Standard Rubber Products

Window Channel Selection Tips

Window ChannelWindow channels are rubber gaskets that hold window glass in place and help to secure window frames. They also eliminate rattling and provide protection against wind, water, dust, and debris. Applications for window channels include mobile equipment, defense, medical and health, stainless steel and food equipment, infrastructure, and aerospace.

For engineers and product designers, window channel selection begins by understanding the types of products that are available. It’s also important to define your application requirements and to compare product specifications. In this article from Elasto Proxy, you’ll learn how to select window channels that provide the sealing and insulation you need. (more…)

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Gasket Shapes for Extruded Rubber Seals

Shapes for SealsThere are four common shapes for extruded rubber seals. Do you know which shape is the right choice for your gasket application? Engineers and seal designers can choose P-shapes, D-shapes, E-shapes, and lip seals. Purchasing agents can either order cut lengths or buy spliced gaskets.

In this article from Elasto Proxy, you’ll learn when to choose and how to use the four common shapes for extruded rubber seals. We also invite you to stay tuned for a series of short videos that will explain what you need to know about P-seals, D-seals, E-seals, and lip seals. (more…)

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Rubber Bulb Trim Selection Tips

Bulb Trim Bulb trim provides sealing and insulation for doors, hatches, and enclosures with rounded corners. These industrial rubber products have separate bulb and retainer sections, each of which can have a different durometer or hardness. The bulb forms a seal under low-to-medium closure force. The retainer or trim is pressed into place over a flange and may have an integral tongue or metal clips to promote attachment.

Elasto Proxy supplies a wide variety of bulb trim seals and can custom-fabricate finished gaskets that save time and money on your assembly line. In this article, you’ll learn how to choose the right bulb trim for your application. Whether you work in engineering, procurement, or production, compound selection and part dimensions are critical. Product features vary, too. (more…)

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Specialty Rubber Products You Didn’t Know That Elasto Proxy Supplies

Five ProductsElasto Proxy supplies industrial products that you probably didn’t know we offered. Why does this matter to you? Engineers need reliable parts that support larger product designs. Components that don’t work, won’t fit, fail in the field, or wear out too soon can cause project delays and cost overruns. If your current supplier can’t support your application, Elasto Proxy may offer an alternative.

Purchasing personnel also need suppliers who meet business and technical requirements. For purchasing agents, sticking with the same vendor may seem like the easiest way to do business. Yet it’s not always the best way, as sourcing managers can attest. As companies consolidate vendor lists to reduce operational expenses, they’re also buying more parts from suppliers with strong vendor scorecards.

In this article from Elasto Proxy, you’ll learn about five products that we offer that you probably didn’t know we did. Do you need rubber that’s bonded to metal, silicone hose, metallic-colored extrusions, molded plastic parts, or sewn products? If your company is buying these products from another supplier, you could save time and money by ordering them from Elasto Proxy instead. (more…)

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The True Costs of Industrial Rubber Products

True CostsWhat are the true costs of industrial rubber products such as seals, gaskets, and insulation? Buying rubber materials and fabricating them in-house may seem cost-effective, but is your company really saving money? For that matter, are you sacrificing quality, consistency, and potential sales opportunities for a questionable cost savings?

Companies that want to know the true costs of industrial rubber products need to understand the full scope of their manufacturing costs. Typically, these costs are divided into three categories: direct labor, direct material, and manufacturing overhead. If any of these costs are incorrect, your financial statements may under-report inventory value and the cost of goods sold.

In this article from Elasto Proxy, we’ll examine each category of manufacturing costs so that you can consider how your in-house operations compare to outsourced fabrication. By understanding your true costs, you can make better business decisions and strengthen your manufacturing operations. (more…)

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Noise Control and Acoustic Insulation: Sound Sources and Frequencies

Noise Control and Acoustic InsulationAcoustic insulation absorbs, transmits, or redirects sound – a form of energy that travels in waves. Unwanted sounds, or noise, aren’t just unpleasant to hear. They can harm human health, jeopardize worker safety, and contribute to structural fatigue. The consequences of noise can be severe, but its characteristics are sometimes misunderstood.

In Part 1 of this series, Elasto Proxy shared a surprising example of two machines running at different decibel (dB) levels in the same room. In Part 2, we’ll examine some other sources of noise in the industries we serve. Importantly, you’ll learn why acoustic insulation must account for more than just a sound’s source. Frequency, the speed of the change of the sound, is a key design consideration for noise control. (more…)

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Rubber Bulb Trim Materials

Bulb Trim Seal Compounds, Colors, and ApprovalsBulb trim seal compounds, colors, and approvals may surprise you.

Bulb trim seals don’t just come in EPDM rubber. They’re available in colors besides black, too. That’s good news if you need to use recyclable materials, or if you’re searching for colorful sealing solutions to complement distinctive product designs. Bulb trim seals that contain EPDM aren’t all the same either. Some meet specific industry or regulatory standards. Others are made of harder or softer rubber.

Do you need bulb trim seals for doors, hatches, or enclosures? In this week’s blog entry, Elasto Proxy’s last for 2017, we’ll finish the year with a flourish – and with a look at some of the compounds, colors, and approvals for bulb trim seals. Black EPDM gaskets are available if you need them, but procurement and engineering personnel may have more choices in compounds than they may realize. (more…)

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Rubber Bulb Trim Dimensions

Bulb Trim Seal MeasurementsLearn about bulb trim seal measurements from Elasto Proxy. 

Bulb trim seals are industrial rubber products that are used to seal and insulate doors, hatches, and enclosures. They fit radiused corners and have separate bulb and retainer sections, each of which can have a different durometer (hardness) and use a different material. The bulb compresses to form a seal when the door, hatch, or enclosure is closed. The trim or retainer attaches to the flange or substrate.

There are many different types of bulb trim seals, and plenty to learn about these industrial rubber products. In this two-part series from Elasto Proxy, we’ll examine three bulb trim seal measurements that engineers need to specify: bulb size, bend radius, and flange thickness. (more…)

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Silicone Couplers

Silicone ConnectorsSilicone couplers are molded rubber parts that connect the intake pipes and tubes in diesel-powered vehicles and heavy equipment. These engine components resist high temperatures while providing strength and flexibility. Typically, silicone couplers are used in mobile equipment such as generator sets (gensets), ships and boats, and on-road and off-road equipment for forestry, mining, construction, and agriculture.

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Rubber Bulb Trim Basics

Bulb Trim SealsBulb trim seals are used with doors, hatches, and enclosures. They have two sections: the bulb and the retainer. The bulb section provides sealing and insulation under compressive force. The trim or retainer section presses onto a flange or substrate.

Elasto Proxy supplies many different types of industrial rubber products, but there are three things about bulb trim seals that engineers need to know. (more…)

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