.

· 7000 Series (e.g., 7075): This is the king of strength. Alloyed with zinc, it achieves the highest strength-to-weight ratio of all aluminum alloys. You'll find it in critical, high-load-bearing parts like wing spars and landing gear components where maximum strength is non-negotiable.

· 2000 Series (e.g., 2024): This series, alloyed with copper, is known for its excellent fatigue resistance. It's designed to withstand the repeated cycles of stress and strain that occur during flight. This makes it ideal for fuselage skins and structures that experience constant flexing and vibration.

· 6000 Series (e.g., 6061): This is a more versatile, general-purpose alloy. While not as strong as 7075, it offers a great balance of good strength, corrosion resistance, and weldability, making it suitable for secondary structures and non-flight-critical components.

Choosing the right alloy is the first step. Forging it correctly is what truly unlocks its performance.

Who makes aircraft aluminum?

You need to source material for an aircraft component. Who can you trust to produce a material that meets the incredibly high standards of the aerospace industry?

Major global mills produce the raw ingots, but specialized manufacturers like SWA Forging transform that metal into certified, flight-ready components like forged rings and discs. The "maker" is both the mill and the certified processor.

The creation of aircraft aluminum is a multi-stage process involving different expert players. It begins at large, primary aluminum mills that produce the raw billets and slabs according to specific alloy recipes (like 7075 or 2024). However, this raw material is just the starting point. It's not yet a usable aircraft part. That's where specialized manufacturers like us come in. We take these high-quality raw materials and use our forging processes to shape them into specific forms, such as the large-diameter rings and discs our clients need. The forging process itself enhances the material's properties by refining the grain structure. Most importantly, we manage the critical processes of heat treatment, testing, and certification. So, while a handful of large mills make the alloy, it's the certified forging company that "makes" the reliable, traceable, and structurally sound component that is actually fit for use in an aircraft.

Is aerospace-grade aluminum expensive?

You know aerospace-grade aluminum offers superior performance, but you're worried about the high cost impacting your budget and making your bids less competitive.

Yes, aerospace-grade aluminum is expensive due to its complex alloying, rigorous manufacturing controls, and extensive certification requirements. However, using near-net shape forgings can significantly reduce overall cost by minimizing material waste and machining time.

The premium price of aerospace-grade aluminum is a direct reflection of its value and the process required to create it. The specialized alloying elements, like zinc and copper in 7075, are costly. The manufacturing process itself is subject to extremely tight controls and requires a documented quality system like our ISO 9001 certification. Finally, the extensive non-destructive testing and certification add to the final cost. This high material cost makes subtractive manufacturing—machining a part from a solid block—very inefficient. You pay a premium for every kilogram of material, and then you pay again to turn much of it into low-value scrap chips. This is why our forging solutions are so valuable. By providing a near-net shape part, we minimize that expensive material waste. Our customers start with a component that is already close to its final dimensions, saving them significant money on both raw material and machine hours.

Conclusion

Don't settle for a simple metal supplier. Partner with SWA Forging to get certified assurance, engineered grain flow, and cost-effective near-net shapes, securing your supply chain and eliminating risk.