aluminum fabrication Archives

28 04, 2024

Aluminum Extrusions for Satellites: A Look into Taber’s Satellite Component Capabilities

jane2024-07-15T22:23:06+00:00April 28th, 2024|

The vast expanse of space is a remarkable place where cutting-edge technology and innovation work hand-in-hand to achieve incredible feats. Satellites, for instance, play a crucial role in various applications, from communication and navigation to Earth observation and scientific research. However, these marvels of technology require satellite components that are not only functional but also lightweight, durable, and resistant to the harsh environment of space. In the aerospace industry, aluminum extrusions play a versatile role as they can act as structural components in spacecraft or integrate into complex mechanisms within the cockpit.

If you’re curious about how aluminum extrusions for satellites are shaping the future of space technology, read on as we explore the various applications of this material and how Taber Extrusions, a leading aluminum extrusion company, provides innovative solutions for the defense and aerospace markets.

The Surging Demand for Aluminum in Space

According to various reports, the global aluminum market is projected to grow steadily in the next few years, reaching an estimated 74 million metric tons by 2025.

The exciting news is that the aerospace industry is already looking at innovative ways to ensure the future aluminum supply can meet this demand. One such way is recycling and repurposing aluminum and its alloys, leading to further advancements in space, aircraft, and satellite component manufacturing. This means we can see more efficient ways of using the material soon.

Why Aluminum Extrusions Excel in Space Exploration

A graphic that consists of various types of satellites and spacecraft, each illustrated and labeled. The artist stylized them against a dark background.

Image Attribution: https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/isometric-set-various-types-satellites-spacecrafts-isolated-against-black-background-3d-vector-illustration_38753856.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=1&uuid=d228f89b-17a4-492a-a774-fdcf87ca499a

Did you know that aluminum extrusions play a crucial role in the success of satellites? There are several reasons why aluminum is the perfect material for these fantastic machines.

First off, aluminum is incredibly lightweight, which is essential for satellites. By shedding even a single pound, we can save significant fuel during launch and maneuvering. This means that the right aluminum alloy can grant a satellite the ability to carry more equipment or travel even farther distances.

But don’t let its lightness fool you — aluminum extrusions are also powerfully durable. Satellite construction often requires materials capable of withstanding immense pressure and stress during launch and space travel. As a result, certain materials have become a top choice for this purpose.

Finally, another critical feature of aluminum is its natural resistance to radiation. Harmful radiation in space can expose satellites to severe damage, causing havoc on their sensitive components and interior. But with aluminum, we can help protect these delicate machines and ensure they continue to function flawlessly.

So next time you look up at the stars, remember the vital role that aluminum extrusions for satellites play in helping us explore the universe!

Beyond Satellites: A Universe of Applications

Aluminum extrusions are shaped lengths of aluminum formed by forcing molten metal through a die that have become vital in various space and aerospace applications. Their unique combination of lightweight, high strength, corrosion resistance, and malleability makes them ideal for multiple functions beyond satellite components.

Here’s a broader perspective on the diverse uses of aluminum extrusions in space and aerospace:

An ample indoor space in a museum showcases various aerospace exhibits. With its complex mechanical details, the intricate spacecraft module commands immediate attention as it hangs suspended. The module’s exterior displays complex engineering, with visible pipes and metallic structures. Another exhibit, wrapped in golden material, hangs suspended nearby. Structural beams painted in yellow, and blue add an industrial aesthetic to the space. Visitors are present, observing the exhibits and indicating a public setting.

Image Attribution: https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/process-building-space-rocket-engine_7553665.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=48&uuid=16f26dd9-2914-4366-839e-38719c5e3ab3

Structural Components — Wings and Fuselages: Large, high-strength extrusions form the backbone of aircraft wings and fuselages, providing the strength and rigidity to withstand immense forces during flight.
Communication and Thermal Management — Radiators and Coolers: Extrusions can be shaped into fins and channels for radiators and coolers, facilitating efficient heat exchange and temperature control.
Supplemental Oxygen and Fluid Systems — Valves and Pumps: Specific critical components within fluid and gas systems, like valves and pumps, can be crafted from aluminum due to their strength and machinability

What are some examples of spacecraft that utilize aluminum?

Spacecraft engineering has been at the forefront of technological advancements for decades. These technological marvels have pushed the boundaries of human exploration and discovery, from the International Space Station to the Mars Curiosity Rover. Here, we explore the importance of aluminum extrusions in spacecraft construction and examine spacecraft that rely heavily on this material.

International Space Station (ISS) — This iconic structure relies on aluminum extrusions for its modules, trusses, and other components.
Mars Curiosity Rover — The engineers constructed this rover‘s frame and many components, exploring the Martian surface, from aluminum.
Orion Project — NASA’s Orion spacecraft, designed for deep space exploration, utilizes aluminum extensively in its structure and various systems.
MBZ-SAT — The first satellite built entirely in the United Arab Emirates, MBZ-SAT also employs aluminum extrusions in its construction.

“Taber was originally recognized for our large shapes, and now we are establishing ourselves as micro extruders. Since we’ve added micro extrusions, friction stir welding, and billet casting, we’re pretty much spanning the gamut of aluminum extrusion competence. We were already well-versed within the defense and aerospace markets, but adding miniature aluminum extrusions to our capabilities has allowed us to become a one-stop shop for our customers in those industries. Our diversification has opened the door wide for our customers.”

– Taber Extrusions

How Taber Extrusions Is Providing Innovative Solutions not only for Satellite Components but also for Aerospace Markets

Taber, with its 50-year legacy, stands at the forefront of the aluminum extrusion industry, delivering a comprehensive array of products and services. Their offerings are designed to meet diverse needs, including those of the aerospace sector, for which they provide specialized aluminum extrusions for satellite components and other applications.

Taber’s commitment to quality and tailored solutions is evident in their adherence to the rigorous specifications of the aerospace industry. They continuously innovate, developing new aluminum technologies to elevate the performance of their extrusions. The sophisticated casthouse at Taber underscores their quest for excellence, crafting superior aluminum alloys for complex aerospace applications.

Some of the examples of Taber Extrusions’ products and services include:

Microextrusions

In the defense and aerospace industries, where precision, complexity, and strict tolerances are non-negotiable, microextrusions play a critical role. These are offered by Taber and feature cross-sections small enough to pass through a 1-millimeter square. The utility of microextrusions extends across a wide range of applications, including communication systems, electronics thermal management, guidance and radar systems, weapons systems, and firearms components, highlighting their versatility and importance in advanced technological environments.

Friction Stir-Welding

Friction stir-welding, a solid-state process known for producing high-strength, defect-free joins, enables the welding of aluminum extrusions in various shapes, sizes, and alloys into complex, seamless assemblies. This technique is particularly beneficial for constructing aircraft and spacecraft components, including wings, fuselages, and panels. Beyond aerospace applications, friction stir-welding is also utilized in creating fuel tanks, heat exchangers, and battery trays, showcasing its versatility across different manufacturing needs.

Billet Casting

Taber specializes in manufacturing aluminum billets for aerospace, marine, and other specialized sectors, leveraging state-of-the-art systems and the expertise of seasoned metallurgists and research engineers. The casting operations at Taber are not only ISO 9001:2008 certified but also equipped to handle a variety of billet sizes, including diameters of 7”, 8”, 9”, 11″, 16″, 20”, and 10 x 28, predominantly in the 6xxx series aluminum alloys.

If high-quality aluminum extrusions for satellite and aerospace components are what you need, look no further than Taber. As a premiere aluminum extrusions company in the U.S., Taber is well-equipped to meet the exacting standards your project demands.

About Taber Extrusions

Taber Extrusions is an American aluminum extrusion company and your ideal partner for full-service aluminum extrusions. Their top priority is to deliver nothing short of the best products and services to their esteemed customers. Providing quality products and services is essential to their philosophy of adding value. Their dedication to this principle is the foundation of their business.

Taber takes pride in its certifications, which include ISO 9001:2008, AS 9100C, and ABS Quality Assurance Program certificate no. 11-MMPQA-652. ABS Mill approves them to produce extruded aluminum alloy products for marine applications such as 5083H111, 5086H111, 5454H111, 5456H111, 6061T6, and 6082T6, with a maximum diameter of 1.0 inch, including the casting process. Choose Taber Extrusions for quality products and services that exceed your expectations… the sky’s the limit.

If you have any queries, please visit https://www.taberextrusions.com or call Taber at 1-888-984-3795.

3 01, 2022

Taber Extrusions: The Shape of Endless Possibilities Since 1973

Cara2022-02-03T22:46:16+00:00January 3rd, 2022|

Taber Extrusions has extrusions in the name, but it’s really a full-service aluminum extrusion company. Taber controls it all, from the casting of the billet, the extrusion process, fabrication, and finally, the logistics.

Taber possesses a commitment to meeting and exceeding customer expectations by providing both products and customer service levels that are of the highest quality. This commitment is at the core of their operating philosophy.

Taber Extrusions History

Taber Extrusions was founded in 1973, when the Taber family acquired an aluminum extrusion plant in Russellville, Arkansas from Dow Chemical (which had originally built the plant in 1970). National Material Company L.P. (NMLP) later purchased the company in 1976. The Arkansas facility was originally dedicated to the production of specific military-related, large, wide, and long extrusions for the U.S. government.

Taber’s Russellville facility houses the largest rectangular aluminum extrusion press in North America, which uniquely positions Taber to extrude super-wide shapes – much more comprehensively than is possible with traditional round containers. This rectangular container allows them to supply some of the industry’s widest, most complex, multi-void hollows.

In 1995, the Gulfport, Mississippi facility was acquired in response to the growing need in the domestic market for aluminum billet products. Taber added 7″ billet molds to their existing extrusion billet casting profile.

With the intention to expand even further, in 2015, Taber upgraded the Russellville fabrication facility even more. By 2017, Taber’s aluminum cast house expansion was completed and acquired 7″, 9″, 11″, 16″, 20″, and 10″ x 20″ rectangular billet molds.

Taber completed the relocation and start-up of its micro-extrusion press lines in 2018. This greatly expanded their supply possibilities with extrusion solutions, programs, and services. Taber’s newest ultra-precision extrusion manufacturing lines have a product envelope with a circle size of 3 inches or less and a weight per foot of 1 lb. or less. The micro-extrusion presses differ from traditional extrusion presses in that they can produce extrusions with a wall thickness of 0.010 inches and tolerances of +/- 0.001 inches. Designers and engineers can use these micro-extrusion production centers to develop profiles that would otherwise be impossible to extrude using conventional presses.

Angle on 8 new shovels with white Taber Extrusions hard hats resting neatly on each shovel handle, resting on holders just beyond a mound of freshly turned dirt from a nicely manicured lawn area in front of Taber’s Russellville, Arkansas aluminum extrusion facility.

In April 2019, Taber held a groundbreaking ceremony to announce its newest in-house FSW capability, making them a vertically integrated supplier of FSW panels and assemblies never before seen in North America.

Congressman Steve Womack described how he sees Taber’s role from both a local and national perspective:

“This was an obvious next-step for Taber,” said Jason Weber, V.P. of Sales and Marketing, in an article by Light Metal Age Magazine. “The company was founded in 1973, and never stopped diversifying, adding new capabilities, and technologies. We are known for aluminum extrusions, fabrication, billet casting, ultra-precision extrusions. Friction stir welding was going to happen eventually.”

As for the most recent addition to Taber’s extrusion capabilities, they announced the Haas VF-12 CNC. This one-of-a-kind machine allows Taber’s top engineers to design optimal extrusion shapes using specialized software to have them made within this “self-contained factory,” all in one precise and effective process.

Weber had this to say about their 2021 machining center expansion –

“We will continue to invest in technologies that provide the widest scope of services in the aluminum extrusion industry. The Haas VF-12 CNC machine is yet another example of our willingness to invest and deliver the widest scope of services across the aluminum extrusion continuum.”

See our company timeline infographic here.

Helping Shape Our Community

Taber cares about the communities in which their employees live and work. Their goal is to provide their employees with a safe and secure workplace that has an emphasis on personal and professional development, as well as cultivating an attitude focused on delivering genuine and reliable service. Excellent customer service will always stand out, and Taber enjoys the many long-term relationships which have developed over the years because of the personal accountability that they give to their customers.

Forming and shaping the identity of a community is one of the greatest things about Taber’s position. Not only are local businesses like Taber a crucial element in creating a culture for the community, but they also build connections and relationships with the people.

Work at Taber Extrusions

As an aluminum extruder with extremely broad and unique capabilities there is no question that Taber’s employees have been the foundation of their success. They have developed an atmosphere where people are respected and appreciated. The Taber family plans to continue to foster careers that are right for their people, and right for their business. There is no question: Taber’s employees power their success.

Pictured above: Taber Extrusions took home National Material L.P.’s 2018 Safety Excellence Award for exceptional safety management at their Russellville, Arkansas facility.

Taber is growing fast, and we are seeking talent in engineering, operations, sales, and more! You may be exactly what we’re looking for in our vision for future growth. Feel free to apply and place your resume in our database. We have an extensive community of career opportunities, and we are always on the hunt for great talent and professionals. You can also apply to an open position which will either match you to your next career move or place you in our network to receive job updates.

View our open career listings here!

Taber Extrusions: Summary

Founded in 1973, Taber Extrusions originally pioneered a process for extruding rectangular billet which enables the company to extrude extra-large aluminum extrusion profiles up to 31 inches wide or hollows up to 29 inches. Taber expanded with the purchase of an extrusion facility in Gulfport, MS in 1995 which houses a state-of-the-art cast house and two additional presses, micro-extrusion capabilities, and the fabrication area has been expanded multiple times.

Taber continues to extrude billet in a wide range of alloys and sizes and has diversified its markets beyond military since its inception to include aerospace, automotive, marine, infrastructure, and sporting goods, among many others. With in-house casting solutions, ultra-precision extrusion manufacturing, friction stir welding capacities, and a full range of hard and soft aluminum alloys, Taber continues to align itself as an industry leader in having the broadest available capabilities.

Today, Taber Extrusions is proud of its recently added VF-12 CNC machining line and a full offering of extruded aluminum components, value-added machining services, and raw material supply to the North American market. Adding these capabilities to a growing portfolio propels Taber into the future in a quest to continuously improve the quality and service we provide to our customers.

Thank you for your continued support of Taber Extrusions, LLC. If you have any questions, please visit taberextrusions.com or contact one of Taber’s regional sales managers.

Follow Taber Extrusions

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/taberextrusions/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/taberextrusions/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/taberextrusions

22 11, 2021

From Friction Stir Welding to Micro Extrusions: Leading Aluminum Extruder Taber is Vertically Integrated

Cara2021-11-22T21:52:41+00:00November 22nd, 2021|

Taber Extrusions, located in Russellville, AR and Gulfport, MS, is a highly regarded provider of aluminum extrusions to a wide variety of industries including aerospace, infrastructure, transportation, defense, and thermal management. A minority-owned business enterprise which is ISO 9001, AS 9100, NADCAP, and ABS certified, Taber’s present and future customers can expect to see increased supply opportunities with the expanded set of extrusion solutions, programs, and services.

Founded in 1973, Taber Extrusions originally pioneered a process for extruding rectangular billet which enables the company to extrude solid profiles up to 31 inches wide or hollows up to 29 inches. Taber expanded with the purchase of an extrusion facility in Gulfport, MS which houses a new state-of-the-art cast house and two additional presses, micro-extrusion capabilities, and the fabrication area has since been expanded multiple times. Taber continues to extrude billet in a wide range of alloys and sizes and has diversified its markets beyond military since its inception and supplies cast and extruded aluminum products in a variety of soft and hard alloys.

Today, Taber Extrusions is proud of its added friction stir welding capabilities, full offering of extruded aluminum components, value-added machining services and raw material supply to the North American market. The addition of in-house FSW capabilities makes Taber Extrusions a vertically integrated supplier of FSW panels and assemblies never seen before in North America.

ALUMINUM EXTRUSIONS

Known as a leading aluminum extruder, Taber offers a full range of aluminum alloys including hard, soft, marine, and armor grade. Choose from 2000, 5000, 6000, and 7000 grades with custom chemistries available for specific metal fabrication needs. Taber’s aluminum extrusions range spans from less than 1 lb./ft. to over 140 lbs./ft., making Taber the broadest extruders of aluminum profiles in the industry. Their multi-void hollow capability is up to 29” wide, and they can produce solid extrusions up to 31” wide. As part of Taber’s value-added approach, they offer design assistance for custom and specialty aluminum profiles.

Taber also offers the only 28” x 10” rectangular container size in North America.

In a rectangular container, uniform metal flow in width and thickness of wider bars and profiles, the following is achieved in contrast to round container of similar geometry:

The flatness can be controlled to within 75% of AA specification on wide panel, multivoid hollow profiles of up to 29” width.
Contour on most profiles can be controlled as per the spec without secondary operations.
Superior dimension control and consistency throughout the length of the extruded profile.

FABRICATION CAPABILITIES

An extreme close-up photo of a CNC machine spindle with the words, “Introducing new state of the art aluminum fabrication facility – dedicated to innovation” in print on the right side.

Taber’s aluminum fabrication capabilities include precision sawing, horizontal machining and manufacturing, extra-large CNC machining, 5-axis CNC machining, multi-axis machining, and a vertical machining center. Taber’s cut tolerances cover length and squareness of cut (up to +/- .050″) across a maximum 36″ width (minimum cut length of .75″). These precision saw-cutting capabilities for rod & bar/standard extruded shapes and customized aluminum extrusion profiles saw cut with greater accuracy, providing their customers with a product precise enough to be loaded directly into their machining centers. The precision cut blanks save customers time and money compared to having to cut mill lengths in-house.

Machinery — Aluminum CNC machining services:

Haas VF-12… COMING SOON!! (Link to latest blog on this topic)
Haas VF-7
EMMEGI Satellite XT
OKK Horizontal Machining Center
Zeiss CMM

Machinery – Aluminum precision cutting & sawing services:

BO Saws B-800
Marvel Band Saw

Visit Taber Extrusions’ Fabrication web page for videos and details!

ALUMINUM CAST HOUSE

Taber Extrusion’s brightly lit, modernized Gulfport, Mississippi cast house, focus is on 16 large, stacked aluminum billets.

With the completion of a 2017 cast house modernization, Taber has increased its billet capacity by over 30%, expanded its range of high quality aluminum alloys (hard, soft, marine, aerospace, and defense), and enabled the use of more diverse scrap material in its process, allowing for the production of billet with high recycled content. “We have evolved into a fully integrated supplier with control over our raw materials by casting the alloys and diameters necessary to feed our extrusion presses,” says Eric Angermeier, President of Taber Extrusions.

Eric Angermeier, President of Taber Extrusions, seated at his desk with a welcoming smile.

“Our recent cast house modernization has significantly increased the billet quality that will flow through all aspects of our business. Our capabilities to serve diverse markets are greatly enhanced and we now have capacity for third party sales of extrusion billet and large forging stock,” Angermeier adds. (Read full article in Light Metal Age magazine here.)

Taber launched their “Billets Straight to You” (aluminum billets for immediate sale) campaign in 2020, which includes aluminum alloys 6061 and 6063, with 6005, 6005A, 6082 available upon request.

Taber Extrusion’s magazine ad showing a photo of billets being dipped for cooling by a Taber-branded billet lift, and the “Aluminum Alloys Straight to You” information, which is the same content provided in this article.

MICRO-EXTRUSIONS

Taber’s micro-extrusion manufacturing lines have a production envelope with a circle size of 3 inches or less and a weight per foot of 1 lb. or less. For comparison, the 8,600 ton press in Taber’s Russellville facility produces profiles with a minimum weight of 4 lbs. per foot.

Unlike traditional extrusion presses, these micro-extrusion presses are built to allow for the production of extrusions with wall thicknesses of 0.010 inches and tolerance capabilities of +/- 0.001 inches. These miniature extrusion production centers allow designers and engineers the freedom to create profiles that are un-extrudable through conventional presses.

Jason Weber, V.P. of Sales and Marketing at Taber Extrusions, wearing a light blue oxford and a white Polo zip-up sweater, smiling for the camera.

“As computers get smaller and smaller, the heat sinks used in those computers need to likewise get smaller… they can also be used in industrial applications, with housings for sensors, and in military applications, as components for drones. So, there’s a lot of market potential for micro-extrusions,” explains Jason Weber, Taber V.P. of Sales and Marketing, in Light Metal Age Magazine, 2018.

FRICTION STIR WELDING

Taber’s FSW capabilities include simultaneous two-side welding, double wall hollow extrusions up to 6.25 inches tall, 32 inches wide, and accepts lengths up to 65 feet long. Taber’s friction stir welding production cell is capable of creating panel assemblies 200 inches wide by 65 feet long, with integrated pre-joining profile trimming. With profile widths up to 31 inches, lengths up to 65 feet, and ability to weld up to 3/4 of an inch in a single pass, Taber has an operational envelope that is unmatched within the industry.

Friction stir welding is commonly used in the rail, automotive, marine & shipbuilding industries, military & defense, commercial & industrial construction, infrastructure, and in aviation & aerospace.

The addition of in-house FSW capabilities makes Taber Extrusions a vertically integrated supplier of FSW panels and assemblies never seen before in North America.

“This was an obvious next-step for Taber,” said Jason Weber, V.P. of Sales and Marketing, in a 2019 article by Light Metal Age Magazine, “the company was founded in 1973, and never stopped diversifying, adding new capabilities, and technologies. We are known for aluminum extrusions, fabrication, billet casting, ultra-precision extrusions. Friction stir welding was going to happen eventually.”

LEADING ALUMINUM EXTRUDER TABER

INDUSTRIES SERVED:

Government/military
Aircraft/aerospace
Marine/shipbuilding
Infrastructure
Electronics
Medical
Transportation
Rail car
Mining
Industrial
Agricultural
Sporting goods
Custom shapes for most any application

Taber Extrusions is a full-service partner with an unwavering commitment to consistently meeting and exceeding customer expectations by providing both products and service of the highest quality. This commitment is at the core of everything they do… making certain that whatever you can dream, they can give it shape.

Thank you for your continued support of Taber Extrusions. If you have any questions please visit taberextrusions.com or contact one of our Regional Sales Representatives.

Follow Taber Extrusions:

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/taberextrusions/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/taberextrusions/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/taberextrusions

14 10, 2021

Taber Extrusions Social Study: Aluminum’s Economic Impact

Cara2021-10-14T02:28:11+00:00October 14th, 2021|

A photograph of a piece of paper, a dark blue pushpin is affixed at the top of a bar graph alongside a blue pen below which are the words “Taber Extrusion Social Study: Aluminum’s Economic Impact.”

Aluminum is everywhere. Many of the conveniences of modern life would not be possible without it. It is a crucial element for modern innovative applications, for sustainability, and also for the progress of the economy. Its strong and lightweight features and ability to be infinitely recycled propelled the U.S. aluminum industry to become the backbone of the nation’s manufacturing base. With the findings of research conducted by John Dunham & Associates and released by the Aluminum Association, this blog will delve deeper into the impact of aluminum on the United States’ economy.

An image of a person wearing a black helmet and a thick red jacket welding a piece of metal, with green light sparking out of the welding machinery.

The Aluminum Industry Generates Jobs

Several challenges have been presented to the industry in recent years, still, the aluminum market has shown a great deal of resilience. Even though the aluminum industry faced several challenges, including many job losses, growth in downstream segments like flat-rolled products and extrusions provided a way to compensate.

Today, the American aluminum industry directly employs over 166,000 people that generate more than 170 billion dollars in economic output. In addition, over 494,000 workers are indirectly employed, which contributes another 102 billion dollars to economic activity. As a whole, over 660,000 U.S. jobs are supported by the production, processing, and use of aluminum. Those employed in the aluminum industry earn an average yearly salary that is above the national average. Indirect employees contribute 44 billion dollars in wages and benefits to the economy. When all employment supported by the industry is considered, these jobs generate nearly 16 billion dollars in federal, state, and local taxes.

An image of the tops of a bunch of shiny, unopened aluminum cans beneath a gray banner with the word “Recyclable” and a graphic of the green recycling symbol next to it.

Aluminum Recycling Generates High-Value Economic Impact

Aside from being strong and lightweight, aluminum also has the advantage of retaining its properties, making it one of the most recyclable materials. Having said that, the aluminum industry has recycled more than 70 percent of its output since it was established.

Aluminum recycling conserves more than 90 percent of the energy costs required in primary production. Recycling a pound of aluminum saves about 7 kilowatt-hours of electricity. Also, it is the only material in the consumer disposal stream that generates a greater return than the cost of its collection. Every minute, an average of 113,000 aluminum cans are recycled. The aluminum industry pays a tremendous amount of money to replace empty aluminum cans. With the recycling of aluminum, specifically aluminum cans, charitable organizations have been developed and supported for decades and more decades to come.

An image of cylindrical billets of aluminum resting on top of each other with beams of wood between each of them and green bands to hold them in place.

Aluminum is a major contributor to the nation’s manufacturing base and economy, supporting thousands of jobs in many communities and regions. Over 660,000 workers are employed by the industry, which generates 170 billion dollars in economic output each year. Moreover, aluminum is considered to be a sustainable metal. This means it can be recycled multiple times without the risk of degrading breaking. Taber Extrusions understands the important role that aluminum plays in the nation’s economy and contributes to that role by providing various processing services related to aluminum. A few of these services include aluminum extrusions, micro extrusions, billet casting, aluminum fabrication, and friction stir welding.

ABOUT TABER

Founded in 1973, Taber Extrusions is the pioneer of extruding rectangular billet, allowing the company to manufacture solid profiles up to 31 inches wide or hollow profiles up to 29 inches wide. With the purchase of an extrusion facility in Gulfport, MS, Taber expanded its capabilities with a state-of-the-art cast house, two additional presses, micro extrusion capability, and numerous fabrication expansions.

Taber continues to extrude billets in an array of alloys and sizes. Its markets have expanded beyond the military to include aerospace, automotive, marine, infrastructure, and sporting goods. For these markets, the company supplies cast and extruded products in various soft and hard alloys.

Today, Taber Extrusions is a vertically integrated supplier of friction stir welding panels and assemblies in North America not previously seen – offering extruded aluminum components, value-added machining services, and raw materials.

Follow Taber Extrusions

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/8843183/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/taberextrusions/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/taberextrusions

Are you interested in joining the Taber Team? Send your resume to: careers@taberextrusions.com

Become a customer today! Visit us or request a quote: https://taberextrusions.com or call us at (888) 985-5319.

1 10, 2019

Friction Stir Welding In The Shipbuilding Industry

Catheryn2019-11-01T14:28:43+00:00October 1st, 2019|

Friction Stir Welding In The Shipbuilding Industry Infographic containing most common applications of thermal management, helideck, wall panels, bulkheads, hull, decking, and honeycomb panels

Taber Extrusions wants to lead the way in FSW development and be a part of its growth in the future. Taber Friction Stir-Welding Capabilities are second to none. With profile widths up to 31 inches, lengths up to 65 feet,

and ability to weld up to ¾ of an inch in a single pass, Taber has an operational envelope that is unmatched within the industry. To learn more about how we can be of service visit: https://taberextrusions.com/

Follow Taber Extrusions LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/8843183/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/taberextrusions/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/taberextrusions

20 07, 2019

Infinitely Taber: Aluminum Extrusion Leader Taber At-A-Glance

Catheryn2019-08-30T19:11:26+00:00July 20th, 2019|

Aluminum Extrusion Leader Taber At-A-Glance Infographic

25 06, 2019

Taber Extrusions: Shaping Russellville, Arkansas Since 1973

Catheryn2022-09-26T15:33:14+00:00June 25th, 2019|

Taber’s Russellville, Arkansas location marked on a map and the words “The Shape of Endless Possibilities

“We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men.” – Herman Melville

Taber is known around the globe for our broad and unique range of capabilities. We have one of the largest aluminum extrusion presses in North America. Our upgraded cast house facility has enhanced our offerings. The acquisition of microextrusion capabilities expanded our product lines– and now, the addition of friction stir-welding, gives Taber an operational edge that is unmatched within the industry.

Humble beginnings

Taber Extrusions was founded in 1973, when the Taber family acquired an aluminum extrusion plant in Russellville, Arkansas from Dow Chemical (which had originally built the plant in 1970). National Material Company L.P. (NMLP) later purchased the company in 1976. The Arkansas facility was originally dedicated to the production of specific military- related, large, wide, and long extrusions for the U.S. Government.

The Russellville location serves as Taber’s corporate headquarters, and in 2014, fabrication capabilities were added to the Russellville facility.

Late night street corner in downtown Russellville, Arkansas after a fresh rainfall.

Helping shape our community

At Taber, we care about our employees. We care about the communities in which our employees live and work. Our goal is to provide our employees with a safe and secure workplace with an emphasis on personal and professional development, as well as cultivating an attitude focused on delivering genuine and reliable service. Excellent customer service will always stand out, and Taber enjoys the many long-term relationships we’ve developed over the years as a result of the personal accountability that our employees give to our customers.

Congressman Steve Womack visit

At our ground-breaking ceremony, in Russellville, Arkansas that announced our friction stir-welding capabilities to the community, Congressman Steve Womack described how he sees Taber’s role from both a local and national perspective,

“The expansion of an existing company such as Taber Extrusions means a lot more than the location of a new company. It means that Taber is in the right place and has what it needs to succeed. Taber plays an important role in the defense of our nation with products that are an asset to our defense capabilities.” It is important to note that Taber historically provides for many industries, including aerospace, shipbuilding, infrastructure, automotive, as well as military and defense.

Arkansas Local and state leaders pose with groundbreaking shovels alongside Taber executives and employees at a sunny April 2019 afternoon ceremony.

Work at Taber Extrusions

Our people are the reason that Taber has been so successful for so many years. As an extruder with extremely broad and unique capabilities there is no question that our employees have been the foundation of our success. We have developed an atmosphere where our people are respected and appreciated. The Taber family plans to continue to foster careers that are right for our people, and right for our business. There is no question: our employees power our success.

Taber is growing fast and we are seeking talent in engineering, operations, sales, and more! You may be exactly what we’re looking for in our vision for future growth. Feel free to apply and place your resume in our database. We have an extensive community of career opportunities, and we are always on the hunt for great talent and professionals. You can also apply to an open position which will either match you to your next career move or place you in our network to receive job updates.

View our open career listings here!

More on Taber Extrusions:

Founded in 1973, Taber Extrusions originally pioneered a process for extruding rectangular billets which enables the company to extrude solid profiles up to 31 inches wide or hollows up to 29 inches. Taber expanded with the purchase of an extrusion facility in Gulfport, MS in 1995 which houses a casthouse and two additional presses, with a fabrication area that has been expanded multiple times. Besides their recently expanded capabilities to include microextrusions and 7” billet molds, Taber Extrusions is proud to announce friction stir-welding technology. The addition of in-house FSW capabilities creates a vertically integrated supplier of FSW panels and assemblies never before seen in North America.

19 12, 2017

Hard and Soft Alloys for Aerospace and Firearms

marshall2017-12-19T18:21:55+00:00December 19th, 2017|

Taber is able to offer both hard alloys as well as soft alloys for aerospace and firearms, which is fairly unique in the industry. One of the most exciting segments in the hard alloy group is firearms. We have discovered that many firearms manufacturers are small businesses. So, what we offer is stocking a custom shape for them, or producing a generic shape that they can machine individually into their own profile. We provide a solution not only to large businesses, but to any small business too!

We’re also able to offer distribution centers and larger manufacturers of firearms the exact near-net shape that they need.

Furthermore, in regards to the alloys for aerospace market, we supply all of the major manufacturers in the US. We do large press hard alloy extrusions, which is for a very limited supply market and provides additional value to our customers. We’re very unique in that aspect.

Aluminum alloys have long been a dominant material in the manufacture of aerospace vehicles, and due to the ever-evolving nature of aluminum alloys, they are likely to stay around for a long time.

Aluminum is used In:

Fuselage/pressure cabin
Seat/cargo tracks
Floor beams
Lower and upper horizontal stabilization
Upper wing skin/stringers and spars
Lower wing skin/spars/stringers

Taber offers the full range of aluminum alloys for all of our aluminum shapes, including hard, soft, marine, and armor grade alloys. Need specific material or alloy? We can offer custom chemistries to meet your unique needs. All of our alloys are processed at our billet casting facility in Gulfport, Mississippi.

In a five-billion pound industry, Taber is among the leading aluminum suppliers and is the most diverse in breadth of capability.

Learn more about Taber’s Available Aluminum Alloys here.

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/8843183/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/taberextrusions/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/taberextrusions

Interested in becoming a part of the Taber Team? Submit your resume to careers@taberextrusions.com.

5 12, 2017

Taber’s Upgraded Aluminum Fabrication and Aluminum Machining Capabilities

marshall2017-12-14T18:25:18+00:00December 5th, 2017|

Taber’s updated fabrication facility in Russellville, Arkansas is designed to handle fabrication and machining as always, but now boasts tremendous growth in manufacturing parts for cutting-edge technologies. This expansion includes applications in electric transportation vehicles for individual and mass transit transportation. With the ongoing support of our parent company National Material L.P., we have the opportunity to expand into areas that were previously unreachable.

CNC machining is used extensively by aluminum extrusion companies to increase efficiency, reduce error, and move the solution toward a final product the customers desire. Our mission is to fully understand the machining needs of our customers’ aluminum extrusion-based products. Taber’s remarkable attention to the needs of the market position the company to provide customized, versatile, high-quality, market-oriented products that can satisfy a wide range of applications.

OUR MACHINES

Haas VF-7

The Haas VF-7 is our large-sized VMC that provides reliability and pinpoint accuracy. The VF-7 has a 40-taper cartridge spindle driven by a 30 hp vector Dual-Drive (Y-Delta) drive. The VF-7 produces either 75 ft-lb of torque at a low 1400 rpm, or 250 ft-lb at 450 rpm with the optional 2-speed gearbox — and will also run up to 8,100 rpm in 1.2 seconds for finishing aluminum.

Watch Haas VF-7 video

Emmegi Satellite XT

Our Emmegi Satellite XT allows for efficient workpiece aluminum machining advantages in pendulum mode including multiple set-ups. It’s a five-axis machining center and it allows us to machine, complete, a 10 ½ meter long part. It also has sawing capabilities where we can square cut and compound mitre cut parts to length. The work space of our long-bed machining center can be divided into two areas, granting us the ability to load and unload on one side while machining on the other side.

Watch Emmegi Satellite XT video

HMC500

The HMC500 comes fully loaded with features for fast cycle times. The HMC500 is constructed with a lightweight column featuring a rigid stepped X axis rail design. This column enables a rapid feed rate of 63 meters per minute, 2480 inches per minute, with acceleration of 1G.

Watch HMC500 video

ZIESS CMM

The Zeiss CMM uses highly accurate scanning technologies to capture a fully defined 3D measurement for any of our extruded and fabricated profiles.

Watch Ziess CMM video

Learn more about our aluminum fabrication machines and capabilities here:

https://taberextrusions.com/aluminum-fabrication/

Follow Taber on social media and never miss an update:

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/8843183/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/taberextrusions/

29 11, 2017

Team Taber: The Culture of an Aluminum Extrusion Company

marshall2018-01-11T23:50:31+00:00November 29th, 2017|

In the industry, and wondering what it’s like to work for an aluminum extrusion company like Taber? We like to think that what sets us apart goes beyond just our expanded capabilities; It’s the tight-knit company culture we have cultivated along the way that has enabled us to become the benchmark competitor in the Aluminum Extrusion Industry. Over the years, we have been blessed to work with a team of good-natured, hard-working, and dedicated group of individuals.

Here’s what our VP of Sales and Marketing, Allan Bennett, has to say about the reception he’s received at Taber since joining two and a half years ago.

“The Taber culture is great… I’ve been here two and a half years and I feel very welcome. In fact, since all of our plants are in the South, an area I haven’t spent a lot of time in, I’ve come to realize that southern hospitality is a real thing. These are some good people to work with. Dedicated, hard-working, and they’re a lot of fun. I think the future of Taber is very bright. We have a lot of projects that we have been spending a lot of time trying to get to fruition, and it’s finally starting to happen. Taber has a very high ceiling – I think really, it’s an unlimited growth potential for us.”

As Taber continues to expand its scope and tap into the ever-developing aerospace and infrastructure industries, we couldn’t be happier to have a team like ours to back us up.

We encourage you to choose Taber Extrusions as your full-service partner. If you would like to learn more about our capabilities, or learn about Taber in general, give us a call at 888-985-5332.

Follow Taber on social media and never miss an update:

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/8843183/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/taberextrusions/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/taberextrusions

Interested in becoming a part of the Taber Team? Submit your resume to careers@taberextrusions.com.

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