Miro, which features a mirror-like finish, is the aluminium of the future, says its manufacturer Alanod Aluminium-Veredlung, a world leader in anodised and enhanced aluminium production.

This surface-treated aluminium is a product of intensive research and development, says a spokesman for the German firm.

Alanod produces approximately 30,000 tonnes per year of surface-refined aluminium, with 80 per cent of its output used in lighting and suspended ceiling applications.

Elaborating on its new product, the spokesman says: 'Miro is unique in that it is the first product to provide a 95 per cent (DIN 5036) reflective optically-coated surface in mass production. This is combined with the total absence of iridescent colours, and a marked reduction in diffused reflection, resulting in an enormous improvement in efficiency from the previous best of 87 per cent (DIN 5036) for standard anodised materials.

Miro can be used with the latest T5 tubes lamp technology. It is suitable for various applications such as: standard lighting louvres, especially double parabolic; industrial lighting; daylight systems; halogen spots; floodlighting; solar energy systems; and many other decorative applications.

Alanod launched production of anodised aluminium in 1976, initially with a maximum coil width of 810 mm. In 1981, a second anodising line was brought on line, with a maximum width of 1,000 mm, followed by a third line producing 1,250 mm-wide coil in 1985.

Alanod specialises in the production of surface coatings of aluminium coils which can then be used in decorative applications as well as in the lighting, car and computer industries.

At its factory, a high-quality oxide film is applied to the aluminium surface, giving an inert transparent protective coating to the aluminium. This oxide layer is durable, and to some extent flexible, allowing the material to be formable, according to the spokesman.

'As a result, Alanod can guarantee product quality for almost all applications,' he says. 'Alanod only uses aluminium of high purity and quality, thereby producing high-quality semi-finished products, which are the prerequisite for the production of high-quality lighting louvres with maximum reflection.'

Alanod aluminium coil can be cut to any size, as specified by the customer.

'The outstanding quality allows the material to be processed in many ways: it can be printed, cut to size, rolled, profiled, bent, drawn, bevelled, punched, pierced and perforated,' he says. 'We aim at continuous improvement to achieve higher standards for surface-treated aluminium, to always improve our present product standards.'

Alanod also offers a range of Miro solar products which are environment-friendly.

These include Miro Therm selective solar absorptive coatings; Miro Sun, used as mirrors in CPC solar collectors and in light architecture such as aluminium glass structures; Miro LCD for reflectors in LCD monitors; and Miro Lux for bulb shields in automobile headlights.