In the world of manufacturing, seal manufacturing facilities play a crucial role. Focusing on the design, development, and manufacturing of such items as o-rings, die-cut gaskets, seals, and various types of molded rubber products, this specialized area of industrial manufacturing is vital to the nation’s infrastructure, and in fact is relied upon for national safety and defense. As to the specifics of this industry, here are some facts you need to know.
Industries Served
Since seals and other types of molded rubber products are used in thousands of different items, seal manufacturing is necessary for products in a wide range of industries. Some of the most common industries that rely on seal manufacturing include automotive, aerospace, electronics, medical, hydraulics, and the U.S. military, which uses seals in everything from tanks to missiles.
Thermal Seals
Used in many different types of products, thermal seals reduce air gaps by being able to easily conform to uneven and rough surfaces. Since the thermal material used in making the seal will help increase the dissipation rate, heat that is generated by one area of a component is more easily transferred.
Gap Fillers
Used extensively in the making of various electronics, gap fillers are usually used to solve the most difficult of thermal heat issues within products. Made in varying degrees of hardness and thickness, gap fillers can close gaps while also allowing for heat transfer within electronics, thus preventing overheating and burnout.
Gaskets
Used to not only fill gaps but to also reduce the chances of leakage, gaskets are made in literally thousands of different sizes and thicknesses. Used in parts of products that are subject to intense vacuum pressure, gaskets can be classified as die-cut, beaded, pressure-sensitive adhesive, kiss cut, and water-jet cut. Known for their durability due to being vulcanized during the manufacturing process, gaskets keep machinery in all types of industries running smoothly.
Molded and Extruded Products
In almost any type of product imaginable in today’s world, chances are it contains some molded or extruded parts. If it does, it was created through seal manufacturing. Whether it’s products such as plate washers and grommets that need to be bonded rubber to metal, gaskets and diaphragms that are compression molded, or other parts specifically designed for vibration control in sensitive electronics or other equipment, you can find all of these being made in a seal manufacturing environment.
Silicone Engineering
While seal manufacturing plays a vital role in many industries, it is used extensively in silicone engineering. This has taken on extra importance during the COVID-19 pandemic, since various types of seals and molded products are used in many types of PPE. For example, silicone washers and sponge gaskets can be found in many N-95 masks, while other gaskets and vibration control molded parts are used in hospital ventilators and for air vents to help improve air flow within buildings.
Urethane Foam
A compound that is very easy to mold into almost any shape, urethane foam is a material that is used in many seal manufacturing applications. Non-corrosive and flame retardant, it can be used to create gaskets and seals that are needed primarily for cushioning sensitive areas of a machine or other product from continuous force that is exerted upon them.
A very diverse area of today’s industrial world, seal manufacturing has proven itself to be important in keeping much of the nation safe and operating effectively. From being used to create masks and face shields to its many uses in military defense systems, cell phones, and other items, products made through the seal manufacturing process will always be in high demand.
