![HyperAl is a novel method for producing high-strength extruded aluminium profiles with very high extrudability.](/globalassets/shapes/material-properties/hydros-proprietary-hyperal-process2000.jpg?quality=85&width=470&height=470&rmode=crop&rsampler=bicubic&rxy=0.5,0.5&compand=true)
![die construction with minidrill die construction with minidrill](/globalassets/01-products--services/sapa-portland-196-1__20feb.jpg?quality=85&width=1036&height=440&rmode=crop&rsampler=bicubic&rxy=0.5,0.5&compand=true)
Extrusion die design and research
Dies are made of tool steels that are super-hard and abrasion-resistant. This makes them suitable for shaping other materials, like aluminium.
At Hydro, we make our own dies. We also buy dies from independent toolmakers. We develop design aids for effective extrusion die design, we correct dies to optimize productivity and we research die performance. We keep improving the production process to reduce costs for you, using:
- Material flow simulation in the dies
- Integration with computer-aided design systems to calculate flow resistance in ports, mandrel deflection and stresses in webs
- Heat treatment of tool steels
- Surface treatment of dies with methods such as nitriding, nitrocarburization, chemical vapor deposition and plasma vapor deposition
Extrusions and dies
Medium and large-sized extrusions are pressed through a die with only one opening. Smaller extrusions can be pressed through multi-aperture dies – with as many as 16 apertures.
![Aluminium table with technical drawings Aluminium table with technical drawings](/globalassets/stories/a-good-fit-aluminium-table.jpg?quality=85&width=470&height=264&rmode=crop&rsampler=bicubic&rxy=0.5,0.5&compand=true)
![a person showing a person something on the computer a person showing a person something on the computer](/globalassets/00-front-page/global/2021/aluminium-innovation-banner.jpg?quality=85&width=470&height=264&rmode=crop&rsampler=bicubic&rxy=0.5,0.5&compand=true)
![background pattern background pattern](/globalassets/01-products--services/extruded-profiles/artsy-billettslogs-low-res.jpg?quality=85&width=470&height=264&rmode=crop&rsampler=bicubic&rxy=0.5,0.5&compand=true)
![interior of a linked mass transit train carriages interior of a linked mass transit train carriages](/globalassets/stories/floating-floor-for-comfort-on-trains.jpg?quality=85&width=820&height=0&rmode=crop&rsampler=bicubic&rxy=0.28,0.59&compand=true)