Extrusion, in whichever material your profile actually needs.

Aluminum structural and architectural profiles, plastic trim and channel, and rubber or silicone gaskets and seals — extruded, cut to length and finished under the same quote, matched to what the profile has to do, not just its shape.

Get my extrusion quote →See materials & alloys ↓

Quick definition

Extrusion forces heated material — an aluminum billet or a plastic or rubber compound — through a shaped die to produce a continuous profile with a constant cross-section, then cuts it to length. It's the process behind structural aluminum frames, plastic trim and channel, and rubber gaskets and seals — anything that's the same shape all the way along its length.

Constant cross-sectionThe same shape, any length
AluminumStructural & architectural
PlasticTrim & channel
ElastomerGaskets & seals
Cut to length and kitted — not shipped as raw stock.
3 material familiesaluminum, plastic and elastomer profiles, matched to the job, not sold as one default
5 aluminum tempers6005A, 6060, 6061, 6063 and 6082, from architectural to structural grade
Cut to lengthprofiles cut, finished and kitted to your exact length, not shipped as raw stock
1 → thousandsmeters or pieces per order — no fixed minimum on a standard profile
Cut-to-length aluminum extruded profiles showing their constant cross-sections
Cut to length and ready to install — not raw stock shipped for you to cut yourself.
Extruded rubber gasket profile showing a constant cross-section at the cut end
Elastomer profiles extruded to seal or flex — matched to what they actually have to resist.

Matched to the job, not sold as raw stock

A profile is more than a cross-section shape.

Order a profile from most extruders and you get raw stock, one material regardless of what the part actually has to do, and a custom die quoted before anyone checks whether a standard shape would work. Send the same drawing to OperGo and an engineer matches material to function, cuts and finishes it to your exact length, and only recommends a custom die once a standard profile genuinely can't do the job.

Raw stock, one material
  • One material pushed for every profile, whether or not it fits the job
  • Raw stock shipped uncut, to cut to length yourself on your own equipment
  • A custom die quoted without explaining when a standard shape would do
  • Finishing (anodizing, painting, cutting) sourced as a separate step
The OperGo way
  • Material matched to what the profile needs to do — load, flex, chemical resistance or cost
  • Profiles cut to length and kitted, ready to install, not raw stock
  • A custom die only quoted once a standard profile genuinely can't do the job
  • Finishing specified and applied under the same quote as the profile itself

What we run

One shape, three materials, matched by function.

Aluminum profiles

Structural and architectural profiles in 6005A, 6060, 6061, 6063 and 6082 — from visual trim to load-bearing frame sections.

Plastic profiles

PVC, ABS, polycarbonate, HDPE, PMMA and polypropylene, rigid or semi-flexible, for trim, channel and light-diffusing sections.

Elastomer profiles

EPDM, neoprene, nitrile, silicone and Viton, extruded into gaskets, seals and edge trim matched to what they have to resist.

Cut, finished & kitted

Profiles cut to length, finished and kitted with the rest of your order — not shipped as raw stock for you to cut yourself.

The spec sheet

Materials, alloys and tooling.

Materials & alloys · Extrusioncut to length
Aluminum6005A-T6 (large sections), 6060-T6 (commercial), 6061-T6 (general engineering), 6063-T5/T6 (architectural/visual to structural) and 6082-T6 (high load).
PlasticsPVC (rigid or flexible), high-impact ABS, polycarbonate (clear optical or opal diffuser), HDPE, UV-stable PMMA-GS and automotive-grade PP.
ElastomersEPDM for weathering, neoprene for shock absorption, nitrile for oil resistance, FDA-grade silicone for food or medical contact, and Viton for aggressive chemicals — extruded into gaskets, seals and trim.
FinishingCut to length, mitered, drilled or capped, and anodized or painted where aluminum calls for it — under the same quote as the profile.
ToolingStandard/stock profiles ship with no die cost. A custom cross-section needs its own extrusion die — a one-time tooling cost that scales down per meter with volume, the same economics as any other tooling.

Full range of materials and finishes on Materials & finishes →

Picking a process

Extrusion is the right call — until the shape needs to change.

Extrusion vs. CNC machining →

Extrusion wins on long, constant cross-section profiles at a low cost per meter. CNC wins the moment the part needs features that change along its length — pockets, holes, a shape that isn't the same all the way through.

Custom die vs. standard profile →

A standard, off-the-shelf profile shape ships with no tooling cost. A fully custom cross-section needs its own extrusion die — the same tooling investment decision as a mold or a stamping die.

Still not sure which material?

Send the profile and an engineer matches material to function — structural load, flexibility, chemical resistance or cost — instead of picking blind.

Extrusion, answered

What's the difference between aluminum, plastic and elastomer extrusion?

The process is the same — forcing material through a shaped die to produce a constant cross-section — but the material decides the job. Aluminum profiles hold structural load and their shape; plastic profiles are lighter and cheaper for trim and channel; elastomer profiles (EPDM, silicone, nitrile) flex and seal, for gaskets and weatherstripping. An engineer matches material to what the profile actually needs to do.

What aluminum alloys and tempers do you run?

6005A-T6 for large structural sections, 6060-T6 for general commercial profiles, 6061-T6 for general engineering, 6063 in T5 (architectural/visual) or T6 (structural) for the classic window-and-frame alloy, and 6082-T6 where the profile needs to carry real load.

Do I need a custom die for my profile?

Only if your cross-section isn't a standard, off-the-shelf shape. A standard profile ships with no tooling cost; a fully custom shape needs its own extrusion die, which is a one-time investment — the same tooling economics as a mold or stamping die.

Can extruded profiles be finished — anodized, painted, cut to length?

Yes — profiles are cut to length, mitered or drilled as needed, and anodized or painted (aluminum) under the same quote as the extrusion itself, not sourced as a separate step.

What elastomers do you extrude, and what are they good for?

EPDM for outdoor weathering and UV/ozone resistance, neoprene for shock absorption, nitrile for oil and fuel resistance, FDA-grade silicone for food or medical contact, and Viton for aggressive chemicals and high heat — picked by what the seal or gasket actually has to survive.

What's the minimum order for an extruded profile?

There's no fixed minimum on a standard profile — price is what naturally limits a very short run. A custom die does carry its own volume math, the same as any other tooling investment.

What if extrusion isn't the right process for my part?

Then your engineer says so at quoting. If your part needs features that change along its length — a machined pocket, a tapped hole, a bend — they'll requote it under CNC or sheet metal instead. Opening this page doesn't commit you to one process.

Extrusion vs. CNC machining →

When a constant cross-section beats a machined one — and when it doesn't.

Custom die vs. standard profile →

The same tooling investment math as a mold or stamping die.

See all capabilities →

Sheet metal bending, injection molding and everything else we run.

Materials × process

Materials we run in extrusion.

Sourced, produced and finished under one quote. Tap a material to see the other processes it runs on — material and process are two axes you combine, not one nested inside the other.

AluminumPolycarbonate (PC)Polypropylene (PP)All materials & finishes →

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