Russellville, Ark. (October 4, 2011) – As the U.S. manufacturing industry seeks innovative techniques to stay relevant in a technology-driven marketplace, keep costs down for customers, and remain competitive in a somewhat fragmented market, “American-made” Taber Extrusions has announced several extrusion capabilities for U.S.-based machine shops based on current market demand among OEMs and various end users.

For over thirty-five years, Taber Extrusions has worked with this specific vertical in designing custom aluminum extruded shapes that significantly reduce machine time and material costs.  The company’s large press facility located in Russellville, Arkansas, has two specific capabilities that appeal to machine shops: first, the facility can manufacture solid extrusions up to 31inches wide and over 100 pounds per foot; secondly, the facility can manufacture complex multi-void profiles up to 26 inches wide.

“Designing an extrusion that is closer to the finished parts’ net shape is a extraordinary time and cost saver for these shops,” remarked Taber Extrusions President, Bill Wetmore. “Many shops are ‘hogging out’ finished parts from cut plate or extruded bar that results in a much higher scrap rate and requires significantly more machine time than starting from an extruded profile that is closer to the finished net shape.”

Taber Extrusions works with these shops, in many cases starting from a finished machined part drawing, to assist in designing a custom profile that includes just enough machine stock to allow for the required extrusion tolerances.  Anticipating the needs of their customer base, the company recently added a precision cut saw that allows for cutting tolerances up to +/- .030, which allows the machine shops to take the blanks directly to the machining center. Taber’s ultra-wide and heavy capabilities allow machine shops to make large, finished parts as opposed to being made by an assembly of smaller components.  For production volume parts this alternative method results in a huge cost savings for the machine shop.

Added Steve Althardt, Sales Manager for Taber Extrusions: “Machine shops that leverage our capabilities in wide and heavy custom extrusions with the added flexibility in multiple alloy choices are more competitive, allowing them to win more jobs and make higher margins per hour on their machining centers.”

In addition to their wide and heavy capabilities, Taber also offers machine shops the full range of aluminum alloys and tempers including 7000, 6000, 5000, and 2000 series alloys.  The company carries all of the required industry standard qualifications including ISO 9001 and AS 9100 for heat-treatment and in-house Ultra Sonic Inspection (NDT).

About Taber Extrusions LLC
In 1973, Taber Extrusions LLC pioneered the extrusion of large, heavy and wide complex shapes to differentiate itself in the aluminum extrusion industry. Today, Taber Extrusions continues its tradition of breaking boundaries as an extrusion leader in the production of a range of quality aluminum extrusions sizes and shapes. The company offers extrusions in 2000, 5000, 6000 and 7000 alloy series. Since its inception, the brand name Taber Extrusions has been synonymous with innovation, service and quality. All extrusions are engineered, manufactured and tested in the United States. Taber Extrusions maintains its headquarters at the Russellville, Arkansas facility, with a regional sales office also at its Gulfport, Mississippi facility.

Russellville, Ark. (June 2, 2011) – Taber Extrusions LLC and Austal USA have entered into contracts for Taber to supply extruded products for the Austal USA Littoral Combat Ship Jackson (LCS 6), as well as Austal USA’s Joint High Speed Vessel Fortitude (JHSV 3).  Extrusions used on these all-aluminum vessels make up some of the ship’s decking, superstructure and bulkheads. Some structural extrusions for both ships will also be manufactured by Taber and supplied to Austal through a contract with O’Neal Steel Corp.  Taber operates manufacturing facilities in Russellville, AR and Gulfport, MS.  The extrusions to be provided for the LCS and JHSV programs will be produced at both facilities.

According to Taber: “The use of our 8,600-Ton extrusion press with its unique rectangular container and billet configuration enables us to successfully produce wide multi-void extrusions that are friction stir welded into panels. The combination of the superior metal flow patterns associated with our rectangular configuration along with the press size gives us an advantage over competitors trying to make similar extrusions with round containers on smaller presses.  The unique flow pattern in this design allows us to hold much tighter tolerances for flatness, straightness and twist as well as assure that critical thickness dimensions on the internal webs are achieved. We also produce tee extrusions in various alloys that are friction stir welded into panels.”

Taber’s ability to hold tight tolerances has allowed for a significant increase in productivity in the friction stir-welding rates and reduced downstream scrap and weld repairs. Taber maintains an exemplary record for quality and on-time delivery.

Taber’s President, Mr. Bill Wetmore, commented: “Our quality and delivery record has given Austal the confidence to expand our business relationship.  We look forward to working with Austal on both of these major programs for many years.” 

The U.S. Navy’s shipbuilding plan envisions building 55 Littoral Combat Ships accounting for about 18% of the Navy’s planned 313-ship force. Austal is teamed with General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, serving as ship systems integrator, responsible for the design, integration and testing of the ship’s mission systems.  Jackson (LCS 6) is the first ship awarded under Austal’s recently announced US Navy contract for construction of up to an additional 10 Littoral Combat Ships to be appropriated over the following five years with a total value exceeding $3.5B.

The JHSV program provides high-speed transport vessels for the Army and the Navy. These vessels will be used for fast intra-theater transportation of troops, military vehicles and equipment. The JHSV program merges the previous Army Theater Support Vessel (TSV) and the Navy High Speed Connector (HSC), taking advantage of the inherent commonality between the two programs.  Authorization to proceed with construction of JHSV 3 was granted in January 2010 and authorization to procure long lead time material for JHSV 4 & 5 was granted in June 2010. The current program with all awards is for total 10 ships for use by Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. The first ship is intended to be delivered in year 2011.

Taber Extrusions’ unique capabilities in wide, long and complex extrusion profiles and our experience in manufacturing such shapes in both the 5000 and 6000 series alloys has made Taber the extruder of choice for the next generation of aluminum ships.  Furthermore, Taber is the only U.S. based manufacturer of 5000 series aluminum extrusions designed primarily for the ship building market to maintain an uninterrupted supply for over 35 years.

Taber Extrusions supplies custom and standard 5000 series alloy extrusions for U.S. military land and sea applications.

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark., Feb. 4, 2010 — Taber Extrusions LLC, a pioneering manufacturer of complex aluminum extrusions, is using 5000 series alloy aluminum extrusions to support U.S. military fleets and weaponry. As the premier domestic extruder to have developed the expertise to consistently meet the stringent technical requirements of the various 5000 series alloys (5083, 5086, 5454 and 5456), Taber Extrusions has maintained a steady supply for some of the U.S. military’s premier programs for over 35 years. Most recently, Taber Extrusions provided 5000 series aluminum alloy extrusions for use on several of the new models of Navy ships.

“Our facilities in Russellville, AR, and Gulfport, MS, combine to offer all size ranges of 5000 series alloy extrusions in standard shapes as well as custom-designed profiles,” remarked Bill Wetmore, President of Taber Extrusions. “The U.S. military and other mission-critical industries turn to Taber Extrusions and our 5000 series alloy profiles because of its unique characteristics and our proven ability to consistently meet critical properties and tolerances. When compared to 6000 series alloys, the 5000 series is stronger, bears higher mechanical properties and is corrosive-resistant, which makes it ideal for marine applications.”

Naval marine and military vehicle design engineers consider the 5000 series a choice material in the development of modern weaponry to support U.S. troops. In addition, the Friction Stir Welding process of structural 5000 series extrusions provides shipbuilders with a flexible, extremely high strength component structure that can be used in multiple applications, including decking and superstructure panels.