Non-ferrous metals
Part of the Metallurgy & Metalworking sector
Non-ferrous metals are metals that contain little or no iron — aluminium, copper, brass, bronze, zinc, nickel, titanium and more — valued for light weight, conductivity and corrosion resistance. This hub explains the main alloys and how to find and compare verified suppliers on Digibition.
Looking to source in this sector, or want your company to appear here? Browse the directory or list your company.
Overview
Non-ferrous metals include aluminium and its alloys, copper and copper alloys such as brass and bronze, zinc, lead, tin, nickel, titanium and precious and specialty metals. Because they do not rust like iron and offer properties such as high electrical and thermal conductivity, low density or non-magnetism, they serve applications where steel is unsuitable.
The category reaches buyers as billets and ingots, extruded profiles, rolled sheet, plate and foil, bar and rod, tube, and wire. Each is defined by an alloy designation and a temper or condition — for example a specific aluminium alloy in a given temper, or a copper alloy to a defined hardness.
Buyers here include aerospace, automotive and electronics makers, builders of heat exchangers and electrical equipment, architectural fabricators and recyclers. On Digibition, smelters, rolling mills, extruders and metal stockists publish verified profiles so professional buyers can discover and compare them by specialization and country.
What to check when sourcing
When you source non-ferrous metal, the alloy designation and temper come first: they fix the chemistry and mechanical condition, and a matching material test certificate (for example EN 10204 3.1, given here only as an illustration) documents the actual batch. Confirm the product form, dimensions and tolerances, and any surface or anodising condition your application needs.
Beyond the material, weigh conductivity or purity grades where they matter, minimum order quantities, whether offcuts or full mill forms are supplied, lead times and traceability back to the cast or lot. Prices in this category can move with metal markets, so clarify how quotes are priced and how long they hold.
Use the directory to shortlist suppliers by specialization and country, then contact several and compare alloy availability, certificates and lead times before you commit.
What to check when sourcing non-ferrous metals
| Criterion | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Alloy & temper | A defined alloy and temper/condition matching your strength and workability needs |
| Material certificate | A test certificate for the batch, e.g. EN 10204 3.1 (shown as an example) |
| Form & dimensions | Profile, sheet, plate, bar, tube, foil or wire in your sizes and tolerances |
| Grade of purity | Conductivity or purity grade where the application depends on it |
| MOQ & pricing | Minimum order quantity and how quotes track metal-market prices |
| Traceability | Cast or lot number and documentation back to the source |
Frequently asked questions
- What counts as a non-ferrous metal?
- Any metal that contains little or no iron — aluminium, copper, brass, bronze, zinc, lead, tin, nickel, titanium and precious or specialty metals. They are chosen for properties such as light weight, high conductivity, non-magnetism and resistance to the kind of rust that affects iron and steel.
- What is the difference between brass and bronze?
- Both are copper alloys. Brass is mainly copper and zinc and is valued for machinability and appearance; bronze is mainly copper and tin (sometimes with aluminium or other elements) and is valued for wear resistance and strength. The right choice depends on the application.
- What does an alloy temper mean?
- Temper or condition describes the mechanical state of an alloy after rolling, extrusion and any heat treatment — for example annealed, cold-worked or solution-treated and aged. The same alloy in different tempers has different strength and formability, so both the alloy and temper matter.
- How do I find non-ferrous metal suppliers?
- Use the Digibition directory to filter by this specialization and by country, then open each company profile to review its products, certifications and specializations. You can message suppliers directly, or add several to a quote list and request quotes from all of them at once.
- What should I check before placing a large order?
- Confirm the alloy, temper and required material certificate, agree form, dimensions and tolerances, and clarify minimum order quantity, lead time and how pricing tracks metal markets. This is general information, not legal or technical advice.
Looking to source in this sector, or want your company to appear here? Browse the directory or list your company.
Important notice
This page is general industry information published by Digibition for educational purposes only. It is not legal, financial, tax, customs, regulatory, or other professional advice, and it is not a substitute for advice from a qualified professional. Standards, certifications, duties, taxes, and regulatory requirements differ between countries and markets and change over time; nothing here is guaranteed to be accurate, complete, or current. Verify any requirement independently with a qualified adviser and the relevant competent authority before you act. Digibition is an online company directory and digital-fair platform; it is not a party to any transaction between users and does not endorse, guarantee, or accept responsibility for any third-party company, product, claim, or certification. A company being reviewed or approved for listing refers only to Digibition's internal listing review and is not a warranty of that company's quality, legality, solvency, or performance. Any mention of specific standards or certifications is illustrative and is not an endorsement or a statement of compliance. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Digibition accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on this page; any reliance is at your own risk.