When it comes to metal products, sheet metal is one of the most commonly seen in everyday life. It’s easy to overlook just how common these products are, with most people seeing dozens of examples of sheet metal in use each and every day.
At Polished Metals, we’re a leading supplier of sheet metal products of various sizes and across a wide range of metals. That includes Muntz, brass, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, and bronze sheet metal. We regularly fill high-volume orders for each of these materials—but what exactly are sheet metal products used for? Let’s take a look at some of the most common examples.
1. Cars & Automobiles
Cars and automobiles including semi trucks, buses, vans, and more all make wide use of stainless steel in their production. Vehicles are generally covered in large sections of sheet metal, often stainless steel or aluminum, forming the sheltering outer layer of the automobile. In addition, various sheet metals may be used for details and other components of vehicles.
2. Aircraft & Aerospace Manufacturing
Similarly to automobiles, aerospace manufacturing requires high volumes of sheet metal. While cars will generally use more stainless steel, aluminum is the workhorse of the aerospace industry more than stainless, along with other metals like titanium that are specifically used for spacecraft.
3. Shipbuilding
Completing the set of vehicles, sheet metals like steel are once again used in the maritime industry for ships and other watercraft. In addition, corrosion-resistant metals like Muntz / naval brass and other red metals are often used for components such as fittings, pipes, and more.
4. Roofing & Exterior Cladding
Architecture and sheet metal go hand-in-hand, with high volumes of many types of metal frequently used for exterior cladding of buildings, along with roofing, entryways, signage, and much more. While most commonly used for large commercial building projects, sheet metal including stainless steel, aluminum, and copper are all used across the residential roofing industry as well.
5. Ventilation & HVAC Systems
Ventilation systems require high volumes of metal, as these heat-resistant materials are typically used to form the ductwork used throughout most buildings. When it comes to HVAC applications, both steel and aluminum are commonly seen, as these metals perform well, have excellent forming characteristics, and are relatively affordable.
6. Appliances
A wide range of appliances and similar products start their lives as sheet metal. From refrigerators and stoves to washing machines, stovetops, and much more, many of the household appliances we use every day are made, fundamentally, from sheet metal.
7. Cabinetry & Storage
Whether for your home or your business, metals are also favored for various storage applications. This includes office storage like filing cabinets as well as commercial kitchen cabinets, shelving, and more.
8. Machine Parts
Metal is durable, long-lasting, and strong, so it stands to reason that just about any piece of machinery would be made from sheet metal as well. In fact, the very machines used to create, form, polish, and finish sheet metal will themselves all include sheet metal somewhere in their manufacturing.
So Much More!
Realistically, the list of products that are made from sheet metal is virtually endless, with further applications including electronic devices, mailboxes, cans, artwork, mirrors, medical equipment, and dozens more examples.
For any given metal product, chances are it began life as a metal sheet before being molded, cut, extruded, or otherwise formed into its new, functional shape.
Polished Metals Maintains a Wide Sheet Metal Inventory
With so much potential for sheet metal to be used in just about any metal product across dozens of industries, sheet metal finishing experts must maintain a large inventory to suit the needs of their customers.
As the foremost experts in metal finishing and polishing, our team at Polished Metals has the equipment, space, skill, and inventory to meet all of your sheet metal production needs. Whether you need a few individual sheets or have a high-volume order, our 50,000-square-foot facility and decades of experience enables us to provide superior quality results—on time and on budget.
Polished Metals is here to be your one-stop shop for sheet metals of all varieties. Reach out today for a quote!