Welding and Assembly Capabilities

We bring it all together to provide complete quality aluminum product manufacturing. We utilize our strengths in extrusion, machining and finishing, add on design, assembly and welding capabilities.

Sapa Extrusions in Portland can become your single source for product development and manufacturing. With these resources & capabilities Sapa has become the largest contract builder of bicycle frames in the U.S.

Friction Stir Welding

The process: A rotating tool is pressed into the metal and moved along the line of the joint. No filler metals or shielding gases are used. FSW takes advantage of the metal’s characteristic of withstanding major plastic deformation at high temperatures, though not above the melting point. Clean metal surfaces on the profiles that are to be joined are pressed together under high pressure. At the same time, mechanical action using a rotating tool creates friction heat. The pressure and the heat combined result in a new, homogenous structure.

Benefits of Friction Stir Welding
* Increased Strength
* Improved Sealing
* Reduced heat distortion
* Cleaner look
* Improved repeatability

Assembly Capabilities

* Welding of all types, specializing in thin-wall aluminum TIG welding , Friction Stir Welding

* CNC machining

* Solid model CAD engineering support

* In -house solution heat-treat and aging facilities

* Tube forming, butting, and bending

* Finishing, anodizing, and laser engraving

* Innovative materials and methods

Materials

* Aluminum

* Metal Matrix Composites

* Advanced materials

Typical Applications

* Bicycle frame fabrication and bicycle parts

* Motorcycle frame fabrication

* Exercise and rehabilitation equipment

* Sports and recreation equipment

* Electronic manufacturing equipment