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Three Types of Custom Silicone Gaskets

Custom Silicone GasketsCustom silicone gaskets provide strong environmental sealing and excellent temperature stability. They resist water, ozone, sunlight, weathering, and aging; withstand high temperatures; and maintain their flexibility at low temperatures. Silicone rubber is also chemically inert and provides good dielectric properties. Custom silicone gaskets can be categorized in various ways, but there are three basic types: solid, sponge, and foam.

For product designers and technical buyers, it’s important to understand the differences between these three types so that you can choose the right one for your application. Type is just one of many specifications you’ll need to consider, but it’s a good place to start. For example, depending on your application, you may need to choose a silicone that’s UL listed for flame-resistance or FDA approved for medical or food processing applications.

For over 25 years, Elasto Proxy has been helping companies like yours get the custom silicone gaskets that they really need. In addition to design assistance and help with compound selection, we provide gasket fabrication services that are fast, dependable, and cost-effective. From prototyping and custom fabrication to warehousing and shipping, Elasto Proxy saves you time and money. (more…)

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Seals and Insulation for Military Projects at AUSA 2016

military projectsIs your company part of the defense community? Do you design, build, or buy components for military projects such as vehicles? Are you headed to AUSA 2016 next week? From October 3 to 5, 2016, leading defense contractors and subcontractors will join military officers and government officials for the annual meeting and exposition of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA). Held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., AUSA 2016 is where you’ll learn about the latest in land power.

As an experienced member of the defense supply chain, Elasto Proxy will be in Washington for this important event. Robert Naccarato, Elasto Proxy’s Sales Manager, and Tom Henry, U.S. Branch Manager, invite you to join them in the Canadian Pavilion, or to arrange a meeting in another tradeshow location at your convenience. If you need custom seals, gaskets, or insulation for military vehicles, you’ll want to take advantage of this special opportunity. (more…)

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Rubber Hatch Seal Case Study

military vehiclesRubber hatch seals for military vehicles don’t just keep out wind, water, dirt, and mud. They need to withstand extreme temperatures and various weather conditions. Hatch seals must avoid compression set, too. If a vehicle’s hatch causes a rubber seal to over-compress, the part won’t provide proper sealing. Ultimately, this permanent deformation creates a gap and causes seal failure. That’s bad news for military vehicles and the highly-trained personnel who operate them.

In this case study from Elasto Proxy, you’ll learn how we solved a sealing challenge for a manufacturer of military vehicles. The rubber hatch seals that we supply resist over-compression and demonstrate the value that we add to defense contracts. For our 25 years, Elasto Proxy has been an important link in the military supply chain. Elasto Proxyalso holds a Controlled Good Certificate (CGC) and works closely with trade groups such as the Canadian Association of Defense and Security Industries (CADSI). (more…)

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What’s the Right Rubber Tubing for Your Application?

Rubber TubingRubber tubing is used in fluid transport and for electrical protection. Applications include shock absorption and low compression force sealing. Different elastomers have different properties, so design engineers and technical buyers need to choose rubber tubes carefully. Specifications such as durometer (hardness) and inner and outer diameter are especially important to consider.

By choosing the right rubber compound for industrial tubing, you can strengthen your company’s product designs. You can also control costs by selecting rubber tubes that are cut-to-size and ready-to-install. Metal tubes resist high temperatures and provide physical strength, but they cost more than rubber tubes. Plus, metal tubing may be subject to rust, corrosion, or scaling. (more…)

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Military Acoustic Thermal Insulation

Americans say “Zee” for the letter Z. Canadians say “Zed” instead. In both North American countries, their militaries say “Zulu” so that radio or telephone messages can be understood clearly. If you’re a defense contractor that makes military vehicles, it’s important to know you’ll receive exactly what you asked for. Elasto Proxy, a trusted member of the defense supply chain, can custom-fabricate thermal acoustic insulation that meets all of your requirements.

In this product overview, you’ll learn about two types of thermal acoustic insulation – each with part numbers that begin with Z. So whether you say Zee, Zed, or Zulu, you can count on Elasto Proxy’s U.S. and Canadian offices to support the mission every time. (more…)

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Armored Vehicle Gaskets

Armored vehicles play an essential role in projecting military power and protecting  service personnel. Metal plating and weapons systems are what most observers notice, but closer inspection reveals that rubber parts also help support the mission. In this technical article from Elasto Proxy, you’ll learn about the six types of custom-fabricated components that we supply for a military vehicle that’s been an important part of U.S. and Coalition operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. (more…)

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How to Choose Bulb Trim Seals

Bulb Trim SealsBulb trim seals provide sealing and insulation for doors, hatches, and enclosures. These industrial rubber products have bulb and retainer sections that are made of different materials. The bulb section provides sealing and insulation under compressive force. The trim or retainer presses onto a flange or substrate.  Each section of the seal also has a different durometer or hardness to support proper compression.

This technical article from Elasto Proxy is designed to help you choose the right bulb trim seals for your application. In addition to compound selection and part dimensions, product designers and technical buyers need to consider color, texture, internal supports, and exterior finishes. Your application may also require flame-resistant compounds or rubber that meets specific industry standards. (more…)

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Military Vehicle Insulation

Military Vehicles

Thermal acoustic insulation is used in the floors, doors, side panels, and engine bays of military vehicles. Many different types of insulating materials are available, but you don’t need to be a material scientist to make the right choice. By choosing an experienced custom-fabricator who provides design assistance and help with material selection, you can strengthen your product designs as well as your supply chain. That’s why the North American defense industry asks Elasto Proxy for thermal acoustic solutions. (more…)

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How to Seal Your Success at AUSA 2016

Meet Elasto Proxy at AUSA 2016Defense contractors trust sealing and insulation solutions from Elasto Proxy, a custom-fabricator of low-to-medium volumes of rubber and plastic parts. For over 25 years, our ISO 9001:2008-certified company has been providing custom solutions like these for major military programs:

– Rubber seals for vehicle doors, windows, and hatches

– Military gaskets for generator sets and other equipment

– Vibration mounts for sensitive electronic displays

– EMI connector gaskets that meet M83528 requirements

– Personal protection pads for confined spaces such as tanks

– Thermal and acoustic insulation for engine compartments and cabs

– Specialty seals for engine exhaust and amphibious equipment

– Partitions for engine exhaust and amphibious equipment

This October, Elasto Proxy will join other leading members of the defense supply chain at AUSA 2016, the largest land power exposition in North America. If you’re headed to this important event and serious about solving sealing and insulation challenges, request a meeting with Elasto Proxy. (more…)

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Silicone Hatch Seals Resist Compression and Temperature

Silicone Hatch Seals | ST-375-23-SM
Silicone Sponge ST-375-23-SM

Elasto Proxy custom-fabricates silicone hatch seals for demanding applications. These specialty gaskets support superior sealing with good compression set and temperature resistance.

Gasket designers want rubber hatch seals that are as tough as the vehicles, equipment, and infrastructure that need them. If a hatch seal can’t withstand compression, it may over-compress and admit wind, water, dirt, or mud. If a hatch seal can’t withstand a wide range of temperatures and outdoor environmental conditions, seal failure can result, too. If you need hatch seals for military vehicles, mobile equipment, marine applications, or HVAC systems, there’s plenty to think about. Fortunately, help is available.

For every hatch seal design, compound selection is critical. As readers of this blog learned last March, choosing the right rubber won’t stop enemy fire, but choosing the wrong rubber can result in over-compressed hatch seals on military vehicles. That’s why although neoprene rubber offers an excellent balance of material properties, this elastomer wasn’t the best choice for the military gaskets that Elasto Proxy inspected. After examining the results of over-compression, we recommended silicone sponge rubber seals instead. Is this same elastomer right for your application, too? (more…)

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