Rubber Product Design Assistance

ELBEX • February 18, 2016

'Early Supplier Involvement' is a strategy that every design engineer should employ whenever they are presented with the opportunity. Granted it can be rewarding to have hands-on control with a product from concept to production, but the cost and time advantages of bringing in the supplier at the forefront are just too numerous to pass up. 

It should be noted that the overall design is still the brainchild of the engineer, it's just that the supplier can effectively determine how to most efficiently use our products in your project. Elbex is proud to provide design assistance on your new, custom, or retrofit applications. 

What is Design Assistance? 

Quite simply put, our design assistance helps an engineer tap into the knowledge and experience Elbex has gained from the past 25 years in the silicone sheeting and extruded rubber products fields. Every application is unique and we have worked in a variety of industries from appliances to automotive to industrial, manufacturing, mass transit, and more. 

With design assistance we calculate your needs, consider our means, and together arrive at the ultimate solution for production efficiency, cost, and performance. After a customer contacts us with a request for quote, our engineering team responds with a plan of attack that may include plant visits, field support, and tooling and engineering presentations (at Elbex). Both teams evaluate the information and decide what is best moving forward.  

Benefits of Design Assistance 

Antiquated designing practices involved a lot of 'trial and error' when developing a product. Engineers would throw ideas at the wall to see what sticks and then contact the supplier. Sending out multiple orders for prototypes until finding the ultimate solution was an waste of time and materials. Even the final manufacturing conclusion may have been mired by inefficiencies in production or the failure to explore a more viable material option. Engineers, supervisors, and management simply 'went with it.' 

Today, quality suppliers like Elbex offer design assistance whenever a client may need it for our rubber extrusions and other products. The advantages of design assistance actually help both parties involved. The buyer can get their product to market faster by knowing the most efficient manufacturing methods, materials, and alternatives before the first prototype is ever created – making only slight tweaks before production. The end design is the most cost and labor efficient to manufacture. 

Subsequently the supplier isn't burdened with impossible rubber extrusion profiles design orders from a designer. Tolerances that are unnecessarily tight, multiple setups that could have been avoided, and just more time spent in production than needed are eliminated when both sides come together in the design stage. 

Taking the Next Step 

Our engineering team is eager to assist whether you are looking at creating a new application or just want to inquire if there is a better production route for an existing product. We value our relationships in all the industries we serve including the construction and industrial sectors in NW Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Nevada. Please fill out our contact form , request a quote , or call (877) 302-0423 to kick off what is sure to be a blossoming partnership.

Elbex's Rubber Extrusions for Transportation: High Durability Built for the Long Haul

By David Garman • November 21, 2025
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.

Custom Ribbed Rubber Profiles: Elbex's Expertise in Maximizing the Seal

By David Garman • November 14, 2025
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 the Right Rubber Material-The Science of Selection: How Elbex Engineers Your Success

By David Garman • October 31, 2025
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!