Wauconda, Illinois — The Aluminum Anodizers Council (AAC) supports the Aluminum Association’s assessment that the aluminum industry is crucial to ensure that the manufacturers keep working by producing necessary supplies during the current Coronavirus emergency orders in place. Specifically, in the memo American Aluminum Jobs: Essential to the Nation, the Association stated “local, state and federal governments must ensure that aluminum industry operations and employees are designated as ‘essential’ and exempt from any ‘shelter in place’ orders during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Anodizing is a unique metal finishing process that reinforces the naturally occurring aluminum oxide creating a durable, cost-effective, wear-resistant and nonhazardous finish for a variety of products in many application markets. In fact, certain anodizing processes protect components in some applications, helping to increase product lifespan.
Medical and dental equipment are among the markets that aluminum anodizers serve. Anodized products and components are used in a wealth of applications in medical and dental equipment manufacturing, including blood handling equipment, regulators, oxygen equipment, hospital and emergency room apparatus, instruments durable enough to be sterilized repeatedly, and many more.
The AAC appreciates and recognizes the extraordinary efforts of the administration in attempting to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus. The Trump administration should identify the aluminum industry and its workers as essential to our national and economic security and provide guidance by exempting them from any “shelter in place” and other orders.
“From buildings to vehicles to medical equipment and everything in between, anodizing is an essential part of the manufacturing supply chain. The members of the AAC are ready and willing to assist in this national emergency, but they can’t help if they are sitting on the sidelines,” said AAC President Jeff Henderson.
Now is the time for the Trump administration to put the aluminum industry to work during this health crisis and deploy the resources that were deemed vital to our national security by the President.
