Getting Custom Extrusions On Time And On Budget

When working on commercial projects or product development, completing the job to the desired standards is a top priority.

02:51 05 January 2023

When working on commercial projects or product development, completing the job to the desired standards is a top priority

While many factors can affect the success of a project, materials and equipment are critical to the quality of the final product.

If your product or project requires a specific shape that is not currently available in the market, then you are better off using custom extrusions to make it. While you may be hesitant about the unknown work, extra cost, or longer lead times of custom extrusions, you can find a fabricator who can work within your budget and time frame and end up with a unique and enhanced design.

Getting custom extrusions on time and on budget requires understanding the process and suppliers. It is important to familiarize yourself with the specifics of venture capital to ensure you get the best possible outcome for your project.

What Is A Custom Extrusion?

Extrusion is the process of producing a product by pushing material (usually aluminum or plastic) through a die to create a specific shape. Custom extrusion refers to the same process but with a custom shape or design.

There are several techniques for custom extrusion, including cold extrusion, hot extrusion, and friction extrusion. The most common applications are plastic and aluminum extrusions, which use thermal friction; they are heated and melted, then pushed through the barrel and molded into the desired shape.

The best material for custom extrusions is aluminum due to its corrosion resistance. The global aluminum extrusions market is expected to reach $118.7 billion by 2027, and its lightweight and durable properties also make it a popular choice for extruded profiles worldwide.

Getting Custom Extrusions On Time

Lead Time For Custom Extrusions

Before estimating a timeline for your custom extrusion project, it is important to consider the factors that determine when your product will be manufactured. Some of the most important factors include:

Demand. Production lead time will primarily be affected by the demand for custom extrusions. Due to the vast applications and uses of extrusions across industries, custom extrusion companies might face an increased workload.

Tooling Lead Time.

Before the manufacturing process begins, you create a custom steel plate - called a mold - that will determine the shape and size of your product. Its completion time will depend on the characteristics of the product, but usually takes 2 to 4 weeks to complete.

Extrusion Lead Time.

Extrusion times will depend on the type of material you are using, and where your product is in the line. Therefore, you should consult the expected completion date in advance.

Additions And Revisions.

In many cases, extrusion will require the addition of coatings, deburring, cutting to length, hotel drilling, or other activities that follow the actual manufacturing process.

Completing Your Project On Time

To ensure that your extrusion completes on time, you should scope your provider options and check their expected completion times.

The best way to ensure a company delivers on its promises is to check its credentials and experience. If a company is not experienced with the material you are using, they may take longer to deliver. Experience can also translate into efficiency and credibility - consider companies with higher skills or longer track records.

Getting Custom Extrusions On Budget

The cost of extrusion depends on several factors which you should carefully consider and control so that you stay within your budget.

Die.

As a prerequisite for production, molds will be an essential part of the cost. Cost will depend on the complexity and size of the design, and whether it is solid or hollow. Hollow molds are usually more expensive because they require more parts, so you should ask yourself if the mold must be hollow before finalizing your design.

Weight Per Meter. 

The cost per meter of your product largely depends on the weight per meter. You should ask yourself if you can reduce wall thickness, remove features, or simply reduce mass by introducing hollow spaces.

Design.

Since design directly affects your costs, there are some clever design options that can keep the price down, such as screw ports, interlocking joints, non-slip surfaces, or hinges.

Price Of Material.

An obvious contributor to cost is the material you choose, so you should keep track of any changes in market prices for materials before calculating the final cost of your design.

Order Size.

If you order in bulk, or if the company itself ships larger quantities at once, you may be able to negotiate a lower price, so you should discuss pricing options up front.

Final Words

Thanks to the wide variety of materials and designs used, custom profiles can produce versatile and high-quality products. However, due to their versatility, they all require different production methods, lead times and costs.

Before deciding on a production schedule, you should be familiar with factors that affect lead times such as requirements, tooling, extrusion processes, and additions and revisions.

Before selecting an extruder, it is important to consider all options to ensure a timely and cost-effective extrusion process.