10/29/2021
At Tri-Arc Manufacturing, LLC, we utilize both steel and aluminum to construct our USA-made ladders. To suit your solution will depend on your specific needs. This includes jobsite set-up, the overall work environment, budget, and more. We will gladly assist and determine what option will work best.
Both aluminum and steel metals have advantages and disadvantages over the other. The right choice for you will depend on what you are looking to achieve.
Steel Strong
The common go-to option when building safety platforms and systems used across various industries is steel. This is due to its extreme toughness. It is difficult to bend and ideal for heavy-duty operations that require products to withstand repeated use and consistent wear/tear.
Over time, galvanized steel holds up better than other materials which makes it a commonly used material among Tri-Arc Manufacturing, LLC products. Although aluminum has similar durability in let’s say a walking environment (i.e. rolling ladders), steel is what is needed to accommodate heavy product weight (i.e. piping systems, gangways).
Some pros & cons of steel are as follows:
Pros:
● Strength
● Durability
● Heavy duty; weights more than twice as aluminum
Cons:
● The weight of steel makes it difficult to move around
● If painted, requires additional maintenance
● More prone to rust & corrosion over time
Low Cost, Less Heavy Alternative
Aluminum-made products are easy to install and re-position for various uses around your work site. Additionally, it allows for easier shipping to you – deducing less transit time and costs.
Aluminum is far more flexible than steel; meaning Tri-Arc Manufacturing, LLC can design more intricate and complex features to suit your needs and specifications. With these modifications, aluminum still has a similar strength to steel. It is unable to hold as much weight, but for most let’s say platform type of environments, it works very well.
Some pros & cons of aluminum are as follows:
Pros:
● Lightweight; no additional maintenance required
● Strength is comparable to steel
● Corrosion-resistant; will not rust over time & can withstand all types of weather
Cons:
● Not compatible with all chemicals; if exposed, there is a greater potential of corrosion
● Unable to hold as much weight as steel
Tri-Arc Manufacturing, LLC recommends aluminum specifically for our work platforms.
Just say NO
We warned you.
Two materials that you may encounter are wood and fiberglass. For industrial, safe access products, these two materials are far from safe.
Once upon a time, the only benefit of wood was its low cost. Obviously, that has changed some in the past year and a half. But….. it is far less durable than aluminum or steel. It also requires constant maintenance and most importantly, does NOT meet OSHA compliance.
Similarly, though fiberglass is resistant to chemicals and can be used in harsh weather-related conditions, it is less sturdy compared to aluminum and steel. Fiberglass product selection is also limited, as very few fabrications shops are qualified to offer. This means costs can quickly surge.
In closing, both aluminum and steel have superior qualities, including strength, weight capacity, and many years of guaranteed satisfaction and service. Tri-Arc Manufacturing, LLC uses the highest-grade steel and aluminum available when manufacturing every one of our USA-made products. This allows you, our valued customer, to walk away satisfied and with a product that saves significant time and resources.
