aluminum machining Archives - Taber Extrusions

2 12, 2025

Why Machining Capabilities Matter in Aluminum Fabrication

jane2025-12-02T23:03:34+00:00December 2nd, 2025|

Key Takeaways:

Integrated Aluminum Manufacturing Reduces Risk and Delays. A single-source approach aligns with lean manufacturing principles and supports just-in-time production.
In-House Machining Capabilities Ensure Superior Quality. Allows complete control over material properties and tolerances, delivering consistently precise, high-quality aluminum components.
Single-Source Operations Lower Costs and Improve Efficiency. Reduces redundant shipping, material waste, and administrative overhead, resulting in lower total project costs while maintaining strict quality standards.

On a busy manufacturing floor, where machines hum and engineers troubleshoot delays, the root cause is often a fragmented supply chain rather than a technical failure. In today’s competitive market, understanding why machining capabilities are vital in aluminum fabrication is essential to overcoming challenges with lead times, cost, and quality. As projects grow more complex, separating extrusion from fabrication introduces inefficiencies that lead to costly delays. True efficiency is achieved when the entire process, from design to precision-machined components, is managed under one integrated system. This article serves as a guide to leveraging integrated aluminum manufacturing solutions, outlining key machining capabilities such as multi-axis CNC aluminum fabrication and large press extrusion that help ensure streamlined production and top-tier performance.

The Strategic Advantage of Integrated Aluminum Fabrication

In modern manufacturing, the shortest distance between two points is ideally a straight line, yet a fragmented supply chain often turns it into a winding road of inefficiency. When extrusion, machining, and finishing are handled by separate vendors, logistical hurdles and inconsistent quality are frequently introduced. Through a lean value-stream analysis, each handoff between vendors can be seen as non–value-adding activity that increases time and waste. By contrast, when these steps are integrated, unnecessary transportation and redundant quality checks are eliminated. As more companies reshore operations to strengthen domestic supply chains, this streamlined approach has been recognized as essential. A single-source supplier is therefore viewed as the optimal model for reducing waste and aligning with lean manufacturing principles.

This integration has been shown to address three key manufacturing pain points:

Supply Chain Risk and Lead Times: When multiple suppliers are involved, the risk of delays, miscommunication, and quality discrepancies is increased. By consolidating operations within an integrated facility, these risks are minimized, and lead times are significantly reduced, creating a more stable and predictable production flow suited to today’s just-in-time manufacturing demands.
Quality Control and Consistency: When an aluminum profile is extruded and machined within the same facility, complete control over material quality is maintained. This integrated approach ensures a deeper understanding of alloy properties, resulting in tighter tolerances and superior precision aluminum fabrication. Accountability remains with one partner committed to consistent quality, often verified through ISO 9001 and AS9100 certifications.
Total Project Cost: When services are consolidated under a single-source provider, redundant shipping costs, material waste, and administrative overhead are reduced. As a result, efficiency is increased, and the benefits are directly reflected in lower overall project costs and stronger bottom-line performance.

A Checklist for Evaluating Essential Machining Capabilities

The true value of a supplier is measured by the breadth and sophistication of its in-house capabilities. When a potential partner is evaluated, their ability to perform the following processes on-site is considered a strong indicator of capacity to handle complex projects:

Large Press Aluminum Extrusion Capabilities: Massive, intricate shapes can be produced in a single piece on a powerful extrusion press. This capability simplifies downstream machining, reduces assembly requirements, and enhances overall part strength and durability.
Precision Cutting, Punching, and Drilling: These foundational services must be performed with high accuracy to prepare extruded profiles for final assembly or more advanced machining.
Advanced Forming and Bending: Extrusions can be shaped and bent to precise specifications without compromising structural integrity, which is critical for automotive and aerospace applications.

Multi-Axis CNC Machining: Considered the cornerstone of fabrication, complex aerospace bulkheads can be machined on a 5-axis center to tolerances as tight as ±0.002 inches, ensuring precision while maintaining strict industry standards.
Specialized Welding (Friction Stir Welding): For high-strength, safety-critical applications, advanced welding techniques are employed. FSW is used to produce stronger, more reliable bonds than traditional methods, making it essential for defense and marine components.

Taber Extrusions: A Single-Source Partner for Integrated Manufacturing

For over 50 years, Taber Extrusions has provided comprehensive, U.S.-based aluminum manufacturing solutions, exemplifying the benefits of an integrated partner. By housing world-class extrusion and fabrication under one roof, Taber directly addresses the quality, cost, and logistics challenges that modern OEMs face, embodying the principles of a streamlined supply chain recognized by industry authorities such as Thomasnet. Furthermore, this integrated power is anchored by some of the industry’s most advanced equipment. As highlighted in Business Focus Magazine, Taber’s large press aluminum extrusion capabilities include an 8,600-ton press that enables the delivery of complex, large-scale profiles that few other manufacturers can produce. Looking ahead, aluminum machining capabilities will be further expanded with the addition of a new 10,000-ton press in June 2026, providing enhanced scale and performance that will strengthen Taber’s value as a single-source partner.

Complementing this raw extrusion power is a full suite of in-house fabrication services, from multi-axis CNC aluminum fabrication to advanced Friction Stir Welding. This deep, single-source capacity allows Taber to maintain exacting quality control from start to finish, delivering precision-machined components for the world’s most demanding industries. The proven ability to manage the entire production lifecycle provides a critical strategic advantage to partners in the military, aerospace, and transportation markets who require absolute reliability and adherence to critical project timelines.

To learn more about the full range of services, download their corporate brochure.

When your project demands reliability and precision, partner with an expert. Contact Taber Extrusions today by filling out the form below to discuss your aluminum fabrication needs.

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:

“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.”

“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

27 01, 2017

2016 Was A Great Year for Aluminum Markets

marshall2017-07-26T17:50:06+00:00January 27th, 2017|

2016 was certainly an interesting year; between Brexit and the enormously capricious U.S Presidential election, a lot of folks in many industries of the world found it hard to shake uncertainty in their trust in market stability.

Despite the overall negativity that seems to be extra pervasive as of late, the aluminum market has reason to remain optimistic- as 2016 showed consistent positive growth in all areas of the aluminum sector with aluminum prices rising by 15% over the course of the year, with 2017 showing no sign of slowing progress.

Since Donald Trump’s win in the American presidential election, a variety of commodities have experienced a surge in price and overall positive market sentiment, aluminum included, with prices nearly breaching the $1,800 price level.

There are a few key factors here that have effected aluminum prices. First, following Chinese curtailments in the 3rd quarter of the year, alumina appears to be inching towards a supply deficit. In addition, higher coal prices have also propped up aluminum’s market price. The cost curve for global aluminum shifted upward steadily after the 1st quarter, when China’s aluminum production slowed.

And the overall positive trends are showing no signs of stopping going into 2017.

Back in December 2016 the U.S Federal Reserve hiked the interest rate by 0.25%- a move which would seem to indicate that they believe in the overall world economy strengthening, with anticipation for more rate hikes in 2017. US aluminum demand could potentially be impacted by this hike. As the U.S dollar becomes a stronger currency, commodities tend to drop in price; but a stronger dollar also makes American aluminum costlier in foreign countries.

Furthermore, President Donald Trump’s proposed infrastructure investments could mean a lot of business for industries like steel and aluminum- as investments in bridges, highways, and power grids could boost the demand for extruded aluminum. Of course, it’s hard to tell whether or not all or any of these projects will pass through.

Taber Extrusions is looking forward to another year and another opportunity to prove that we have the broadest capabilities in the aluminum extrusion industry and aluminum fabrications services that are second to none. Are you ready to make 2017 another great success?

For more information or to request a quote, please call us today ay (800) 563-6853 or e-mail us at info@taberextrusions.com

Call Us Today! (800) 563-6853