Aluminium Treadplate | Checkerplate from Austral Wright

Aluminium Tread | Checkerplate 

Austral Wright Metals has a history of over 75 years in the aluminium tread plate business as one of the industry’s leading aluminium suppliers. Our Australian national and state warehouses carry a wide range of products, including standard and non-standard stock sizes of tread plate, also called checker plate, and are fully equipped to supply the unique needs of Australia’s major manufacturers.

How is aluminium tread 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.

How much is it?

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 attracts a premium over that of standard flat sheet or coil. This premium can be in the order of 15-20%. For current pricing of your specific requirements please email or call your local Austral Wright Metals Service Centre.

What is it used for?

Checker plate is used for many varied products and applications including; transport industry including rail, marine, trailers, trucks, offshore and tool boxes, kick boards, shop fronts, roofing and architectural decorative uses. 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 considerations.

What alloy is it 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.

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Aluminium Treadplate | Checkerplate