Co-Extruded Plastic, Explained
Co-extrusion is a process wherein two or more materials are forced through the same die to create a unified piece. This process offers a range of benefits, and it’s a common choice in many industries. It’s particularly common for parts that need to have two different properties for the end-consumer. For example, if your part needs a more rigid plastic material section and a flexible rubber section, you should consider using co-extrusion.
There are different types of co-extrusion, including single co-extrusion, dual durometer co-extrusion, tri-extrusion, and crosshead extrusion. If you’re not familiar with these processes, check out our in-depth blog to learn more. For now, we’ll focus on the advantages you can get through the use of co-extruded plastic.
Advantages of Co-Extruded Plastic
Reduced Turnaround Times
When you use co-extrusion, you drastically reduce the amount of time it takes to create the finished part. Instead of creating two parts and melding them together, two types of plastic enter the co-extrusion die and come out as one unified part. This saves you time on secondary operations, allowing you to go to market faster.
Cost Savings
In addition to quicker turnaround times, you’ll also benefit from cost savings. You won’t spend as much on manufacturing; you’ll only be creating one piece, rather than two that need to be merged. Additionally, you’ll save on secondary operations. You might even save on the polymers, as you can choose two that fit your exact needs, rather than one that is just adequate.
Greater Customization
With co-extruded plastic, you don’t have to worry about settling for one sub-par material because it’s the only thing that will fit your needs. Co-extrusion allows you to choose from a wide variety of polymers, which means you can customize the part to be exactly what you envisioned.
Work with Custom Profile for Your Co-Extruded Plastic Needs
With over 30 years of experience providing a variety of profile extrusion services, Custom Profile is the best choice for your co-extruded plastics needs. We partner with some of the biggest companies across North America from a variety of industries to design, develop, and manufacture pieces for various applications. Our team of experts will work with you to determine what you need and perfect your part until it’s ready for the final shipment.
We have three robust locations and state-of-the-art equipment, ensuring we can turn your project around quickly and cost-effectively. We also have an ISO-certified class 8 clean room that allows us to take on more delicate projects, like those for the medical industry. Whether you need a small prototype trial or a large production run, we’ll deliver quality products, every time.
Get Your Custom Quote Today
Ready to pursue co-extrusion services? Reach out to us for a custom quote.
