Aluminum extrusion transforms aluminum alloy into an infinite assortment of useful products. Making the most of the metal’s light weight and malleability, the extrusion process creates shapes by heating a billet of aluminum alloy to soften it and then forcing it with a hydraulic press or ram through a special steel die. The end result is a piece of aluminum that will maintain the specific shape of the die.

With engineering-assisted product design and state-of-the-art fabrication technologies, Hydro Extrusion's facilities emphasize close tolerance and cosmetic quality finishes. Our alloy expertise includes 6005, 6060, 6061, 6063, 6105 and 6463. Each one will anodize differently and this should be taken into consideration when selecting the appropriate aluminum alloy.

6005 Alloy

Composed primarily of aluminum, silicon, magnesium and manganese, alloy 6005 has excellent extrusion characteristics and a good mill surface finish. It is a good structural alloy. It is highly weldable, has excellent corrosion resistance and is stronger than 6060 and 6063. Applications include furniture tubing, pylons and platforms, portable ladders, and railway and bus profile structures. The most common temper is T6.

6060 Alloy

This alloy is excellent for complex shapes and/or extrusions that require anodizing. It’s a medium strength heat treatable alloy with good weldability, good corrosion resistance and good cold formability. 6060 is typically used in furniture, architectural sections for windows, doors, curtain walls, heat sink sections, electronic modules, motor housings, truck and trailer flooring, irrigation, heating and cooling pipes and more. 6060 alloy’s primary components are aluminum, magnesium and silicon.

6061 Alloy

One of the most commonly available heat-treatable aluminum alloys for commercial use, 6061 is composed primarily of aluminum, magnesium and silicon. It sets the standard for a medium-to-high strength, lightweight, economical material. It is well-suited to the manufacture of aircraft and automotive components, yachts, motorcycles, bicycle frames, scuba tanks, camera lenses, fishing reels, electrical fittings, couplings and valves.

6063 Alloy

6063 aluminum has magnesium and silicon as the alloying elements. Mostly used in extruded profile shapes for architecture and construction, such as window and door frames, roofs and framing for signs, it is typically produced with extremely smooth surfaces that make it easier to anodize. It is also fairly easy to machine and highly weldable. This alloy is especially useful for ramps, pedestrian bridges, walkways, gangways, stairways, universal stair systems, stair towers and more.

6105 Alloy

This is a wrought alloy with good corrosion resistance and medium strength. 6105 is composed primarily of aluminum, silicon, magnesium and iron. It is a good structural alloy, is highly weldable and brazeable, and is well-suited to automobile connector stock, hand rail tubing, ladder structures and seamless tubing.

Extrusion profiles are indispensible in virtually all commercial, industrial and consumer markets. If you are interested in custom aluminum extrusions in Michigan, the Midwest, or elsewhere in the U.S., Hydro Extrusion can reduce your costs and cycle times by producing complete solutions that are ready to ship or insert into your production line.