Finishing and detail parts
Accessories are what turn an assembled frame into a finished product. An open profile end is a sharp edge that collects swarf; an open slot is a trap for chips and a place where a panel will not sit flat. This page covers the small parts that close, seal and finish a profile frame, and why leaving them out is a false economy.
7 items
Profile accessories are the finishing and detail parts that fit into or onto an extruded profile: end caps that close an open section, slot covers that seal or dress the T-slot, sealing strips that retain panels, and slot-mounted fittings such as handles, hinges and cable clips. They are low-cost items that decide whether a frame looks finished and whether it stays clean in service.
Below: what each accessory family actually does, and the four cases where leaving one out costs more than fitting it.
An extruded profile has an open end that shows the section, and on a slotted profile that end is also a collection of sharp slot lips. An end cap closes it.
| Type | Fitting | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Push-in cap | Presses into the end of the section | The standard finish for visible frame ends |
| Slotted cap | Closes the end while leaving a slot open for a panel or a connector | Where a panel runs to the end of a member |
| Cover cap | Clips over the end and the first part of the slot | Where the slot also needs to be closed at the end |
| Foot pad | Sits under a frame leg | Protecting a floor and stopping a frame from sliding |
End caps are usually supplied in a plastic or nylon in a colour matched to the profile, and they are the cheapest single improvement to the appearance of a frame. They also serve a practical purpose: an open end will damage whatever it is dragged across, and it will hold a pool of coolant or wash water.
An open T-slot is a functional feature and, on a finished product, an untidy one. Two families of accessory deal with it.
A slot cover is a strip that presses or slides into the slot and closes it flush with the profile face. It has three uses: it stops swarf, dust and liquid collecting in the slot; it presents a smooth face where a person may come into contact with the frame; and it hides the slot on a frame that is meant to look like a single piece of aluminium.
A sealing strip is a flexible profile that is fitted into the slot and provides a grip or a seal for a panel. It is the standard way to retain a sheet of polycarbonate or glass without drilling it, and it also provides a degree of sealing against dust and water.
| Accessory | Function | Panel retention |
|---|---|---|
| Slot cover | Closes the slot flush | None |
| Sealing strip | Grips the panel edge and seals against it | Yes, by friction and compression |
| Glazing gasket | Two-part system, one strip each side of the panel | Yes, and it allows thicker panels |
| Brush strip | Closes a gap while allowing movement | None; used on sliding guards |
Practical point: a sealing strip retains a panel by friction, so it is not a structural fixing. Where a panel has to resist pressure, impact or a person leaning on it, retain it mechanically as well. The mechanical options are described under panel installation elements.
Because the slot is a continuous fixing track, almost anything that has to be attached to a frame can be attached through it rather than by drilling.
Bolt into the slot on a door or a drawer front. No drilling means no swarf inside a closed profile and no risk of hitting a cable.
Press into the slot and hold a cable or a hose against the frame. Cheaper and tidier than adhesive clips, and repositionable.
Slot-mounted hinges let a door be fitted and adjusted without machining the profile. See hinges.
Levelling feet and protective pads mount in the slot at the base of a leg. See levelling feet.
Bench-side holders that clip into the slot on a workstation frame.
Slide into the slot so machine identification and safety signage can be changed without tools.
Accessories are supplied in a range of colours, and the choice affects how the finished frame reads. Black caps and covers on a black anodised frame make the profile look like a single extrusion; light grey covers on a clear anodised frame are almost invisible. Where a frame is powder coated to a specific RAL colour, ask for covers in a matching shade rather than accepting a near-match, because the cover is usually the most visible accessory on the finished product.
The frame finishes themselves are described under anodised aluminium profiles.
Accessories are series-specific: a cover for an 8 mm slot will not fit a 10 mm slot, and a sealing strip is sized to both the slot and the panel thickness. When ordering, give the profile series, the accessory type, the colour and the quantity. If you are ordering a frame kit, tell us that the frame will be visible, will be cleaned, or will be shipped, and we will include the accessories that go with it — that is almost always cheaper than ordering them separately later. Standard accessories are quoted within one working day. Related ranges: panel installation elements, hinges, levelling feet, fastening elements and conduit profiles.
FAQ
Closing open profile ends, sealing or dressing the T-slot, retaining panels, and mounting fittings such as handles and cable clips. They are the parts that finish a frame.
An open profile end is a sharp edge that collects debris, holds standing water and damages whatever it is dragged across. Caps close it and improve the appearance at very low cost.
A slot cover simply closes the slot flush. A sealing strip grips and seals against a panel edge, so it retains the panel as well as closing the slot.
It retains a panel by friction and is not a structural fixing. Where the panel must resist pressure, impact or a person leaning on it, retain it mechanically as well.
No. Covers and strips are sized to the slot width, so an 8 mm slot accessory will not fit a 10 mm slot. Sealing strips are also sized to the panel thickness.
Match the frame. Black covers on a black anodised frame make the profile look like a single extrusion, while light grey on clear anodised is almost invisible.
Yes. An open slot cannot be cleaned effectively, so covers and seals are a functional requirement in cleanroom and food-adjacent equipment rather than a cosmetic choice.
Yes. Slot-mounted handles bolt into the T-slot, which avoids drilling the profile and avoids getting swarf inside a closed section.
Send the drawing, the section size or a sample and we will confirm the alloy, the tolerance, the finish and the commercial terms. Quotes for standard items normally go out within one working day.
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