Abstract: An extrusion die has a die aperture which is negatively tapered essentially throughout its length at an angle of at least 1.degree. such that any friction stress between the die lands and metal flowing through them is negligible, the length of the lands being not more than 2 mm so that fouling does not significantly take place thereon during extrusion. Faster extrusion speeds can be achieved, particularly when extruding aluminium alloy having a shear strength of from 1.2 to 4.0 Kg/mm.sup.2 at 500.degree. C.

Abstract: A sawing apparatus for sawing long lengths of material into shorter pieces having a predetermined length and discarding spoiled and short end pieces comprises a saw movable across a saw table formed in two parts which can be tilted independently of each other to tip sawn material into a receptacle. The downstream part has a nose piece projecting just beyond the saw to support the leading end of a length to be sawn. The apparatus also comprises exit and entry tables and a number of sensors for respectively detecting the leading and trailing ends of the lengths of material and for automatically initiating sequences of operations of releasable clamps for clamping the lengths of material, traversing movements of the saw, and the tiltable table parts.

Abstract: An apparatus for stretching an extruded length of metal comprises a plurality of sets of tailstock jaws mounted at fixed positions in line with and spaced from each other, and a set of headstock jaws mounted in line with the sets of tailstock jaws and movable towards and away from the sets of tailstock jaws by a motor. The sets of tailstock jaws are individually controlled by respective sensors which when energized emit a signal in response to the presence of the trailing end of an extruded length of metal travelling past the sets of tailstock jaws, and the sensor signal actuates closure of the associated tailstock jaws on the trailing end of the extruded length.