Plastic profiles are produced by a process known as custom plastic extrusion. Custom plastic extrusion is a manufacturing process where raw plastic materials are melted down and then formed into a continuous profile through a die and series of forming plates. Custom plastic extrusion produces many different profile shapes and are utilized by a variety of industries including point-of-purchase, lighting, refrigeration, building and construction, automotive, industrial, consumer products, electronics, water treatment and telecom, to name a few. Before choosing an extrusion manufacturer for a custom part, there are several key factors that need to be taken into consideration as the capabilities and production capacities of plastic extrusion manufacturers can vary greatly within the industry.
Before you begin your search for the best custom plastic extrusion manufacturer for your project, there are several factors which need to be clearly defined:
Process Type: Different manufacturing processes can include: Extrusion, Co-extrusion, Tri-extrusion and Crosshead Extrusion Coatings (aka over jacketing extrusions).
Plastic Extrusion Materials: Plastic Extrusion Materials (thermoplastics) are used in a wide variety of applications, each having their own unique properties. Selection of the proper plastic extrusion materials for your custom plastic extrusion project is one of the most important aspects in ensuring your part is manufactured successfully, performs properly and is delivered to you at the lowest possible cost.
If you are not certain what plastic extrusion materials would be best suited for your extrusion application, an engineer can assist you in selecting the proper material for your application. There are numerous types of grades for each of the main extrudable materials. Most extrusion companies are capable of extruding Acrylic (PMMA), ABS, G.P. Polystyrene (GPPS), High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS), PVC Rigid and Flexible (clear and pigmented), UPVC, PP, LDPE, HDPE, Polystyrene, Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene (LDPE and HDPE), PETG, SAN, Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE’s), Thermoplastic Olefins (TPO’s), Geloy® (ASA), Noryl® (PPO), Polycarbonate (PC), olysulfone (PSU), Polyurethane (PUR), PC/ABS Alloy, Nylon
Capabilities: Custom thermoplastic extrusions are versatile and are well suited to applications across a diverse range of business verticals and industry sectors. Extruded Plastic profiles and plastic rod or tube extrusions can be rigid or flexible. Co-extruded or tri-extruded plastic profiles can combine two or three different materials or colors in a single custom profile.
Top custom plastic extrusion companies offer extensive manufacturing capabilities including plastic extrusion design, plastic extrusion tooling, plastic extrusion manufacturing and plastic extrusion fabrication services to their customers. These professional plastic extrusion capabilities allow these companies to manufacture high quality custom plastic extrusions that meet the specific requirements of the customer.
Finishes: Extrusion can process high quality finishes including matt, glossy or textured.
Tooling: Custom plastic extrusion requires tooling that is much less expensive when compared to injection molding. Quality extrusion manufactures should offer state of the art tooling capabilities, complete with 5 axis wire EDM and CNC machining centers. All tooling should be designed, engineered and tested under the watchful eyes of an experienced technical team. Using the latest technologies will allow you to design the custom plastic extrusion tooling that will meet the exacting needs of your project while improving productivity, safety, efficiency and reducing costs.
Manufacturing Process: Plastic extrusion manufacturing is a process in which a thermoplastic raw material, usually in the form of pellets, is melted and formed, under pressure, into a continuous shape or profile. The plastic extrusion manufacturing process produces a variety of items such as custom plastic profiles, extruded rods and tubes, piping, edges, molding, specialty plastic coatings and multi-material extrusions known as co-extrusions and tri-extrusions.
Extruded plastic products can be used as-is, or they can be fabricated into more complex assemblies by punching, routering, drilling, printing, de-burring and other techniques. Extruded plastic products can provide a cost effective solution to your product fabrication and assembly needs.
Custom plastic extrusion products include; Profiles, Rods, Tubes, Pipes, Co-Extrusions, Tri-Extrusions, and Crosshead Extrusion Coatings.
Markets Served include: point-of-purchase, lighting, refrigeration, building and construction, automotive, industrial, consumer products, electronics, water treatment and telecom.
When it comes to choosing the best manufacturer of custom plastic extruded parts and profiles, you will have a number of key decisions to make with respect to material, shape, profile and size as well as application for your specific needs. Finding the best plastic extrusion manufacturer, that meets all of the technical and production requirements for a custom extruded plastic part can be overwhelming. A good way to identify the best supplier for a specific part is to request a quote from experienced plastic extrusion manufacturer.
About Lakeland Plastics
Since 1962, Lakeland Plastics has specialized in the manufacturing of custom thermoplastic profile extrusions. Our quality products are utilized by a variety of industries including point-of-purchase, lighting, refrigeration, building and construction, automotive, industrial, consumer products, electronics, water treatment and telecom.
Our success is rooted in the trust we’ve earned and the relationships that we have developed with our many valued customers; people who have relied on us to deliver quality custom thermoplastic profile extrusions on time and on budget. Today, we remain a family owned and operated business that combines the values of tradition with state-of-the-art technologies to meet the ever changing needs of our customers.
Manufacturing the best quality thermoplastic profile extrusions is as important to us as achieving the highest standards for customer care and service. At the forefront of our company are professional and dedicated people who address daily challenges with innovative solutions that meet the exacting needs of our customer while improving productivity, safety, efficiency and reducing costs.
Customers have many options when it comes to solving their manufacturing problems. Lakeland has provided sound engineering and design assistance to companies like yours, helping to solve problems with thermoplastic profile extrusions since 1962. Our commitment to exceptional quality and unsurpassed service has allowed us to develop valuable long-term relationships with our customers.
Lakeland Plastics is one of America’s premier Plastic Extrusion Companies specializing in top quality, precisely engineered custom plastic extrusions for virtually any industry. In addition to our high quality custom extrusion of plastic profiles, rods and tubes, we also provide technical and support services which include, Design Engineering, Plastic Extrusion Tooling, Fabrication Services as well as 3D Printing.
For those of you familiar with our tradition, thank you for your support and continued interest in the evolution of our company. For those of you that are new to our company or are searching for the best Plastic Profile Extrusion Company for your project needs, welcome to the family and we would consider it a privilege to work with you.