We supply a wide range of extruded aluminium profiles to our customers, including products up to nine metres in length. In some cases, we can deliver extruded lengths of up to 12 metres, although this depends on the design of the profile needed. If your project needs any outsize extruded aluminium profiles, please let us know: we’ll either find a way to supply you with what you need, or we’ll recommend a supplier who can.

Aluminium extrusion profiles – or extruded aluminium profiles – are the lengths that are created through the extrusion process. So the unworked length of aluminium that flows through the extrusion die is called a billet, and the formed lengths that emerge are profiles. Aluminium extrusion profiles come in an infinite range of solid and hollow shapes, such as L-shaped channels, square tubes and t-slot lengths.

Aluminium extrusion is a metal forming process used to transform lengths of aluminium alloy into objects with a particular cross-section. The aluminium lengths, called billets, are pushed through an extrusion die with a smaller cross sectional area than the billets themselves. The billets take on the shape of the cross section on the die, so they can be used in various applications. The aluminium extrusion process is a relatively quick, simple and cost-effective one, and aluminium is particularly suited to this kind of forming.

Aluminium extrusion weight per metre is calculated from the surface area of the extruded profile. Extruded aluminium profiles come in an infinite range of shapes and sizes, so the aluminium extrusion weight per metre is used to calculate the £/kg cost.

To simplify matters at Edmo, we typically use the aluminium extrusion weight per metre to calculate a cost per piece, so you know exactly what you’ll be paying for each production run. If needed, we can also apply cost units of £/kg and £/metre.

If you have any particular cost requirements, or you’d like to know more about how we calculate our aluminium extrusion weight per metre, please let us know and we’ll be happy to talk you through any questions.

How much aluminium extrusion costs per kilo is governed by the London Metal Exchange (LME), taking into account the global market and fluctuations in supply and demand. What this means is that the cost per kilo of aluminium extrusion is never the same. In addition, aluminium is traded in US dollars, which means that we have to take the exchange rate into account.

In order to protect our customers from price fluctuations, we offer prices that are fixed for a month after a quote is first produced. So if the cost per kg of aluminium extrusion increases a day after we’ve quoted you, we’ll absorb that cost.

If you wish to secure a fixed cost per kg for a period of up to 12 months, we can arrange to forward purchase metal as a means of securing this price. Having a fixed aluminium extrusion cost per kg for a year can give you a valuable period of price security that proves particularly helpful in the early days of your business, or in lean times. It also makes good business sense!

The main standard for aluminium extrusion tolerances is European Standard BS EN 755. However, where tighter tolerances are needed, we may be able work to the standards set out in BS EN 12020. There are some circumstances (usually depending on the size and intricacy of the profile being extruded) where we may not be able to improve on the aluminium extrusion general tolerances outlined in BS EN 755. The best way to check the tolerances we can achieve on your project is to ask: we can carry out a review of your proposed profile using dimensioned drawings, and let you know what’s achievable.

The aluminium extrusions we supply meet tolerances outlined by BS EN 755-9:2001. However, many of the tolerances we supply improve on this standard. If you have specific or increased tolerance requirements, a member of our technical engineering team will be happy to discuss how we can help you. The tolerances we can achieve on cut to length aluminium extrusion are profile dependent, ranging from +/- 0.2mm to +/- 0.5mm as standard but, again, subject to enhancement if needed.