Zinc Becomes Dearer

Amidst the commodity price inflation, Ashish Bhatia with Sumesh Soman checks the bearing on zinc in its various forms for the components industry.

- Ashish Bhatia Sumesh Soman

If you start dismantling a modern automobile, be it under the hood, tearing apart the chassis, or inspecting the fuel system, you are likely to find many parts plated with Zinc. The element plays a crucial role in the making of automotive parts, the reason being its anti-corrosive properties. Many OEMs give out warranties on their component because zinc-coated parts can withstand up to 1,000 hours of salt spray testing. It is well known how the use of a galvanize sheet for automotive body panels allows OEMs to offer an up to the 12-year warranty on corrosion resistance at a fraction of the cost. Consumers stand to benefit from durability, aesthetics, long-term surface stability of surface appearance and low maintenance. The chemical element is also the 24th most abundant element found in the earth's crust and is the fourth most commonly used metal, topped by iron, copper and aluminium.