Aluminium components in China — five processes, one engineering decision
Extrude it, cast it, fabricate it, machine it — most aluminium parts could be made four ways, and the wrong one taxes every unit you ever buy. P&A International engineers the process choice first, then delivers through vetted partner plants in China, every supplier ISO 9000 certified or better.
One dedicated engineer compares the routes on your actual volumes and tolerances, shows the math, and then owns the chosen route end to end.
consultancy + manufacture
per project, end-to-end
qualified samples with test data
every supplier certified or better
the route is engineered, not assumed
Aluminium routes we manage
Extrusion
Constant cross-sections at near-net shape — dies from ~USD 800, finished components on call-off.
Die casting
Complex thin-wall housings at volume — ADC12, A380 and anodisable A356, machined and finished.
Fabrication
Laser-cut, folded and welded aluminium enclosures and frames — prototypes to production.
CNC machining
Billet parts, machined castings and extrusions — IT7 tolerances with CMM evidence.
Thermal parts get their own page: heatsinks and heat pipes are engineered as a speciality.
Engineering capability
- Process comparison engineering: extrusion vs casting vs fabrication vs billet, costed on your volumes
- Alloy selection: 6xxx structural, ADC12/A380 casting, A356 anodisable, 5052 sheet
- Anodising strategy across processes — which routes can match cosmetically, which cannot
- Multi-process assemblies: extruded body + cast ends + machined details, one quality file
- Thermal engineering hand-off for heatsink and cooling parts
- Finish standards held with master samples across batches and processes
At a glance
| Processes | Extrusion, HPDC, fabrication, machining, heatsinks |
| Alloys | 6xxx, ADC12/A380, A356, 5052 |
| Finishes | Anodise, powder coat, e-coat, brush, paint |
| Volumes | Prototypes to container programs |
| Quality | FAI + CMM, alloy certs, finish reports |
Why engineers & buyers choose PA
For design engineers
The most expensive sentence in aluminium buying is “we have always machined it.” Your engineer prices the alternatives on real numbers — die cost amortisation, scrap rates, finishing yields — and tells you when staying put genuinely wins.
For purchasing
One partner across extrusion, casting, fabrication and machining means process changes do not mean supplier changes — and every route runs through the same ISO 9000 certified or better network with one engineer accountable.
3 easy steps to get started
Send the part
Drawing or sample, duty, volumes — and how it is made today if it exists.
Route comparison
The realistic routes priced side by side, with a recommendation and the reasoning.
Qualify and supply
First articles with data on the chosen route, then production with finish consistency held.
Applications
Enclosures and housings, structural frames and rails, thermal management parts, motor and gearbox components, solar and battery hardware, architectural and marine sections — whichever aluminium process the part deserves.
Explore each route: aluminium extrusion, aluminum die casting, aluminium fabrication, CNC machining and heatsink manufacturing.
Which aluminium process wins?
The patterns our route comparisons keep proving:
| Extrusion | Constant sections — cheapest tooling, near-net material use |
| Die casting | Complex thin-wall 3D shapes from ~5k/year |
| Fabrication | Boxes, panels and frames at low-to-mid volume, no tooling |
| Billet machining | Prototypes, lowest volumes, tightest tolerances |
| Mixed | Extruded body + cast or machined details — often the real optimum |
What to send us for a fast, accurate quote
The more of this you can share, the quicker we can return a proposed process comparison and price:
- Drawing or sample (or the assembly it lives in)
- What the part does: loads, heat, environment, cosmetics
- Annual volume and program life
- Current process and cost if it exists
- Finish and colour-consistency expectations
Not sure what to send? Two photos and three sentences are enough for a first engineering response.
Get a quote
Describe your aluminium part and one dedicated engineer will reply with a route comparison and itemised pricing for the winning process.
One dedicated engineer reviews every enquiry and replies with a proposed process comparison and indicative pricing. Your details are used only to respond to your enquiry. Prefer email? support@pa-international.com.au