Steel vs. Aluminum Room Dividers: The Facts

You may have noticed that some room dividers are made with steel frames, while others are made with anodized aluminum. In general, steel is a heavy, rugged metal, while aluminum is lightweight and durable.  When it comes to bicycles, steel may be a good choice, but when it comes to portable partitions, aluminum can’t be beat. For our room dividers, we use black anodized aluminum due to its strength, light weight, and durability. Airplanes are crafted out of aluminum for these basic reasons. The low density of aluminum is the main driver for using it in many structural applications. The high strength-to-weight ratio is the number one reason for its development in the aircraft industry.  Therefore, it is much more advantageous to have a portable wall constructed out of aluminum versus steel. [gallery link="file" columns="2" exclude="291"] Aluminum is a strong, durable material that allows the partition to withstand years of regular usage.  We also use a cast aluminum corner joint, which increases durability, unlike other brands.  Aluminum does not rust, which gives our customers the option to use our products indoors as well as outdoors in the elements, making our portable partitions great for patio spaces or outdoor restaurant needs. If a steel frame is scratched, it can easily rust. Aluminum’s light weight gives a huge advantage when considering portability and ease of use.  We intentionally chose aluminum over steel not only for its durability, but also considering the significant heft of a steel-framed room divider, which ultimately requires more effort to transport, open, and close.  When maneuvering a steel-framed partition over rough surfaces, you will certainly feel the weight of it tipping back and forth. Our aluminum frames and lowered clearance prohibit such potentially dangerous behavior. Plus, the reduced weight means less wear and tear on the rolling casters. Since our room dividers are lightweight, it makes shipping our products easy and cost-efficient, and allows us to provide FREE SHIPPING in the continental U.S. We use aluminum instead of steel because we have the customer in mind.