Mobile Equipment Rubber Gaskets
Rubber gaskets for mobile equipment provide sealing and insulation for doors and windows. They prevent the entry of outside air and water, but also absorb road and engine noise. For mobile equipment manufacturers, the right rubber gaskets need to provide both environmental sealing and acoustic insulation. Otherwise, unwanted sounds can enter the cab where the operator sits. Seals that admit wind, water, dirt, or outdoor temperatures are problematic, but so is mobile equipment insulation that fails to reduce noise levels.
Gasket quality is important, but design engineers and sourcing managers also need to consider material costs. This includes not just the gasket rubber, but also the method of attachment, such as clips, fasteners, or liquid adhesives. Engineers and buyers also need to consider the tools, skills, and capabilities of the personnel who will install rubber gaskets for mobile equipment. Outsourcing your gasket fabrication may seem expensive, but consider your true costs. (more…)
Rubber floor mats for mobile equipment protect the cabin floor, support employee safety, and provide acoustic insulation. The metal flooring that’s used inside the cab is strong and durable, but operators track mud, snow, dirt, and water inside. Rubber floor mats protect these metal surfaces and help reduce slip-and-fall hazards. Rubber flooring that’s laminated to acoustic insulation also helps to absorb noise from the engine compartment, which is often directly below the cab where the operator sits.
Engine bay insulation for mobile equipment keeps heat and noise in the engine compartment from reaching the cab interior. The diesel engines that power mobile equipment run hot and loud, which raises concerns about occupant comfort, health, and safety. Mobile equipment manufacturers also need to protect cabin components such as instruments from sound-induced vibrations. For a complete engine bay solution, Elasto Proxy makes thermal-acoustic insulation that can also dampen vibrations.
Custom cabin insulation for mobile equipment absorbs sound and provides a finished appearance to cabin interiors. Headliners, door panels, and side panels are made of perforated vinyl foams that, depending on the amount of cabin noise, are typically 1/2” or 1” thick. This acoustic insulation can be hand-cut and applied with spray adhesives, but that process is labor-intensive, results in material waste, and raises health and safety concerns. Fortunately, there’s a better way to get the cab insulation that you need.
Mobile equipment insulation absorbs sound and deflects heat, helping to keep drivers and operators safe and comfortable. Materials of construction vary, but generally include foams, foils, and facings. For mobile equipment manufacturers, the process of cutting, assembling, and installing thermal insulation and acoustic insulation can result in material waste and concerns about product quality. Manufacturers risk losing sight of their true costs, and potential buyers may notice imperfections in cab and vehicle interiors.
Skylight seals from Elasto Proxy can meet requirements for dead loads, live loads, local maintenance loads, and wind compression loads.
Military gaskets provide sealing and insulation in some of the world’s most demanding environments. Marine applications include amphibious landing craft, battleships and submarines, and radar and sonar systems. Aerospace applications include aircraft, unmanned systems, satellites, and radar. Military gaskets for land systems are also used in armored vehicles, tanks, tankers, trucks, and onboard electronics.
Medical grade gaskets made of platinum-cured silicones are used in medical devices and equipment. Elasto Proxy custom-fabricates these rubber gaskets from an ultra-clean line of silicones that are FDA, USP Class VI, and RoHS compliant. At our manufacturing center near Montreal, Canada, we use water jet cutting to convert elastomers with speed and precision. Because there are no tooling charges, water jet cutting is ideal for prototyping and producing low-to-medium volumes of medical grade gaskets.
EMI shielding gaskets for military electronics are used in everything from touchscreens to targeting systems. To prevent electromagnetic interference (EMI) from disrupting electronic equipment, Elasto Proxy custom-fabricates EMI shielding gaskets from particle-filled silicones. These specialized materials combine the materials properties of silicone rubber with the electrical properties of metal. Elasto Proxy uses waterjet cutting to convert shielding silicones, and bonds cut lengths with conductive adhesives.
IDEX is the world’s most strategically important tri-service defense exhibition. For OEMs, military buyers, and prime contractors, this global event is the place to find technologies for land, air, and sea. The International Defense Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) is also where defense subcontractors present key component-level solutions for military programs and projects. That’s why Elasto Proxy, a leading custom-fabricator of specialty seals and insulation, will highlight four unique solutions at IDEX 2017. 
