HERD Product Features

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Extruded vs formed

What is extruding?

It is the creation of a three-dimensional object by pushing out a two-dimensional outline and giving it height, like a cookie-cutter. At HERD, all of our bumper channels are custom extruded shapes, made of high quality aluminum.

What is forming?

It is starting with a flat sheet of soft material, and bending it into the shape you want.

Why is this important? Because the channel is the most important part of a bullbar, it’s where all of your strength comes from. The extrusion process allows you to use a much stronger, stiffer aluminum than you can with a formed bumper. When forming aluminum, you must use a much softer aluminum than you can when extruding.

Also, by using the latest computer strength analysis software, we are able to add reinforcing ribs and flanges to our channels that would just not be possible with the forming process. This means you can get the strongest possible bumper channel while keeping the bumper weight to a minimum.