Hello Darkness, My Old Friend
The look of weathered industrial metals with the durable consistency of aluminum.
Darkened metals from Chemetal are available in many designs, from functional anodized aluminums and economical HPLs to weathered and aged industrial looks. Our popular ALU designs emulate the look of blackened steel but are lighter in weight, more economical and easier to fabricate. #600 Series Architectural Metals reproduce the patina of aged metals with added consistency and durability. And because they’re all made of aluminum, they’re all 100% recyclable.
Our ALU designs, #352 Alu Light, #353 Alu Medium and #354 Alu Dark are popular aged aluminum designs that emulate the look of weathered or blackened steel. To make, mill aluminum sheets are dipped in a darkening solution and then brushed by hand grinder to create a gentle, even sublime, linear variation. Besides a great aesthetic, these sheets of thin aluminum are lighter and easier to fabricate than steel, which can make the installation lighter as well as easier and less expensive to create. Aluminum is a soft metal and, especially when it’s thin, can be cut and fabricated with traditional woodworking equipment, with minor modifications. Plus, the panels are more easily repurposed, recycled or freecycled because they are 100 percent aluminum.
Thicker panels, same look.
With our latest collection we introduced a new take on our popular darkened ALU metal designs. The same range of finishes are also available on thicker, .090″ aluminum panels. These thicker panels can be installed without a supportive laminate backer, which makes installation easier and more affordable.
ALU Designs
#352 Alu Light
#353 Alu Medium
#354 Alu Dark
#352-09 Alu Light
#353-09 Alu Medium
#354-09 Alu Dark
How it’s Made:
Aged Aluminum
Our ALU designs are hand-finished with manufacturing consistency. Go behind the scenes at the Chemetal factory to see how we make our Aged Aluminum finish.
#600 Series Architectural Metals
The #600 Series features several outstanding blackened steel looks. Each design embodies ambient tones and patterns beneath, with shades of grey, bronze and brass surfacing as the light moves. These are popular and spectacular Chemetal designs. These metals breathe history and tradition, with age and patina reminiscent of the great metal ages. Yet these are printed metal panels, employing fantastically modern printing technology to create a combination of depth, mood, subtle variation and reflectivity. Designs are sourced from Japan, with a commitment to technological innovation, process and quality.
#606 Blackened Aluminum
#613 Ember Aluminum
#624 Protodynastic Aluminum
#625 Existential Aluminum
HPL and Aluminum
The #600 Series features several outstanding blackened steel looks. Each design embodies ambient tones and patterns beneath, with shades of grey, bronze and brass surfacing as the light moves. These are popular and spectacular Chemetal designs. These metals breathe history and tradition, with age and patina reminiscent of the great metal ages. Yet these are printed metal panels, employing fantastically modern printing technology to create a combination of depth, mood, subtle variation and reflectivity. Designs are sourced from Japan, with a commitment to technological innovation, process and quality.
#511/512 Powder Coated
#717 Brushed Black Aluminum (HPL)
#908 Satin Black Aluminum
#917 Brushed Black Aluminum
Custom Projects:
New Balance
Read about how Chemetal made custom ALU panels for workstations in the New Balance headquarters in Boston. It shows how Chemetal can tweak a standard product to meet designer and furniture specifications.
Inspiration:
Factory Feels
The idea for Chemetal’s ALU designs sprang forth from our Factory designs, #349 Factory and #350 Factory Dark, earlier aged metal designs, still in production, that echoed the look and patterning of old factory doors. Produced using similar techniques, Factory is a great material for spaces highlighting a reclaimed look, or in modern design projects that seek an industrial accent.
#349 Factory
#350 Factory Dark