Heavy Equipment

Thermal Acoustic Insulation for Reducing Heat and Sound (Part 2)

thermal acoustic insulation

This is the second in a two-part series about thermal acoustic insulation from Elasto Proxy, a global supplier of specialty “insulation sandwiches” that reduce both heat and sound.

Elasto Proxy custom-fabricates thermal acoustic insulation for applications such as mobile equipment and military vehicles. These multi-layer composites meet your application requirements for a complete sealing and insulation solution. They also meet your business requirements for value-added products that are cost-effective, reliable, and easy-to-install on the assembly line or in the field.

In Part 1 of this series, we examined why diesel-powered vehicles and equipment need insulation with both thermal and acoustical properties. We also examined how heat and sound travel, and some of the insulating techniques that are used.  In Part 2 of this series, we’ll examine two thermal acoustic products (ZTBRA and Z3T) that illustrate Elasto Proxy’s capabilities. Specialized services such as edge sealing for washdown-capable engine bay insulation complement our lamination and water jet cutting skills. (more…)

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Thermal Acoustic Insulation for Reducing Heat and Sound (Part 1)

thermal acoustic insulation

This is the first in a two-part series about thermal acoustic insulation from Elasto Proxy, a global supplier of specialty “insulation sandwiches” that reduce both heat and sound.

Thermal acoustic insulation is used to reduce heat and sound in commercial, industrial, and military applications. In manufacturing and processing facilities, this multi-functional insulation is used with machine enclosures, pipes, and valves. On-road and off-road, composite structures that include both thermal and acoustic materials are also found in the floors, doors, side panels, and engine bays of mobile equipment and military vehicles.

Many different types of insulating materials are available, but you don’t need to have a PhD in material science to make the right choice. In this two-part series from Elasto Proxy, you’ll learn why you need thermal acoustic insulation, how thermal insulation and acoustic insulation work, and about two solutions from Elasto Proxy that may be right for your application. You’ll also learn how we manufacture these two products, and how we can custom-fabricate a specialty “insulation sandwich” to satisfy your application’s particular appetite. (more…)

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Closed Cell Sponge Rubber Gaskets

closed cell sponge rubber gaskets

Closed cell sponge rubber gaskets from Elasto Proxy don’t just meet your application requirements for sealing and insulation. They meet your business requirements for a value-added solution.   

Closed cell sponge rubber gaskets prevent the flow of liquids and gases to and from the environment. They contain nitrogen-filled cells and provide reliable sealing, cushioning, gap filling, and insulation. Most sponge or expanded rubber is lightweight, flexible, and compressible. Over-compression can cause gasket failure, however, so compound selection is critical.

As an experienced gasket fabricator, Elasto Proxy helps you choose the right rubber for your application. We then custom-fabricate gaskets that save you time and money. Many types of closed cell sponge rubber are available, and different compounds provide particular properties. These sheet materials and rubber extrusions also support water jet cutting, adhesive bonding or splicing, and taping for peel-and-stick gaskets. (more…)

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Custom Skylight Seals Case Study

Custom Skylight SealCustom skylight seals need to meet demanding environmental and load testing requirements. When a skylight company faced a sealing challenge, Elasto Proxy provided the perfect solution on a tight timetable.

Skylights are specialized windows that builders install in a roof or ceiling. They admit natural light, provide a visual connection to the outdoor environment, and support passive solar heating. Skylights can help reduce energy costs, but their benefits go beyond sustainability. For example, the giant domed skylights found atop some commercial buildings are designed to enhance the occupants’ overall experience. By combining art with infrastructure, these complex structures truly illustrate the art of sealing. If a skylight fails, however, property damage and personal injury may result. (more…)

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Thin EMI Gaskets

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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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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Forestry Equipment Rubber Cab Parts

Rubber Cab Parts

In this case study, you’ll learn how Elasto Proxy used water jet cutting to fabricate cost-effective parts for forestry equipment. From prototyping to production, water jet cutting is meeting the requirements of a leading mobile equipment manufacturer.

Forestry equipment such as log skidders, feller bunchers, forwarders, delimbers, and harvesters are built for off-road conditions. Steep terrain, mud, and snow won’t stop these wheeled or tracked machines when they’re driven by skilled operators. Cab safety and comfort matters, too, and equipment owners recognize the importance of protecting personnel and machinery. That’s why when buyers compare forestry equipment, they reward manufacturers that meet demanding requirements.

The big diesel engines that power forestry equipment are loud, but dampening engine noise isn’t just about operator comfort. Noisy machinery can cause hearing loss, affect worker safety, and result in violations that carry fines and other penalties. Loud, unwanted noises can also affect buyer perceptions about equipment quality. Yet engine sounds aren’t the only reason for cab sealing and insulation. Mud or snow from an operator’s boots gets tracked into the cab, and water can pool or freeze on the floor. (more…)

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Rail Car Door Seals

Rubber Door SealsIn this case study, you’ll learn how Elasto Proxy applied its expertise in seal design, compound selection, custom fabrication and logistics to supply rubber door seals for passenger rail cars. How can we help you solve your sealing and insulation challenges?

Manufacturers of mobile equipment need to source rubber parts that meet all of their application and business requirements. When a manufacturer of mass transit vehicles needed to replace the door seals on passenger trains, Elasto Proxy applied its expertise in technical design, compound selection, custom fabrication, and logistics. In solving this sealing challenge, Elasto Proxy improved the original seal design and helped the mobile equipment manufacturer meet the urgent needs of an important customer.

As the rail car manufacturer explained to us, the existing seals on some passenger cars had become worn and were leaking. The manufacturer’s customer, a major passenger rail service in the Northeastern United States, wanted to solve this problem quickly. In turn, Elasto Proxy needed to create new door seals in less than two weeks and send them to Philadelphia for installation. Since the “test train” for these replacement seals would remain at the station for less than 24 hours, ease-of-installation was also important. (more…)

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Specialty Seals and Custom Insulation for 2016

2016What are your New Year’s resolutions for 2016? Do you plan to get fit, lose weight, make new friends, or make more money? Just as importantly, how will you achieve your goals?

Here at Elasto Proxy, we share your excitement about the New Year. Like you, we also understand that success requires careful planning and consistent execution. If you’re looking to learn about specialty seals and custom insulation, this is the place to start.

So how will the Elasto Proxy Blog inform and engage you in 2016? First, let’s take stock of where we are.  (more…)

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Dual Durometer Rubber for Reliable Attachment and Stronger Sealing

Dual Durometer RubberElasto Proxy Designs and Custom-Fabricates Dual Durometer Extrusions for Rubber Parts

Dual durometer extrusions are industrial rubber parts with different areas of hardness. Typically, the harder rubber compound is used for attachment while the softer rubber is used for sealing.  Sometimes, different rubbers are used because of design considerations such product color schemes or the use of pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs).

By fabricating dual durometer rubber into a single part, a product such as window seal can have areas with different physical properties to meet application requirements. With window channels, the harder window rubber attaches to the window frame and the softer window rubber faces the glass window. Durometer is not limited to window seals, however, and is used with both sponge and solid profiles. (more…)

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