How Silicone Tubing Is Made: Behind the Scenes at Altec Extrusions

Behind the Scenes: How We Manufacture Silicone Tubing at Altec Extrusions

At Altec Extrusions, we specialise in the manufacture of two core types of silicone tubing: General Purpose and High Strength. While both options serve a wide range of industrial and medical uses, our High Strength silicone tubing is the most in-demand thanks to its tighter tolerances, greater durability, and reliability in peristaltic pump systems. Both variants are peroxide cured to ensure consistency and performance.

Precision Milling and Extrusion of Silicone Tubing

The production process begins with solid blocks of silicone, which we purchase in 40 and 60 Shore A hardness for our High Strength tube. Since most of our silicone tubing stock is produced in 50 Shore A, we mill the 40 and 60 Shore materials together in a specific formulation to reach this standard. During this stage, we also add the peroxide catalyst that starts the curing process.

After milling, the silicone compound is bagged and stored until required. When we begin manufacturing, the material is fed into our extruder, where it is forced through carefully engineered pins and dies to form the required tube dimensions. The extruded silicone tubing then passes through a hot box, undergoing a flash cure at 450–500°C to set the shape.

Final Curing, Quality Checks & Dispatch

Next, the tubing is coiled and cut to length, and the size is checked using both an optical comparator and our bespoke measuring system to ensure it meets exact specifications. All measurements are logged in our internal system for traceability.

The coiled tubes are then placed on trays and undergo a secondary oven cure at 180–190°C for a duration of 4 to 24 hours, depending on tube size.

Once the curing process is complete, the silicone tubing is bagged, boxed, and added to stock or prepared for shipping. We maintain a strict quality assurance process right up to dispatch.

Every step of our production process is carefully monitored to ensure that the silicone tubing we manufacture meets the highest standards of quality, precision, and reliability. From raw material to final dispatch, we’re committed to delivering a product you can trust — whether you need it for laboratory equipment, fluid transfer, or critical pump systems.

Looking for high-quality silicone tubing you can trust? Contact Altec Extrusions to discuss your requirements.