Since 1993, BD Custom Manufacturing has consistently worked hard to create quality multiple plastic extrusion products of various specifications that exceed our clients’ expectations. Plastic extrusion is a high-volume manufacturing procedure involving very small pellets called resins, which are fed into a machine where they are slowly heated and melted into a continuous profile. Also, plastic extrusions can be of extremely short lengths of less than 250” or they can be spooled into lengths of about 1,000 feet or more.
BD Custom Manufacturing uses plastic extruders to create various products for different applications. This process is also popular in many manufacturing usages, since it allows for large productions at a low cost. This process creates items such as weather stripping, plastic sheeting, window frames, custom profiles, wire insulation, piping, and tubing. Keep reading for more insights.
Custom Extruded Plastic Capabilities
Custom plastic extrusion is the backbone of various plastic extrusion technologies. You can get unique, customized plastic designs, profiles, and solutions from BD Custom Manufacturing, which will meet each of your plastic extrusion and tubing needs. Here are some of the plastic channel’s capabilities.
Plastic U Channel: As the name suggests, this extruder is three-sided and has a U shape. You can use plastic U channels in several applications, such as sliding track, capping, and edging trim for panels and boards. Plastic channel trims can effectively cover uneven or unsightly edges, giving you a neat, smooth finish.
U channel LED lighting tubing: This U-shaped LED lighting tubing can accommodate LED ribbons, strips, or tapes and is easy to secure. The tubing is UV stabilized and diffused, so it is a perfect fit for several applications such as under-cabinet lighting, furniture compartments, stairsteps, stair rails, edge lighting, and more.
Plastic capping channel – L, C, H, I: Based on OEM fabrication, BD Custom Manufacturing produces multiple shapes for various specifications of plastic capping channels, such as L, C, H, and I. You can get these channels in multiple lengths and colors based on your requirements.
Special PVC channel – C channel: Through PVC channel molding, you can get multiple shapes of plastic capping channels like C, H, and L based on the OEM fabrication. You can use this single plastic channel as a trim on panels and boards or as an edging protector.
U-shaped PVC channel: Based on OEM fabrication, BD Custom Manufacturing produces different plastic PVC U-channel shapes that you can use as an edging protector.
White UV stabilized rigid PVC U channel: This PVC channel is used as a decorative edging for glass displays, posters, custom signage, and more. You can get it in varying lengths and colors to suit your needs. Both indoor and outdoor uses are appropriate since this channel is a good abrasion and is also self-extinguishing.
Materials, Applications, and Industries
You can get multiple extrusion materials from BD Custom Manufacturing, including:
PVC
Polypropylene
Polystyrene
Polyethylene
Custom compounds
HIPS
ABS
TPU
TPV
TP
TPE
Application of Extrusion Products
Extrusion plastic profiles are vital in the production of a myriad of products used in various industries and applications. Some of the most common areas where plastic extrusion is used include:
HVAC parts
Automotive parts
Food and beverage industry
Appliance parts
Construction elements
Plumbing materials
Chemical processing
Industries that utilize extrusion products include:
Mobile electrification systems
Furniture and upholstery
Lighting
Store fixtures
Data transfer systems
Point of purchase
Contact BD Custom Manufacturing for the Best Custom-Extruded Plastic Products
You can get custom-extruded products in various shapes, sizes, and colors to suit your needs. Plastic C-channel extrusion and PVC U channel are among the most popular designs used to provide protective edges. These products are available in different materials and are utilized in multiple applications and industries since they can be customized to suit an array of needs.
BD Custom Manufacturing produces precise plastic channels that meet the specific requirements of every customer. We have an experienced team who is keen on details and who delivers the highest quality extruded plastic channels. Reach out to us for more information about our capabilities for custom-extruded items and more or send us a request for quotation.
BD Custom Manufacturing is the leading manufacturer of custom plastic tubing that meets the needs of a range of applications and industries. Our highly experienced team of engineers combines their unmatched experience, expertise, and modern tools to manufacture custom plastic extrusions that meet even the most complex and demanding designs and specifications.
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Custom Plastic Tubing Manufacturer
Plastic tubing is made from molten polymer plastic through an extrusion process. The plastic extrusion process involves pushing molten plastic materials through a die to create objects with cross-sectional profiles. This process helps generate a continuous profile that can be further improved into desired shapes and qualities through machining.
Custom plastic tubing components made by BD Custom Manufacturing are designed to meet the needs of specific industries, including the medical, food, beverage, and construction sectors. When creating custom tubing, our experts take into account the preferred characteristics, materials, and design modifications to ensure the product fits snugly into your project. Some of the tubing products manufactured by BD Custom Manufacturing include:
Point of purchase displays
Marine components
Processing equipment tubing
Automotive motor tubing
Conveyor components
Farm and garden components
Material handling components
Applications of custom plastic extrusions
Custom plastic extrusions are used in many applications and industries, including appliance parts, automotive parts, chemical processing, construction elements, electronics components, the food and beverage industry, HVAC parts, and plumbing materials, among many others.
Tubing Options
BD Manufacturing provides a long list of extruded plastic tubing products designed for specific applications. Some of our tubing options include:
Layflat Tubing: Layflat tubing is preferred for sheathing and liquid flow applications. We understand no two applications are the same, which is why we offer layflat tubing in a wide range of diameters to handle the needs of various flow volumes.
Polyethylene Tubing: Polyethylene tubing is the most preferred tubing for the transfer of liquids and gases in typical fluid transfer applications. This tubing type boasts many features, including high resistance to corrosion, unmatched durability, and flexibility. It also offers a higher strength-to-weight ratio, making it ideal for demanding and rigorous applications.
Polypropylene Tubing: Polypropylene Tubing comes with exceptional temperature and pressure resistance that is rare in other products of the same category. Additionally, this tubing is acclaimed for its durability, low corrosiveness, low friction, and resistance to high temperatures. Ideally, polypropylene tubing is suitable for fluid transfer systems designed to move high-temperature gases and liquids.
Nylon Tubing: Nylon tubing is preferred for harsh operating environments thanks to its high resistance to petroleum, fungus, alkalis, and chemicals. This type of tubing bends easily to handle high-pressure applications well. Other benefits of nylon tubing include high and low-temperature resistance and high resistance to abrasions that help prevent accidental damage, which could have the potential to cause leaks or spills.
Acrylic Tubing: Acrylic features excellent optical clarity and transparency. Acrylic tubing also boasts a high resistance to temperature variations and offers up to 17 times the impact resistance of ordinary glass. It is also highly resistant to various chemicals. We provide a range of acrylic tubing products with clear and custom colors ideal for decorations, sales displays, and LED light tubing for cars.
Polycarbonate (PC) Tubing: Polycarbonate tubing is available in different grades, including and not limited to: general purpose, UV, FDA-approved, and high-pressure options. This tubing features high flame resistance, high impact strength, and unmatched resistance to extreme temperature exposures. Polycarbonate tubing is ideal for numerous applications, including medical devices, LED light tubes, and electronics.
BD Custom Manufacturing Solutions
The custom plastic tubing extrusion process is widely used for creating various plastic tubing and piping used in different applications. As the tubing and piping industry leader, BD Custom Manufacturing employs a high level of innovation in its production of plastic tubing products. We take pride in our skilled and professional team who ensures that customer needs come first. We integrate high-quality materials in all our processes to ensure FDA compliance. Contact us today to request a quote.
PVC and ABS are two of the most versatile thermoplastic materials on the market and are used extensively throughout numerous facets of the construction industry and beyond. Both plastics are non-toxic and abrasion-resistant, provide improved strength and durability, and offer excellent electrical insulation. Additionally, they are inexpensive and easy to source due to their popularity.
While these materials share some characteristics, they have several distinct properties, making them suitable for different applications.
What is PVC Material?
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a highly versatile, commodity-grade plastic extrusion material. First introduced to the market in the 1920s, this white, initially brittle plastic is one of the most popular thermoplastic polymers in the world. Some advantages and disadvantages of PVC include:
Advantages
Rigid or flexible. Unplasticized (rigid, RPVC) and plasticized (flexible, FPVC) varieties of PVC are available.
Excellent chemical resistance. PVC is resistant to common corrosive agents like inorganic acids, alkalis, salts, alcohols, oils, fats, etc.
Excellent weatherability. PVC contains natural weather-resistant qualities and can be compounded with other additives to further enhance the material’s weatherability against the effects of sunlight, temperature, moisture, etc.
Excellent electrical insulation. PVC is non-conductive, making it ideal for insulating electrical components.
Flame retardant. High chlorine content makes PVC challenging to ignite and limits the material’s capacity for heat production. Itsself-extinguishing properties allow the material to stop burning by removing an ignition source.
Super strong. PVC offers high tensile strength and toughness.
Lightweight. PVC is lighter than other material alternatives designed for the same applications.
Durable. PVC is resistant to chemical effects, weathering, corrosion, shock, and abrasion.
Non-toxic. PVC is non-toxic and adheres to all international health and safety standards.
Disadvantages
Temperature performance. PVC has a maximum operating temperature of approximately 140 °F before distortion will occur.
Limited size range. PVC has a small spectrum of component diameters to choose from.
Lightweight. PVC is easier to work with, but its light weight makes the material prone to cracking.
Cost. Although PVC is competitive in price and offers many cost-performance advantages, it has a two-step installation process, while the ABS process has only one step. PVC must first be treated with purple primer, which increases overall labor costs. PVC also often requires smoothing to remove burrs, adding even more time to the process. Because of this, PVC can be more expensive than ABS despite its initial price difference.
Applications
Nearly 75% of all PVC use is in applications related to building and construction. Some of its most common uses include:
Exterior trim
Channels
Housings
Pipes
Vinyl Sliding
Wire protection
Though used extensively in construction, PVC is also used in healthcare, household products, packaging, and more.
What is ABS Material?
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is derived from monomer units of acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene. Each provides unique physical and chemical properties to the thermoplastic that make it ideal for numerous industries and applications. Key advantages and disadvantages of ABS include:
Advantages
Impact resistance. ABS absorbs effects from shock without deformation.
Structural strength and stiffness. Styrene and butadiene add strength and rigidity that provide structural integrity to the material.
Chemical resistance. ABS is highly resistant to acids and alkalis.
Excellent high and low-temperature performance. ABS is resistant to extreme temperatures.
Great electrical insulation properties. ABS exhibits low electrical and heat conductivity.
Easy to paint and glue. The glossy finish of ABS is compatible with a range of paints and glues.
Abrasion resistance. High levels of butadiene create a surface that is nearly insusceptible to wear.
Excellent mechanical properties. ABS is strong, highly ductile, tough, and impact resistant.
ABS is more expensive per pound than PVC. However, ABS piping and tubes can be bonded instantly with cement, whereas PVC requires an additional priming step. Although PVC can be less expensive up front, ABS can be the most cost-effective option because it requires less labor.
Disadvantages
Poor weatherability. UV exposure can cause microcracks in ABS.
Low solvent resistance. ABS has poor resistance to alcohols, halogenated hydrocarbons, and aromatic hydrocarbons, as well as organic solvents and surfactants like ketone, ester, and ethylene dichloride.
Hazardous when burned. Temperatures above 750 °F cause ABS to decompose into carcinogenic agents.
Limited uses. ABS is not an ideal material for applications in the food industry.
Applications
Common applications of ABS include:
Wire protection
Electrical pipes
Automotive trim
Automotive
Appliance
Consumer goods
PVC Plastic Tubing Extrusions with BD Custom Manufacturing
BD Custom Manufacturing has extensive industry knowledge and helps customers craft the perfect tubing and piping solutions for any application. We are the ideal extrusion partner for small to midsize plastics customers across diverse industries, offering:
Plastic strips are widely used in a variety of consumer, commercial, and industrial applications. These strips are commonly used to create plastic frames or trims that serve as secondary barriers or doorways, facilitating energy efficiency and limiting the loss of hot or cold air. These types of profiles are often found in:
Facilities with walk-in coolers or freezers
Cold storage facilities
Interior passageways
Personnel doorways
In loading dock doors
BD Custom Manufacturing works with PVC, polyethylene, and a wide variety of thermoplastic resins to produce extruded plastic strips and other plastic extrusion products. Our capabilities include the creation of plastic extruded profile molding and custom tooling, ensuring we can manufacture parts tailored to the customer’s application needs.
The Plastic Strip Extrusion Process
Plastic or vinyl strips need to be flexible, rigid, or both and durable. While the strips themselves may seem simple, the extrusion process used to create them is somewhat complex. The process of creating high-quality vinyl strips and plastic strips may include:
AutoCAD
Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software is nearly universal for creating complex designs across industries. Design engineers use AutoCAD software to create designs, as well as run virtual tests to identify problems and improve those designs before moving into real-world prototyping or testing phases.
AutoCAD is used to create extrusion die templates for profiles, plastic strips, and more. CAD design files can also be converted into instructions used by the Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machinery used to automate many manufacturing processes.
Wire EDM
The dies used in plastic extrusion must hold their complex shape even under high-pressure conditions. Wire Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) is a reductive machining process that uses electrical discharges to remove material from very hard metals. Electrical force on either side of the die plate breaks down the metal’s dielectric properties and carves through the material at precise points.
This allows manufacturers to realize die designs with complex geometries, even when working with the hard materials used to create dies that will withstand molten materials and tons of force. Manufacturers often use wire EDM to create dies for plastic extrusions.
CNC Machining
CNC machining is the other primary method for creating dies and molds. Computers guide automated lathes, drills, and other tooling to create the intended design. CNC tools are often operated from all three planes to speed up the creation of complex dies, molds, and forms by performing multiple operations simultaneously.
This process requires high-quality tools to ensure that dies and their extruded parts meet customized specifications and tolerances. BD Custom Manufacturing has custom tooling capabilities for custom plastic parts.
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Extrusion
Plastic extruders contain one or more large screws, which turn and generate heat. Plastic powders, resin, or pellets are poured into a hopper, which feeds the material into the screw chamber. The screw pushes the plastic into a barrel that is also heated. As the plastic melts from the heat generated by the barrel heaters and the screw, the molten plastic is pushed through a filter screen and into the die.
Up to this point, the process is quite similar to plastic injection molding. The primary difference here is that plastic extrusion is a continuous process flowing through a die which guides the melted plastic into an even flow, while injection molding forms individual parts that must be ejected from the mold.
To create plastic sheets or strips, the extruded plastic is pulled through a series of cooling tanks and or vacume sizers. These provide sufficient cooling and also help determine the final thickness and texture of the strips
Uses of Plastic and Vinyl Strips
Plastic and vinyl strips are used in a variety of industries. They are commonly used as construction materials because of their longevity, customizability, and smooth finish. Some of the most popular plastic and vinyl strip products include:
Construction
Edging
Fences
Weatherstripping
Window frames
Tubing
Post
Pipe
Industrial
Tracks
Electrical wire covers
Equipment trim and protectors
Machine trim and protectors
Plastic and vinyl strips are just one type of extrusion product, but they can be customized to create many different products and hold different design tolerances and finishes.
Other Plastic Extrusions and Their Uses
Plastic extrusions can be used to create more than sheets and strips. Extrusion dies can be tooled to hold a variety of precise designs that create thousands of products which are just as universal as plastic strips. BD Custom Manufacturing specializes in plastic extrusions of all types, and our facility has over 500 custom profiles that produce plastic extrusions up to six inches wide. with details as fine as 3/32 of an inch.
Our facility can create a wide variety of products such as:
Curtain tracks
Door frames
Door trims
Light inserts
Light tubes
Tent tracks
Screw covers
Window trims
Slide tracks
BD Custom Manufacturing features plastic trim molding. We produce trim molding with a smooth and durable finish that resists stains and chips. Our plastic profile molding has a variety of end uses, including:
Wire channels
Seals
Door jambs
Window inserts
Gaskets
Ceiling trims
H moldings
Data strips
BD Custom Manufacturing also provides custom finishes and attributes. Our facility has more than 100 custom color choices that can be built into the material. Our extrusions can be manufactured with weather-resistant PVC materials for exterior-use products and parts. BD Custom Manufacturing can tool a variety of custom dies to create extrusions of myriad thicknesses and designs.
Plastic Extrusion Materials Used by BD Custom Manufacturing
The extrusion process can be used for a variety of polymers. Our engineers can help to select the right material based on the design and application of your product. Our available materials include:
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). ABS plastic is lightweight, strong, and resistant to impact and weather damage.
Flexible and Rigid PVC.PVC extrusions resist corrosion and are FDA approved for use in food and beverage applications. Flexible PVC is soft and bendable throughout the life of the product. We can also produce furniture-grade PVC.
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). HDPE and standard polyethylene tubing are non-toxic and resistant to corrosion, abrasion, odors, and stains.
Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE). LDPE is flexible and shares many of the same beneficial attributes as HDPE.
This material is light and features a high level of shatter resistance. It can also create clear products.
Polypropylene resists moisture damage, chemicals, and electricity, making it suitable for indoor or outdoor use.
Commonly used for consumer products, polystyrene is shatter-resistant and FDA compliant. It also holds color well and has a glossy finish.
Thermoplastic rubber elastomers (TPE). TPE extrusions are strong, flexible, and resistant to chemical damage.
Plastic Extrusion from BD Custom Manufacturing
Plastic and vinyl profilesstrips are universally used by consumers, construction sites, and nearly every industry. BD Custom Manufacturing specializes in plastic extrusions, including plastic and vinyl profilesstrips with complex designs.
Our facility has more than 500 custom profiles, over 100 custom color possibilities, and a range of material options to choose from. We work with small to large businesses to produce small runs and large runs of custom plastic parts with fast turnaround times.
Often used to replace natural or synthetic braided ropes for use in upholstery and sewing applications, BD Custom’s Polyethylene or PVC poly cord has strength, resilience and greater weather resistance than natural fibers.
Matching PVC trim for interior wall paneling. BD Custom trim molding resists stains and chipping while providing a clean finished look to any paneling or coated wallboard application.
PVC casement slides over wood, creating a weather resistant post that is strong enough to take the punishment of climate change and is light enough to ship with limited weight carriers.
