Separate the metal price from the manufacturing charges
The billet cost reflects an agreed aluminum reference price together with the alloy and billet-supply charges. The quotation should identify the reference, currency, pricing date and validity period. An A00 domestic spot reference and an LME-based quotation are different pricing bases; they should not be treated as interchangeable without agreement.
Confirm when the price becomes fixed and which payment or order-confirmation conditions apply. Do not assume that a deposit automatically locks a particular market price. Alloy choice also affects processing, but the final temper describes the supplied profile condition rather than a temper already present in the unextruded billet.
Account for tooling and extrusion effort
Die cost depends on the section size, complexity, solid or hollow construction and required trials. Identify tooling as a separate item where applicable, and confirm revision, ownership, maintenance and repeat-order terms. A broad die-price example cannot establish the price for a particular drawing.
Weight per meter helps explain why equal-weight orders require different amounts of handling. One metric ton of a 0.5 kg/m section represents 2,000 meters, while one metric ton of a 2.0 kg/m section represents 500 meters. The first order contains four times the length, but that does not prove four times the machine hours. Extrusion speed, yield, die design, quenching, aging and handling also matter.
Review finishing and fabrication as separate operations
Finishing costs depend on the process, exposed area, color and batch size. One 3,000 kg run in an approved standard color differs from five 600 kg color batches. Wood-grain transfer adds another operation, while special colors may involve material procurement and approval. A lighter section does not automatically have the same surface area per meter as a heavier one.
Thermal-break strip assembly, cutting, punching, drilling and machining add their own setup, inspection and handling. Guantian performs cut-to-length sawing and standard punching in-house; drilling, tapping and more complex CNC work are coordinated through specialist partners. A 450 mm component with slotted holes, M6 threads, labels and individual cartons has a different cost basis from a long bar. Cutting losses should come from the actual layout rather than a universal waste percentage.
| Quotation component | Main cost drivers | What the buyer should confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum billet | Metal reference, alloy and billet-supply charges | Currency, reference date, validity and price-fixing terms |
| Die and tooling | Section dimensions, cavities, trials and revisions | One-time charges, permitted use and repeat-order terms |
| Extrusion and aging | Section complexity, meter weight, yield and setup | Quantity per section, alloy, temper and critical tolerances |
| Surface finishing | Area, coating system, colors and batch sizes | Approved sample, film requirement and finish scope |
| Thermal break and fabrication | Strip assembly, cuts, holes, threads and machining | Finished drawing, cutting layout and inspection points |
| Packaging and delivery | Protection, labels, cartons, crates and transport scope | Packing specification, delivery term and included charges |
Include packaging, components and delivery scope
Protective film, foam, kraft wrapping, individual cartons, crates and racks involve different material and packing work. Floor-by-floor labels or bundle quantities also need planning. Matching hardware and gaskets add sourcing and consolidation requirements, so submit the component list and samples with the initial inquiry.
Compare EXW or FOB quotations only after confirming the named location and the services included. Ask whether tooling, packing, local transport and other relevant charges are separate. Net profile weight and packed shipment weight are different figures and should be identified clearly.
Freeze the specification before comparing offers
Provide the final assembly requirements, quantities by section and color, approved finish reference and critical inspection points. Changes after drawing or sample approval may require die correction, a different color formulation or production rescheduling. These changes need renewed technical and commercial confirmation.
A useful comparison separates one-time charges from repeat-production costs and compares the same finished condition. Our team can then review practical alternatives, such as grouping colors or changing the cutting layout, without silently reducing the specification.
Frequently asked questions
Why can quotation validity be short?
Metal prices and supply conditions can change. A quotation may have a validity period such as three to seven days, but the actual period and price-fixing conditions are those stated in the offer.
Are profiles quoted by ton, meter or piece?
Long extrusions are commonly quoted by metric ton, while fabricated components may be quoted by piece. We can explain the calculation basis and the meter weight used so that offers can be compared consistently.
Send your drawings, alloy, finish, quantities and delivery requirements on WhatsApp. We will review the scope and prepare an itemized quotation for the agreed supply condition.