Steel is a very valuable asset across a number of industries, including construction, automotive and aviation industries. So it’s really no surprise that sheet metal is one of the most commonly recycled or reused materials in the world, with tens of millions of tonnes being recycled in the USA – not to mention the rest of the world.

As the world becomes more conscious of its natural resources and finds further value in recycling sheet metal and other construction materials, plenty of industries are taking advantage of recycled or repurposed sheet metal. This is especially important, as using recycled metal in place of newly produced metal saves around 75% of the energy needed to make steel from raw materials, reduces air emissions by 85% and reduces water pollution by 76%.

So, which industries are working together to make steel production and use more sustainable?

One of the largest producers of sheet metal and other building materials, the construction industry is also one of the biggest supporters of scrap sheet metal. In the world of construction, sheet metal is used on both the outside of buildings as well as internally in the form of support structure. Sheet metal is also central to high-rise buildings, including apartment complexes, office buildings and skyscrapers thanks to its incredible strength to weight ratio and durability.

With that being said, producing new sheet metal for these applications can be very costly, especially when you learn that even nuts and bolts are crafted from sheet metal. This is why scrap sheet metal is such an important asset to the construction industry, saving money on otherwise costly production for such an in-demand product.

Buying a car second hand is a great way to save money – and so is using scrap sheet metal within the automotive industry. Cars and other automotive vehicles are made up of a lot of metal, from the chassis to the engine to the bodyshell, meaning that a lot of sheet metal is required in their construction. Sheet metal is also very malleable, meaning that it’s perfect for shaping whilst retaining its integrity.

As is the story within the construction industry, scrap sheet metal is highly valued in the automotive industry due to the soaring demand for metals including steel, aluminium and iron. It cuts down on costs across the board.

If you take a moment to pause and look around you, you’ll realise just how abundant the use of sheet metal is in everyday life. From train tracks to traffic lights to the bridge that carries you across the river, sheet metal is present in almost countless ways. Sheet metal is therefore very important to the industry as it is needed in such massive volumes, and scrap sheet metal makes up a significant portion of this.

When it comes to aeronautics, both weight and strength play a vital factor in getting an aeroplane off the ground and keeping it in the air. Aeroplanes undergo a lot during even a short flight, so sheet metal is employed in the fuselage (body of the plane), wings, and of course the plane’s engines, as well as hundreds of other points around the aeroplane. A remarkable feat of engineering requires some remarkable materials, after all, which is why recycled sheet metal is in demand for airlines.

The HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) industry commonly makes use of scrap sheet metal, as each air conditioner has hundreds of components and many of them are made of metal. Many of these parts are required to be durable and long-lasting, which is why metals such as aluminium and stainless steel are desired. Aside from sheet metal, air conditioners can also utilise other scrap parts including copper piping, metal ductwork, coils and compressors.

We would be more than happy to help you out! We take your scrap metal and pay you cash, all whilst being professional and fair. Elite Recyclers are a fully licensed scrap metal dealer and offer the best deals for scrap sheet metal prices in Brisbane. We accept ferrous and non-ferrous metals – meaning that if your scrap has any metal components, chances are we can give you cash for them. This of course includes scrap steel, brass, and aluminium sheets, roofing sheets, and much more.