AMAG’s tread plate portfolio
Secure. Durable. Versatile.
Originally conceived as a purely functional plate to improve slip resistance, aluminium tread plates now serve important functions in many technical and aesthetic applications, from automotive construction, mechanical engineering and plant engineering to shipbuilding and even architecture. With its extensive tread plate portfolio, AMAG offers a selection of material solutions that are geared to real-world requirements and combine technical performance with aesthetic quality.
Starting from a secure footing
Ensuring a secure footing has always been at the heart of tread plate development. A structured surface offers markedly better friction and prevents slipping, even in challenging conditions that entail dirt or moisture. This is particularly important for safety-related applications, such as steps (Figure 1), walkways, platforms and ramps in industrial and public settings. A tread plate’s effectiveness in preventing slipping depends on multiple factors, such as surface geometry, evenness, the contact angle with the walking surface and the material’s properties. Choosing the right type of tread plate therefore depends to a significant extent on the intended application.
Dynamic requirements: From utility vehicles to shipbuilding
In automotive construction, for instance, tread plates are subjected to high dynamic stresses, but are still expected to be lightweight products with high formability. Effective ways of meeting these requirements include using tailored alloy-temper combinations or specific bendable qualities that combine high formability with sufficient strength – in order to create durable, resilient ramps and access points. Such cases call for an embossed pattern with proven slip resistance, such as the diamond pattern. This classic tread plate pattern features embossed lines arranged into a rhomboid, creating a look similar to a cut diamond.
A firm understanding of industrial practices
In addition to formability and bending capacity, mechanical stress tolerance also plays an important role in production environments. Heat-treated 6xxx alloys such as 6061 and 6082 alloys in T6 temper are ideal for these conditions because their high strength allows them to withstand significant stresses, while also facilitating precise processing. For areas subject to particularly demanding slip prevention requirements, along with areas potentially contaminated with oils and other liquids, the specially developed AMAG TopGrip® pattern is an ideal choice.
It features deep, staggered embossed shapes in two directions, creating an exceptionally grippy surface. Subsequent processing steps such as contour milling and cutting do not impair the anti-slip effect, because the pattern is embossed deep into the sheet. This makes AMAG TopGrip® the preferred choice for safety-critical applications.
For large-scale applications such as railway platforms, loading ramps and maintenance platforms, every seam counts. The fewer butt joints, the lower the risk of material weaknesses, trip hazards and leaks. At the same time, these environments call for durable and robust anti-slip materials that perform effectively over the long term despite intensive use. Large-scale AMAG tread plates – with appropriate surface patterns – in end widths of up to 2,070 mm are ideal for such applications. The symmetry of the Quintet and Duet patterns creates a consistent look while providing good slip resistance, making them very well suited to areas with high footfall or high logistic throughput. The embossed elements have rounded edges, which has both aesthetic and functional advantages: less dirt accumulation, more efficient cleaning and a more pleasant feel underfoot.
Structured beauty
When deployed in an architectural context, tread plates not only serve a functional purpose but also contribute to the design. In such cases, key criteria include the material’s surface quality, its look and feel, and how it integrates into the overall design. At the same time, slip prevention and formability cannot be neglected, especially in public areas.For primarily decorative applications, such as wall cladding and interior floor coverings, we recommend choosing alloys with good formability – such as EN-AW5754 – combined with a less pronounced surface design. A reduced pattern height of just 0.5 mm creates a harmonious look and serves primarily decorative purposes.
AMAG has added a new dimension to its portfolio with the inclusion of AMAG Diamond Bright. This high-gloss tread plate has been specially developed for decorative applications in the transport sector – such as tool boxes, trucks, fire trucks (Figure 2) and high-quality technical cladding. With its shiny, consistent surface and wonderfully distinctive surface pattern, it unites aesthetic elegance with industrial ruggedness. Besides its radiant appearance, it also offers impressive technical performance: high formability, uniform pattern height and reliable bending capacity around tight radii. These qualities make it possible to realize complex components with tight geometries with precision.
The spectrum of thicknesses and widths in the AMAG tread plate portfolio
| Alloy | Minimum thickness (mm) 1 | Maximum thickness (mm) 1 | Minimum width (mm) 1 | Maximum width (mm) 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5052, 5754, 5083, 5086, 3003 | 1,0 | 12,7 | 500 | 2.100 |
| 6013, 6061, 6082 | 2,0 | 12,7 | 500 | H1311.524 |
Summary
Wherever architectural elegance meets technical robustness, and where safety, durability and design all matter in equal measure, AMAG’s portfolio of tread plate products comes into its own. It brings together wide-ranging alloys, different surface patterns and a variety of manufacturing options to enable a high degree of customization. This is the result of decades of materials expertise, specialist knowledge of production technology and a clear understanding of the requirements in a wide range of sectors.
