What is Aluminum Extrusion？

What is aluminum extrusion?

Aluminum extrusion is a metalworking process in which aluminum alloy material is heated and pressed under pressure into a die with a specific cross-sectional shape using high pressure to form aluminum profiles with continuous cross-sectional characteristics.

History of Aluminum Extrusion

This manufacturing process first began more than 100 years ago. The extrusion process was first developed by Joseph Bramah in 1797 for the production of lead pipes. The process was originally known as the “jet” and manual process until Thomas Burr completed the first hydraulic press in 1820. Alexander Dick created the hot extrusion process in 1894, which is now used in modern times. Thanks to hot extrusion, manufacturers now use non-ferrous alloys in the extrusion process, and after the first aluminum extrusion press was built in 1904, the use of aluminum in the automotive and construction industries skyrocketed.

During World War II, the demand for extruded aluminum increased dramatically. It was used in military applications and aircraft manufacturing. The demand for extruded aluminum began to expand further. It is now a part of our daily lives. From the car you drive to the items in your home, they are all products of this efficient manufacturing process.

What shapes can aluminum extrusion be made into?

1. Solid. These shapes have no closed openings or voids (i.e. beams, corners, or rods).

2. hollow. These shapes have one or more openings or voids (i.e., rectangular or square tubes).

3. semi-hollow. Partially closed voids (i.e., “C” shaped channels with narrower gaps).

4. Custom Aluminum Extrusion Shapes. These shapes usually have multiple extrusions. They can also be interlocking shapes with various color profiles. These shapes usually meet the designer's specifications.

Application fields

1. Building material structures: such as aluminum doors and windows, curtain walls, railings, signage, etc.

2. Transportation parts: such as bicycle rims, frames, automobile radiators, ship cabin components, vehicle hulls and aircraft frames, seat frames, etc.

3. consumer durable materials: such as sports and leisure goods (aluminum bat, skate frame, badminton racket).

4. Components for machinery and industrial equipment: such as conveyor frames for electronics, food, and chemical fiber conveying machinery, heat exchanger components, air tool structural components, air compression cylinders, forging blanks, industrial piping, and elevator room frames.

5. Electronic engineering components: such as heat sinks, disk drive read/write head, optical ruler, photocopier photoconductor, optical guides, magnetic tape rotor, and so on.

6. Defense weapon parts: such as missile casings, firearms components, etc.