The extrusion process is used in manufacturing because it’s versatile and efficient for producing components of various shapes and sizes. These parts can be customized for various applications across different industries, including consumer products and precision parts for appliances and industrial equipment. At Clark Rubber and Plastic, the process is about delivering custom solutions to meet standards for shape, durability, and performance. Here’s more information about the customization opportunities in plastic extrusion:

Custom Profiles

One customization opportunity in plastic extrusion is the design of the profile. Standard shapes are helpful, but certain applications require parts with unique contours or cross-sections. Whether it’s a seal, gasket, or guide rail, the ability to develop a custom profile makes sure the component integrates seamlessly into the final product. 

Our team at Clark Rubber and Plastic designs and manufactures custom extrusion dies. Doing this in-house allows clients to specify dimensions, wall thickness, and geometry. This level of control is key when working with appliances, where space constraints and functional requirements demand an exact fit. In the consumer industry, custom profiles support the final design while maintaining a consistent quality. 

Material Selection

The material selection influences the performance of an extruded part. Customization at this level makes sure the finished component can handle its intended use. There’s a wide variety of thermoplastics, each suited to particular applications. This includes high-impact, high-heat, or chemical-resistant environments. Some components used in the appliance industry often require flame-retardant properties or UV stability. Others may need food-grade materials or low-friction surfaces.

Co-Extrusion Components

Some parts require more than one material to function effectively. Co-extrusion provides a solution for materials to be extruded into a single, uniform profile. This helps create components with dual or even triple characteristics. A part might need a rigid base for structural support and a soft, flexible edge. Rather than assembling multiple parts, co-extrusion bonds different materials together during the manufacturing process. At Clark Rubber and Plastic, our team uses co-extrusion to combine strength, flexibility, and surface performance in a single pass. This saves time and makes sure the component has structural integrity.

Post-Extrusion Fabrication

Post-extrusion fabrication services enable components to be further tailored through punching, drilling, cutting, or notching. These steps prepare the part for assembly or installation. It also doesn’t require additional handling by the customer. An in-house fabrication process should enable teams to produce parts that arrive ready for installation. Whether it’s a slotted profile for a track system or holes for fasteners, this end-to-end approach supports industries where accuracy, turnaround, and simplicity are key.

In industries such as automotive or appliances, custom extrusion helps reduce wear. If components are in constant use for heat cycles or mechanical stress, a mold will enhance efficiency. Whether it’s creating a part with tight tolerances or adjusting wall thickness to support airflow, an in-house, experienced team will provide quality parts.

Try Plastic Extrusion With Clark Rubber and Plastic

The extrusion process provides materials, engineering, design, and a platform for delivering custom parts. At Clark Rubber and Plastic, customization is built into the process, from the initial concept to the final production. Contact our team today to discover the customization options we offer for various industries, including automotive, military, and more.

Plastic extrusion refers to the process of melting and forming plastic with a custom die. The plastic is pushed through a die that shapes the material, and the resulting form is then cooled and cut to size. Clark Rubber and Plastic uses extrusion techniques to create high-quality plastic products. Here are some factors that affect which plastic extrusion technique you should use for your project:

Product Type

Different plastic extrusion techniques produce a range of products. Knowing what products you need for your project will help you determine the most effective technique. Our extrusion techniques can help you create: 

• Plastic films: Blow film extrusion works by extruding plastic through a circular die, creating a tube. The machine blows air into the tube to form the correct size and dimensions. This tube creates thin plastic films. 
• Plastic sheets: Sheet extrusion uses a flat die to shape molten plastic into flat sheets. Cooling rolls allow manufacturers to control the thickness of the sheets. 
• Tubes and pipes: The tubing extrusion technique applies a positive internal pressure throughout the plastic, creating a hollow core. This results in plastic tubes and pipes that can be used for plumbing and medical devices. 
• Cable insulation: The over-jacketing technique creates a protective outer layer for cables and wires. Melted plastic is pressed around a cable to enhance its insulation and protect future handlers from electric shock. 

These extrusion techniques create products with uniform sizes and dimensions. They also enable you to customize your products to meet your project requirements. Our team will discuss your project goals to help you select an extrusion method that aligns with your product designs and material preferences.

Industry Niche

Your business’s industry impacts the type of plastic products and extrusion methods you’ll need. Industries we serve include the home appliance, consumer, and automotive industries. The tubing extrusion technique can be used to create vehicle hoses and tubing for fluid transfer systems in automobiles. The home appliance industry utilizes plastic components for handles and seals on ovens, cooktops, and microwaves. Co-extrusion and tri-extrusion techniques combine two or three materials in a single product, resulting in a final product with unique strength and durability. 

Packaging for consumer products often requires plastic films and sheets that facilitate easy transportation and product preservation. Sheet and blow film extrusion techniques can be used to create packaging products like grocery bags and cling wraps. These materials provide product protection and extend the shelf lives of foods. Plastic extrusion allows for more product versatility, allowing you to create packaging with different surface finishes and barrier properties.

Thickness Requirements

Extrusion processes can produce plastic goods with varying thicknesses. Sheet extrusion can be used to create thicker plastic films than blow film extrusion. At Clark Rubber and Plastic, we use co-extrusion and tri-extrusion to create multiple layers within individual products. We utilize tri-extrusion to manufacture pipes and tubes, and we confirm that the outer layers of these products provide lasting environmental protection.

Learn About Plastic Extrusion Techniques

Materials we use for our plastic extrusion products include thermoplastics, elastomers, acrylic, and polycarbonate. We add color to plastic products by mixing in colorants during the melting process. Clark Rubber and Plastic alsooffers plastic injection molding and rubber extrusion services. To learn more about our plastic extrusion techniques, call or email us today. 

Custom components can be manufactured in multiple industries, including appliances, solar paneling, and more. The process is versatile for various products, such as customized profiles for consumer or automotive parts. At Clark and Rubber Plastic, our team specializes in high-quality processes that deliver precise and consistent results for small or large projects. Here are a few advantages of plastic extrusion for custom profiles:

Design Versatility 

One advantage of plastic extrusion is its flexibility in design. The process helps produce complex cross-sectional profiles, allowing manufacturers to create custom shapes to meet exact specifications. Whether it’s for tubing, edging, seals, or intricate components, extrusion offers a variety of designs. Some products are made for airplanes or aerospace applications. Other options include automotive plastics, armaments, and solar plastics.

Material Options

Various material options suit any application. These materials include PVC, polyethylene, polypropylene, and thermoplastic elastomers. Each material offers unique features and advantages, such as flexibility, chemical resistance, durability, or temperature tolerance. Some applications might require lightweight materials for easier handling and durability in tough conditions. At Clark and Rubber Plastic, our team of experts helps select the best material for performance requirements and industry standards. Whether the focus is on strength or weather resistance, we’ll assist with a solution.

Quality and Performance

Consistency is key when manufacturing custom profiles, like automotive or military. Components used in the military are produced to a high standard so that they remain durable during daily use in harsh conditions. Minor variances may impact product performance. Plastic extrusion provides a steady, repeatable output that makes sure there is uniformity across every piece produced. Advanced equipment and quality control processes can offer tight tolerances and reliable performance. Other options include a balance of strength and weight. From cable trays for solar panels to sealing solutions in military equipment, custom extrusion helps deliver strength, durability, and longevity.

Custom Finishes

Another advantage of plastic extrusion is the ability to customize finishes and include additives. This includes UV stabilizers, flame retardants, color matching, and texture adjustments. These features may be incorporated during the extrusion process. Each product can be visually appealing and optimized for its intended use.

The extrusion process can be compatible with a wide range of secondary options. This includes how profiles may be cut, punched, drilled, coated, or assembled into more complex components. These custom secondary services include precision die-cutting, CNC turning, milling, and other additional processing. This integrated approach helps simplify supply chains to enhance the functionality of a finished product.

Use Plastic Extrusion With Clark and Rubber Plastic

At Clark and Rubber Plastic, our team has years of experience in plastic extrusion services, supporting a wide range of industries. Our team can create custom profiles to match exact requirements. Whether clients need small batch products, support for design refinement, or processing to meet product requirements, our team helps deliver. We combine state-of-the-art technology and hands-on craftsmanship to create a wide range of products, including sealants. Contact us today to learn more about the advantages of custom extrusion processes and how we can create a product for your project.

Plastic extrusion is a manufacturing process used in several industries, including automotive parts and appliance components. It involves creating high-quality plastic components like gaskets. Whether for military-grade applications or appliances, each tailored item can serve various purposes. At Clark and Rubber Plastic, we specialize in precision plastic extrusion, offering solutions for different industries. Here are some unique applications of the process:

1. Automotive Industry

Components created by Plastic extrusion help companies in the automotive industry make quality vehicle elements. This includes high-performance parts that withstand heat and wear and tear. Extruded pieces, like rubber inserts, contribute to more modern, lightweight designs. If a vehicle weighs less, it can improve fuel efficiency for the driver and reduce production costs for the manufacturer. Seals and weatherstripping are other applications that are extruded, and they prevent water, dust, and noise from entering vehicles. Wire harness tubing protects electrical writing from extreme heat or cold temperatures. Other components, such as dashboards, are custom-made for durability.

2. Appliance Industry

Modern appliances, such as refrigerators, can use extrusion for functional parts for items like door gaskets, which are airtight seals. These parts help improve energy efficiency and regulate the internal temperature to keep stored food safe for consumption. Other covered parts are flexible wire and cable insulation. This keeps the wire’s electrical components safe and secure. Here are some other appliance parts:

• Ice maker dispensers
• Trim and edging
• Hoses and tubing
• Casings

3. Consumer Industry

Protective covers for daily consumer products like food or cosmetics may help store them safely for a period of time. Packaging materials help prevent airborne contaminants or bacteria from entering these items, making them unsafe for customers. Environment-resistant covers include shields that also limit damage to electronic devices. With advanced techniques, Clark and Rubber Plastic manufacturers help produce high-quality, durable products to help other product-based companies be successful.

4. Military and Defense Industry

Extruded pieces used for military applications are required to have durable properties. These include components for airplanes, tanks, aerospace insulation, armaments or munitions, and more. As military members may be in life-threatening situations, components need to perform as expected and on demand. Parts should also be capable of keeping out sand, dust, and mud. Custom military parts provide higher levels of functionality and quality, such as for marine vessels like aircraft carriers, ships, submarines, and sonar buoys.

5. Solar Industry

Plastic and rubber items, such as clamps or rubber inserts, are designed for solar operations. These are customized to be sturdy, efficient, and resilient for solar panels that undergo extreme temperature fluctuations. Professionally developed wire management systems keep cords organized and secure. Other sealing solutions, like cable trays or inserts, prevent moisture and dust from damaging components.

Using plastic and rubber materials, our Clark and Rubber Plastic team implements materials such as EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer), TPV (Thermoplastic Vulcanizates), or SBR (Styrene Butadiene Rubber). Other plastics might include Viton®, HDPE, or Polycarbonate. We use a full range of thermoplastics and other materials, including RPVC, Provista, Sarlink, ASA, for customized parts.

Use Plastic Extrusion With Clark and Rubber Plastic

At Clark and Rubber Plastic, our manufacturing process serves multiple industries, including healthcare and medical machinery. We also provide custom solutions for construction, plumbing, electronics manufacturers, and industrial productions. Our plastic extrusion process helps enhance components’ durability, efficiency, and performance. Contact our team today to learn how we can custom-design parts or meet your business’s unique needs.

Manufacturers can use plastic extrusion to create plastic components for the solar, appliance, automotive, and military industries. This includes wire insulation and pipes. Clark Rubber & Plastic offers plastic and rubber extrusion services. Here are several ways to customize plastic parts with extrusion techniques:

Unique Molds for Die Cutting

The plastic extrusion process works by melting plastic pellets and pushing the material through a metal die. Metal dies have sharp, high-precision blades that cut and shape the plastic. A cold water bath cools the plastic, and the sizing belt and blade cut the plastic into individual parts. Die cutting can be used with multiple types of plastic, including polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride. 

The metal die shapes the plastic according to specific dimensions. A plastic manufacturer can create a customized die mold that aligns with your particular product requirements. Using a unique die allows manufacturers to create customized plastic shapes for various industries and uses. This includes the distinctive shapes required for product packaging and the casing and seals for appliances. It also allows the manufacturer to create specialty parts. Clark Rubber & Plastic offers customized die molds and precision die-cutting services. 

Custom Colors for Products

Colorants are mixed into the raw materials to color a plastic extrusion product. The melting process allows the plastic pellets to combine with colorants. This coloring process allows all the parts to be the same color, creating a uniform appearance. You can choose a custom color for your products. We can also combine multiple colors in a single project. 

Co-Extrusion Process for Different Materials

Different materials have varying thicknesses and durability. Using two or more materials in a plastic component allows you to build a complex product with multiple properties. The co-extrusion process can help you customize the component to fulfill the necessary performance requirements, such as enhancing the component’s strength and sturdiness. This can be helpful when creating plastic parts used in military vehicles and armaments. These parts are held to high standards for durability, as they are required to withstand extreme conditions. Our high-quality production system helps make sure all of our products meet high safety and production standards.

Co-extrusion also allows manufacturers to combine two polymers into a cross-section to create different layers. The materials are extruded at the same time. The extruding machines can be set to various speeds to change the layers’ thickness. We can also combine three polymers through tri-extrusion, which uses three extrusion processes. Our team members at Clark Rubber & Plastic offer recommendations on what type of materials are appropriate for your product.

Plastic Extrusion at Clark Rubber & Plastic

We use tubing, blow film, and sheet extrusion processes to create uniform tubes, thin films, and plastic sheets. From prototyping to high-level production, Clark Rubber & Plastic provides fast turnaround times for plastic extrusion projects. We also offer milling, digital printing, and packaging services for your products. An online form is available on our website to request a quote. To learn more about the extrusion techniques at Clark Rubber & Plastic, call us today.

A rubber or plastic manufacturer can help you create a high-quality custom rubber or plastic product. Services at Clark Rubber and Plastic include custom plastic and rubber molding. Here are three questions to ask your manufacturer:

1. What Are Your Capabilities and Services?

When deciding on a manufacturer for your product, make sure that they offer the production services you require for your project. Ask them about their plastic and rubber molding capabilities, as well as extrusion services. Clark Rubber and Plastic provides precision die-cutting to meet product specifications. Our plastic and rubber extrusion processes offer a wide variety of textures and thicknesses, and our custom plastic injection and rubber molding process allows us to create custom parts and products. 

See if your manufacturer offers additional services, such as milling and packaging. This allows you to work with one manufacturer for your product instead of multiple suppliers, simplifying the process and reducing production time. We offer digital printing and milling at Clark Rubber and Plastic. Our taping services include heat-activated tape services for packaging and product needs.

2. What Kind of Product Runs Do You Offer? 

Check with the manufacturer to see what their volume capabilities are. Ask about: 

• Prototype production: If you are making a prototype for your product, ask your manufacturer to see if they offer low-volume services. 
• Size of the facilities: For a longer product run, see if the facility has the equipment and the space to undertake larger projects successfully. 
• Production rate and times: Check to see if the projected production rates, turnaround, and lead times fit with your project schedule. 

Our 40,000-square-foot plastic operations facility and our high-quality equipment and tools at Clark Rubber and Plastic enable us to offer both long and short product runs. Our computer numerical control processes allow us to provide fine details and high levels of accuracy for products of all sizes. We can take on projects of various complexities and sizes. We also help you stay on schedule with a faster turnaround time. 

3. What Quality Standards Do You Follow?

Make sure the manufacturer you are working with can meet your industry’s product standards. Depending on industry requirements, plastic and rubber products should be able to withstand: 

• High temperatures
• Constant use
• Extreme weather conditions 

We are dedicated to providing high-quality plastic and rubber extrusion products. Clark Rubber and Plastic has developed a quality control system that we follow to make sure that all our products meet high production standards and safety requirements. We utilize certified high-quality materials for our components and products to provide structural integrity and durability.

Contact a Plastic and Rubber Molding Manufacturer

The industries we provide products for include the automotive, appliance, consumer, military, and solar industries. We utilize precision machinery, and we can also work with metals, such as steel. You can request a quote for our plastic and rubber molding and other available services through our online form. If you are interested in partnering with Clark Rubber and Plastic, we invite you to call or email us today.  

Plastic extrusion allows companies across many industries to create custom parts for their products. At Clark Rubber and Plastic, we offer extrusion services to help customers create plastic goods of various colors, textures, thicknesses, and hardnesses. Here are four reasons to use plastic extrusion services:

1. Product Consistency

Outsourcing your plastic part production to an extrusion professional allows you to achieve consistency across all batches. You can give a plastic manufacturer your plan, and they will create parts to match your specifications. At Clark Rubber and Plastic, we have extruders with instrumentation that measures the plastic’s temperature and thickness to maintain consistency across all products. This machinery also detects the pressure of the extruder screw to confirm each part is produced at the same rate with the same amount of force.

2. Precise Dimensions

A plastic extrusion company creates custom dies for each of your parts. The die is a metal disc that has custom shapes cut into it. Melted plastic moves through the die and cools to create the unique shape or profile your company needs. The high-precision tolerance levels in our machines result in products with dimensions that closely match their original manufacturing plans. Before creating your die and beginning production, our team will discuss your product’s application and recommend design changes and material types that will make your final products as effective as possible. 

3. Customization Options

Producing plastic parts with extrusion allows you to customize the final product’s size, density, and color. We carry a range of plastic types to provide customers with options for the flexibility and durability of their final product. Clark Rubber and Plastic offers military-grade and UL-approved materials to confirm the quality of your components. We can combine materials of various colors and properties to produce a fully customized part. 

Our dual-durometer production process involves combining two plastic types with varying hardness levels to achieve a final product with the characteristics of both materials. Components made with dual-durometer extrusion include seals, impact absorbers, and sound dampeners. Our team assesses your project goals to help you determine which plastic type and production method is right for you.

4. Quick Production

Extrusion services speed up the manufacturing processes by assigning a key task to a professional facility that handles high-volume orders. Once you receive your custom parts, your team is only responsible for assembling and packaging the final products. At Clark Rubber and Plastic, we use extruders with barrels and tips that hold large batches of melted plastic and automatically direct it into the die. This machinery allows us to produce high-volume orders of plastic parts and prototypes. 

Explore Plastic Extrusion Services

Clark Rubber and Plastic offers extrusion services to help companies produce custom profiles, shapes, and forms. We use a variety of plastic materials, including RPVC, neoprene, acrylic, and nitrile. Our facility has multiple extrusion lines that allow us to produce high-quality products quickly. Contact us today to learn more about our plastic manufacturing services and receive a free quote for your extrusion project. 

The plastic extrusion process is used to produce products for the consumer, military, automotive, and solar panel industries. Our company, Clark Rubber & Plastic, offers extruded plastic products with high-quality surface finishes. Here are two types of finishes for plastic products: 

Extrusion Process 

The plastic extrusion process allows us to create customized, versatile plastic products of different shapes and profiles. It begins with melting the plastic pellets. The types of plastic we use include PVC, acrylic, and polyethylene. During the melting process, Clark Rubber & Plastic is able to add colorants and stabilizing materials to the mixture. 

The mixture is pushed through a die to shape the material. Coextrusion and tri-extrusion techniques can be used during the shaping process, impacting the outer layers of the plastic. These techniques extrude two or three materials at the same time. This process allows different materials and colors to be added to the plastic, creating complex products with a variety of properties. These properties include barrier properties and strength. 

After we shape the plastic with the die, we cool it using a cold water bath. Our belts size the profile according to the client’s needs. A blade cuts the material into individual pieces at the end of the belt.

1. Clear Finish 

A clear or transparent finish can be used for completed plastic products. This finish may apply to plastic packaging products. Clark Rubber & Plastic uses extrusion to create sheets and films of various thicknesses for packaging materials. Clear plastic materials protect the product while allowing consumers to see what the product looks like, creating greater visual appeal for the product. 

2. Crosshead Extrusion Coating 

If a product needs reinforcement, Clark Rubber & Plastic can use the extrusion crosshead technique to apply a finish. This technique involves running the material through a 90-degree crosshead. At the same time, the finish is applied to the material to make it stronger. Crosshead extrusion coating is a durable finish that can be used with textiles, such as thermoplastics. It can also be used for some fabrics, other textiles, and metal materials.

Clark Rubber & Plastic can work with EPDM, ABS, LPDE, and other materials for extrusion coating. This finish offers a waterproof layer to the material or creates additional protection for the inner materials. It can also be used to provide a decorative exterior for the product. This coating is used for wire coating extrusion, cable, and other products.

Plastic Extrusion at Clark Rubber & Plastic

We offer precision die cutting and use custom dies during the extrusion process. Our plastic products include slide-outs, inserts for solar applications, and automotive tubing for vehicle air and fuel systems. We also offer military-grade parts that can withstand extreme conditions. 

Clark Rubber & Plastic also offers injection molding, rubber products, milling, CNC turning services, and precision machining. Our company uses a quality system to ensure that all our products and services meet high production and safety standards. To learn more about plastic extrusion and our other services, we invite you to contact Clark Rubber & Plastic today.