The Aluminum Fabrication Process
In its elemental form, aluminum is a flakey, white metal, which at one time was extremely difficult to produce. It was even more valuable than silver or gold due to the complexity in refining any usable amount. But in the 19th century, that all began to change, and so today, aluminum is as common as it is practical. From aluminum foil candy wrappers to high-performance supercars, aluminum is everywhere. Fabrication takes sheets of aluminum and through a process of cutting, bending, stamping, shaping, or welding, it can be formed into whatever is needed.
Typically, a design is made using Computer Aided Drafting (CAD), and an assembly line is built in which sheets of aluminum are cut to the required sizes. The pieces are shaped using high-pressure rollers, which can bend and form the metal to the desired shapes, like pieces in a 3D jigsaw puzzle. The pieces can be molded by hot or cold pressing, and even welded or cut as needed. The pieces can be finished in a large variety of ways, from powder coating to anodization. Whatever the end result, the process concludes with the components matching the customer's specifications.
APSM Systems is an aluminum sheet metal manufacturer that takes the process from start to finish all under one roof, from the beginning plans and engineering to the fabrication of aluminum on a medium- or large-scale prototype/production line. The prototypes are even tested by our engineers to ensure they are functional and ready for use after they leave the assembly line. Our dedication to quality control and customer service has given us the edge over competitors for decades.