High-quality metal remnants remaining from industrial manufacturing processes or residential use are of high value, as they can be recycled and reused again and again across industries such as construction, transportation, manufacturing, packaging, and home furnishings. Metal remnants are often highly preferred by manufacturers, fabricators, and machinists, as they are generally cheaper than new metals sourced straight from the mill. Rare and exotic metals such as titanium and tungsten, which are often very expensive, can also be found in the form of affordable remnants recycled from large-scale manufacturing processes.

In this article, we discuss the advantages of using aluminum metal remnants, drops, and other metal shorts as well as the importance of purchasing verified metal remnants from a trusted supplier.

Key Benefits of Using Aluminum Metal Remnants, Drops, and Other Metal Shorts

The global shortage of magnesium has severely impacted the production of aluminum. The ongoing metal supply chain crisis and steep price hikes have further led manufacturers to purchase aluminum metal remnants to keep their operations running. The following advantages of metal remnants make them a suitable alternative to sourcing brand new plates, rounds, and bars from the mill.

Reusability

It is estimated that 75% of all aluminum that has ever been made is still in use. This reflects the recyclability and reusability of aluminum metal remnants. Scrap metal remnants from large-scale manufacturing processes can be cleaned up, precision-cut, and recycled to be reused for smaller projects. The process of recycling creates zero degradation of metal properties, making metal remnants a commodity that can be used over and over again. Manufacturers with scrap metals that can no longer be used in large-scale production find value in recycling them to a local metal supplier for a fair price, while small shops with restrictive budgets find value in purchasing low-cost, high-quality metal remnants.

Affordability

High-performance aluminum plates like MIC-6 or new U.S.-made steel are highly engineered and often proprietary, adding to their costs. As a result, sourcing new aluminum plates or high-quality steel from the mill is very expensive for many industries. The high price of quality steel makes fabricators and builders opt for cheap, imported steel from unverified sources that are prone to corrosion, cracks, and weld defects.

Aluminum plate shorts—the remnant lengths of aluminum that remain after a large piece of aluminum has been cut for another project—cost significantly less and are sufficient for smaller projects. Similarly, verified steel remnants are another way to get quality steel at affordable prices. Metal remnants make it affordable for smaller shops to purchase exotic, hard-to-find materials such as titanium and nickel-based superalloys. The shortage of remnant metals is rare, thus keeping the supply chain running and prices in control.

Sustainability

Aluminum shorts and other metal remnants offer a truly sustainable material choice to make metalworking operations greener. Recycling aluminum takes only 5% of the energy used to make new aluminum. Compared to mining and refining raw metals, metal recycling and reuse in the form of remnants, drops, and other metal shorts is cost-effective for businesses and creates a positive impact on the environment. The reuse of metal remnants keeps them out of landfills, keeps the metal supply chain running, and creates a circular economy with lesser carbon footprints.

Even with the advantages of using aluminum metal remnants, drops, and other metal shorts, it is worth noting that the composition and quality of metal scraps can be difficult to determine. Metal remnants without mill test reports (MTRs), material certifications, or any other quality assurance documentation are rendered unsuitable for applications that require stringent material specifications. That is why it is of the utmost importance to purchase metal remnants from a trusted supplier who can establish the exact composition of metal remnants.

Your Local Supplier of High-Quality Metal Remnants

At Industrial Metal Service, we have been supplying manufacturers, fabricators, and machinists with verified metal remnants at unbeatable prices for more than two decades. As a trustworthy and reliable metal supplier, we use x-ray fluorescence technology to verify all of the metal remnants we distribute and precision cut. Our Thermo-Fisher XRF analyzers are used to verify the usability of aluminum metal remnants, drops, and other metal shorts. By determining the chemical composition of all of the metal remnants we sell, you can be confident that you are receiving the types and grades of metals that meet your required specifications.