An upstream/downstream process for making map pocket stiffeners formed of extruded material and a wire. The extrusion is drawn through a die of a main extruder forming a main body with a channel and the extrudate is then pulled through a first cooling tank to cool the extrudate and set the profile. The wire is automatically indexed into the channel by a programmable indexing device for proper location and distance between each piece of wire. The extrudate with the wire is re-heated and then pulled through a secondary extruder to encapsulate and seal the wire within the extruded material. The extrudate is cooled in a second cooling tank and passes through a series of rollers to achieve a predetermined shape before being cut and profiled to predetermined lengths and dimensions.