Aluminium Checker Plate - Tread Plate
Aluminium checker plate is made from alloys 5052 and 3003 and is commonly used for many varied products and projects suitable for; transport industry including rail, marine, trailers, trucks, offshore and tool boxes, kick boards, shop fronts, ramps, roofing, commercial flooring and architectural decorative uses. This type of plate differs to normal aluminium plate with mill finish due to its raised pattern. Whilst it is aesthetically pleasing and functional in many applications, care should be taken to ensure this product meets all the design requirements, including; spans, thickness/load limits, slip rating and environment safety considerations. Contact us today to speak to us about your project and delivery times.
Aluminium Checker plate dimensions
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What is Aluminium Checker Plate
Aluminium checker plate (also called tread plate or 5-bar plate) is a patterned aluminium sheet made using alloy 5052 or 3003. It’s used in applications requiring strength, minimal slip resistance, and corrosion protection – like trailers, walkways, marine flooring, and toolboxes. It is typically sold by length not coils in a width of 1200mm.
How is Aluminium Checker Plate made?
Aluminium tread plate is made by the semi-continuous casting, hot rolling and cold rolling of aluminium ingot. It is during the cold rolling operation where the checker or tread pattern is embossed onto one side of the coil during the final rolling operation. The rolls used to produce the pattern are expensive and made in unique sets. The height of the tread or lozenge is determined by the etching depth of the pattern into these finishing rolls.
Types of Aluminium tread plate
This type of plate comes in a range of patterns.
- One bar pattern – also called Diamond or Propellor plate
- Five bar pattern
What is the cost of Aluminium Checker Plate?
Due to the time and cost to make these special working rolls, and combined with the much slower rolling speeds that can be used, the price of tread plate or checker plate attracts a premium over that of standard flat sheet or coil. This premium can be in the order of 15-20%. For current competitive pricing of your specific checker plates requirements please email or call your local Austral Wright Metals Service Centre and check on our same day pickup or delivery.
What alloy is checker plate made from?
In Australia, aluminium checker plate is most commonly stocked and sold in alloys 5052 and 3003. Alloy 5052 has good corrosion resistance and strength, and is sometimes referred to as “Marine Grade Aluminium”, and is used in the transport industry among many other applications. While alloy 3003 is commonly used for the manufacture of bright finishes with propeller or diamond shaped lozenges.
Our technical expertise together with our association with the worlds' leading Asian and European mills allow us to continue to satisfy the most stringent needs of today's quality conscious and competitive markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What patterns are available for checker plate? five bar or diamond (one bar).
What’s the difference between alloy 3003 and 5052? 3003 has manganese as an alloying element, while 5005 has magnesium.
Can I get checker plate cut to size? no, but we can refer you to one of our fabricators.
Is checker plate non-slip rated? no, aluminium tread plate or checker plate has a poor anti-slip rating.
What industries commonly use checker plate? transport, marine and architectural industries.
Is 5052 considered marine grade aluminium? yes, it is consider a non structural marine grade.
Why is checker plate more expensive than flat aluminium? there are extra processes, involving expenses tooling, to produce checker/tread plate.
Do you deliver checker plate Australia-wide? yes
PDF Downloads Aluminium Sheet & Plate
Common checker plate uses
- truck beds
- walkways
- ramps
- industrial settings
- stairs
- tool boxes
- Shopfront kickplates