In the world of manufacturing, aluminum tubing and other component purchases take time -- often several months of research and back-and-forth. So if you’re an engineer or senior buyer, you’re going to make darn sure your final decision is the right one in terms of cost-effectiveness.
Your vendor should be able to provide a plan (or at least a list of options) for minimizing aluminum tubing costs. Here are some of the things that you can ask to be included in that cost assessment.
Are your aluminum tubing costs as low as they could be?
1. Materials
A great vendor is always considering material costs for clients. This includes finding ways to reduce costs while maintaining (or improving) product quality.
The price for aluminum tubing falls somewhere between that of carbon steel and stainless steel tubing. That means some products and applications can be produced more cost effectively with carbon steel.
If your application is consumer or lightweight (think kitchen supplies or aerospace parts) aluminum will provide more ease of use. If your application is structural or otherwise doesn’t count weight as a factor, carbon or mild steel might be able to do the job at a lower cost.
Along that same line, aluminum deteriorates much faster than stainless steel in corrosive and high-stress environments, so you might be shelling out more money later on.
2. Value Engineering
Tolerances fall on a spectrum. Strict tolerances are nice to have, but are not necessary for all applications. Depending on your project, looser tolerances may be perfectly acceptable AND could save you a lot of money. Some products perform just fine even with a little fudging, and tight tolerances mean throwing out perfectly functional parts.
Aluminum tubing tolerances will likely include measurements for:
- Strength
- Straightness
- Thickness
- Ovality
Talk to your manufacturer about your design and application. They may be able to give you some more wiggle room in your budget while maintaining product quality.
3. Wide Range of Offerings
Manufacturing isn't a one-size-fits-all service. Processes, operations, and components engineered for your project often result in a more cost-effective project overall. This includes offering plenty of options for design, production, fabrication, finishing, and other manufacturing processes.
For aluminum tubing specifically, this includes offering a wide variety of tube shapes and sizes. While there are certain standard shapes and sizes that are most cost-effective, the sky is the limit if you have a custom design.
4. Full-Service Manufacturing
Every moment the product spends in transport or sits idle is a moment it’s not making you money. You don’t want to pay good money for your order to collect dust or deteriorate in storage.
Partnering with an all-in-one manufacturer is one way to majorly cut your spending. From designing your aluminum tubing through packaging, you can cut costs with a one-stop shop.
Some full-service vendors can assist you in pre-manufacturing, manufacturing, and post-manufacturing steps -- everything from cost-effective design to manufacturing, fabrication, finishing, assembly, packaging, and inventory management of products such as aluminum tubing. Others may only offer a select few of those services.
Not sure if aluminum tubing is your best option?
Check out these related articles on different materials if you're still scoping out the field:
Aluminum Tubing vs. Stainless Steel Tubing
Carbon Steel Tubing Advantages & Disadvantages
Mild Steel Tubing Makes Your Design Affordable
Pros & Cons of Galvanized Steel Tubing
