Taber Extrusions Archives - Taber Extrusions

24 07, 2024

State-of-the-Art Press Line Unveiled by Taber Extrusions: Combining Superior Design, Capability, Reliability, and Quality

joe2024-10-22T00:06:06+00:00July 24th, 2024|

A graphic of the Taber Extrusions with the title, "Something is Coming" and a black cover concealing the state-of-the-art press line

Aluminum Extrusions leader Taber Extrusions is proud to announce the addition of one of the largest, state-of-the-art press lines in North America. It’s a 10,000-ton press equipped with a 16-inch container. This state-of-the-art installation is set to go live in 2026. It is specifically designed to meet the rigorous demands of the aerospace, defense, and heavy industrial markets.

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark., July 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Taber Extrusions is dedicated to investing in cutting-edge technologies, providing unparalleled capabilities in the extrusion industry. If a job can be done, it can be done at Taber.

Reflecting this commitment, Taber Extrusions is proud to announce the addition of one of the largest direct presses in North America. A 10,000-ton press equipped with a 16-inch container. This state-of-the-art installation is set to go live in 2026. It is specifically designed to meet the rigorous demands of the aerospace, defense, and heavy industrial markets.

The new press will offer advanced heat solutions and is capable of handling both hard and soft alloys, ensuring versatility and superior performance. This significant investment underscores Taber Extrusions’ commitment to providing cutting-edge technology and expanding its capabilities to serve our national defense partners and beyond.

Design and Capability

To start, the state-of-the-art 10,000 UST Front Load, Direct press boasts cutting-edge machinery featuring a 16″ (406mm) container. It can handle profiles up to 600mm wide. Designed for reliability, it includes a pre-stressed press frame with laminated tie-rods and compression boxes supplied by SMS Group.

For quality assurance, the press is equipped with a linear guide for precise alignment and a movable butt shear with an adjustable gap. Safety is paramount, with a blast shield and integrated camera to enhance operational security. This new press sets a new standard in the industry. It combines advanced design, robust reliability, superior quality, and uncompromising safety.

Reliability

Furthermore, our state-of-the-art press line design incorporates an IAS Induction Heater for billet taper and a comprehensive Log Wash System, ensuring superior quality. The new system features vertical log storage for increased capacity. Additionally, our TERS System enhances energy efficiency, saving 6-8% in energy consumption. This innovative technology reaffirms our commitment to quality, capacity, and sustainability in extrusion processes.

Quality

Lastly, downstream of the press we will incorporate the latest COMETAL Engineering technology. It features a high-performance multi-spray zone profile quench with a cooling recipe system, and quench and cooling simulation for advanced product development. The in-line solution heat-treatment and aging process allows us to meet AMS 2750 Class 1/2, Type B, CQI-9, and AMS 2772 specifications, ensuring top-notch quality. Moreover, the system includes an AGV System and adjustable racks for increased capacity and efficiency. These upgrades reinforce our commitment to excellence and innovation in the extrusion industry.

About Taber Extrusions

Taber Extrusions, a minority-owned business enterprise, is AS 9100, NADCAP, and ABS certified. Since its founding in 1973, Taber has pioneered the process of extruding rectangular billet, enabling the extrusion of solid profiles up to 31 inches wide and hollows up to 29 inches. In 1995, Taber expanded by acquiring an extrusion facility in Gulfport, MS. It includes a cast house and two additional presses, along with multiple expansions of value-added fabrication services. Taber continues to extrude billet in a wide range of alloys and sizes, including 7″ billet molds.

The company has diversified its markets beyond the military to include aerospace, automotive, marine, infrastructure, and sporting goods, among others. For these markets, Taber supplies extruded products in a variety of soft and hard alloys. In 2018, Taber further expanded its capabilities by adding ultra-precision extrusions. This allows them to better serve customers in the electronics, computer, and medical industries.

In 2019, Taber announced their their new friction-stir welding further serving marine, defense, and infrastructure sectors. More recently, Taber added a new Haas VF-12 CNC Machine to its operations. Taber evolves to meet the client’s needs, providing the Shape of Endless Possibilities.

Press Contact: Chad Fishback, (806)724-6954, https://taberextrusions.com/

2 05, 2017

Spotlight – Eric Angermeier

andre2017-09-11T16:49:56+00:00May 2nd, 2017|

Has anyone gotten to know the new President of Taber yet? Maybe you’ve had a polite exchange, correspondence through e-mail, or even sat down with him in a meeting. But if you’re lucky, you’re sipping your coffee right now, and can afford yourself a few minutes to kick back and get to know a thing or two about Mr. Eric Angermeier.

He’s an authentic Midwesterner with the family values and hard-working attitude to match. Ask him what his perfect day would consist of, Angermeier may just straighten his back, raise his voice a bit, and say, “Seeing success and progress. Working with engaged teams. Getting that big order.” Strong career focus and building victory is something that keeps his personal attention. Yet, when he does leave the office, you may find him doing some yard work, playing golf, or spending some relaxing time with his family.

Originally from the Detroit, Michigan area, Eric entered his academic career as an accounting major and earned BS in Business Administration, then became a Certified Lean Manager from Ohio State University. Since then, he’s accumulated roughly 30 years of collective experience in the aluminum and aluminum extrusion industry and gained a rich background in developing team-based organizations. He established himself in various senior level leadership roles including sales and operations management at multiple plant sites in the United States. Prior to coming to Taber, Angermeier held the role of President at Manufacturing Performance Improvement Systems Consulting, utilizing his strong established background in operations, sales, and finance.

It’s safe to say that the President of Taber Extrusions is bringing some added wisdom to the team. Grandfatherly wisdom, as well – Eric is a Grandfather, a Dad, and a Husband whom loves nothing more than having the family under one roof whenever possible (or around one lake.) When the gift-of-getaway happens, Angermeier’s favorite destinations are mostly here in the U.S., and maybe a tropical beach or a Canadian lake, with family.

On-point with that instilled Midwest social responsibility, Eric Angermeier is a recent member of the Economic Development Council and Indiana Chamber of Commerce. Spent time on the board of The Center of Excellence at Ohio State, and is active in The United Way. He is looking for opportunities to get involved in civic affairs in the Russellville, Arkansas and Gulfport, Mississippi areas. It’s clear that Angermeier has the mindset of a catalyst, and he has his sights set on a very bright future for Taber, “Our vision is to develop our culture of integrity, to leverage our unique capabilities to continue to foster business growth, to be the preferred employer and supplier for the extrusion industry, to continually lower our environmental footprint, and to reach this vision through the newly developing Taber Extrusions Production System.”

What impresses Eric Angermeier most about the folks at Taber? “I’ve received a great welcome. They are truly responsive to ideas, and willing to help me learn the business here at Taber,” he says. “With Taber being truly unique in the aluminum extrusion industry because of the large press extrusion sizes while offering both hard and soft alloys; we are able to offer what no one else can. That is exciting.” And speaking of exciting, when asked what he might have done with his life if the aluminum industry had never become a part of it, he responded, “Renting out jet skis or para-sailing rides… or, well…. probably teaching business courses.” Welcome to the club, Eric Angermeier!

29 03, 2017

Extruding Process 101: Learn About Extrusions With Our Latest Video

andre2017-03-29T17:34:16+00:00March 29th, 2017|

Are you looking for a simple, efficient way to help customers understand the extruding process? Maybe you have a few employees who need a refresher? Well, your friends at Taber Extrusions have put together this fun animated video to explain, “What Is An Extrusion?”. We hope it can be a helpful resource for our colleagues and clients alike who want to describe the extruding process to others. You can watch by clicking the play button above, or by visiting our YouTube channel!

29 06, 2015

Aluminum-Based Prints Offer New Form Of Wall Decor

andre2017-01-26T23:37:28+00:00June 29th, 2015|

Aluminum is used for many things: manufacturing, packaging, even preserving foods in the form of aluminum foil. And while it’s been used as an art medium in a number of ways — including 3D printing — printing images on aluminum is a relatively recent development. A company called Aluminyze has sought to make this more commercially accessible, and the results are impressive. From GeekDad:

When Aluminyze offered to send some samples of their aluminum prints, I was a bit skeptical. Too many times, print samples are too small to get a feel for the quality, and only use heavy HDR or over-contrast to blast the senses and cover up any deficiencies in the process or materials. It was refreshing, then, when they told me to pick two sample photos myself and they’d send me both large and small prints of them.

For both prints, hanging was a breeze with the attached float mount that brings the print away from the wall. Aluminyze infuses the photo into the aluminum and then applies a UV resistant coating, providing a waterproof, fade and scratch resistant piece of art that, unlike paper that can get damp, wrinkle, tear, and fade, can be cleaned with regular glass cleaner and safely hung in direct sunlight. At $35 for an 8″x10″, on up to over $600 for a gigantic 40″x60″, aluminum prints are comparable to both framed prints and gallery wrap canvas, yet last longer. Aluminyze also offers a variety of sizes, shapes, and mounts for your photos on their website.

Click on through to see detailed reviews of Aluminyze’s qualities. But the short answer is that the company is delivering high-quality prints on a unique surface that’s protected from the usual wear and tear you’ll see with paper.

31 03, 2015

The Next Best Thing To Aluminum 3D Printing

andre2015-06-18T15:33:03+00:00March 31st, 2015|

We recently showed you how aluminum-based 3D printing is bringing customized objects to space. For those of us that can’t afford a 3D printer but enjoy a bit of DIY craftsmanship, here’s the next best thing. The self-proclaimed King Of Random recently put together a how-to video offering a technique that involves styrofoam, aluminum cans, and sand. The result is something pretty close to a 3D printed object, though the process is a little more dangerous than uploading to a 3D printer. From Gizmodo:

If you’re looking for a fun, high-risk weekend project, look no further: Grant Thompson, the self-styled “King of Random”, has decided to shared his method for transforming styrofoam into metal. (Spoiler: don’t try this one around your kids.)

To start, you’ll need to cut a model of your soon-t0-be metal creation out of foam. Thompson suggests using foam board from the dollar store, but foam housing insulation or craft blocks will work just as well. Once assembled, attach a thick foam riser to the top of your model, and bury it in a 5-gallon bucket filled with sand.

Next you’ll have to fire up your homemade metal foundry (if you’ve never made one before, Thompson’s got you covered). Now melt down some aluminum cans and pour the molten metal over your buried foam cast, taking care not to splash anything on yourself. The foam, Thompson explains, will vaporize instantly as liquid aluminum rushes in to take its place. Within a few minutes, your sculpture should be cool enough to remove. Do so carefully, using pliers. You can then polish up your new creation and place it prominently on display.

Click here to go to the full article, including a complete video demonstration by the King of Random. Just remember to use gloves and pliers when you try this yourself.

24 03, 2015

Aluminum F-150 Maintains Insurance Rates From Previous Year

andre2017-01-26T23:37:28+00:00March 24th, 2015|

With any major change in a car’s design, one often overlooked aspect is the vehicle’s insurance costs. Design changes come with inherent risks simply because they’re new and have limited real world feedback, so it’s not unusual for new-model cars with significant hardware changes to have higher insurance costs.

However, data has shown that insurance rates for the aluminum-based Ford F-150 have NOT increased compared to the previous year. From Automotive News:

For now, motorists’ yearly insurance premiums for the 2015 aluminum-bodied F-150 are about the same as for the 2014 steel model — good news for Ford.

But premiums could change once insurance companies study accident repair data for the redesigned pickup.

To set rates for 2015 models, insurance companies use the latest data they have — from 2014 model claims. It could take about a year or more to get repair and other data useful to set rates for the 2015 model, insurers say.

“The cost to insure the F-150 may go up, or it may go down,” said Progressive Corp. spokesman Jeff Sibel. “We won’t have

[enough] data until we have claims experiences.”

Insurance premiums won’t make or break sales of Ford’s highly profitable full-size pickup. They are about 10 percent of an owner’s operating costs in the first five years of ownership, Consumer Reports says. Ford is confident that insurance premiums for the new pickup will be similar to those for the steel model, even though some parts costs are higher, aluminum repair techs require special training and special repair equipment is needed.

This is all subject to change over time as repair data comes in. However, it’s always better to have a good start, and it’s a testament to the integrity of the F-150’s design and manufacturing teams that the insurance companies haven’t raised rates yet.

22 03, 2015

3D Printed Aluminum Makes It Into Space

andre2015-06-18T15:33:03+00:00March 22nd, 2015|

3D printing is one of the most exciting advances in technology over the past few years. For life in space, 3D printers simply receive designs and print out necessary tools to help astronauts perform quick fixes. Until now, 3D printing in space has always used composite material. However, a UK company has announced the first space-qualified 3D printing material using aluminum. From 3DPrint.com:

Now Airbus Defence and Space in the UK says they’re producing their first space-qualified 3D printed components from aluminum. The parts are the result of a two-year-long research and development program undertaken by the UK National Space Technology Programme via Innovate UK and the UK Space Agency.

The UK team say these new 3D printed components cannot be manufactured using conventional manufacturing methods, and they include a structural bracket built using aerospace-grade aluminum alloy. The Airbus Group has started using ALM (additive layering manufacturing) for tooling and prototyping parts for test flights and for parts that will fly on commercial aircraft. The company says components produced with ALM are beginning to appear on the A350 XWB the jetliners in the A300 and A310 line.

Eurostar E3000 Copyright Airbus Defence and Space Ltd 2015 renderingThe first flight-qualified ALM part — a titanium alloy bracket from Airbus Defence and Space — is already flying aboard the Atlantic Bird 7 telecom satellite, and the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle “Atlante” features a 3D printed air intake.

The space-qualified part in question, made as a single piece via laser melting, weighs 35% less than the previous bracket. The part it replaces was made up of four separate pieces and included 44 rivets. In comparison, the additively-manufactured piece which replaces it is now 40% stiffer and no waste results from the process as would be were it created by conventional machining.

3D printing with aluminum opens the door to many manufacturing possibilities, from aerospace and beyond. 3D printing can also go to DIY makers too, and aluminum also creates many opportunities for start-ups, garage engineers, and artists for structurally sound items. If it works in space, it can certainly work on the ground!

6 03, 2015

Ford’s F-150 Winning Over Public Opinion

andre2015-06-18T15:33:03+00:00March 6th, 2015|

The aluminum-based F-150 landed to strong reviews from the automotive press, but what really matters is how the public receives it. What’s the opinion so far? Based on both sales data and anecdotal vendor evidence, people are quite pleased with what aluminum can do. From Louisville Business First:

The company said retail sales of its F-Series pickup trucks were up 7 percent. It said the F-150, which features a standard new aluminum body this model year, was the fastest-turning vehicle on dealer lots.

To get some perspective on this, I had a conversation with Greg Howell, sales consultant at Carriage Ford in Clarksville. He said customers he’s spoke to about the aluminum truck are both knowledgeable and excited about them.

Many Carriage customers have owned Fords previously and are familiar with the changes to the body. He said if they do have questions, it’s usually about body work — as some are wondering whether getting an aluminum body will increase the cost of repairs. Ford has done a pretty good job with explaining to customers that the aluminum is more dent resistant, he said. He also said repairs do not cost more because Ford has sent plenty of military grade aluminum to dealerships and provided training on working with it.

Of course, sales data really only matters over the long haul but you’d definitely rather start strong to build buzz and word of mouth. It looks like the F-150 is doing its part there, and we’ll know more in a few months when Ford evaluates the first half of the fiscal year.

26 02, 2015

Rolls-Royce Selects Aluminum For Not-Quite-SUV Announcement

andre2015-06-18T15:33:03+00:00February 26th, 2015|

European automakers must be impressed with how durable the aluminum-based Ford F-150 is doing. Rolls-Royce, the legendary British luxury car company, is designing a new vehicle capable of handling any terrain. While they haven’t explicitly used the term SUV, you can kind of see where this is going. Most importantly, Rolls-Royce has already declared that it will have an aluminum body. From MLive.com:

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is building the first SUV in the British luxury automotive company’s 111-year history, though the company is calling the forthcoming vehicle about everything but an SUV.

Company Chairman Peter Schwarzenbauer and CEO Torsten Mueller-Ortvoes said in an open letter Wednesday that the new model will be “a high-bodied car, with an all-new aluminium architecture” and one that “offers the luxury of a Rolls-Royce in a vehicle that can cross any terrain.”

It is not immediately clear when or where the company, a division of BMW Group, plans to give the public a first look at the yet-to-be-named off-roader. But the announcement that it plans to move forward with the new car comes shortly after rival luxury automaker Bentley announced a name for an SUV it too is building: the Bentley Bentayga.

Between the F-150 and Rolls-Royce’s not-quite-SUV vehicle, it’s clear that aluminum can handle even the most rugged of circumstances. And we’re pretty sure that Rolls-Royce won’t have to use buzzwords like Ford’s “military-grade aluminum” to sell this car.

19 02, 2015

Carstar Sees Revenue Spike Powered By Aluminum Vehicles

andre2015-06-18T15:33:03+00:00February 19th, 2015|

While aluminum is masking inroads — pun intended — in the automotive industry, it’s easy to forget that this all flows downstream. If aluminum bodied cars are going to flood the market, then repair shops will have to know how to handle repairs. At least that’s what Carstar anticipated when it instituted an aluminum certification program for its employees — and now the company is reaping the benefits. From the Kansas City Star:

The road ahead for Carstar could be paved in aluminum.

The Leawood-based auto body repair company said it finished 2014 with record North American revenue of $712 million, up about 10 percent from the previous year.

And business this year is already getting a boost from aluminum repair work on vehicles in some of the company’s key markets, particularly those areas “with higher ownership of the Ford F-150 and more exotic cars like the Tesla,” said David Byers, chief executive officer at Carstar Auto Body Repair Experts.

The new F-150 pickup truck, for example, is being touted for its innovative aluminum body, which is lighter than steel and should improve fuel efficiency. The truck has been in dealer showrooms only a few months.

Tesla’s Model S is already becoming the go-to luxury sedan and the Ford F-150 had a strong first sales month, so aluminum-ready body shops will only see more and more business. The lesson here? Adapt to the times, especially if that means working with aluminum.