Elasto Proxy provides coils or cut-lengths of weatherstripping to manufacturers.
Weatherstripping seals air leaks around doors and windows. There are many different types of products, and they differ in terms of size, materials of construction, and resistance to weather, temperature, compression, and friction. Price is a consideration, of course, but an inexpensive product can have costly consequences if it fails in the field.
Consider the case of a cold-weather company that made electronic enclosures for warm-weather locations. The enclosure manufacturer purchased standard weatherstripping because it cost less; however, this off-the-shelf product couldn’t withstand the summer sun. When the doors on outdoor cabinets didn’t seal properly, the company realized it needed a specialized solution.
Elasto Proxy supplied the custom weatherstripping that the manufacturer needed to retrofit hundreds of enclosures. Replacing all of this standard weatherstrip took time and money, but the company kept its contracts and was able to protect onboard electronics from the elements. Off-the-shelf products aren’t made for specific applications, but our solutions are made to meet your needs.
If you’re a manufacturer who needs custom weatherstripping, we encourage you to keep reading for answers to some frequently asked questions (FAQs). If you’re ready to request a quote or would like to discuss your application, we invite you to contact us.
What is weatherstripping?
Weatherstripping, or weather stripping as it’s sometimes spelled, is an industrial rubber product that’s installed between two surfaces to prevent the flow of gases or liquids. In most applications, the gas is air and the liquid is water. Typically, the surfaces are a door and a door jamb, or a window and a window jamb. The type of sealing can be either static or dynamic
What’s the difference between static and dynamic sealing?
Static seals are used when there’s no relative motion between mating surfaces, such as with the viewing windows on machine enclosures or with office windows that don’t open. Dynamic seals are used when there is dynamic motion instead, such as with machine doors or building windows that open and close.
What can happen if you use the wrong type of seal?
If you use a static seal when a dynamic seal is needed, compression set can occur and the rubber will fail to return to its original size when the door or window is opened and the compressive stresses are removed. When a seal gets permanently crushed like this, it won’t compress to form a seal when the door or window is closed again. In other words, the compression is already set.
What not just use off-the-shelf sealing products?
Off-the-shelf products might be fine for static sealing or for consumer applications, but commercial and industrial applications have more demanding requirements. In the case of the electronic enclosures, high temperatures caused the surrounding sheet metal to expand, and static seals tend to demonstrate poor recovery from compressive stresses.
What are some common types of weatherstripping?
Common types of weatherstripping include closed-cell foam, tape, and vinyl. Closed-cell foam has tiny cells, or pockets, that prevent the passage of gases or liquids. Weatherstripping tape is also made of non-porous, closed cell foam, but some products may use an open-cell foam instead to absorb and release moisture vapor. Vinyl is easy-to-install and comes in different colors.
Who needs custom weatherstripping?
In addition to outdoor electronic enclosures, custom weatherstripping is used with the doors and windows on commercial buildings. Weatherstripping for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems must also be able to withstand extreme temperatures as well as exposure to sunlight. With applications like this, a custom sealing solution is a smart choice.
What’s the best way to buy and apply custom weatherstripping?
Weatherstripping can be applied with fasteners, spray adhesives, or pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) tape. Fasteners require hand tools and can be difficult to install. Spray adhesives are messy, require preparation and cleanup, and raise environmental health and safety concerns. Weatherstripping with peel-and-stick tape speeds installation and is available in coils or cut-lengths.
Are you a manufacturer who needs custom weatherstripping that’s easy to install and meets tough requirements? Talk to our team.
