SwissMaterials
Anodised aluminium
A third of the weight of brass at a fraction of the price. Aluminium is what makes a 40 × 30 cm building sign practical — and what keeps an adhesive mount from sagging off a letterbox in July.
How it ages in Switzerland
Anodising is not a coating but a hardened skin grown from the metal itself, so it cannot peel the way paint does. What it can do is fade: dark and coloured anodising loses depth under strong UV, noticeably faster above 1500 m and on south-facing walls. Natural silver anodising barely moves. Aluminium never rusts, but it is soft — a determined key or a snow shovel leaves a dent that brass would have shrugged off. Engraving cuts through the anodised layer to bright metal underneath, giving good contrast without any filling.
Technical data
| Thickness | 1.5 mm, 2 mm and 3 mm on large formats |
| Finish | Anodised silver, black, bronze |
| Outdoor life | 10–20 years outdoors, less at altitude |
| Engraving | Engraved through the anodising, no filling needed |
Best for
- ✓Building and directory signs above 20 × 15 cm
- ✓Adhesive mounting where weight matters
- ✓Batches for a whole condominium at controlled cost
Think twice if the plaque is small, prestigious and at eye level — aluminium reads as functional next to brass or steel.
Questions
Does black anodised aluminium fade?
Above 1500 m and facing south, expect visible lightening within five to eight years. Natural silver anodising is far more stable and is what we recommend for alpine exposures.
Can aluminium take screws?
Yes, but use the pre-drilled holes we cut. Drilling on site tears the anodised edge and starts a corrosion path.
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