There are multiple ways to create high-quality, long-lasting, and efficient plastic components. With all the plastic extrusion options available for customers, it’s up to the manufacturers to highlight the different services they offer to keep customers informed.
Custom Profile highlights the different types of plastic extrusion services available in the market while detailing the best applications for each service.
Profile Extrusion
Profile extrusion is one of the most common types of plastic extrusion services offered in the industry. This type of extrusion service is best for high-volume orders and products that all follow the same, continuous shape.
There are subcategories to profile extrusion services as well, including: dual durometer co-extrusion, cross-head extrusion, co-extrusion, and tri-extrusion. Co-extrusion and tri-extrusion vary enough, however, that they can be considered their own service because of the differences that go into the manufacturing process.
Profile extrusion services create a large number of products we encounter daily, including window frames, weatherstripping, and appliance trim.
Tubing Extrusion
Tubing extrusion services are another common form of plastic extrusion services offered by numerous manufacturers, including Custom Profile. Tubing extrusion services largely follow the same steps as all types of extrusion services, but there is an option toward the end of the process, where a tube bending machine can help the final product form into a shape. The completion time is dependent upon the material selection as well as the tube opening width. Custom Profile’s tubing extrusion capabilities can create tubing widths as small as one-eighth of an inch to as large as three inches.
Co-Extrusion
While co-extrusion is a subcategory of standard profile extrusion, it does have enough differences to be its own plastic extrusion service. The main difference between co-extrusion and standard profile extrusion is that in co-extrusion, two materials are used to create the product instead of one.
The blending of materials creates a product with characteristics like greater flexibility and sturdiness. One of the biggest challenges of co-extrusion is finding the right mixture of two materials.
Common applications of co-extrusion services include weatherstripping and seals and plastic channels and trims, and often involves extruding profiles requiring rigid and flexible plastics together.
Tri-Extrusion
With tri-extrusion, three different types of materials are combined into one product.
Some examples of tri-extrusion include specialized weather seals, refrigerator components, and window and door frames. Getting the trio of materials correct for tri-extrusion services is more time-consuming than co-extrusion services, but it is certainly worth it for a product that is a combination of beneficial qualities.
Connect with Custom Profile for Your Plastic Extrusion Services Today
Since 1992, Custom Profile has known what it takes to create a high-quality and efficient product, no matter the type of extrusion service.
With our expanded capabilities covering multiple types of plastic extrusion services, we have everything we need in all three of our facilities to take care of your project. We offer more than just extrusion services. With in-house tooling and a number of secondary services, not only can we manufacture your products, but make them look and operate how they should.
Thinking of using plastic extrusion services? Contact Custom Profile today, and we’ll answer all your questions and get ready to work.