Resources
Practical guides for buying extruded aluminium.
Plain-language articles written by the people who run the presses — on the process, the alloys and the finishes, so your specifications land right the first time.
Published 2026-07-22
How aluminium extrusion works, billet to profile
The extrusion process in plain language: billet and die prep, the press, quenching, stretching, ageing — and what each means for your order.
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Published 2026-07-22
6060, 6063, 6005A or 6082 — which alloy to choose
The four workhorse alloys of architectural and industrial extrusion compared: strength, surface finish, machinability, and what each one fits.
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Published 2026-07-22
Anodizing vs powder coating — which finish to specify
The two dominant finishes for extruded aluminium, compared honestly: how each works, where each wins, and how to specify them so you get what you expect.
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Published 2026-08-01
Specifying aluminium curtain wall profiles — a checklist
What determines the section, the alloy and the finish on a curtain wall order — and the six things a supplier needs before any quote means anything.
Read the guide →Published 2026-08-02
Aluminium finishes for coastal and high-UV projects
Salt air and strong sun break finishes in different ways. What fails first, why the default spec is often wrong, and what to write in the enquiry.
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Published 2026-08-03
Extrusion tolerances — what EN 12020 actually controls
Every spec sheet says 'to EN 12020'. Few buyers know what that covers, what it does not, and which tolerance is the one that will cost you on site.
Read the guide →Published 2026-08-04
Reading an extrusion drawing before you send it to quote
A profile drawing is a contract for a die, not a picture. What to check first, which dimensions matter, and what is almost always missing.
Read the guide →Published 2026-08-11
Anodizing sealing — the step that decides durability
Sealing is the last step of anodizing and the easiest one to shortcut. What it does, how a poor seal surfaces months later, and what to ask for.
Read the guide →Published 2026-08-25
Solar module frame profiles — what to specify
Frames are structural, not trim. What actually sizes the section, why the corner joint decides squareness, and what to send with the enquiry.
Read the guide →Published 2026-09-01
Thermal break in window profiles — what to specify
A thermal break is an assembly, not a material. What actually holds the composite bar together, how it fails on site, and what to send with the enquiry.
Read the guide →Published 2026-09-08
Export packing for aluminium profiles — what to specify
Transit damage is a finish you already paid for, twice. What really damages profiles in a container, and what to write into the packing clause.
Read the guide →Published 2026-09-15
What to ask for in an aluminium material certificate
A certificate records what was measured, and on what. Which document proves your bundle is the alloy you ordered — and where traceability really stops.
Read the guide →Published 2026-09-22
Die cost and MOQ: when a custom profile pays off
When to pay for a new extrusion die and when an existing section is the better deal — what the die charge buys, where the MOQ comes from, what to ask.
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Published 2026-10-29
Extruded heat sinks — how to specify one that actually cools
Fin geometry, base thickness, alloy and finish — what to decide before you send a heat sink extrusion to quote, and what to send with it.
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Published 2026-10-29
Choosing a solar module frame supplier — what to check before tooling
A frame supplier is not just a press. Extrusion, corner work, finishing and QC have to line up, or the problems surface at the laminator.
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