Aluminium 2026: Eural Gnutti changes the rules of the game

Eural Gnutti , the world’s leading manufacturer of drawn aluminium alloy bars for machining and one of the main players in the production of extruded bars and profiles – is taking part in ALUMINIUM (Stand 3A13), the sector’s most important international event, scheduled to take place in Düsseldorf from 6 to 8 October.

The company’s presence at the trade fair will provide an opportunity to highlight the three key elements of its evolution: the innovation embodied in LEAD-FREE alloys, the expansion of aluminium’s fields of application as a substitute for brass and steel, and a production model increasingly geared towards the principles of the circular economy – fully in line with the themes at the heart of the 2026 Exhibition. Sustainability, recycling and technological transformation are now the sector’s main challenges: a path that Eural tackles every day, sharing its achievements and expertise, with a view to enhancing the role of aluminium in industrial applications.

The future of aluminium is already lead-free

Eural embarked on a research programme aimed at developing lead-free materials capable of maintaining high standards of workability and mechanical performance, long before the European regulatory framework set out the phased phase-out of lead in metal alloys. Specifically, the update to the RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU stipulates that on 12 June 2027 the final exemption for aluminium alloys and other metals, such as brass and steel, intended for machining and containing more than 0.4 per cent lead by weight, will expire, resulting in a definitive limit on the permitted concentration of 0.1 per cent.

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The ELV Directive 2000/53/EC, soon to be replaced by the new ELV Regulation, focuses instead on the automotive sector, prohibiting the use of lead in end-of-life vehicles, subject to certain exemptions for critical components, which have been renewed but progressively reduced, with an indicative expiry date at the end of 2027. Eural Gnutti’s R&D activities have led to the creation of the three LF by Eural alloys: 6026LF, 2033 and 2077, each designed to meet the diverse needs of the manufacturing industry.

The 6026LF LEAD FREE alloy by EURAL was developed as an alternative to the lower-performance 6082 and 6061 alloys of the 6xxx family and will replace the 6064A alloy, which contains a minimum of 0.2 per cent lead and will therefore no longer comply with European regulations. Thanks to its excellent mechanical properties and superb machinability, the 6026LF is highly regarded, particularly in the automotive sector – specifically in braking systems – and in all applications requiring strength and a high-quality surface finish, even after hard anodising.

The 2033 LEAD FREE alloy by EURAL is designed to deliver excellent performance when machined on high-speed automatic lathes, thanks to the production of extremely fine chips. Owing to its superior mechanical properties and its ability to withstand higher pressures than the 2011 grade, the 2033 is particularly well-suited to applications in highly specialised sectors such as the automotive industry, stamping, screw and bolt manufacturing , and threaded parts – even those with reduced thicknesses – where optimal machinability and rapid production times are required, as well as in the electrical and electronics sectors. In this latter sector, companies that traditionally use 2011 alloy have already begun replacing it with the 2033 which, to date, is the only solution compatible with the new RoHS restrictions on lead and is approved by the leading market players.

Finally, 2077 LEAD FREE By EURAL represents an innovation in the hard alloy sector, being the only one with superior mechanical properties that guarantee excellent machinability, comparable to that of alloys 2011 and 2033. This advantage enables the achievement of very high levels of productivity, tighter tolerances, improved surface finish and longer tool life.

Beyond lead Beyond brass

The growing use of high-performance alloys is enhancing aluminium’s role as a key material in industrial design, helping to boost production efficiency, improve machining quality and reduce resource consumption. The combination of lightness, high mechanical strength, excellent machinability, corrosion resistance and surface quality makes aluminium a viable alternative to brass in numerous precision applications and to specific types of steel and cast iron in high-performance components.

Eural Gnutti is at the forefront of this transition, which is affecting numerous industrial sectors: from the automotive and general engineering sectors to the electrical, electronic and automation sectors, where weight reduction and increased efficiency are becoming increasingly decisive competitive factors.

With over 50 years’ expertise in the aluminium sector, Eural works alongside companies right from the earliest design stages, supporting both those approaching this material for the first time and those choosing to adopt it as a replacement for other metal alloys. Eural’s technical support continues right through to machine set-up and the optimisation of production cycles, thanks to a team of experts capable of providing technical expertise and qualified advice to improve performance, efficiency and results.

Circular economy : Eural transforms scrap into value

Material innovation forms part of a broader strategy that identifies sustainability as one of Eural’s key drivers of development. LF alloys are developed, in particular, using a high proportion of secondary aluminium sourced from scrap recycling. In the current, extremely volatile geopolitical climate, this material takes on immense strategic value.

One of Eural’s key achievements is, in fact, its ability to produce high-performance alloys using different sources of scrap. The company has developed processes capable of utilising both foundry offcuts and those resulting from in-house extrusion – the so-called ‘run-around’ process – as well as secondary material sourced from predominantly Italian and European supply chains. The objective achieved was to keep the lead concentration within controlled limits, thereby expanding recycling opportunities without compromising the performance and quality of the final product.

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“We have always believed that innovation stems from engagement with the market and with those who use our materials on a daily basis, and in this sense, ALUMINIUM represents an important opportunity for Eural to engage with customers, partners and industry professionals from all over the world,” says Paola Gnutti, Chair of Eural, who concludes: “For Eural, innovation only gains value when it translates into concrete solutions for the market, which is why our experts will be on hand to discuss the challenges facing the sector and explore together how to overcome them.”

Note: This article has been issued by Eural Gnutti and has been published by AL Circle with its original information without any modifications or edits to the core subject/data.