Mouldings

Mouldings

Advanced Seals & Gaskets provide various moulded components produced from numerous types of rubber and plastics. A moulding requires specialist machinery for the process (compression, transfer or injection moulding) as they are generally bespoke shapes, with complex profiles, have a ribbed finish or may require a lip or curved edge – for these reasons mouldings can not simply be pressed from sheet material. All our mouldings are made to order and are produced using samples or drawings provided by customers, from which a tool or moulded cavity is made. Mouldings can take many forms for example feet, buffers, sleeves and o-rings to name a few, all designed to provide protection,  prevent the leakage or ingress of air, fluid or gas and to be aesthetically pleasing. 

 

What are Mouldings? 

‘Moulding’ is the procedure by which raw material, in this case, plastic or rubber is turned into a specific shape and usable product using 1 of 3 processes:

INJECTION MOULDING – the process by which raw/uncured material heated until Moulton and then fed through a nozzle into a mould.  Pressure and heat levels are adjusted within the cavity-causing the material to ‘cure’ and the moulded product is formed.

COMPRESSION MOULDING consists of a top and bottom pre-heated steel mould/cavity into which raw material is poured in and the two halves are closed together.  This tool is heated and the material melted creating the desired shape and the final product.  Although this process is great for bespoke moulding, it can be very time consuming for high volume production. 

TRANSFER MOULDING is a more complex process, where raw/uncured material is loaded into the transfer pot and heated, a plunger slowly enters the pot building pressure, forcing the melted rubber through the sprue or channel leading to the mould/cavity.  Once the mould is filled, the raw material forms the desired shape and is cured before the moulding is removed.

 

Why use Mouldings? 

Mouldings are ideal for customers who are looking for a non-standard profile to fit specific applications, the process of producing a moulded part means the customer is guaranteed to have an identical product each time, which is essential for high volume production and assembly. Mouldings can be made in a ‘solid’ shape such as cord, or ‘hollow’ where the moulding is empty and produced with just an outer wall. The types of mouldings available are endless as they can be used in practically every industry, some examples of mouldings include rubber sleeves, rubber bellows (coverings), rubber feet, buffers, remote and console buttons and parts for sports equipment such as bike pedals and handlebar covers.

 

Benefits of Mouldings

Advanced seals & Gaskets work with a network of material manufacturers, meaning we have the ability to produce mouldings suitable for use in virtually any industry. As mouldings are made to order, we can help with designing, material choice, produce samples for testing and ensure we supply the perfect extrusion for your application. The characteristics and resistances sought after when choosing the right material for mouldings will depend on the industry, environment and application in which the moulding will be used. Some of the desirable features include flexibility, flame retardancy, wide working temperature range, resistance to tear/abrasion, chemicals, acids, pressure, liquids, air and gas.