Aluminium Finishing Innovations – Improving Performance & Prioritising Sustainability

Thanks to its strength, its light weight, and the fact that it is infinitely recyclable, architectural aluminium is a growing and vital part of our built environment. For decorative and protective reasons, most products of this type are finished in some way, with finishes sometimes described as ‘100% of the visibility, but less than 1% of costs’.

Given its significant effect on the lifecycle and maintenance requirements, decisions regarding finish are extremely important. That said, the range of finishes available is by no means static. In fact, innovations and developments (associated with powder coating technology, pretreatment systems, corrosion protection, anodising, and more) mean the finish options in this space are constantly expanding.

For specifiers, the best way to evaluate these innovations is by asking to what degree they improve the usability, aesthetic appeal, functionality, and overall performance of products. On top of that, such evaluations should factor in their environmental impact, including consideration of not just their recyclability but also variables like the by-products of their coatings.

In this session of CPD Live, we shine a light on all of this and more. Beginning by identifying the latest aluminium finishing options, our speakers explain how to find the right one for your next project.

At the end of this presentation, you should be able to:

• Outline the benefits of aluminium finishing for both internal and external applications
• Outline the potential negative environmental impacts of products of this type and ways they can be addressed
• Identify the regulations and standards relating to aluminium finishing
• Identify the latest developments and innovations associated with aluminium finishing

(PROJECT INITIATION AND CONCEPTUAL DESIGN, PC 28, PC 31, PC 35, DETAILED DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTATION PC 45)

Speakers

Bill Wylie, Chairman, AAF

With over 40 years in the aluminium finishing industry, Bill is a co-founder of Australian Aluminium Finishing (AAF), which established one of Australia’s first on-line powder coating facilities in Sydney in the 1980s. Under his leadership, AAF expanded through both organic growth and acquisitions and now operates advanced anodising, powder coating, and woodgrain facilities across Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. Bill is a Past President of the International Qualicoat system in Australia and currently serves as Vice President of the Australasian Institute of Surface Finishing.

Joseph  Kalarickal, National Quality & Technical Manager, AAF

With over 35 years of global experience in chemical and surface finishing, Joseph is an expert in aluminium anodising and powder coating. He brings deep technical knowledge in electrochemical anodising, pretreatment chemistry, and advanced coating systems.

Having worked across India, the Middle East, Germany, and the UK, Joseph combines international expertise with a strong grasp of AS, AAMA, Qualanod, Qualicoat, ISO, BS, ASTM, and MIL standards. His work ensures high-quality, compliant, and durable finishes for architectural and industrial applications. Collaborating with production, R&D, and client teams, Joseph delivers technically robust and aesthetically superior surface solutions.