Gaskets & Seals: Why Quality Matters
ELBEX • June 13, 2022
While a rubber gasket or seal may seem like a small thing, it can have a significant impact on the lasting integrity and quality of an application. Because of this, the quality of the gasket or seal itself should be a top priority, regardless of whether you need a custom or standard part.
Gaskets & Seals Fulfill Vital Roles
Rubber gaskets and seals are used in a wide range of industries, including mass transit, industrial manufacturing, construction, automotive, water control, appliances, and more. In each of these industries, gaskets and seals help secure components and reduce harmful vibrations, while also creating airtight and watertight barriers to prevent environmental damage and contamination.
Quality gaskets and seals ensure the lasting durability and functional integrity of each of these applications. Without them, parts would break down swiftly and contamination would be all too common.
Ensuring Quality
Quality gaskets and seals depend on two things: the materials and the design. A design that is custom-fitted to your application’s unique specifications will be able to deliver the desired performance. Materials that are suited for the application’s environmental, chemical, and other exposures will be less vulnerable to corrosion and deterioration.
Working with a manufacturer that understands the nuances of different elastomers will ensure you get a gasket or seal with the right specifications for your unique application needs.
When you partner with Elbex to produce a custom or standard gasket or seal for your application, you can have confidence in the quality of the final product. Our designers and engineers have over 20 years of industry experience, and our facility holds ISO 9001:2015 without Design certification. Contact us today to learn more about how we can produce quality gaskets and seals for your needs.
Public transit vehicles see rigorous use day in and day out. Because of this, they have a continuous need for durable transportation rubber profiles that can hold up under extreme environments, constant movement, and heavy use. Quality mass transit rubber extrusions, such as bus door seals and train window gaskets, are essential for vehicle performance, as well as passenger safety and comfort. Here’s how Elbex provides high durability rubber extrusions for transportation industry leaders. Engineering Comfort and Integrity in Motion One of the most important functions of mass transit rubber extrusions is to improve passenger comfort. Rubber components help keep out weather and water and limit vibrations throughout the vehicle for a more comfortable ride. They can also reduce noise from outside sources, further improving the passenger experience. With Elbex, you can count on finished components to provide lasting support, as they are manufactured to withstand mass transit’s toughest conditions, including direct sunlight and extreme temperature changes. Specialized Sealing and Safety Solutions Sealing applications like bus door seals, bus window seals, and train window gaskets also play a vital safety role. In addition to protecting passengers from the elements, extruded rubber components also protect vital vehicle systems. For example, extruded rubber bumpers cushion and reduce movement from impacts, while D-sections help eliminate vibrations for smoother vehicle operation. Similarly, U-Channel profiles such as edge guards and protective sleeves and gaskets help secure and protect essential components throughout the vehicle. Custom Manufacturing: The Key to High Durability At Elbex, our ability to provide high-durability rubber extrusions for the transportation industry comes from our commitment to quality throughout the entire custom manufacturing process. Rather than carrying inventory, we offer custom manufactured transportation rubber profiles to meet your unique project requirements. Custom components (available in continuous lengths and precise shapes) created for a precise purpose deliver superior stability and protection for these high-use environments. This is true whether you need us to help with the creation of D-sections, U-channels, or hollow tube profiles. A Collaborative Approach with Transit Engineers At Elbex, we believe in actively collaborating with transportation engineers to ensure that transportation rubber profiles meet your exact specifications. We offer comprehensive design assistance, material selection support, custom on-site tooling, and value-added services like vulcanized splicing and high-speed auto cutting. Our aim is to ensure that your finished mass transit rubber extrusions meet all regulatory standards and applicable codes. With our precision products like bus door seals and train window gaskets, you can have confidence that you’ll get the results you need when you work with our team. Contact us today to discuss your project requirements or to learn more about how we can elevate your mass transit vehicle performance.
Filling voids with reliable seals is a constant challenge in industrial environments. Without the right fit, seals won’t perform their job right, resulting in poor performance and even the contamination of sensitive environments. This is where Elbex’s ribbed rubber profiles come in. Our custom ribbed sealing profiles offer superior compression and sealing power by being tailored to your specific application needs. Here’s how our custom ribbed rubber profiles can make a difference for you. The Function and Superiority of Ribbed Sealing Profiles Ribbed sealing profiles play a vital role in manufacturing and industrial applications by filling voids or gaps between two surfaces to create an effective seal. However, ribbed rubber profiles take things even further, as their “ribs” significantly increase the profile’s ability to compress and fill irregularities. This results in a tighter and more durable seal than what you would find with a smooth profile, which also makes ribbed profiles far more versatile. Custom Design is Our Standard for Industrial Applications We are proud of our ability to deliver custom-manufactured ribbed sealing profiles that meet your exact requirements. We can work with you directly to develop the perfect custom ribbed rubber profile, as our extensive capabilities allow us to meet almost any design. Aside from the design itself, we use top-quality materials to help our seal products withstand harsh environments, including direct sunlight and chemical exposure, so the finished profile will deliver lasting performance. Leveraging Elbex's Comprehensive Engineering Expertise At Elbex, we are committed to delivering dependable support throughout the design and engineering processes. Our in-house tool and die design capabilities allow us to create custom ribbed rubber profiles in a way that meets your budget and timeline needs. Our design assistance can help troubleshoot issues with your existing seals, and we can also provide guidance on materials selection and technical resources to help fine-tune your design. We aim to be a true partner in these processes. Diverse Applications in Manufacturing and Beyond Ribbed sealing profiles can be used for a wide range of manufacturing systems, including pipe ramps, expansion joints, glazing system profiles, and other applications that require sealing and structural support. And with value-added services like cutting, splicing, printing, and taping you can count on Elbex to provide a fully finished and ready-to-use ribbed rubber profile. With our custom ribbed rubber profiles, you can expect superior performance manufactured to your unique application. Contact us today to request a quote or to learn more about our ribbed sealing profiles.
Choosing rubber materials can make all the difference for the performance and longevity of your rubber extrusions. The wrong choice can lead to compromised performance and even product failure or costly redesigns – so it’s normal to feel overwhelmed by this decision. Fortunately, with Elbex’s data-driven material selection criteria for specific rubber extrusion applications, you don’t have to leave this chance. Here’s how we help you pick the right materials, every time. The Guiding Questions: Elbex's Strategic Selection Process Choosing the right materials largely comes down to asking in-depth questions to understand the application and its operating environment. Our engineers ask critical questions like: What will the part’s primary function be? What are the application’s temperature requirements (both high and low)? Will the part be exposed to specific chemicals or fluids? Will the part be located indoors or outdoors (UV, ozone, weather exposure)? Does the part need to meet any regulatory requirements, such as food-grade, fire-retardant? What is the target cost per part? The answers to these questions allow us to select the right compound for each extrusion, ensuring optimal performance while still fitting within your budget. A Closer Look: Key Elastomer Properties & Their Applications When selecting rubber materials for different applications, we look at their distinct characteristics. For example, durometer (or hardness) directly impacts a material’s sealing and abrasion. You generally want a softer material for better sealing, but harder for durability. Here’s how some of the most common elastomers compare: Silicone rubber: Silicone rubber properties include solid performance in both extremely hot and very cold temperatures, excellent flexibility, and strong UV/weathering resistance. Silicone is often used in high-heat applications, as well as the medical and food industries. EPDM rubber: Common EPDM rubber applications include outdoor seals, gaskets, and weatherstripping. This material’s resistance to water, ozone, sunlight, and weathering make it great for outdoor use. Neoprene rubber: Neoprene rubber applications can be quite varied thanks to its resistance to oil, heat, and flame. This versatile, all-purpose material is often a good fit for industrial and automotive applications. Nitrile rubber: Like neoprene, nitrile rubber applications often include the automotive and manufacturing industries thanks to its excellent resistance to oils, fuels, and many chemicals. The Elbex Advantage: Expertise at Your Service Choosing rubber materials is a critical step in any project. With Elbex on your side as a true collaborative partner, you get the unparalleled expertise and guidance you need to make the right choice, every time. Our goal is to empower you with useful information and help you find value-driven solutions that balance your cost and performance needs. With our material selection criteria for specific rubber extrusion applications, you can have confidence that the final product will meet every performance, cost, and environmental need you have. Contact us today to get started!
