Engineering

EMI Gaskets for Strong, Thin Electronic Designs

EMI GasketsElasto Proxy custom-fabricates EMI gaskets from nickel-graphite filled silicones that contain an inner layer of conductive fabric for added strength and thinner designs.

Some electronic designs need EMI gaskets that balance physical strength with support for thinner devices. Conductive elastomeric shielding gaskets are a proven technology, but some design engineers worry that shielding silicones are packed with so many particles that these elastomers are brittle and will tear easily. Other engineers believe that particle-filled shielding elastomers are too thick, and can’t support electronic products with thinner profiles. These concerns are important ones, but Elasto Proxy can address them by fabricating EMI gaskets from nickel-graphite shielding silicones that are reinforced with conductive fabric. (more…)

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Fluorosilicone Gaskets for Pharmaceutical Equipment

Fluorosilicone Gaskets for PharmaFor fluorosilicone gaskets, manufacturers of pharmaceutical equipment choose Elasto Proxy. 

The pharmaceutical industry uses solid dosage processing equipment to manufacture finished doses of medication in tablet or capsule form. Often, these solid doses are coated to mask the medicine’s taste or odor, protect the drug in the stomach, and to control its release profile. Tablet coating equipment rotates pills and ensures that coatings are applied evenly. This pharmaceutical equipment features stainless steel construction and includes components such as pumps, spray nozzles, and electric motors.

When a major manufacturer of solid dosage processing equipment needed to replace the door and side gaskets on a tablet coating machine, the company asked Elasto Proxy to supply the sealing solution. The manufacturer was refurbishing some used equipment, and needed two side gaskets and one door gasket rather than hundreds or even thousands of parts. Each of the bonded gaskets was thick and large, and the rubber that was required was fairly expensive. Elasto Proxy custom-fabricated a cost-effective solution that met all of the equipment manufacturer’s requirements. (more…)

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QPL Connector Gaskets for Military Electronics

QPL Connector GasketsQPL connector gaskets meet demanding DoD standards. This is the second in a series of technical articles about why defense contractors choose EMI gaskets from Elasto Proxy.

Some military contracts require QPL connector gaskets made from Qualified Product List (QPL) materials. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) manages the QPL program, which is designed to ensure performance, quality, and reliability in mission-critical military electronics. Achieving a QPL listing is a demanding process, and not all material suppliers can meet DoD requirements.

For design engineers and technical buyers, sourcing QPL materials is only part of the challenge. In addition to compound selection, it’s important to evaluate a potential partner’s manufacturing capabilities. EMI gaskets that are made of particle-filled silicones support various fabrication methods, but designers and buyers need to pick a gasket fabricator with the right balance of experience and expertise. (more…)

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Silicone Food Prep Table Seals

Silicone Seals for Food Service Equipment
Silicone Seals for Food Service Equipment

Learn how Elasto Proxy helped a manufacturer of food service equipment solve a sealing and insulation challenge with food prep tables.

Food prep tables and other food service equipment generally features stainless steel construction. Strong, durable, and corrosion-resistant, stainless steel is easy-to-clean and ideal as a food contact surface. Surface finishing treatments such electropolishing inhibit bacterial attachment and biofilm formation, which helps to prevent foodborne illness. Food prep tables with refrigeration systems also help keep ingredients at the proper temperatures for freshness and taste.

By following proper procedures, stainless steel surfaces can be kept shiny and clean. That includes metal surfaces where items like sandwiches and salads are assembled, as well as the pans and shelves that hold the ingredients. Yet food prep tables are built with non-metallic materials, too. Silicone seals fill slots and surround metal edges in food storage areas. They cover sharp surfaces, seal gaps, and support refrigeration. All silicone rubber is not the same, however, so it’s important to choose the right compound. (more…)

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Custom-Fabricated Parts for Hospital Room Equipment

Hospital Room Equipment - Patient Lifts
Hospital Room Equipment Includes Patient Lifts

Elasto Proxy provides rubber seals, foam handles, and plastic parts to manufacturers of hospital room equipment. Water jet cutting is ideal for polymers and elastomers in low-to-medium volume quantities.

Hospital patients with limited mobility face a variety of challenges. Routine tasks such as sitting up, getting out of bed, and bathing may require assistance from nurses or other hospital staff. Patient lifts and walk-in tubs support medical care, but hospital room equipment must be safe and reliable. Medical technology can help a 120-lb. nurse move or bathe a 300-lb. patient, but only with the right equipment design and high-quality components.

For manufacturers of hospital room equipment, implementing a strong product design means choosing a component supplier with care. Elasto Proxy, an experienced provider of low-to-medium volume quantities of rubber seals and plastic parts, supports your equipment designs through high-quality custom fabrication. That’s why manufacturers of walk-in tubs and patient lifts depend on us for safe, reliable parts. As the following examples show, Elasto Proxy is ready to meet your requirements. (more…)

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Military Vehicle Hatch Seals

Hatch Seal
Hatch Seal from Elasto Proxy

In this case study, you’ll learn how Elasto Proxy solved a sealing challenge for a manufacturer of military vehicles. The rubber hatch seals that we supply resist over-compression and demonstrate our defense industry knowledge and technical expertise.

Hatch seals for military vehicles need to meet multiple requirements. In addition to keeping out wind, water, dirt, and mud, these rubber parts must resist temperatures in environments such as arctic cold and desert heat. Rubber hatch seals need to withstand compression, too. If the vehicle’s hatch causes the seal to over-compress, the rubber part won’t provide proper sealing. Ultimately, this permanent deformation or compression set creates a gap and can cause seal failure. (more…)

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Infrared Splicing for Rubber Gaskets

Infrared Splicing
Infrared Splicing

Infrared splicing provides a cost-effective alternative to rubber molding for larger gaskets. Plus, this innovative splicing technique is faster and more energy-efficient than hot splicing.

Infrared splicing uses infrared (IR) light and polyethylene (PE) film to join lengths of rubber into custom gaskets. A form of electromagnetic radiation, IR emits heat that melts or softens the film’s adhesive, which is typically acrylic. This permanent adhesive sticks to each length of rubber, and the film joins the two pieces together with strong, reliable bonds that resist water and weather. Applications for IR spliced gaskets include the rubber gate seals used in water treatment facilities.

How Infrared Splicing Works

Infrared splicing is a semi-automatic process that’s performed on a single-unit joining press. At Elasto Proxy, our IR splicing machine features a distance knife, infrared heating elements, splicing mold, foot pedal, and digital display. PE film is fed from a roll, cut with the knife, and heated with IR light. The infrared splicer that we use supports PE films with a width of 50, 60, or 70 mm and a thickness of 75 to 300 grams. Watch this YouTube video to see how our skilled production personnel create IR spliced gaskets. (more…)

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Rubber Gate Seals for Water Filtration Systems

Rubber Gate Seals from Elasto Proxy
Rubber Gate Seals from Elasto Proxy

In this case study, you’ll learn how Elasto Proxy provides complete sealing solutions to manufacturers of water filtration systems. Rubber gate seals start with seal design and compound selection, are crafted with water jet cutting and infrared splicing, and add value with inventory management and shipping.

In wastewater treatment plants, metal gates are bolted to concrete frames to control flow and channel the effluent for disinfection. To prevent leakage, a rubber seal is fitted to the bottom of the frame. This seal attaches to the gate with bolts, and must withstand prolonged exposure to water and contact with a concrete base. In water filtration systems that use ultraviolet (UV) light, UV resistance is essential.

When a manufacturer of water filtration systems wanted a custom gate seal, Elasto Proxy provided more than just a replacement part. First, our solutions providers listened to the manufacturer’s requirements and analyzed all of their needs. Our technical team then applied its expertise in compound selection, and identified a seal design that could solve the manufacturer’s specific sealing challenge.

Next, our skilled production personnel in Boisbriand, Quebec used water jet cutting and infrared (IR) splicing to craft a custom sealing solution. Yet that’s not where this case study ends. Today, Elasto Proxy stocks rubber gate seals for water filtration systems at our warehouse in Newmarket, Ontario. To meet our partner’s business requirements, we ship quantities according to their annual sales forecasts. (more…)

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