Two aluminium profiles can look alike and still behave differently in your assembly. The difference may be a mating dimension, material condition, coating allowance or a cut-length requirement that never reached the supplier. Choosing an extruder starts by making those requirements visible.
For buyers in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Gurugram, the following process turns an initial search for aluminium extruders in Delhi NCR into a more useful supplier discussion. It applies to both catalogue profiles and custom aluminium extrusions, with additional tooling and sample gates for a new section.
At a glance
- Keep one controlled drawing revision and identify the features that affect function.
- Separate technical approval from the commercial comparison.
- Agree sample acceptance, packing and delivery evidence before releasing repeat production.
1. Establish who manufactures the profile
A manufacturer, stockist and fabricator can each be useful, but they perform different jobs. A stockist may provide an existing section quickly; a fabricator may cut, machine or assemble bought-in material; an extruder produces the profile through a die. Ask which operations the quoted supplier performs and which are supplied by another company.
Record the manufacturing and dispatch addresses separately from the office address. A Delhi sales contact may coordinate an order from a plant in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh or another state. That can be a workable supply route, provided the quotation and delivery plan identify it clearly.
2. Send a drawing that describes the finished requirement
Use a drawing number, revision and date so both parties can identify the same requirement. Include the cross-section, overall size, wall thicknesses, critical interfaces and cut length. Mark which surfaces remain visible and where machining or assembly occurs.
Tell the extruder which dimensions need individual review rather than applying a vague instruction such as 'tight tolerance' to the entire profile. Ask how straightness, twist, cut squareness and dimensional acceptance will be measured. Keep any manufacturability changes in the drawing approval trail.
- Identify mating slots, screw ports, seal grooves and other functional interfaces.
- State whether dimensions apply before or after finishing and machining.
- Attach the application and assembly context so proposed changes can be assessed.
3. Agree the alloy, temper and surface finish
Specify alloy and temper as a pair, together with the relevant material standard or customer specification. If the design is still being developed, ask the manufacturer to review the alternatives and explain what needs engineering confirmation. A supplier recommendation should become a recorded specification before production.
For anodising or powder coating, describe the environment, colour reference, visible faces and agreed acceptance method. Ask about coating thickness, masking and dimensional allowance where these affect assembly. Establish who is responsible for surface treatment and what evidence will be supplied with the order.
Finish appearance should be agreed using an appropriate sample. Do not rely on an uncalibrated phone image to settle colour or texture acceptance. Store the approved reference and connect it to the purchase order and drawing revision.
4. Put a sample gate before repeat production
For a catalogue section, ask for confirmation that the selected die matches your requirement and is available for the order. For a custom extrusion, agree die cost, ownership, maintenance, trial quantity and what happens if a trial needs correction.
Define sample acceptance before the trial is run. The checks may include dimensions, material documentation, finish appearance and assembly fit. Request representative samples in the condition you intend to buy. A mill-finish trial alone cannot establish the fit or appearance of a coated and machined component.
Record the approved drawing, sample identifier, inspection results and any agreed deviations. Then issue a written release for repeat production. If the design changes, decide which parts of the approval must be repeated.
5. Compare complete quotations
Send the same RFQ to the shortlisted suppliers. Ask for the metal-price reference and validity, conversion charge, die and trial charges, minimum order quantity, finishing, fabrication, packing, freight and applicable taxes. Check whether minimum quantities apply to each individual profile or to the order as a whole.
Make the quantity basis explicit. For example, a nominal 0.80 kg/m profile cut to 3 m weighs 2.40 kg per piece; 500 pieces represent a nominal 1,200 kg before agreed allowances. This illustration is a calculation, not a production weight guarantee. Confirm how the supplier measures and invoices actual dispatch quantity.
Ask suppliers to list assumptions and exclusions. An apparently cheaper quote may leave machining, protective film or freight to the buyer. A written breakdown lets you compare the cost of receiving an accepted component.
6. Plan delivery and receiving inspection
Give the supplier the exact receiving location, required date, vehicle access and unloading restrictions. Long lengths, visible finishes and mixed-profile loads may require different packing and handling arrangements. Confirm bundle labels, profile identification and protection of surfaces that matter to the finished product.
Separate the first-order schedule into drawing review, tooling where needed, trial, sample approval, production, finishing and dispatch. Request dates for your specific order instead of assuming a generic lead time applies. Plan replenishment against the confirmed production and transport route.
At receipt, check identification, quantity, transport condition and the agreed inspection records. Record discrepancies with the purchase order, bundle details and photographs where useful. Agree the claim and replacement process before it is needed.
An RFQ checklist for your next aluminium profile order
Use this list to prepare one consistent enquiry. If a requirement is undecided, label it for technical review rather than silently leaving the supplier to assume it.
- Company, contact person, application and receiving location.
- Drawing number and revision, or confirmed catalogue profile code.
- Alloy, temper, applicable specification and required material records.
- Critical dimensions, tolerances, cut length and downstream operations.
- Finish, colour or appearance reference, visible faces and packing needs.
- Quantity per profile, units, expected repeat demand and required date.
- Tooling and trial scope, sample acceptance and approval responsibility.
- Itemised commercial offer, quotation validity, freight basis and discrepancy process.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a CAD drawing for the first enquiry?
A controlled drawing is the strongest starting point for a custom profile. If you only have a sample, sketch or existing catalogue reference, share it with dimensions and the intended application. The requirement still needs to become an agreed specification before tooling or production release.
Can the extruder select the alloy for me?
An extruder can discuss manufacturability and available material routes. Your engineering team should confirm that the selected alloy, temper and finished condition meet the application. Record the final choice rather than treating a preliminary suggestion as design approval.
What should I verify before placing a repeat order?
Reference the approved drawing revision, material condition, sample or finish reference, inspection plan and commercial terms. Confirm that the supplier has not proposed a different die, plant or processing route that affects the approval, and agree the delivery schedule for the new order.
Further technical reading
About the publisher
Omalco manufactures aluminium profiles and custom extrusions from its Behror base. Our journal helps buyers prepare technical enquiries and compare supply requirements. Learn about Omalco.
