Anodising by the Anodising Association
Anodisers Association of Australasia is an industry association formed
to promote the use of anodising as a finish for aluminium. The association distributes
technical information to members and specifying authorities, and maintains close links to
similar international associations. AAA welcomes the opportunity to provide information on
specifying anodising as a finish on aluminium, and its performance characteristics. The
finishing technique that has withstood the test of time has its credentials well supported
by history.
Since the 1920s aluminium has revolutionised many aspects of our day to day lives with its
unique benefits such as durability, strength and light weight. Anodising protects and hardens
the surface of aluminium for a range of applications. Initially this surface finishing process
was utilised for extreme engineering applications such as automotive and military. The first use
of this process in Australia and New Zealand predated WWII industries. As time progressed the
unique benefits of this finish were realised and new markets started to emerge.
In the 1950s architectural anodising emerged, initially used predominantly for interior decorative
purposes such as escalator trim on CBD shops. This first exterior use for mulistory buildings was
the MLC building in North Sydney, NSW. Now a heritage listed site the anodising has withstood the
test of time for 41+ years and will continue to provide protection for decades to come the 1960's
colour anodising also emerged, initially only suitable for internal applications and range of colouring
was limited, but as technology evolved options became available outside of the traditional
clear / natural appearance.
Bronze became popular, with the Reserve Bank of Australia, Sydney, NSW being the first to employ the
new technology.
Grey was then developed in the mid 60s utilising a special alloy. The first commercial application
was Australia Square, Sydney, NSW.
External grade colourants became an attractive option. Gold, initially one of the more popular is
probably best known for coating the turret of Centre Point Tower (now AMP Tower) Australia's highest
building located in Sydney.
Today there are a multitude of anodising finishes and colours available for engineering, automotive,
military and architectural applications. This is the ultimate aluminium finish, with credentials
supported by the test of time.
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