Custom Tooling: Saving You Time and Money

ELBEX • August 15, 2022
Custom Tooling: Saving You Time and Money

One aspect that sets Elbex apart from other rubber extrusion manufacturers is our ability to offer onsite custom tooling. No two applications are exactly alike, and quite often, this means that standard extrusions simply aren’t going to be enough to get the job done. Here’s how our custom tooling process can help your business save time and money.

Greater Efficiency Means a Faster Turnaround

Processing all of our extrusion, custom tooling, and die design services onsite can dramatically speed up project turnarounds. While it may take weeks to outsource tooling, internal processing means such projects can often be completed in a day or less. With shorter lead times, delivery of the final products can be completed that much sooner, allowing you to put your application to work and achieve your productivity goals.

Cost Savings Passed Along to You

By managing everything in-house and reducing project lead times, our team is able to save a lot of money on tooling and extrusion. We are more than happy to pass these cost savings along to our customers. Onsite production also gives our engineers more direct oversight over every project. This ensures that the finished product meets all applicable quality certification standards. You don’t have to worry about a rubber extrusion not living up to expectations thanks to the high standards of our in-house team. Extrusions that stand the test of time will help you save on maintenance and other costs in the long run.

If you’d like to take advantage of Elbex’s custom tooling services, contact us today. Our skilled engineers are ready to work with you to develop solutions that will fully meet the unique needs of your application.

By David Garman June 27, 2025
In industries like mass transit and construction, secure fitting and protected edges are key to the durability and safety of many applications. Rubber extrusions, particularly custom extruded u-channels and variations like ribbed rubber channels can play an essential role in these areas – and Elbex’s expertise in providing custom solutions will help you move forward with confidence. Understanding U-Channel Rubber Extrusions U-channel rubber extrusions are named for their distinctive U-shape, which allows them to fit over edges or within channels on mating pieces to ensure a secure fit and protect edges. The size and thickness of the legs and base should be adapted to the needs of the application, since precise dimensions are needed to get a secure fit. Depending on needs, extra features like ribbed rubber channels can be added for increased grip, vibration dampening, or sealing. As with other rubber extrusions, various materials, such as EPDM, neoprene, or silicone can be used for U-channels. The right material depends on the application’s environmental conditions (like temperature, chemicals, and UV exposure), as well as performance requirements such as flexibility and durability. Diverse Applications Across Industries U-channels serve a variety of important functions. They can be used as edge guards to protect surfaces from damage and provide a finished look, such as in automotive door edges, metal paneling, or machinery housings. The tight fit of these rubber extrusions within the channel also dampens vibrations and prevents unwanted movement between components. This is especially important for preventing excess wear and promoting structural integrity in transportation equipment and other machinery. U-channels are also used to create seals against dust, moisture, and other environmental elements. Weatherstripping in homes and glazing seals on building and automotive systems are common examples of this. With the right materials, U-channels can provide essential protection, even in extreme environments that undergo frequent temperature changes. Elbex’s Expertise in Custom U-Channel Solutions At Elbex, we provide a comprehensive level of support in addressing your U-channel needs. Our custom design and manufacturing capabilities allow us to meet your exact design requirements and performance specifications. Our knowledgeable team can also offer design assistance, technical information, and material selection guidance. Our in-house tooling and manufacturing also lends itself to quality results. Our custom on-site tooling capabilities provide a quick, cost-effective turnaround on unique U-channel profiles. We offer a wide range of materials to meet the specific performance needs of your application. The versatility and durability of U-channels makes them an excellent fit for many projects. At Elbex, our expertise and experience in providing high-quality, custom extruded u-channels and ribbed rubber channels gives you the reliable partner you need for these essential components. Contact us today to get support for your extrusion needs.
By David Garman June 20, 2025
Rubber extrusions are incredibly versatile, used across a wide range of industries. At the same time, we recognize that understanding the basics of rubber extrusion for beginners can be challenging. In this blog, we’re going to provide a step by step overview of the rubber extrusions process, and how Elbex’s approach to the rubber extrusion process can benefit your company. The Fundamentals of Rubber Extrusion Rubber extrusion is a process in which uncured rubber materials (such as EPDM, silicone, neoprene, and nitrile) are forced through a shaped die. This is done to create a long, continuous profile, reducing waste and making the production of rubber extrusions more efficient. The extruder forces the rubber through the die, which can be adapted to create different shapes for different applications. The continuous profile then goes into a cooling system, where it cures and hardens. After it is cured, handling equipment allows the long profile to be cut to length to form multiple extrusions. Elbex's Streamlined Rubber Extrusion Process: A Step-by-Step Overview At Elbex, we follow a five-step process for streamlined rubber extrusion creation: Step One: Initial Consultation and Design Input. Most projects start when the client provides design information. This usually comes in the form of a drawing or sketch that provides a visual of the extrusion, or a physical sample that we can reverse engineer. Step Two: In-House Die Creation. Once we have a finished design, we manufacture our rubber extrusion dies in-house. By eliminating the need for external vendors, we can lower costs and provide a faster turnaround. This also ensures that the die is the proper shape for the extrusion. Step Three: The Extrusion Process. Once the custom-made die is ready, we use our extrusion equipment to force the heated rubber through the die. The right level of heat and pressure is essential to maintain the right shape during this step. Step Four: Curing and Vulcanization. After going through the die, the rubber is vulcanized (or cured) with chemicals like sulfur to help it harden and improve its physical traits. Step Five: Cooling and Handling. After the extrusion has cured, it needs to cool. Cooling completes the hardening process, after which the rubber can be cut to length or spooled based on application needs.  Elbex’s Commitment to Your Project: Beyond the Basics At Elbex, our commitment to your project’s success goes beyond the basics. In addition to producing custom profiles catered to your specific requirements on-site, we offer technical resources to help your design team – and we can offer design assistance and troubleshooting as needed. Our experienced team can also recommend the right materials for different use cases so you can have confidence your extrusions will stand the test of time. From initial design input to the handling stage, you can count on Elbex’s efficient, client-focused approach to deliver the results you need. With in-house tooling and engineering support, we deliver dependable results that meet and exceed expectations. Whether you’re a newbie or an experienced pro, contact us today to get started on your next rubber extrusion project.
By David Garman June 13, 2025
When it comes to designing custom rubber extrusions, the right team can make all the difference. As a leader in this field, Elbex provides extensive rubber extrusions engineering support. As your trusted rubber extrusions design consultancy, you can count on our team to deliver results perfectly catered to the unique needs of your applications. Dedicated Engineering Assistance: From Concept to Creation At Elbex, we understand that every project is different, requiring unique rubber extrusion design solutions to meet your specific requirements. We believe in proactively engaging with our clients early in the process to gain a full understanding of project needs and ensure better collaboration. Whether you need design support for new and innovative rubber extrusion applications or help identifying and resolving issues with existing or legacy applications, our team can help. We bring our problem-solving approach and industry knowledge to material selection, profile design, and functional considerations to provide cost-effective, high-performing solutions catered to your needs. “Hands On” Project Management: Your Dedicated Engineering Leader Our rubber extrusion design experts take a true hands on approach. By assigning a dedicated engineering team leader to each project, you get what we like to call a “quarterback” – a central point of contact and project manager who is with you every step of the way. This allows us to provide comprehensive support tailored to your needs. Whether you require visits to your location, field support during implementation, assistance with tooling design and setup, or engineering setups and consultations at our facilities, your team leader will help everything go smoothly. Leveraging Elbex’s Resources for Project Success In addition to our talented team members, we also provide a variety of engineering resources for your project. Our in-house custom tool and die design services ensure efficient, high-quality work for unique extrusion needs. We also provide a wide array of technical information to help you design your own extrusions. When needed, our team can offer design assistance and troubleshooting. We can also help you select cost-effective materials that meet required performance levels. At Elbex, our rubber extrusion design experts are committed to providing the comprehensive design and engineering support your project needs. As trusted experts and consultants, we take pride in providing results that meet and exceed expectations. Contact us today to learn more about our rubber extrusion design solutions and to start your project.