Plastic extrusion materials > ABS
Northland Plastics extrudes high-quality custom profiles using ABS plastic for a variety of industrial applications. We provide finished ABS extrusions as well as comprehensive post-extrusion fabrication services to meet your plastic part requirements.
Since 1953, Northland Plastics engineers have developed over 4000 profiles. We can help you design or redesign an ABS profile to increase quality, improve repeatability and reduce costs.
ABS Plastic Properties
ABS is an engineering-grade thermoplastic material. ABS was developed from three specific monomers (acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene) to create a polymer with superior rigidity, impact resistance, surface quality and heat stability.
Northland Plastics is an industry leader in custom ABS profile extrusion.
ABS is lightweight and strong, making it a popular choice for automotive manufacturers looking to reduce weight by replacing metal components. ABS profiles are also commonly used for trim and moulding in freezers and cold storage rooms since ABS offers good impact resistance at low temperature.
Advantages of ABS:
- Low cost
- Strong and rigid
- Easily machined
- Easily painted/glued
- High impact resistance
- High surface brightness
- Good electrical insulation
- Good chemical resistance
Disadvantages of ABS:
- Easily scratched
- Poor UV resistance
- Poor solvent resistance
- Flammable, with toxic fumes (ABS derivatives exist to meet flame retardant needs)
ABS vs HIPS
HIPS (high-impact polystyrene) is another popular thermoplastic material for profile extrusion that shares many properties with ABS. They’re both economical, easy to paint and fabricate, and tough.
ABS has more chemical resistance than HIPS, making it better suited to applications where corrosion is a risk, such as pipes and fittings, gardening tools, and medical devices like nebulizers.
What is ABS plastic used for?
Extruded ABS plastic profiles are used as components in many different products and applications, including:
- Toys
- Signage
- Appliances
- Packaging
- Office equipment
- Automotive components
- Displays & shelving
- Musical instrument components
- Piping
- Tubing
- Trim
- Power tools
- Fittings/Couplings
- Helmets & sports equipment
- Audio-visual equipment
- Protective housings, guards & guides
ABS plastic profiles are used in an extremely wide range of industries, from furniture and consumer goods manufacturing to plumbing and construction.
Our capabilities for ABS profile extrusions include:
- ABS U-channels
- ABS J-channels
- ABS C-channels
- ABS H-channels
- ABS Elbow angles
- ABS Tees (T-sections)
- ABS Square/Round/Rectangular Tubes
- ABS Rods
- Co-extruded ABS profiles
- Custom ABS profiles
Our comprehensive ABS plastic fabrication services allow us to provide finished products for the lowest total cost. We also offer specialty packaging, labeling and assembly.
Is ABS recyclable?
ABS plastic can be considered eco-friendly as it’s easily recyclable (#9), stable, and non-leaching. Recycled ABS material can be used alone or mixed with virgin ABS plastic. Northland Plastics is committed to helping clients develop environmentally sustainable products through proper material selection and innovative design.
ABS Profile Extrusion & Fabrication
Our vertically integrated plastic profile design and manufacturing facility is in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, serving customers throughout the state and nationwide. Our in-house tooling and die production ensures the highest quality extrusions with shorter lead times. Whether you need extruded ABS profiles or fully finished complex fabrications made with extruded ABS, choose Northland Plastics for competitive pricing, on-time delivery and proactive customer support.
