Totally automated southern California extruder

摘要

The newest independent aluminum extrusion plantin Southern California, Universal Molding Extrusion Company(UMEX), went into production in Downey, California, inSeptember 1998 with Jack Courduff as General Manager.Courduff's extensive experience in the extrusion industry began in1954 as a tool and die man. Courduff is pleased that almost everycustomer the facility was designed to provide extrusions for hascome on board. Umex runs mainly two alloys, 6061 and 6063.Eighty percent of its production is in 6061 for truck/trailer,communication equipment, air cargo shipping containers andfabrication markets. The major markets for 6063 are curtain walland store front. The plant incorporates downstream fabricatingoperations, including anodizing, powder coating and CNCmachining. Courduff describes the press and handling system as to-tally automated. "Key in the die number and your runningparameters are already set up for you.The equipment for the new operation was furnished by two mainsuppliers: UBE Industries, Tokyo, Japan, supplied the extrusionpress, and Granco Clark, Belding, Michigan, supplied the logheater, log shear, extrusion handling system, extrusion stretcherand aging oven.The log heater has a capacity of 11,000 lb/hr. The press has acapacity of 3,600 U.S. tons and an output of 9000 lb/hr.