T-Slot Aluminum Framing Delivers Form and Function

Traditionally the factory floor was designed as a functional space built to efficiently produce a product so little thought went into the aesthetics of the area. More recently, interest in worker satisfaction and well being and public perception are evolving to accommodate work areas that are created to be both efficient and aesthetically pleasing. T-slot aluminum framing systems, which deliver both form and function, are helping to redefine today’s industrial aesthetics.

T-slot aluminum framing is a simple, modular and cost-efficient system that can be assembled to construct industrial necessities such as machine guards, workstations, robotic enclosures, material handling racks and conveyor supports. T-slot aluminum framing systems consist of square or rectangular extruded aluminum lengths with a T-shaped slot that allows users to connect hardware to the extrusion and adjust it as needed. Supported by a building system that consists of a variety of profiles and extrusions, fasteners and panels, as well as available add-on components and accessories, T-slot aluminum framing systems are easy to assemble using simple hand tools and provide the flexibility to create custom, modular solutions that can be expanded, scaled back or reassembled as requirements evolve. Because the system allows for rapid assembly and disassembly, structures made with T-slot framing systems are easy to move or reconfigure as needed, making them suitable for permanent and temporary usage.

The technical aspects of high-quality T-slot framing are essential for use in industrial environments as it provides a strong, yet lightweight material, high strength-to-weight ratios and a hearty resistance to rust and corrosion.

The Advantages of T-Slot Framing

While steel has historically been the material of choice for industrial framing systems, it does have drawbacks including its heavy weight, the need to weld joints, a tendency to rust and corrode when exposed to wet and dirty industrial environments and the need for protective coatings to provide protection from industrial elements. T-slot aluminum framing systems, however, provide many advantages, such as:

Delivering Form and Function

While T-slot aluminum framing systems offer a lot of benefits, they truly shine when it comes to providing both form and function in industrial settings. The connectors joining T-slot framing systems create solid, stable joints that are able to withstand vibrations, while the aluminum alloy used in high-quality T-slot framing systems offers high-tensile strength, making them suitable for heavy-duty industrial usage as machine bases and frames, equipment safety enclosures and guard systems, workstations, material handling system supports, robotic and automation system stands and office or workspace desks and storage units.

Further, unlike steel, which is notorious for rusting, corroding, flaking and becoming unattractive as it ages, anodized aluminum resists rust and corrosion and maintains its smooth, sleek appearance as it ages without the need for labor-intensive maintenance that includes costly protective paints and powder coatings. Additionally, the lack of welds, which look unsightly, gives structures created with T-slot aluminum framing a more elegant, aesthetically pleasing appearance. Thanks to the high-strength, vibration-resistant and rust-and-corrosion-resistant characteristics, as well as the sleek and modern appearance of T-slot aluminum framing systems, form meets function to provide sturdy, stable structures that offer a streamlined look even in tough, corrosive industrial facilities. Employees and visitors to the factory floor will appreciate entering a space that is both functional and attractive.

High-Quality Systems are Essential

To achieve the functional, yet attractive traits, it is essential that T-slot aluminum framing systems are of the highest quality. Systems from 80/20 Solutions make it easy to build customized, sleek and modern structures for your industrial work spaces so that employees and visitors will enjoy entering and working in the area. And, when you need help taking your project beyond a sketch, the company also offers assistance with projects, from conception to design to completion. Contact an 80/20 specialist or JHFOSTER today for help designing a project that not only functions well but looks good doing it.