28 01, 2024

A Year in Review: Best Aluminum Extrusion Blogs by Taber Extrusions

2024-02-28T16:21:36+00:00January 28th, 2024|

A black paper cutout of the word “BLOG” stands out, with a notebook and pen beneath. In the center, the Taber logo is encircled by L-shaped borders in gold and blue, creating a stylish composition.

Taber Extrusions goes beyond being a premiere aluminum extruder; but serves as a comprehensive resource, offering valuable insights and practical solutions to common industry challenges through providing the best aluminum extrusion blogs possible. Covering everything from news and trends to tips for enhancing extrusion capabilities, Taber ensures that you stay well-informed.

Here’s some of our favorite aluminum extrusion blogs of 2023:

1. Large Aluminum Extrusion Design

Are you ready to go BIG? This blog talks about how Taber elevates aluminum extrusion capabilities to new heights. With an exclusive rectangular container, they lead the industry in producing some of the widest and most complex multi-void hollows. Their large press capability, exemplified by the 8600-ton press, ensures the transformation of big dreams into reality. Explore the advantages of partnering with Taber, from reduced assembly time to streamlined design possibilities. Go BIG with Taber— where innovation meets excellence.

Graphic with a background of 3 black and white photos. A poem about aluminum in a white font is printed on the photos. The one on the left is a photo of a high-rise building, the one on the top right is a photo of a plane, and the one on the bottom right is a photo of a ship
A portrait slide containing Tabers’ seven types of alloys and their descriptions.

2. Which Aluminum Alloys are Best for Welding?

Welding joins two or more metal pieces, creating a permanent and robust bond. Various welding techniques, including GTAW, GMAW, FSW, and laser welding, can be used for welding aluminum metals. However, welding aluminum can be challenging because of the oxide layer on its surface and its high thermal conductivity. The aluminum must be appropriately cleaned and decreased beforehand for a successful welding. Furthermore, you should use the appropriate welding technique and filler material.

If you’re curious about welding aluminum and want to know more about the different techniques and materials, you should check out this helpful blog post. It’s written in an easy-to-understand manner that’s perfect for anyone who interested in learning about welding, aluminum alloys, and metals joining.

3. Aluminum Extrusions for Military & Defense

Aluminum extrusions offer a lightweight yet sturdy framework, enabling easy customization into diverse shapes. In this blog by Taber, the focus is on the extensive application of aluminum extrusion in the aerospace industry, where it plays a pivotal role in reducing the weight of aircraft, enhancing fuel efficiency, and ensuring structural strength. Armored vehicles similarly leverage aluminum extrusions to fashion lightweight armor capable of withstanding gunfire, explosions, and fire.

: A collage of five applications of aluminum extrusions in the military and defense sector.

This article also underscores Taber’s steadfast commitment and continuous supply of aluminum extrusions to the military and defense sectors.

The top of the Statue of Liberty is on the left with the Taber logo below it. The headline to the right of the Statue of Liberty says, “The Shape of Endless Possibilities — Taber Extrusions” above a collage of four images of Taber Extrusions’ equipment and their warehouse.

Read the full blog here.

4. BABA-Certified: Aluminum Extrusions Manufacturer Sourced in the USA

The Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act is a set of rules that requires the government to buy things made in the USA for government-funded projects. Taber Extrusions is a company that proudly manufactures aluminum parts to supply America’s military and defense sectors – committed to sourcing all parts in the USA responsibly and with top quality in mind. Aluminum is a versatile metal that offers benefits such as resistance to rust, good strength-to-weight ratio, and malleability for shaping. Taber offers many kinds of traditional aluminum extrusions and related processes, such as aluminum casting, fabrication, friction stir welding, and precision extruding.

5. Aluminum Extrusions: Material Comparisons

This blog post centers on the revolutionary impact of aluminum extrusions in modern construction, emphasizing Taber’s ability to intricately shape structures with precision. It underscores how aluminum outperforms alternative materials like wood, plastic, steel, and other metals. The article further highlights the diverse variations in aluminum materials, showcasing aluminum is a wise choice across various applications in the extrusion process.

If you’d like to explore more of Taber Extrusion’s aluminum extrusion blogs, visit taberextrusions.com and follow them on social media so you can receive new blog alerts!

Aligned on the left is the blog title, “Aluminum Extrusions: Material Comparisons,” which is written in a bold black font with a dark and light grey transparent background and the Taber logo beneath it. On the right, are a bunch of aluminum pieces that are unevenly, yet elegantly stacked vertically, showcasing different shaped profiles on a clear white background.

More about Taber Extrusions

Taber specializes in creating aluminum products in unique shapes and sizes to various industries such as aerospace, automotive, marine, infrastructure, and sporting goods.

Founded in 1973, Taber Extrusions has expanded its markets beyond the military and has become a leader in the industry. Working with various tools and capabilities to create custom solutions for their customers, Taber features micro-extrusions in precise shapes and sizes, friction stir welding services, and offers a wide array of aluminum alloy options. Taber also has a CNC machining line that allows them to create custom aluminum components serving a diverse range of industries. Taber offers value-added machining services and can provide raw materials to customers throughout North America.

Interested in becoming a part of the Taber team? Submit your resume to careers@taberextrusions.com. You can also visit taberextrusions.com or call Taber Extrusions directly at: 1-888-984-3795.

22 09, 2023

Aluminum Extrusions: Material Comparisons

2023-09-22T01:09:46+00:00September 22nd, 2023|

Aligned on the left is the blog title, “Aluminum Extrusions: Material Comparisons,” which is written in bold black font with a dark and light grey transparent background and the Taber logo beneath it. On the right, are a bunch of aluminum pieces that are unevenly, yet elegantly stacked vertically, showcasing different shaped profiles on a clear white background.

Aluminum extrusions offer many advantages when material comparisons are considered. Aluminum extrusions have revolutionized the way our world is built today, offering the ability to create complex shapes with precision and outperforming alternative materials such as wood, plastic, steel, and other metals. Construction, transportation, military, aerospace, and consumer goods are just a few of the applications for which engineers and designers now turn to aluminum extrusions as the standard.

 

When designing aluminum extrusions, you must take into consideration aluminum alloys and the specific application requirements, including load-bearing capacity, structural integrity, and functionality. Selecting the right alloy and surface treatment becomes vital — considering the intended environment, such as temperature variations and exposure to corrosive elements. Designers must also optimize shape and geometry — minimizing material waste and ensuring easy fabrication or assembly after the extrusion process.

 

Addressing these factors early on unlocks the full potential of aluminum extrusions, creating visually appealing, highly functional, cost-effective sustainable products. As Steve Jobs once said, “Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works!”

 

Tooling Cost and Lead Time

A gradient blue bar graph showing the typical tooling lead time of different materials with aluminum extrusions (2) in comparison to vinyl extrusion (4), stampings (7), powder metal (10), roll form (12), castings (17), and injection molding (17). The left axis of the graph shows the number of weeks in increments of 2 weeks starting from 0 at the bottom all the way to 20 at the top. Source: Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC)

Source: Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC)

Tooling costs and lead times are critical factors in the aluminum extrusion process and other manufacturing methods. Tooling refers to the creation of molds, dies, and other specialized equipment required for a manufacturing process, while lead time refers to the time required for tooling preparation, production setup, and the completion of a production run. Properly considering these factors is crucial for achieving efficient production, controlling costs, and meeting project timelines.

 

Aluminum alloys offer distinct advantages here, simplifying the fabrication of tooling components due to their unique properties: easier machinability, lower melting point, reduced wear on tools, superior thermal conductivity, lighter weight, corrosion resistance, abundant availability, and overall efficiency in manufacturing processes. Steel, on the other hand, demands more complex and time-consuming tooling processes due to its melting point and more intricate machining requirements.

A chart of the typical tooling cost of different materials used in extrusion with the aluminum extrusion process leading at around $500-$5000; stampings at $5000 and up; roll forming at $30,000 and up; die casting and injection molding both at $25,000 and up; vinyl extrusion at $1500 and up. Source: Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC)

 

Source: Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC)

Extrusion: A Brief Comparison Between Materials

 

Extrusions revolutionized manufacturing, enabling precise, complex shape creation, heightened efficiency, and versatility across materials like plastics, wood, and metals such as aluminum, steel, and copper. With a wide range of materials available, form and function must go hand in hand, and a great designer, engineer, or builder understands the value of knowing and choosing the right tools and materials for a successful build. Here are brief material comparisons.

 

Among these materials, aluminum, and aluminum alloys offer several advantages over alternative materials. Its properties provide a compelling combination of strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, formability, electrical and thermal conductivity, sustainability, and energy efficiency. When compared to roll-formed steel, aluminum extrusion provides similar strength with significantly reduced weight, making it a preferred choice for applications that require structural integrity while prioritizing weight reduction.

 

Copper extrusions, although strong —are much denser than aluminum, resulting in lower strength-to-weight ratios. Molded plastic materials, while lightweight, generally have lower strength and thermal conductivity compared to aluminum.

 

Although it is a natural and versatile material, wood is not as strong or lightweight as aluminum. Vinyl extrusions, on the other hand, are resistant to corrosion —but lack the strength and thermal conductivity of aluminum.

 

With the necessity of sustainable products, aluminum is the perfect choice. Known as the “Green Metal,” aluminum is one of the most environmentally friendly metals and can be recycled infinitely.

 

Overall, aluminum extrusion offers a more compelling set of properties that make it the preferred choice for various applications when compared to alternative materials utilized in the extrusion process.

AEC logo with the words, “Aluminum Extruders Council” next to it separated with a line.

 

Source: Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC)

To dive more into the comparison of materials in the extrusion process and see how aluminum extrusion is clearly the best option for your build, you can also check out the American Extrusion Council (AEC) website.

 

Taber Extrusions is proud to work with the American Extrusion Council (AEC) in providing information about aluminum extrusion and its flourishing industry.

 

More About Taber Extrusions

 

Taber Extrusions, located in Russellville, AR and Gulfport, MS, is a highly regarded provider of aluminum extrusions to various industries, including aerospace, infrastructure, transportation, defense, and thermal management.

 

ISO 9001 and AS 9100 certified, Taber’s present and future customers can expect 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 in 1995, which houses a new state-of-the-art cast house and two additional presses. Micro-extrusion capabilities and the fabrication area have been expanded multiple times. We continue to extrude billet in a wide range of alloys and sizes. We have diversified our markets beyond the military since our inception to include aerospace, automotive, marine, infrastructure, and sporting goods, among many others.

Our company supplies cast and extruded products in various soft and hard alloys for these markets.

 

Today, Taber Extrusions is proud of its friction stir welding capabilities and a complete offering of extruded aluminum components, value-added machining services, and raw material supply to the North American market.

 

Thank you for your continued support of Taber Extrusions, LLC. 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

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

Go to Top