Method of Manufacturing a Material Strand

A method of manufacturing a material strand, particularly for sealing, trimming or fastening of doors or windows of a motor vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) extrusion of an extruded strand;
• b) testing the extruded strand after the extrusion, thereby identifying first segments comprising manufacturing defects and second segments being free from manufacturing defects;
• c) cutting out the first segments from the extruded strand, thereby causing cut faces at the second segments;
• d) cutting out second segments from the extruded strand which have a length less than a predetermined minimum distance (Δd), the minimum distance (Δd) being long enough to form a sealing strip or a trim strip;
• e) joining cut faces of second segments which have a length equal to or longer than the minimum distance (Δd) to obtain a joint and to form a material strand, the joint having a position within the material strand, wherein a minimum distance (Δd) is maintained between the positions of adjacent joints;
• f) identifying the position of each joint;
• and
• g) forming a transport unit having a predetermined maximum length by winding the material strand.