Fundamentally, aluminum extrusion is the method of mechanically forcing hot aluminum through a precision-made die in order to produce a particular shape or mold in exact and accurate measurements and shapes in high volumes. Aluminum extrusions are absolutely perfect for a wide range of applications and uses ranging from domestic household use to heavy industries including scientific and aerospace requirements.

Aluminum is one of the most versatile elements on the planet and ranks third behind oxygen and silicon as the most plentiful and ranks as one of the most abundant metals on Earth. It is widely used in air-conditioning systems, vehicle and aircraft engines, buildings, space ships and even military vessels. In fact, aluminum extrusion products are an integral part of our daily lives although we may not be aware of their presence in the materials, equipment and machineries around us.

In metal form, aluminum possesses many properties that make its use viable in a broad scale of applications. Aluminum is lightweight, durable, resilient, nonmagnetic and non-hazardous. It is has better electrical conductivity than copper and a lot cheaper and reflects heat and light. Despite its material strength, aluminum is easily workable and retains its tensile strength even under below zero temperatures without becoming brittle. Best of all, used and broken aluminum products can be easily and inexpensively recycled into new products.

It has a very high strength-to-weight ratio (more strength than weight mass) that makes it an ideal material of choice for low-weight parts and components manufactured through aluminum extrusion.

Aluminum products are naturally protected from corrosion by a transparent oxide film that occurs during oxidation, this naturally-occurring corrosion resistance can be improved further by means of an electrochemical process thereby prolonging the lifespan of aluminum extrusion products.

Aluminum extrusion products and alloys have exceptional joining, forming, and machining properties. You can weld, braze solder, glue or fuse aluminum using rivets or bolts. More than that, you do not need special equipments to machine aluminum since standard lathe equipment can be used to form one-off aluminum products at high speeds.

With natural excellent heat conductivity properties, aluminum is an ideal choice for heat-dissipating devices such as the heat sink on high speed CPUs and due to its naturally high reflective property most heat shields are made from extruded aluminum.

The natural properties of aluminum make it the metal of choice for the extrusion process. It is one of the most cost effective methods to manufacture parts and ensure that the size and dimensions remain uniform all throughout regardless of the length of the final product. The extrusion process capitalizes on the built-in advantages in aluminum and increase on their use and applications.

In comparison to machining, extrusion is much more economical as with extrusion, a shape can be indefinitely reproduced with no additional preparation costs aside from the original amount of the setting up and manufacture of the extrusion die.

Metal parts manufactured using sand and permanent-mold casting need to undergo extensive finishing and sanding procedure before it can be used. Aluminum extrusion products on the other hand produce complex structures with very close dimensional control that no extra finishing is required ? it can be used once they are cut to size. Aside from the fact that aluminum extrusion dies are cheaper and take a shorter time to manufacture than customary metal dies and casting molds.