The F Aluminium Profile is a distinctive asymmetric structural shape characterised by a flat base with two parallel legs of unequal length projecting from the same side. Viewed from the end, its cross-section resembles the letter "F" — a long leg providing a robust mounting or guiding surface, and a shorter leg acting as a secondary lip or stop. This clever geometry makes the F profile exceptionally well-suited for edge-mounted sliding tracks, cabinet door frames, and applications where a single-sided, dual-height guide is required.

Like all our standard aluminium extrusions, F profiles are manufactured from 6063-T5 or 6061-T6 aluminium alloys. 6063-T5 is the preferred choice for architectural and furniture applications — its smooth surface finish and excellent anodizing response produce a premium aesthetic for visible trims, door frames, and display systems. For structural and load-bearing roles, such as machinery guide rails or heavy-duty shelving tracks, 6061-T6 provides the higher tensile strength (≥290 MPa) and weldability required for demanding industrial environments.
Shengxin extrudes F profiles completely in-house on our 35 extrusion lines, with base widths from 15mm compact trims to 120mm structural sections. The long and short leg heights, wall thicknesses, and even the spacing between the two legs can all be customised to match your design precisely. With 29 years of extrusion expertise and over 500,000 dies in our mould library, we can often produce a custom F section faster and more cost-effectively than starting from a blank sheet.
Features & Benefits
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Asymmetric leg design: The long leg provides a sturdy mounting or guiding surface, while the shorter leg acts as a retainer, stop, or secondary guide — two functions in one extruded profile.
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Space-efficient edge mounting: Because both legs project from the same side of the base, F profiles can be mounted flush against a flat surface with all functional features on one side — ideal for wall-mounted tracks and cabinet frames.
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Built-in panel retention: The gap between the long and short legs naturally forms a narrow channel that can capture a panel edge, glass sheet, or thin board without requiring a separate clip or retainer.
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Clean, snag-free appearance: The absence of legs on the reverse side means the profile sits flush against its mounting surface with no protrusions — important for furniture, retail displays, and architectural trims.
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Excellent anodizing finish: 6063 alloy F profiles anodize to a uniform, high-quality surface, making them suitable for visible applications in shopfitting, exhibition stands, and interior design.
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Easy to fabricate: F profiles can be cut, drilled, tapped, and mitred using standard workshop tools. We offer fabrication services to deliver ready-to-assemble components with all holes and finishes applied.
Standard F Profile Sizes (Commonly Produced)
These are representative standard dimensions. Custom base widths, leg heights, and wall thicknesses are produced to order. Dimensions shown as Base Width x Long Leg Height x Short Leg Height x Thickness.
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Size (B x H1 x H2 x t)
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Base Width
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Long Leg
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Short Leg
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Thickness
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Typical Alloy
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20 x 15 x 8 x 1.5 mm
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20 mm
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15 mm
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8 mm
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1.5 mm
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6063-T5
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30 x 20 x 10 x 2.0 mm
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30 mm
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20 mm
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10 mm
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2.0 mm
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6063-T5
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40 x 25 x 15 x 2.5 mm
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40 mm
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25 mm
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15 mm
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2.5 mm
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6063-T5 / 6061-T6
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50 x 30 x 20 x 3.0 mm
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50 mm
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30 mm
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20 mm
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3.0 mm
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6061-T6
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60 x 40 x 25 x 4.0 mm
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60 mm
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40 mm
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25 mm
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4.0 mm
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6061-T6
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Not seeing your required dimension? We custom-extrude F profiles with base widths up to 200 mm and leg heights up to 100 mm. Unequal leg spacing, tapered walls, and special alloy grades are available on request. Contact us with your drawing.
Technical Specifications
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Profile Type
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F Section (F-Channel / F-Profile)
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Alloy Options
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6063-T5 (architectural/furniture), 6061-T6 (structural), 6005A
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Base Width Range
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15 mm – 200 mm
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Leg Height Range
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5 mm – 100 mm (long and short legs individually specifiable)
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Wall Thickness
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1.0 mm – 6.0 mm (uniform or stepped per design)
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Standard Length
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6.0 m (custom cut-to-length available)
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Surface Finish
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Mill finish, anodized (clear/black/bronze), powder coated (RAL)
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Compliance
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EN 755, EN 12020, JIS H4100, GB 5237
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F Profile vs. U Channel vs. Angle: When to Choose an F Section
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Design Requirement
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F Profile
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U Channel
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Angle (L)
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Single-side edge guide with dual-height rail
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✅ Best — long leg guides, short leg retains
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❌ Legs are equal height
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❌ Only one leg available
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Flush wall mounting with front-facing feature
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✅ Flat base sits flush on wall
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✅ Also flush-mountable
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⚠ One leg projects outward
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Full panel edge encapsulation
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⚠ Partial — shallow short leg only
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✅ Best — deep symmetrical channel
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❌ No capture function
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Simple corner bracket or stiffener
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⚠ Over-designed
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⚠ Possible
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✅ Best — simple and cost-effective
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F profiles are the optimal choice when you need a single-sided component with two distinct functional heights — a tall leg for guiding or mounting, and a short leg for retaining or stopping. For symmetrical edge protection and panel capture, see our U profile aluminium. For simple corner reinforcement, see our aluminium angle profiles.
Typical Applications of F Aluminium Profiles
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Sliding door tracks and guides: The long leg serves as the main running surface for the door roller, while the short leg acts as a lateral guide preventing the door from derailing — both functions in one extruded piece.
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Cabinet and wardrobe frames: F profiles form the front frame of built-in wardrobes and kitchen cabinets, where the long leg provides a door stop and the short leg creates a neat shadow line or panel retainer.
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Edge protection with built-in lip: Mounted on the edge of a shelf or countertop, the long leg protects the edge from impact while the short leg provides a subtle anti-slip lip that stops items rolling off.
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Display and exhibition systems: F sections serve as versatile support rails in retail displays, exhibition booths, and pop-up stands — panels slot into the channel between the two legs while the flat base mounts cleanly to the structure.
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Machinery guards and sensor mounts: In industrial equipment, the long leg acts as a protective barrier or mounting rail, while the short leg positions sensors, limit switches, or cable runs at a precise offset from the main guard.
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Window and door frame adaptors: F profiles bridge gaps between window frames and wall openings, where the flat base fixes to the wall and the two legs create a stepped interface for the window frame to sit against.
Value-Added Processing Options
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Service
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Capability
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Cut-to-Length
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Precision saw cutting to specified lengths; clean, burr-free ends
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Drilling & Tapping
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CNC drilled holes, slots, countersinks, and threaded holes on base or legs
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Mitre Cutting
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45° and custom angle mitre cuts for frame corner joints
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Surface Finishing
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In-house anodizing (3 lines), powder coating (3 lines), PVDF
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Welding & Assembly
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Fabrication of welded F-section frames and complete assemblies
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Packaging
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Protective wrapping, custom pallets, labelled bundles for easy receiving
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Why Shengxin for F Aluminium Profiles?
The F profile's asymmetric leg design — two different heights projecting from a flat base — places specific demands on extrusion die engineering. The taller leg naturally draws more material flow during extrusion, risking incomplete fill of the shorter leg if the die is not correctly balanced. With 29 years of aluminium extrusion expertise, Shengxin's in-house die shop designs F-section tooling that compensates for this asymmetry, ensuring both legs form fully and uniformly across the entire production run.
Balanced Die Engineering
Our die designers use advanced flow simulation to balance material feed between the long and short legs. This ensures the short leg is fully formed and dimensionally stable — not starved or undersized — even when the height ratio exceeds 3:1.
500,000+ Mould Library
Many F section dimensions — including common long-to-short leg ratios — are already in our die inventory. We can often supply a custom F profile without the full cost or lead time of new tooling.
Complete In-House Finishing
3 anodizing lines, 3 powder coating lines, and PVDF coating — all within our factory. Your F profiles arrive finished and ready for immediate installation.
Global Export & Quality
$120 million in assets. 100,000-ton annual capacity. Shipped to 97 countries across 6 continents. Full mill certificates and compliance documentation with every order.
Quality Assurance You Can Trust: Every F section order includes dimensional inspection reports confirming leg heights, base flatness, and wall thickness. Alloy composition certificates and surface quality documentation are standard. We support PPAP and project-specific quality requirements. 5,000-ton warehouse and 5 container loading platforms ensure on-time dispatch.
F Aluminium Profile FAQ
Q: What is the difference between an F profile and a U channel?
A: A U channel has two legs of equal height, creating a symmetrical trough. An F profile has two legs of unequal height on the same side of the base, with the short leg typically acting as a retainer or stop. F profiles are chosen when you need a single-side mounting solution with dual-height functionality. For equal-height channel applications, see our U profile aluminium page.
Q: Can the short leg and long leg heights be customised independently?
A: Yes. Both leg heights can be specified independently, as can the distance between them (the channel width). Common ratios range from a subtle 2:1 height difference to a pronounced 4:1 or more. Provide your drawing with the required dimensions, and we will produce the exact profile.
Q: How much weight can an F profile sliding door track support?
A: Load capacity depends on the profile dimensions, alloy, wall thickness, and the span between fixing points. For heavy sliding doors, we recommend 6061-T6 alloy with adequate base width and wall thickness. Provide your door weight, track span, and fixing centres, and our engineering team will confirm the appropriate section.
Q: Can F profiles be anodized for architectural use?
A: Yes. 6063-T5 F profiles anodize beautifully and are commonly specified for visible architectural trims, door frames, and display systems. Our Qualanod-compliant anodizing lines produce uniform, durable finishes in clear, black, and bronze tones. Powder coating in any RAL colour is also available.
Custom Aluminium F Profile Solutions
Every project has unique requirements. Whether you need custom leg heights, a wider base, thicker walls, or a completely bespoke F section profile, Shengxin's custom extrusion service delivers precision aluminium profiles engineered to your exact drawings and specifications.
How It Works:
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Send your drawing — 2D PDF/DWG or 3D STEP/IGES file.
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Our engineers review — we assess feasibility and suggest optimisations.
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Receive a quotation — including die cost, unit price, and lead time.
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Approve a sample — we extrude a trial section for your sign-off.
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Full production — consistent quality, delivered on schedule.
⚠️ Important Note: All product images and dimensional drawings on this page are for reference only. Each custom profile is unique — final dimensions, tolerances, and surface finish will be confirmed based on your approved production drawing. Please contact our engineering team to discuss your specific requirements before placing an order.
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| See also: U Profile Aluminium, Aluminium T Section, Z Aluminium Profile