One of the most affordable and effective forms of metal manufacturing available today is extruded aluminum. Standard and custom aluminum extrusion can increase lead times for production while obtaining high-quality parts, components, and products at an affordable price. There are many advantages to choosing aluminum industry solutions that will help to enhance the reputation of your production company or brand. A custom or standard extrusion die can be used to make components used in workstations and machinery or parts for automotive and aerospace industry projects.
High Strength-to-Weight Ratio
One of the most remarkable things about extruded aluminum is what is known as its high strength-to-weight ratio. What that means is that the strength of the aluminum after extrusion is much greater than its weight. Compared to more costly steel and iron, which are commonly used in manufacturing, extruded aluminum offers similar strength measurements with just one-third the weight. This allows automotive manufacturers, airplane designers, and marine vessel production companies to create finished products that increase fuel economy and performance with all of the strength, protection, and safety found in other metals.
The extrusion process itself is partly responsible for the increased strength properties in this popular metal. The raw aluminum billets are heated to a precise temperature to make them more malleable before the extrusion process begins. The heated metal is then pushed through a custom, or standard extrusion die at approximately 10,000,000 pounds of pressure to create the desired shape. While still warm, the extruded metal is then stretched into the perfect size and dimension with opposing stretchers before it is cut to the specified length. The standard or custom aluminum extrusion pieces are then heat-treated to harden the aluminum to its maximum capacity.
Aluminum Industry Solutions
There are many different industries that rely on extruded aluminum, either as parts, components, or complete products for manufacturing. The construction industry depends on both custom and standard die shapes to create structural aluminum components. However, other types of manufacturers utilize these structural products as well, including the automotive, marine, and industrial machining industries. There are many benefits associated with choosing an aluminum alloy for manufacturing. Aluminum itself is very cost-effective, as it is one of the most recycled metals on the planet. Aluminum is also very plentiful, and it can be recycled over and over again without losing any of its inherent qualities.
It is possible to create an endless variety of shapes and sizes through the use of standard and custom aluminum extrusion. Aluminum has a natural resistance to corrosion through the development of a protective oxide layer, which can even heal itself if it becomes scratched or damaged during use. Aluminum is highly conductive to both heat and electricity. Unlike steel and iron, which become brittle when in extremely low temperatures, aluminum becomes even stronger as the mercury drops. Combine all of these traits and benefits with a high strength-to-weight ratio, and it becomes apparent why so many industries use this cost-effective and eco-friendly metal in production.
Reduce Labor Costs
While it might seem that designing your own custom aluminum extrusion profile instead of using a standard extrusion die might be more costly, it can be quite the opposite. Having to make changes and adapt a standard shape to fit the project’s needs can result in increased labor costs due to added materials, machinery, time, and manpower. Investing in a custom design can save money in the long term, helping manufacturers to reduce labor costs and increase profits for production. When you work with a trusted team like the engineers and technicians at Silver City Aluminum, you can rest easy knowing that we take great pride in quality control and consistency for our clients. We do all of the work in-house, from design and development all the way through extrusion, fabrication, secondary operations, finishing, and even shipping.
Our team ensures quality by performing inspections and monitoring the extrusion process every step of the way. We even remove each item from the finishing line by hand to inspect it again before taking it to our freight department to ensure quality results. If you would like to learn more about our aluminum industry solutions or would like to discuss the development of a custom aluminum extrusion profile for your manufacturing needs, give us a call at 508-824-8631. We can answer any questions you might have about extruded aluminum and provide support for your manufacturing needs with our professional services.