OREANDA-NEWS. June 08, 2015. Lightweight metals leader Alcoa (NYSE:AA) today announced that it is supplying a high-strength, aerospace-grade aluminum to Samsung for its latest smartphones —the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge. This marks the first time the global electronic giant will use an aluminum frame for its Galaxy S flagship model. The Company’s aerospace-grade aluminum, 6013 Alcoa Power Plate™, is 70 percent stronger than standard aluminum used in similar devices, creating a thinner, lighter, sleeker design.

“When we designed the metal framed Galaxy S6 and S6 edge, it was important to find a strong yet light metal that would create a device capable of exciting our customers,” said DJ Koh, CTO and Executive Vice President of Mobile Communication Business at Samsung Electronics. ”Alcoa’s Power Plate is the perfect fit to create the phones that our customers want: thinner, lighter, and stronger.”

Smartphones with metal frames are expected to grow almost 250 percent1 by 2016 from 2014, creating stronger demand for aluminum to protect mobile devices. Developed by Alcoa Technical Center scientists, innovators in metal science, the Alcoa Power Plate aerospace-grade aluminum combines advanced strength and corrosion resistance for products that require superior durability.

”Alcoa’s Power Plate has been battle tested across aerospace, automotive and military uses, proving it can withstand the heavy use and tough treatment endured by mobile devices,” said Ray Kilmer, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Alcoa. “Samsung’s leading designers wanted to develop a thinner, sleeker device without sacrificing durability. Innovating with Samsung, Alcoa’s metallurgists identified a solution that gives the Galaxy one of the strongest and most durable aluminum bodies available on the market.”

Samsung Galaxy S6 phones with Alcoa Power Plate are now available globally.

Alcoa’s innovative technologies for the consumer electronics market support the Company’s broader strategy to grow its value-add portfolio. Other Alcoa consumer electronics solutions include ProStrength™, a proprietary surface finishing technology also using aerospace-grade aluminum for thinner, lighter and stronger mobile devices.