As the extruded profiles these days are made of a wide range of materials so there is need for a thorough understanding about the profile's nature, and it's application. When venturing into the extruded profiles as a smart buyer you need to give a thorough consideration to the following points. Let's start with the aluminium extruded shapes.

Buying Tips for Extruded Aluminium Profiles

• Item description
  This is the most basic consideration, a careful read ing of the item description can give you a good knowledge of what’s on offer. In particular please give the a thought to the purpose for which the profiles are intended. In case of any doubt, email the seller.
  
  
• Tolerance limit
  It is quite likely that the limit offered is not what you are looking for.
  
  
• Quantity requirement
  When dealing in small quantities of aluminium profiles depending on shape, size alloy and complexity it is not always feasible to switchover to extrusion profiles.
  
  
• Profile's life cycle
  In case Where a profile’s design life-cycle is just too short for amortizing the cost of an extrusion die then also it is not feasible to go for extruded profiles.
  
  
• Just-In-Time stocking programs
  It is advisable to go for people who offer just in time stocking programmes to avoid potential stock outs and material shortages.
  
  
  
  
• Procuring the raw material
  A careful consideration is to be given to the sourcing of bars and billets, as different sources can bring with them a risk, with regard to how the supplier is maintaining their stock and the tooling that produces it.
  
  
• Determining the cost of production
  Cost for extrusions, you need to understand is typically a function of quantity, size, wall thickness, weight/foot, alloy, length, temper, packaging, types of shape (solid, semi-hollow or hollow), marking and shipping quantity etc. So all these considerations are to be followed and suggestions taken before venturing into procuring extrusion products.
  
  

Buying Tips for Extruded Rubber Profiles
When buying extruded rubber or elastomeric profiles the following points are to be considered.

• First make sure that the manufacturer has the capacity to handle miscellaneous flexible materials. It is better to opt for an experienced vendor who may have the necessary resources to help you specify either a new or improved material for the application.
  
  
• Make absolutely sure that the vendor quotes according to your exact requirements and specifications.
  
  
• For measuring material hardness, it is a good idea to use a Durometer measure. For this Shore A scale can be used. For soft the ratings may be at 30, for very hard this figure can be around 90.
  
  
• Ideally a vendor should offer a large variety of curing processes, like mandrel, salt bath, autoclave, convection, hot air and microwave methods.
  
  
• What sort of cutting process is employed by the vendor?
  
  
• The next crucial question is if the extrusion vendor is adept enough in adding other materials to a profile.
  
  
• Make sure that the vendor offers a range of splicing methods such as vulcanization for dense and sponge profiles while the economical alternative of cold splices.
  
  
• Do not hesitate to ask the vendor to supply prototypes at minimal cost, which may be tested for dimensions, tolerances, and other properties.

Buying Tips for Extruded Plastic Profiles
When procuring extruded profiles made of plastic materials the following points can help to guide you to the best deals in extrusions.

• Selecting the material type
  The material you intend to use solely depends upon the application. But there is a chance that a a base material can be substituted for a less expensive one. For example switching over from PVC to High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) can be viable option. Advantages can range from lower price, to requirement of lesser pounds per order because of the fact that the specific gravity of HIPS is 25% less as compared to PVC.
  
  
• Design Change
  Be flexible enough to changes in design. If an original part design asks for costly decorating or fabrication operations, there may be vendors who can help to re-design the part for achieving the same effect by using a less expensive option.
  
  
• Volume
  If your requirement is of a considerable number of profiles over a period, place your requirement with the vendor accordingly. Actually to a manufacturer setup and tear down costs does not change drastically for manufacturing a single part to say one million parts. So placing bulk orders certainly helps in to amortize the setup costs over a greater quantity, thus lowering the cost per part. Bulk orders can also reduce material and color costs, that can be purchased more efficiently.
  
  
• Weight of the material
  Please give it a good consideration. Although the overall shape or size of an extruded plastic profile can't be altered, but thinning down the wall section can save considerable money.