High quality flexible plastic strips can be found in many consumer, industrial, and commercial applications. These strips are used to make plastic frames and trims for secondary barriers or doors, which can help reduce energy loss. Profiles of this type are commonly found in:

• Facilities with walk-in freezers or coolers
• Cold storage facilities
• Interior passageways
• Personnel doorways
• In loading dock doors

Austcold Industries Pty Ltd uses PVC, Polyethylene, and a variety of thermoplastics resins to create extruded strips and other products. We can create plastic extruded profiles and create custom tooling to manufacture parts that are tailored to customer needs.

Plastic Strip Extrusion Process

Flexible, rigid or both are required for vinyl or plastic strips. Although the strips may appear simple, the process of extrusion used to make them is complex. Vinyl strips and plastic strips are made by a variety of processes.

AutoCAD

Computer-Aided Design software (CAD) is used by almost all industries to create complex designs. AutoCAD is used by design engineers to create complex designs and run virtual tests in order to identify any problems or improve the designs before moving on to real-world testing.

AutoCAD can be used to create die templates for extrusion of profiles, plastic strips and more. Design files from CAD can be used as instructions for CNC machines to automate manufacturing processes.

Wire EDM

Diets for plastic extrusion are required to maintain their complex shapes even when under high pressure. Wire Electrical Discharge Machining is a reductive process that uses electric discharges to remove materials from metals. The electrical force applied on either side breaks down the dielectric properties of the metal and shaves the material in precise places.

It allows the manufacturer to design dies with complex geometries even when using hard materials to create dies which can withstand molten material and tons of pressure. Wire EDM is often used by manufacturers to create dies that are intended for plastic extrusions.

CNC Machining

The CNC machining method is also a popular way to create dies and moulds. Computers control automated drills, lathes and other tools to produce the desired design. CNC tools can be operated in all three planes simultaneously to create complex dies and molds.

To ensure that the dies and parts they extrude meet custom specifications and tolerances, high-quality tools are required. Custom tooling is available at Austcold Industries Pty Ltd for plastic parts.

Extrusion

Plastic extruders are equipped with one or more large screw motors that generate heat. The material is poured into the hopper and then fed into the screw chamber. The screw forces the plastic into an insulated barrel. The barrel heaters and screw heat the plastic, which is then pushed through the filter screen into the die.

The process up to this point is very similar to that of plastic injection molding. Plastic extrusion, which is a continuous flow of plastic through a die that guides it into a uniform flow, is different from injection molding.

The plastic extruded is then pulled through cooling tanks or vacuum sizers to create plastic sheets and strips. They provide enough cooling, and they also help determine the thickness and texture of final strips.

Uses for Plastic and Vinyl Strips

In many industries, plastic and vinyl strips are widely used. Construction materials are often made from them because they have a smooth finish, are customizable, and last a long time. The most common plastic and vinyl strips include:

Construction

• Edging
• Fences
• Weather-stripping
• Window frames
• Tubing
• Post
• Pipe

Industrial

• Tracks
• Electrical wire covers
• Protectors and trims for equipment
• Machine trim and Protectors
• Plastic and vinyl strips can be custom-made to create a variety of products, and they are available in different designs and finishes.