At Superior Metal Shapes, Inc., our team is committed to educating companies on the advantages of utilizing custom aluminum extrusions in their operations, rather than machining a component’s entire shape.
Extrusion offers capabilities for high-volume production with continuous operation, optimal surface finishes, and a low per-unit cost for orders.
Our company offers turnkey services from extrusion to machining and finishing, with options for à la carte processes, as well. We operate from our 65,000-square-foot, AS9100D- and ISO 9001:2015-certified facility in Chino, California. Our technologically advanced shop equipment includes multiple computer numerical control (CNC) machines, two 3.5″ extrusion presses, and one 5″ press to support our various extruded aluminum service offerings and finishing capabilities. Generating the best extrusions possible is our goal, and Superior Metal Shapes strives to provide high-quality precision components along with superior customer service, cost-effective solutions, and fast processing.
Our experienced team can provide the following services:
- Engineering and design services
- Prototyping and samples
- Aluminum extrusion shapes
- Custom aluminum parts
- Anodized aluminum shapes
- Custom machining
- Finishing services
- Quality assurance
- Shipping and packaging
- Traceability marking
Our work speaks for itself. With a minimum order weight of 25 lbs., we can assist with a broad spectrum of extrusion projects. Our equipment has the capability to achieve tolerances within ±0.002 in even the thinnest or most complex shape configurations. Superior Metal Shapes can also produce hollow as well as multi-void hollow extrusions. Based on the requirements of your project and supply chain fluctuations, our typical order fulfillment time frame is three to five weeks.
Learn more about our work, and how Superior Metal Shapes can support your business.
Custom Aluminum Extrusions
The extrusion process involves placing heated metal into an enclosed cavity and forcing it through a die opening that is configured with the desired profile, thereby shaping the metal. Custom aluminum extrusion is an efficient yet economical method for creating consistent cross-sections throughout a workpiece for uniform components. At Superior Metal Shapes, we offer a variety of high-quality aluminum extrusion options to best serve you.
Aluminum Extrusion Shapes
Aluminum is a widely available, affordable material that is a preferred choice of metal fabricators for creating custom extrusions. Not only is aluminum easy to work with, but it also offers excellent ductility that allows proper forming of the material without the risk of fracture.
Using the extrusion process, we can create various cross-section options, with continuous shapes that commonly include:
- Angles
- H-shapes
- Hollow shapes
- I-beams
- L-shapes
- Multi-void hollow shapes
- T-bars
- Tubes, with round, rectangular, or serrated selections
- Zee bars
We will adhere to order specifications, cutting longer pieces to your desired lengths to match your product design requirements for greater flexibility in customization.
Custom Aluminum Parts
The most plentiful metal within the earth’s crust, aluminum is supremely malleable, durable, lightweight, and versatile. This makes aluminum components well suited for a variety of machines and devices in industries ranging from automotive and aerospace to food processing and packaging. Common components that utilize aluminum for their composition include:
- Brackets
- Enclosures and housings
- Engine components
- Fixtures
- Knobs
- Optical reflectors
- Panels
- Utensils
Anodized Aluminum Shapes
Anodizing aluminum extruded parts is a quick, efficient process that provides improved durability and an appealing look without negatively impacting the component or your budget. The inexpensive technique is electrochemical in nature and involves submerging the component in an electrolytic fluid bath and passing an electrical current through it to release ions of oxygen. This enhances the aluminum’s properties, generating a natural oxide layer that protects the surface of the aluminum component.
Anodizing creates a colorful metallic finish that is aesthetically pleasing and easy to maintain while providing improved corrosion resistance. Various applications in the appliance, home improvement, construction, and food service industries rely on anodized aluminum, including:
- Dryers
- Microwaves
- Refrigerators
- Lighting and bathroom fixtures
- Vent and duct covers
- Awnings and patio covers
- Window frames and storm doors
- Coolers
- Grills
- Pans
Custom Machining
Using a full billet of aluminum for machining parts is needlessly expensive, wasteful, and largely inefficient. Superior Metal Shapes leverages our extensive manufacturing capabilities to produce quality cross-sectional aluminum components while minimizing waste and promoting cost savings. We focus on quality assurance and excellent craftsmanship to provide unique aluminum extrusion services to our loyal customers. Our available machining processes include:
- CNC machining
- Cutting
- Deburring
- Sawing
Custom Aluminum Machining
Aluminum has unique mechanical characteristics compared to other metals and is a preferred choice for machined parts in various industries. It has an impressive strength-to-weight ratio, which is ideal for automotive and aerospace applications that require durable components that won’t add significant weight. However, the material is still easy to work with and can withstand rigorous machining processes such as bending, folding, drilling, and punching while maintaining its beneficial properties.
Aluminum has ideal resistance characteristics for versatile uses. It is highly resistant to cold temperatures, adding to its high machinability even in low temperatures, and it has good conductivity for both heat and electricity. Also, this metal possesses a high degree of corrosion resistance, though the amount of resistance does differ depending on the grade of the alloy. Aluminum can withstand chemical exposure, as well.
In machining, one of the material’s greatest advantages is its capacity for modification. The ease of customization when using aluminum allows us the freedom to manipulate the project, even after finishing treatments, to meet your specific application requirements as well as your desired aesthetics. This includes options for colored plating and various finishes. As a final benefit, aluminum is highly recyclable, allowing you to reduce your operation’s carbon footprint and waste production.
Aluminum machining is useful for such applications as:
- Electromagnetic interference (EMI) housings
- Lighting fixtures
- Medical components and devices
- Panels
- Pins and dowels
- Spline shafts
Finishing & Additional Services
Superior Metal Shapes has developed a reputation for producing high-quality custom aluminum extrusions. However, we offer much more than machining, with capabilities for a variety of additional services. Our design and engineering staff can offer you assistance in transforming initial drawings and concepts into workable, tangible prototypes. Also, while we do work with qualified external vendors for some finishings, our team at Superior Metal Shapes manages all quality assurance processes so that when you receive your shipment from us, you have the peace of mind that our team has individually certified all components.
Finishing Processes
Superior Metal Shapes offers in-house finishing services such as line graining, buffing, painting, and heavy etching, and we partner with highly qualified outside vendors to provide similar or additional finishing services and simplify your supply chain in the process. These options include:
- Anodizing
- Anodized painting
- Buffing
- Chem-Film
- Heavy etching
- Military-grade finishes
- Scotch Bright
- Stain Clear
High-Quality Custom Services From Superior Metal Shapes
At Superior Metal Shapes, we aim to be a one-stop shop for precision extrusion and machining. We offer accurate, fast, cost-effective extrusion solutions for hard- or soft-alloy aluminum components, with other material options available upon request. To ensure your project’s supply chain isn’t negatively impacted, we only work with trusted business partners to provide you with high-quality finishing and anodizing services. Our team emphasizes on-time delivery and accurate order fulfillment.
We have over 50 years of combined custom aluminum extrusion and fabrication experience as a family-owned and -operated company. Superior Metal Shapes works with a diverse customer base in automotive, aerospace and aviation, defense, firearms, electronics, medical, lighting, and consumer goods, and we are always interested in branching out to provide customers in new industries with our accurate extrusion products.