All aluminium profiles we manufacture are bespoke to customer drawings. The components we produce are always both extruded and machined (we can also finish the part, but that isn't necessary). We rarely fabricate only extruded profiles. We have manufactured aluminium components used in the tranport, electronic and electrical, renewable energy, and buildings and construction industries. If you're not sure whether we're the right supplier for your bespoke aluminium profile, you can have a look at our Designing with Aluminium Guide for further information, or simply get in touch with us and ask.
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01
Bespoke Aluminium Extrusion
We work with the 6000 series aluminium alloys, specifically 6063 in T5 and 6005 - 6061 in T6.
We work with the EN 755 standards. You can find a table of the tolerances we work with for aluminium extrusion in our aluminium profile design guide.
The minimum order quantity varies depending on the profile's size, weight per metre, alloy, extrusion requirements, machining operations, and surface finishing. Our MOQ can range from 250 kg, to 500 kg, to 2000 kg.
Read our blog on why minimum order quantities are imposed by aluminium profile manufacturers, and how to determine roughly what your MOQ will be.
Yes. We can help optimise your initial drawings so we can efficiently manufacture your bespoke aluminium profile and ensure we can deliver consistent and reliable results. This may involve slight changes in tolerances, or wall-thickness, sequence for machining, the operations to use to machine your profile, and more. Our suggestions will always be to improve the manufacture of your aluminium product, and generally, they also help reduce production costs.
Yes. In fact, we will always recommend hollows over solid aluminium profile designs because hollows will not increases costs but they will decrease profile weight, which will bring about several benefits such as ease of handling. Find out more on hollow and solid aluminium profiles in our Designing with Aluminium guide.
The smallest aluminium profile we have manufactured measured approximately 4 mm × 4 mm and weighed 43 g/m. Small bespoke aluminium extrusions are possible, but the achievable dimensions depend on the profile geometry, wall thickness, alloy, tolerances, surrounding features, etc. We review each design individually to confirm whether it can be extruded reliably.
Tooling lead time depends on the size and complexity of the bespoke aluminium profile, whether a solid or hollow die is required, and whether any modifications are needed following the initial trial extrusion. As a general guide, prototype projects at ALUCAD typically take 4 to 6 weeks, including die manufacture and the first extrusion trials.
02
Aluminium Profile Machining
Our aluminium extrusion machining capabilities include 4-axis CNC machining, milling, drilling, tapping, sawing, punching, countersinking, slotting, deburring, waterjet cutting, bending, and turning. Check out our range of aluminium machining equipment.
Achievable aluminium machining tolerances depend on the profile geometry, component length, datum structure, feature size, machine access, fixturing, and inspection, but, in general, we work with ISO 2768-mK. You can find out more about the machining tolerances we work with in our aluminium profile design guide.
We can do either, depending on what you need. If we machine after anodisation, the machining operation will remove the anodised layer from the cut surfaces. If that is a problem for your product's function, then we can machine before anodisation. Not sure which you need, or if you'd need a mix of the two? Head over to our blog where we explain when you should anodise your aluminium product before machining, after machining, or when you need a mix of both.
The longest bar we accept is 5,850 mm, primarily to ensure compatibility with container transport and downstream handling.
Are your tolerances too tight? Does it require many operations, and none can be done via for example punching, which is significantly more efficient? Is your part very complex, with strict needs, and therefore increases the risk of non-conformities which must be considered in the price? Check out our blog if you're looking for some suggestions on how to reduce the cost of your aluminium profile's machining operations.
Yes. Our production centre in Foshan handles all the machining for your bespoke aluminium profile, including the fabrication of custom punching tools to streamline production and reduce costs. We also package and assemble (when accessories come with the profile and must be assembled) in-house.
If there is the option of using the punch press to machine your profile, punching will almost always be the cheaper and more performing machining operation. And since we fabricate the custom punch press tools ourselves at ALUCAD, the initial investment is next to negligible, but the cost savings are important.
03
Aluminium Surface Finishing
Available aluminium surface finishing services can include aluminium anodisation, powder coating, lacquering, polishing, brushing and sandblasting. We may be able to offer other options such as nickel plating, simply ask us what's possible.
Anodising creates a controlled oxide layer that becomes part of the aluminium surface. And this layer provides corrosion resistance and retains the metallic character of the profile. Powder coating, on the other hand, applies a separate coloured coating to the surface. It generally provides a broader choice of colours and finishes and can give strong environmental protection when the aluminium is correctly prepared.
When anodising before machining your aluminium profile, we can offer natural anodisation with various styles like brushed or glossy or matte, but the only colours we can offer then are black and bronze. When anodising your aluminium profile after machining, however, we can offer a much greater range of coloured anodisation. But it is important to note that colours, especially bright, vivid ones, often vary from batch to batch.
We use alloy series 6xxx at ALUCAD, and within this series, alloy 6060 provides very good anodising appearance, 6063 gives good balance between surface quality and strength, 6061 also offers reliable and consistent anodised finishes. 6082 typically does not provide good surface treatment quality, and 6005 also isn't great, showing less uniform colour and appearance.
Explore our Designing with Aluminium guide where we list in more details the benefits and downsides of the aluminium alloys in the 6xxx series.
04
Packaging & Shipping
Yes. We can develop custom packaging around the shape, length, finish, and handling requirements of your bespoke aluminium profiles. You can explore our aluminium profile special packaging examples here. If you do not find what you require, simply ask us what you'd like, and we will let you know if that is something we can offer.
Yes. We can provide the accessories you require with you bespkoe aluminium profile, like fixings, inserts, end caps, brackets, screws, and they do not have to be in aluminium. We can also pre-assemble them if you need.
Yes. Packaging and individual product packs can include customer-specific labels, product references, batch information, quantities, barcodes, and even handling instructions (like which side is the top).
Finished aluminium profiles are protected with either separators or sleeves, protective film, etc, depending on the profile. But if you would like to protect your aluminium components in a specific manner, just let us know.
We supply to customers across Europe.
Shipping terms are agreed before you put in an order, but generally, we work with DDP. This may be subject to your location.
Our lead times are generall 3 to 4 months. Always make sure to send us your order with time to spare. If the lead time changes, we will always let you know if you should put in your order earlier to receive your bespoke aluminium profiles on time.
05
Quality Control
Quality begins with drawing and specification review to ensure the product is designed in such a way that the manufacture will be stable. We then have manual and digital quality control assessments throughout production, including with a microscope (Optical Video Measuring). Depending on the complexity of the profile, we will increase or decrease how many components we check for quality control. Our inspections are based on component function, specified tolerances, production quantity, and customer quality requirements.
No. Inspecting every component would significantly increase costs for you. Inspection frequency depends on the characteristic, production process, component risk, and customer specification.
We take full responsibility and will arrange to take the non-conformities back and send you a new shipment as fast as we can, via plane.
Still have a question on the manufacture of your bespoke aluminium profile?
Send us your question with your drawings and/or technical requirements. Our team will review your bespoke aluminium extrusion and machining project and get back to you as quickly as possible.