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.