What Should You

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Consider Before Buying a Waterjet Cutting Machine?

A waterjet cutting machine is a serious investment for any company, small or large. So knowing what to consider before you purchase could save your business lots of time and cost. Below are some of the main things you should consider before buying a machine. Answering these questions will help determine the machine type that is best suited for your application.

Things to consider are:

COST

material

size

features

WHAT MATERIALS

Will I be Cutting?

With many other alternative cutting methods, the types of materials that are needing to be cut is the first point that you should focus on. However, because Waterjets can cut almost any material, the material to be cut is not so important. While almost any waterjet can cut almost any material, some machines are still better suited to certain materials. For example, when cutting steel you will typically choose a more powerful and a more accurate waterjet, so that you can cut it faster with more precision, compared to if you were cutting glass. Before we move on, let’s have a look at the range of materials that you can cut on a waterjet. Waterjets can quickly and accurately cut soft materials such as; rubber, foam, cork, and other gasket material with a pure water stream.

When cutting harder materials an abrasive is added into the stream. You can then cut almost any material, over a very wide range of thicknesses, for example;

VIRTUALLY ALL METALS

including hardened tool steel, stainless steel, aluminum, opper and titanium

NON-TEMPERED GLASS

including multi-layer laminated safety glass

Composites

Laminates

Stone

Most ceramics

how many

Parts Will I Be Cutting? Waterjets are great for both short run and prototype parts, but also for higher volume production application. The reason why waterjets are suitable for both has to do with the software that they are controlled by. Techni’s advanced control software can automatically program the cutting path of a desired part directly from a CAD, drawing meaning set up time is reduced between cuts. All you need to do is lightly secure the material in place, enter the material type and thickness into the control computer, and the machine will do the rest. This software capability is great for short run and one-off production parts. Nesting software on the other hand is ideal for mass production of parts with minimum waste. Techni’s machines are also capable of running without an operator present. This means large production runs can be set up on the machine and left without an operator to supervise while the machine produces the parts, often overnight and throughout the weekend. This is referred to as “Lights Out Cutting”.

what size of

Table Will I Need?

Our waterjet machines come in a range of sizes to help suit all types of businesses and applications. These are things such as material types, part sizes, part accuracy, production runs, & workshop size and staff availability. If you have the room, we always consider pointing our customers in the direction of owning larger machines with bigger bed sizes, so that they are not met with the limitations in the future if they ever have the need to cut parts that are bigger in size. We are also aware that space limitations can be a major factor to consider, so we also have smaller machines available.

Our smallest machine, known as the i35–G2, is sized at L x W x H mm and is great for smaller workshops and small precision parts and prototype parts. Whereas our largest machine being i–G2 which is sized at L x W x H mm is great for bigger workshops, large parts and high production applications.

Technical Specifications

• i35–G2
• i510–G2
• i613–G2
• i713–G2
• i815–G2
• i–G2
• i–G2

i35–G2

Upgrade Option – Linear Scale Feedback
Accuracy ± 0.05mm/m – 0.002″
Repeatability ± 0.025mm/m – 0.001″

Specifications

MODULE i35-G2 MACHINE SIZE (L x W x H)
without high pressure pump or abrasive transfer system x x mm 5' 5" x 8' 6" x 6' 6"ACCURACY OF MOTION
(Linear/Axis/Meter)± 0.1 mm/m
± 0.004" MACHINE WEIGHT
without water kg
lbREPEATABILITY OF MOTION
(Linear/Axis/Meter)± 0.025 mm
± 0.001" CUTTING TABLE SIZE x mm
3' 6" x 5' 6"MAX CUTTING SPEED17.5 m/min
700 in/min CUTTING AREA*915 x mm
3' x 5'
MAX MATERIAL THICKNESS**200 mm
8" * Additional options such as the PAC and/or Ezy Load may reduce the Cutting area. See the PAC manual for more details.
** Additional options such as PAC, Ezy Load and/or Skip and Float may reduce the maximum material thickness and travel. See the PAC manual for more details.

i510–G2

Upgrade Option – Linear Scale Feedback
Accuracy ± 0.05mm/m – 0.002″
Repeatability ± 0.025mm/m – 0.001″

Specifications

MODULE i510-G2 MACHINE SIZE (L x W x H)
without high pressure pump or abrasive transfer system x x mm
14' x 7' 8" x 6' 8"ACCURACY OF MOTION
(Linear/Axis/Meter)± 0,12 mm/m
± 0,005" MACHINE WEIGHT
without water kg
lbREPEATABILITY OF MOTION
(Linear/Axis/Meter)± 0.025 mm
± 0.001" CUTTING TABLE SIZE x mm
5' 1" x 10' 3"MAX CUTTING SPEED17.5 m/min - 700 in/min CUTTING AREA* x mm
5' x 10'MAX MATERIAL THICKNESS**200 mm
8" * Additional options such as the PAC and/or Ezy Load may reduce the Cutting area. See the PAC manual for more details.
** Additional options such as PAC, Ezy Load and/or Skip and Float may reduce the maximum material thickness and travel. See the PAC manual for more details.

i613–G2

Upgrade Option – Linear Scale Feedback
Accuracy ± 0.05mm/m – 0.002″
Repeatability ± 0.025mm/m – 0.001″

Specifications

MODULE i613-G2 MACHINE SIZE (L x W x H)
without high pressure pump or abrasive transfer system x x mm
17' x 8' 11" x 7' 6"ACCURACY OF MOTION
(Linear/Axis/Meter)± 0.15 mm/m
± 0.006" MACHINE WEIGHT
without water kg
lbsREPEATABILITY OF MOTION
(Linear/Axis/Meter)± 0.05 mm
± 0.002" CUTTING TABLE SIZE x mm
6' 4" x 12' 8"MAX CUTTING SPEED17.5 m/min
700 in/min CUTTING AREA* x mm
5' 7" x 12' 2"MAX MATERIAL THICKNESS**130 mm
5" * Additional options such as the PAC and/or Ezy Load may reduce the Cutting area. See the PAC manual for more details.
** Additional options such as PAC, Ezy Load and/or Skip and Float may reduce the maximum material thickness and travel. See the PAC manual for more details.

i713–G2

Upgrade Option – Linear Scale Feedback
Accuracy ± 0.05mm/m – 0.002″
Repeatability ± 0.025mm/m – 0.001″

Specifications

MODULE i713-G2 MACHINE SIZE (L x W x H)
without high pressure pump or abrasive transfer system x x mm
19' x 10' 2" x 6' 10"ACCURACY OF MOTION
(Linear/Axis/Meter)± 0.15 mm/m
± 0.006" MACHINE WEIGHT (with tank)
without water kg
lbsREPEATABILITY OF MOTION
(Linear/Axis/Meter)± 0.05 mm
± 0.002" CUTTING TABLE SIZE (XL ) x mm
6' 6" (XL 7' 2") x 13' 1"MAX CUTTING SPEED17.5 m/min
700 in/min CUTTING AREA* x mm
6' 6" x 13' 1"MAX MATERIAL THICKNESS**200 mm
8"
* Additional options such as the PAC and/or Ezy Load may reduce the Cutting area. See the PAC manual for more details.
** Additional options such as PAC, Ezy Load and/or Skip and Float may reduce the maximum material thickness and travel. See the PAC manual for more details.

i815–G2

Upgrade Option – Linear Scale Feedback
Accuracy ±0.15 mm - 0.006"
Repeatability ± 0.025mm/m – 0.001″

Specifications

MODULE i815-G2 MACHINE SIZE (L x W x H)
without high pressure pump or abrasive transfer system x x mm
21' 7" x 11' 6" x 6' 10"ACCURACY OF MOTION
(Linear/Axis/Meter)± 0.15 mm/m
± 0.006" MACHINE WEIGHT (with tank)
without water kg
lbsREPEATABILITY OF MOTION
(Linear/Axis/Meter)± 0.05 mm
± 0.002" CUTTING TABLE SIZE x mm
7' 9" x 15' 8"MAX CUTTING SPEED17.5 m/min
700 in/min CUTTING AREA* x mm
7' 8" x 15' 7"MAX MATERIAL THICKNESS**200 mm
8"
* Additional options such as the PAC and/or Ezy Load may reduce the Cutting area. See the PAC manual for more details.
** Additional options such as PAC, Ezy Load and/or Skip and Float may reduce the maximum material thickness and travel. See the PAC manual for more details.

i–G2

Upgrade Option – Linear Scale Feedback
Accuracy ± 0.05mm/m – 0.002″
Repeatability ± 0.025mm/m – 0.001″

Specifications

MODULE i-G2 MACHINE SIZE (L x W x H)
without high pressure pump or abrasive transfer system x x mm
26' 3" x 13' 10" x 6' 6"ACCURACY OF MOTION
(Linear/Axis/Meter)± 0.15 mm
± 0.006" MACHINE WEIGHT (with tank)
without water kg
lbsREPEATABILITY OF MOTION
(Linear/Axis/Meter)± 0.05 mm
± 0.002" CUTTING TABLE SIZE x mm
10' 6" x 20' 5"MAX CUTTING SPEED17.5 m/min
700 in/min CUTTING AREA* x mm
10' 20'MAX MATERIAL THICKNESS**200 mm
8"
* Additional options such as the PAC and/or Ezy Load may reduce the Cutting area. See the PAC manual for more details.
** Additional options such as PAC, Ezy Load and/or Skip and Float may reduce the maximum material thickness and travel. See the PAC manual for more details.

i–G2

Linear Scale Feedback standard fitted
Accuracy ± 0.01mm/m – 0.004″
Repeatability ± 0.05mm – 0.002″

Specifications

MODULE i-G2 MACHINE SIZE (L x W x H)
without high pressure pump or abrasive transfer system x x mm 41' 12" x 17' 8" x 7' 2"ACCURACY OF MOTION
(Linear/Axis/Meter)± 0.01 mm
± 0.004"
MACHINE WEIGHT
without water kg
lbREPEATABILITY OF MOTION
(Linear/Axis/Meter)± 0.05 mm
± 0.002" CUTTING TABLE SIZE x mm
33' 3" x 10' 8"MAX CUTTING SPEED10 m/min
400 in/min CUTTING AREA* x mm
32' 9" x 9' 10"MAX MATERIAL THICKNESS**200 mm
8" * Additional options such as the PAC and/or Ezy Load may reduce the Cutting area. See the PAC manual for more details.
** Additional options such as PAC, Ezy Load and/or Skip and Float may reduce the maximum material thickness and travel. See the PAC manual for more details.

What kind of

Pump Will My Waterjet Need? There are a few different types of pumps for waterjet machines, so deciding which one can become quite overwhelming for first time buyers. Luckily for you, our team of engineers has designed pumps that perfectly fit our waterjet machines, to provide you with the ultimate performance when cutting while also saving you money. When looking for a pump for your waterjet machine, you want to ensure it is going to provide an output pressure that is extremely accurate and consistent. The reason these two factors are so important during the cutting process is because you want to eliminate all pressure spikes. If pressure spikes occur during the cutting process, it can cause inaccuracy to the cut and the overall finished product.
Our Quantum® pumps are engineered on the basis of eliminating pressure spikes and they are proven to be 60% more efficient than standard hydraulic intensifiers.

You can read more about our Quantum® range of pumps here

What kind of

Benefits Should I Expect From My Waterjet?

Waterjet cutting comes with some features that are unique to this type of cutting process. Some of these features make it extremely attractive to workshops when compared to alternative methods of cutting. Here are some of the waterjet cutting benefits to take into consideration before choosing to buy a Waterjet machine.

No Heat

The most distinct feature of a Waterjet cutting machine is that it does not use heat at any point throughout the cutting process. This means that materials are not affected by any heat zones, so they can’t undergo thermal distortion or have their material properties altered by heat. This also means that parts are often a finished product after they leave the waterjet bed.

Complex Shapes & Designs

Waterjets make a very narrow cut (waterjet kerf) and have very low cutting forces. This allows part designers to have more freedom when creating intricate parts that are impossible with other cutting methods.

Low Waste Volumes

The high accuracy that waterjet cutting provides, means complex contours and shapes can be achieved easily, lowering the probability of failed cuts and also lowers the probability of waste. This is a highly valuable feature of Waterjet cutting as it means expensive materials are less likely to be thrown out.

Ease of Use

Although waterjet cutting machines produce highly accurate and intricate parts, the ability to control a waterjet machine is very easy. Either programmed via the main control board, or via a remote desktop, the machine can be easily used by most staff within a typical workshop.

What kind of

Environmental Factors Should I Consider? Often with this type of machinery, it is good to consider the environmental impact of noise, fumes and dust emissions that may be experienced when cutting. Modern Waterjet machines like Techni’s, eliminate all three by cutting under water. Noise levels are reduced drastically, even to lower levels than most machine tools. Dust is captured within the waterbed and not sent into the atmosphere, and no fumes are generated from the machine as it uses an abrasive stream of water to cut through materials instead of heat. The two waste streams that are generated via a waterjet are:

1

Excess water containing very small amounts of solid fines, which can be filtered if required by local regulation and then sent directly to a wastewater drain. Kerf material and garnet waste can be sent to a landfill.

2

If the material being cut is poisonous—lead or beryllium, for example—both waste streams must be cleaned to meet environmental regulations and the water may be recycled.

What kind of

Costs to Run and Maintain a
Waterjet?

A number of factors need to be taken into account when calculating an accurate figure for the operating cost of an abrasive Waterjet cutting machine. These are factors such as; Utility costs (electricity and water), consumables (abrasive material, cutting head parts etc), operator time, programming time and maintenance costs.

A typical Waterjet machine will cost around $15 – $50 per hour to operate when all these factors are considered. Some of these factors are influenced by the speed you want to cut at and the thickness and hardness of the materials being cut.

These costs are minimised in a Techni Waterjet by; using the most efficient pump on the market, making programming quick and simple to minimise the programming time, allowing for lights out operation to minimise operator time, installing an Abrasive Removal System to automatically remove the abrasive from the tank, installing an efficient cutting head which minimises garnet use and maximises cutting speeds, and having a machine which is designed to deal with the very harsh Waterjet environment to minimise maintenance and maximise up time.

People rarely think about gaskets, at least not until something is leaking.  Perhaps your engineers are struggling to put together a product capable of accomplishing its intended tasks, due to challenging environmental elements.  Perhaps you rely on older machinery, where finding replacement gaskets is difficult.  Perhaps you simply want to stock up on spares in bulk, to save money.

There are numerous ways that a custom gaskets manufacturer can be a valuable partner – and much more helpful than trying to buy gaskets off the shelf!

Why Custom Gaskets Are Better Than Off the Shelf Products

1. No compromises in product design

There are thousands of “stock” gaskets in the world, but the potential combinations of size and material are genuinely endless.  If you rely entirely on stock gaskets, that means your product has to be designed around the gaskets – and that means compromises.  On the other hand, a custom gasket can be created specifically for your needs.

2. Avoid costly replacement parts

Too many hardware manufacturers try to lock you into relying on them for spares, then overcharge for basic products.  You can avoid that with a custom gasket manufacturer.  It’s entirely possible to replicate any product on the market, usually for less than the OEM price, and often with better quality!

3. Replace irreplaceable parts

Another benefit of working with custom gasket manufacturers is the ability to obtain replacement gaskets when official parts simply are not available.  A lot of industrial and machine shops still rely on older hardware, whose original manufacturer is long out of business.  If a gasket fails, replacements may be impossible to find – but they can always be custom-made!

4. Create better products

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of materials and material blends that can be utilized in creating gaskets.  Cork, rubber, or silicone are fine – but they aren’t always the optimal solution to your use-case challenges.  A custom gasket manufacturer can utilize more exotic materials, like Durlon , to help improve sealing and system longevity.

5. Stock up

Buying custom gaskets in bulk is cheap and easy, particularly compared to small-batch jobs.  If you foresee a need for replacement gaskets stretching ahead into the future, why not go ahead and order them now to keep long-term costs down?

Expert Gasket & Seal Can Help

Expert Gasket & Seal are your custom gasket experts!  Contact us to consult with our engineers.

Vital electrical and electronic equipment should be kept in a protective enclosure – particularly if operating in an outdoor environment.  However, the enclosure is only as protective as the gasket sealing it closed!  Even small flaws in either the seal or flange can compromise the gasket, causing serious problems to your operation.

Custom die cut gaskets can be an excellent and cost-effective option for keeping your electrical enclosures secure against threats both in both indoor and outdoor applications.  There are other potential options but die cut gaskets will give you the best performance.  More importantly, they’re much more likely to adhere to Ingress Prevention (IP) standards that your equipment may be required to meet!

Why Custom Die Cut Gaskets Are Best for Sealing Electrical Enclosures

Fundamentally, you have three options for gaskets on your electrical boxes – Strips, Foam-In-Place (FIP), and Custom die cut or Flashcut.

Strips are the worst choice, although they can occasionally be deployed as a “quick fix” until a more permanent solution can be obtained.  This simply means taking a length of sealing material, such as silicone, and cutting it into strips that are applied to the box’s door.  This may leave gaps in the protection and will cause leaks.

Foam-In-Place is another option.  FIP involves buying specialty liquid polyurethane and spraying it around the edges of the mating surfaces.  The liquid creates a foam, which cures into a harder seal.  If properly applied, it can create a relatively good seal.  However, it’s also fairly easy to damage, and the process is messy.   Special equipment will need to be purchased to accurately dispense the foam, necessitating additional cost.

Custom Die Cut or Flashcut Gaskets are the best permanent solution.  An experienced gasket manufacturer has a wide range of materials to choose from and can select the gasket material to best meet your needs and the operating conditions for the enclosure.  Die-cut /Flashcut gaskets are continuous, eliminating seams and other potential leak paths.  Plus, it’s easy to buy a handful of replacements at a low cost, so that you’ll have plenty of spares on hand for the years to come.

For Top Quality Gaskets, Call Expert Gasket & Seal

Companies across America trust us for custom die cut gaskets, as well as a variety of other custom plastic products and sealing solutions.  Contact us to consult with our experts!

When you order gaskets from a custom gasket manufacturer or any other source, they’re only going to perform as well as the installation job that puts them in place. Even the best-designed custom gasket will fail if it’s improperly installed – and a gasket failure can be very costly indeed. This is a situation where the installation simply needs to be done right the first time, every time.

So, here are some important tips on how to properly install a gasket – and what not to do, even if it seems tempting.

Three Must-Dos When Installing A Custom Gasket

1 – Always thoroughly clean the mating faces.

To get the best seal from your gasket, it should be applied to surfaces that are as clean as reasonably possible. Unless the mating faces are fresh off the assembly line, they should always get an appropriate cleaning to ensure a strong seal.

2 – Check flange condition

Flanges should be flat and parallel. Large nicks, deformations, and other major surface imperfections cannot be overcome by any gasket. Poor flanges should be either resurfaced or replaced.

3 – Tighten any bolts in a sequence.

For best fit, the bolts holding the gasket shouldn’t merely be each tightened in turn. Instead, work with opposite pairs – for example, top/bottom then left/right. Do at least three passes, tightening each bolt a bit more with each pass. This creates the best seal.

Three Gasket Installation Mistakes to Avoid

1 – Never reuse old gaskets.

An old gasket can never be relied on.  It’s already compromised and guaranteed to fail in an unpredictable fashion.  Remember, new gaskets are less costly than leaks.

2 – Never stack multiple gaskets together.

Never put two or more gaskets stacked together to try to correct poorly aligned flanges. Gaskets are not spacers, and overly thick gaskets are not the answer to correcting this problem. Contact your gasket specialist for help with this situation.

3 – Don’t over-tighten rubber gaskets.

Rubber gaskets that are over-tightened are more likely to fail, as this increases the pressure, they’re under.  This is one reason that you should tighten the bolts in sequence, as mentioned above, to avoid putting too much pressure on any part of the gasket.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website ZXT.

Expert Gasket & Seal Makes Gaskets Easy

We are a custom gasket manufacturer with fast turnarounds and a long history of satisfied customers.  Contact us for a consultation.

If your products require gaskets to function properly, you want those gaskets to be as high-quality as possible.  Gaskets are generally inexpensive, as components go, but can significantly impact the overall lifespan of the products they go into.  Better gaskets make for better products, and that makes for better customer relationships.

How do you guarantee the best quality from your gaskets?  Buy custom.  Custom gaskets don’t cost much more than off-the-shelf components but offer so much more.

Five Big Benefits to Purchasing Custom Gaskets for Your Products

1. Guaranteed quality

One of the big hazards of ordering pre-made gaskets today is that there is often little way of knowing where they came from, or what sort of QC policies were in effect.  Unless you know the source of the gaskets, you can’t fully rely on them for your products – and you can’t know that unless you’re working directly with the company that makes them.

2. No compromises

Chances are, even if you can find an existing off-the-shelf gasket that works in your product, it won’t be optimal for your product.  Using pre-made gaskets almost always requires a level of compromise, sacrificing some level of usability or stability to make the gaskets work.  But when you order custom, those gaskets can be made precisely tailored to your needs.

3. Design consulting

Gasket manufacturers know their machines and their supply of materials intimately – and that means they can help you get the most from your designs!  Rather than compromising, it becomes possible to get gaskets that exceed expectations and allow for higher performance than initially planned for.  Expert gasket design consultants can significantly improve your product, and that boosts your entire business.

For example:

4. More choices in materials

Typically, off-the-shelf gaskets only come in a few stock materials such as rubber, cork, or silicone.  However, custom gasket manufacturers will have a huge range of materials available, including exotic materials with high temperature or pressure resistance.  Often, just changing materials can significantly improve performance when in use!

5. Get replacement parts easily

Don’t overlook the benefit of having spares on-hand, either for your products or for the machine used in your own processes.  Custom-made replacement parts are often of higher quality than OEM originals and can be cheaper as well.

Let Expert Custom & Seal Help

Expert Gasket & Seal has years of experience creating great outcomes for our customers and their products.  Contact us for a consultation!

When creating custom foam gaskets, or any other type of custom gasket, one of the single most important considerations is the material from which they’re made.  Even among foam gaskets, there are numerous types of elastomers that could be used – and they’re all going to have different properties when put into use.

Many of these are obvious, like “Can this material stand up to expected working temperatures?”  However, others are less obvious, particularly when it comes to longer-term usage.  Compression setand stress relaxation are two problems that can develop in gaskets being used, and they need to be considered carefully to ensure your products function reliably for your customers.

How Compression Setting and Stress Relaxation Affect Custom Foam Gaskets

I. Compression Setting

Compression set (or “C-Set” for short) refers to the tendency of foam gaskets to lose their elasticity when put under compression.  In general, no foam gasket will ever regain 100% of its original elasticity when compressed and then released, but it’s vital that the type of foam be chosen to minimize this effect.  C-Set can also be affected by operating temperatures, particularly high temperatures.

So, for example, silicone foams have good C-Set at room temperature, whereas a neoprene/EPDM blend performs poorly at the same temperature.  Your custom gasket manufacturer should be giving as much information as possible about the expected operational parameters of your custom gaskets, to ensure they pick appropriate materials.

II. Stress Relaxation

Stress relaxation refers to the tendency of foam gaskets to lose their ability to deflect additional forces while under a heavy compressive load – ie, how ‘springy’ they are.  In some cases, this isn’t an issue, but it can cause problems when these gaskets are used in applications where they’ll be under multiple simultaneous stresses.

Generally, stress relaxation is predictable with foam materials.  They will each lose a set amount of resilience during usage but won’t degrade further once they’ve hit their natural stress relaxation point.  So, again, a custom gasket manufacturer must choose the material carefully, to ensure that its natural level of stress relaxation won’t interfere with intended usage.

For Top-Quality Custom Foam Gaskets, Call in Expert Gasket & Seal

Our expert staff has extensive experience working with a huge range of gasket materials, and we love taking on new challenges! If you have a sealing problem that your engineers can’t overcome, contact us and we’ll find a solution that works.

One of the most important qualities you want in a custom gasket manufacturer is they have a comprehensive material selection and experience identifying the correct one for your application.  Custom rubber gaskets are used in many types of service and under many different operating conditions. The material from which they are made must be carefully chosen to match those conditions.

A good custom gasket manufacturer can help guide you through this process.  Here are just some of the many types of materials they might choose between.

Common Materials Seen in Custom Rubber Gaskets

Nitrile Rubber – Commonly used for petroleum based fluids, water, and air, Nitrile a good gasket material for a wide range of applications.  It can handle temperatures from -15°F to 250°F.

Viton® – This fluorocarbon-based brand name rubber has resistance to many chemicals and strong acids, making it a good choice for use in challenging operational environments. It will also hand temperatures to 450°F.

Ethylene Propylene (EPDM) – EPDM is another gasket material primarily known for its resistance to hot water, low temperature steam, glycols, and phosphate ester fluids.

Neoprene –  One of the most common rubber gasket materials used for cold water, some petroleum based fluids, and air applications.

PTFE (Teflon) – PTFE is inert and is widely used in a variety of chemical applications. It, and it’s proprietary filled PTFE material, Durlon , is also made from FDA approved ingredients.

Silicone – Silicone has high temperature resistance, and is especially good in hot air applications to 500° F. Silicone is also available in a FDA approved version.

Polyurethane – Polyurethane has high resistance to abrasion and physical damage and should be considered for applications in abrasive environments.

Expert Gasket & Seal Are Your Choice for Excellent Custom Rubber Gaskets

We have access to a huge range of materials, and the know-how to utilize them properly.  Contact us for expert advice!

Whether you work in the hospitality industry or run a high-volume food manufacturing firm, creating bulk food items requires specialized equipment. That’s why many in the food and beverage industry rely on custom rubber gaskets designed to be safe and hygienic. There are a wide variety of food-grade gaskets on the market, which is why Expert Gasket & Seal has collected some facts to help you select the right one for your business.

Here are some tips for choosing the best custom rubber gaskets.

Design

Considering the design of your gaskets is important because you want to select one that will match your food processing system and function properly. There are many standard gasket designs available but for some of today’s newer, more innovative food processing machines, designing a custom rubber gasket may be necessary to ensure a perfect fit.

Materials

Since the gasket materials used in food contact applications need to be FDA compliant, they’re constructed with recognized and approved ingredients. The right materials will be non-toxic while also durable enough to keep up with your processing needs. Some of the most popular materials include FDA approved Nitrile rubber and several varieties of PTFE & Durlon filled PTFE gasket materials. Silicone rubber is another valuable material, especially for applications that requiring wide temperature ranges (-75 to + 450°F).

Manufacturer

When it comes to custom rubber gaskets for the food and beverage industry, it’s important to choose a manufacturing firm with a long history of making quality products. This will ensure that they live up to your expectations and also have the expertise to design and manufacture custom gaskets specifically for your food processing systems and applications.

Compliance

Remaining in compliance with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards is essential. This is because not keeping your gaskets up to date with FDA standards could result in health hazards and contaminated food products. Such issues can easily put an end to your business or draw daily operations to a screeching halt. This means you should only invest in food-grade gaskets that have been thoroughly tested and certified. There are strict regulatory guidelines that custom rubber gasket manufacturers are required to follow, so be sure that the ones you select for your production system have passed all of the existing quality control measures necessary.

Contact us to learn more about food-grade custom rubber gaskets

It doesn’t matter if you operate a commercial kitchen or produce large scale food for international export, the right gaskets can make or break your business. For more info about food and beverage gaskets and other rubber products, call Expert Gasket & Seal today at (800) 956- or fill out our online contact form.

Macedonia, OH-based sealing specialists Expert Gasket & Seal are now inviting clients to review their full range of customized rubber part options. Clients can submit their drawings to the Expert Gasket & Seal team to have their rubber part produced to their drawing using compounds such as Viton®, Silicone, Nitrile, Neoprene and EPDM.

Through the use of the proper rubber materials, industrial companies can achieve a comprehensive solution to their in-house sealing issues. Rubber materials such as Viton® are designed to resist a wide range of chemicals, including strong acids. Viton® also provides superior temperature resistance, assuring optimal durability within challenging industrial conditions. To find the ideal rubber seal, companies must connect with sealing specialists that can select the correct compound specifically for their industrial environment. It’s why many companies are now turning to the team at Expert Gasket & Seal for rubber parts.

Expert Gasket & Seal is a company with comprehensive experience manufacturing custom rubber parts and both die-cut and flashcut gaskets for the industrial marketplace. The company understands the sealing challenges firms face within their applications and harnesses the latest design and production technology to help resolve these challenges. To ensure a seamless solution to sealing problems, Expert Gasket & Seal offers prototypes of their rubber part designs at minimal mold costs. Flashcut gasket test samples can sometimes be provided at no charge.  They also offer rubber parts in various hardness levels, from 20A through to 90A. It’s the comprehensive service for exceptional rubber part performance.

To discover more on the rubber part options offered through Expert Gasket & Seal, please contact their team today at (800) 956- or visit their business website at www.expertgasket.com.

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