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Extrusions are made from malleable aluminum alloy that has been forced through a die to produce solid, semi-hollow and hollow shapes with dimensional accuracy and excellent surface quality. Extruded parts can range in size from one millimeter to large extrusions that are several feet long.
Our ACC-U-LINE™, ACC-U-ROD™, ACC-U-HEX™, ACC-U-BAR®, ACC-U-PLATE® and Jumbo Rod product lines provide a comprehensive range of standard and specialty extrusions that are highly sought after by elite machine shops around the globe for their superior machinability and consistent ultra-tight tolerance, exceeding Aluminum Association standards.
From custom aluminum extrusions that require basic procedures (such as precision cutting, drilling, tapping or punching) to fully finished components and assemblies, we offer many post-extrusion operations and value-added fabrication services, such as:
- Forming
- De-burring
- Beveling/chamfering
- Polishing and brushing
- Caustic etching and Hydro Extrusion Select acid etching
- Stretch and roll forming
- Painting
- CNC machining
- Clear and two-step anodizing
- Conventional and friction stir welding
- Assembly, packaging and delivery
Aluminum extruders must also understand the properties of different aluminum alloys in order to craft profiles with appropriate characteristics for their intended applications. Aluminum alloys are divided into two general classes – casting alloys and wrought alloys – and include:
2024 aluminum alloy, which is composed primarily of aluminum, copper and magnesium. It is commonly used in structural components or fittings that demand stiffness, good strength and fatigue resistance.
3003 aluminum alloy, which is composed of aluminum, manganese and a tiny percentage of copper. This is one of the most widely used aluminum alloys, and is found in everything from cooking utensils and ice cube trays to garage doors and fuel tanks.
6061 aluminum alloy, which is primarily composed of aluminum, magnesium and silicon. It is used extensively as a construction material, most commonly in the manufacture of automotive components, and in the construction of yachts, motorcycles, bicycle frames, camera lenses, fishing reels, electrical fittings, couplings and valves.
6061-T6 aluminum alloy, which is heat-treated and artificially aged for structural strength and toughness. It is commonly used in boat and watercraft construction.
7075 aluminum alloy is cold-wrought and is the strongest of the aluminum alloys, or as strong as some lower-grade steel products, but lighter in weight. It is ideal in consumer products where strength, corrosion resistance and high stress-reduction capabilities are important, such as rock-climbing equipment, hang glider airframes and bike frames.
Our nationwide network of production and supply facilities enables us to produce a wide variety of aluminum shapes, sizes, alloys and tempers, by both direct and indirect extrusion, to meet the needs of our customers in the electronics, IT, automotive, mass transit, bridge decking, telecommunications, and solar/renewable energy industries, as well as a limitless number of other consumer and industrial markets.
If you are looking for an aluminum extrusions manufacturer in Texas, or specifically in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio or Austin, contact Hydro Extrusion today to see how we can help lower your overall costs and product cycle times.