The 10,000-ton press, equipped with a 16-inch container, is set to go live in 2026 and is specifically designed to meet the rigorous demands of the aerospace, defense, and heavy industrial markets.
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark.—Taber Extrusions recently acquired what it called “one of the largest direct presses in North America, a 10,000-ton press equipped with a 16-inch container,” the company said in a release.
The state-of-the-art installation, set to go live in 2026, is specifically designed to meet the rigorous demands of the aerospace, defense, and heavy industrial markets. It will reportedly offer advanced heat solutions and is capable of handling both hard and soft alloys.
“This significant investment underscores Taber Extrusions’ commitment to providing cutting-edge technology and expanding its capabilities to serve our national defense partners and beyond,” the release stated.
The front load, direct press boasts cutting-edge machinery featuring a 16-inch (406mm) container and can handle profiles up to 600mm wide. Designed for reliability, it includes a pre-stressed press frame with laminated tie-rods and compression boxes supplied by SMS Group, the company said.
For quality assurance, the press is equipped with a linear guide for precise alignment and a movable butt shear with an adjustable gap. Safety is addressed with a blast shield and integrated camera to enhance operational security. The press is said to set a new standard in the industry, combining “advanced design, robust reliability, superior quality, and uncompromising safety,” the release stated.
The design incorporates an IAS Induction Heater for billet taper and a comprehensive Log Wash System. The new system features vertical log storage for increased capacity. Additionally, the TERS System is said to enhance energy efficiency, saving 6 percent to 8 percent in energy consumption.
“This innovative technology reaffirms our commitment to quality, capacity, and sustainability in extrusion processes,” Taber said in the release.
Downstream of the press, Taber Extrusions said it will incorporate the latest COMETAL Engineering technology, which features a high-performance multi-spray zone profile quench with a cooling recipe system, and quench and cooling simulation for advanced product development. The in-line heat-treatment and aging process allows Taber to meet AMS 2750 Class 1/2, Type B, CQI-9, and AMS 2772 specifications, “ensuring top-notch quality,” the company said.
Additionally, the system includes an AGV System and adjustable racks for increased capacity and efficiency, according to the release.
Taber Extrusions is a minority-owned business enterprise that is AS9100, Nadcap, and ABS certified. Since its founding in 1973, Taber has pioneered the process of extruding rectangular billet, enabling the extrusion of solid profiles up to 31 inches wide and hollows up to 29 inches. The company continues to extrude billet in a wide range of alloys and sizes, including 7-inch billet molds.
Taber has diversified its markets beyond the military to include aerospace, automotive, marine, infrastructure, and sporting goods, among others. For these markets, Taber supplies extruded products in a variety of soft and hard alloys.
In 2018, Taber further expanded its capabilities by adding ultra-precision extrusions, allowing the company to better serve customers in the electronics, computer, and medical industries. In 2019, Taber announced its new stir-welding capability, further enhancing its services to the marine, defense, and infrastructure sectors.
More recently, Taber added a new Haas VF-12 CNC Machine to its operations, the company said.