Developers and manufacturers need to weigh the benefits of the various materials that they have to work with to create products, parts, and components for consumer, commercial, and industrial projects. When it comes to metal, there are quite a few options that are considered to be industry standards, such as steel, copper, and aluminum. However, you might be surprised to learn that the benefits of aluminum products frequently outweigh the advantages provided by these other industry standards, making standard and custom aluminum extrusion even more valuable.
What is Aluminum Extrusion?
The process used by the aluminum extrusion industry to create standard and custom parts is quite simple. It is much like the method used by children when playing with colorful dough to press the material through a specific shape to create the desired result. Squeezing toothpaste through a tube works similarly, providing the user with a toothbrush-shaped line of paste that can be conveniently used. For standard and custom aluminum extrusion, aluminum is heated to a specific temperature and is then pushed through steel dies or profile to create the desired shape. The process itself enhances the natural benefits of aluminum products, increasing the value and even increasing its inherent high strength-to-weight ratio, which makes it perfect for the construction of bridges, automobiles, structural components, and much more.
The aluminum extrusion industry can create just about any shape or length of part, product, and component that the client requires. Standard shapes include tubes, bars, and angles, as well as other typical product profiles. Custom aluminum extrusion can help manufacturers to create parts that meet their strict specifications and include designs that would otherwise have to be accomplished using secondary operations. This can help businesses to reduce costs associated with production, improve lead times significantly, and create stronger, more durable pieces. Silver City Aluminum is a one-stop-shop extrusion, fabrication, and finishing facility in Southeastern Massachusetts. We partner with our clients to develop aluminum extrusion solutions that are designed to maximize their return on investment and create high-quality results.
Environmental Benefits of Aluminum Products
Aluminum is the most plentiful metal on the planet. It is also one of the top recycled metals used in industry around the globe. Thanks to consumer awareness programs, everyone recycles aluminum, which can be used over and over again without ever losing any of its inherent qualities. This is just one of the reasons why standard and custom aluminum extrusion are considered to be very eco-friendly parts, products, and components. They are very attractive to those who work with projects that focus on being friendly to the environment, such as the LEED certification program for residential, commercial, and industrial construction.
The natural malleability of aluminum makes it easy to work with, requiring less energy to create the unique shapes and designs that the aluminum extrusion industry is known for producing. Extremely reflective, the use of aluminum on roofing and other structures can reflect the sun’s powerful UV rays, reducing the amount of heat that transfers into a building during the summer months to lower energy consumption for cooling. It is long-lasting, durable, and has a high strength-to-weight ratio that is attractive to automotive manufacturers who are looking for new ways to improve fuel economy without sacrificing safety.
Industrial Benefits of Aluminum Products
In addition to the qualities already mentioned, many manufacturers are flocking to the aluminum extrusion industry to take advantage of the benefits of aluminum products for other reasons. In particular, the high strength-to-weight ratio makes aluminum perfect for the manufacture of boats, subways, railway coaches, and professional trucks and trailers. Cylinder heads, engine blocks, engine collars, transmission housings, chassis, and panels are just some of the parts and components created with aluminum to support the transportation industry. Airplanes and spacecraft bodies and parts have also benefitted from custom aluminum extrusion to provide strength and durability at a weight of one-third that of steel and iron.
Naturally resistant to corrosion, such as rust, aluminum is perfect in many industrial settings where abrasive chemicals and environments can wear down equipment quickly. Mining, marine, military, and defense industries are just some of the manufacturers who are taking advantage of this beneficial quality. Aluminum is also a high conductor of both heat and electricity, yet it is a fraction of the cost spent on materials like copper, which are typically used for electronics, home heating, and condenser tubes. There seems to be no end to the ways that aluminum can be used. To learn more about Silver City Aluminum and our industry solutions, give us a call at 508-824-8631 and speak with one of our technicians or engineers about your project.