Nature's most versatile and abundant metal
Approximately one-third the weight of steel, iron, brass and copper, aluminum can be alloyed to achieve a tensile strength nearly equal to that of steel, and is unmatched in terms of strength-to-weight ratio. These built-in advantages make aluminum the ideal choice for products requiring both strength and lightweight durability.
Other attributes of aluminum and beneficial to many various industries include its resiliency, the ability to accept a wide variety of finishes and the nonporous, easily sanitized nature of its surfaces.
Extrusion process opens-up limitless design possibilities
Few manufacturing processes give engineers more freedom to design than extrusion, and few extruders are as committed to facilitating that creativity as AEC.
Our on-going dedication to expanding the characteristics and capabilities of aluminum and the extrusion process has resulted in consistent and innovative design solutions for our customers.
AEC's certified extruders are able to successfully extrude parts with thin walls; with tolerances tighter than industry standards by 1/2 to 1/4; and with intricate profiles and configurations that reduce fabrication operations or ease assembly, delivering creative and cost-effective solutions to even the most complex design challenges.
And when size is a design consideration, our state-of-the-art extrusion presses are capable of manufacturing parts with circumscribing circle sizes as large as 7 inches, further expanding design possibilities.
Consistent processes create consistent product
From three-dimensional modeling used during the design phase, to in-house fabrication tooling capabilities and the use of custom die stacks to provide uniformity throughout the life of your part, Alexandria Extrusion Company's rigorous commitment to quality results in the most consistent extruded and machined extrusion products available.
Our processes - everything from how we train employees and communicate critical dimensions across the manufacturing floor, to the way your part is designed, inspected, packaged and shipped - have been reviewed, certified and found exemplary, earning us the coveted ISO 9001:2001 certification as well as two Minnesota Quality Awards.
Tolerances unmatched in the industry
Alexandria Extrusion Company consistently performs to tolerances that are superior to the aluminum extrusion industry for dimensional characteristics including straightness, flatness and twist as well as cross-sectional tolerances for thickness, contours, angles, fillet radii and also mechanical properties. Add to that expertise the benefits of the extrusion process itself - which is often capable of exceeding the dimensional tolerance restrictions in roll forming, stamping and casting - and the critical dimensions necessary to fulfill your design requirements become both possible and cost-effective.
Precision machining
Precision machining of aluminum extrusions has been a core competency at Alexandria Extrusion Company since our founding nearly four decades ago.
By providing our customers with a broad spectrum of value-adding services including conventional and CNC machining, punching, cutting, drilling, welding, forming and bending, AEC extends the design flexibility available through the extrusion process into precision machining and fabrication.
Surface finishing
Our extrusion processes create natural finishes ranging from mill quality for parts with hidden surfaces, to superior quality for those parts which are highly visible and require attractiveness.
In addition to straight-from-the-press finishes, we offer scratch and buff finishes, and work with a strong corps of valued vendors to offer anodizing and painting options to meet specific aesthetic requirements of your market.
Rapid prototyping speeds time-to-market
Our commitment to providing our customers with the freedom to design facilitates rapid prototyping.
Three-dimensional models are generated during the design phase where any necessary improvements or changes can made quickly and cost effectively. During the manufacturing phase, the finished model is used to create production-ready tooling that ensures your prototype is consistent with the end product.
And, because of the reduced tooling costs associated with the extrusion process, and the shortened lead-times required to produce extrusion tooling, prototypes, your finished product can move quickly and cost-efficiently into the marketplace.