News & Tech Tips

Why Quality & Consistency Is So Important With Custom Gaskets

Greencrest Digital on May 21, 2021

Quality rubber gaskets create leak tight seals using rubber’s natural memory to minimize the chance of unwanted leaks. They also need to have the correct compound chosen to resist extreme temperatures, pressure, and a variety of fluids and gases. That’s why so many trust their custom gasket creation to Expert Gasket & Seal.

However, we wanted to let you know more about why we place such an emphasis on quality, so take a look below!

Saves on Time & Money: One of the top reasons that quality and consistency when creating custom gaskets is essential, is because it makes the process much quicker and reduces waste. Expert Gasket & Seal can provide prototypes at low or no cost to properly evaluate your design and possible changes.
Enhanced Efficiency: In custom gasket design, precision is the penultimate goal. It needs to perfectly match the application for which it’s designed. This creates gaskets that are less likely to fail, and you can design your custom gaskets for optimal efficiency. You’ll find less need to replace properly designed gaskets.
Outstanding Quality: Having a gasket fail during operating hours can be a real nightmare. Thankfully, custom gaskets drastically reduce that scenario since they are properly spec’d and designed for your specific application. Custom gaskets are designed with all of your exact needs and specifications, as well as your gasket performance expectations. A professional and knowledgeable company will create custom gaskets of unmatched quality.
Flexible for Every Industry: Another great thing about working with custom gasket designers is they have experience designing gaskets for every type of industry you can imagine. For those needing gaskets that will withstand the extreme conditions of chemical processing plants or the specific materials and requirements of FDA applications, custom gaskets are an absolute must.

Contact us today for more about custom gaskets, seals, and more!

For those in need of custom gaskets that are built to your exact specifications, contact the team from Expert Gasket online today or call (330) 468-0066. We also specialize in mechanical seals, braided packing and hydraulic seals, and more!

5 Tips for Choosing the Best Custom Gasket Manufacturer

Greencrest Digital on April 21, 2021

When you work with a custom gasket manufacturer, make sure that they’ll be capable of manufacturing precisely what is needed. That’s why the team from Expert Gasket works with all of our clients to assure we’re clear about their needs, expectations, and the type of performance required from their custom gaskets.

Here are some of the most important things to look for when choosing a custom gasket manufacturer.

1. Variety of Materials Offered

A reliable custom gasket manufacturer will have a variety of gasket materials from which to provide the correct product for your application. Such materials include Neoprene, Viton®, Durlon®, PTFE, and more.

2. Technical Experience

Choosing a gasket provider with extensive industry experience will assure that your custom gaskets will meet the specified requirements. Gasket manufacturers with a long history in the industry will know what works best for different and challenging sealing applications.

3. Safety Features

Any custom gasket manufacturer you work with should also adhere to the strictest safety precautions at every step of the way, from the design and development process to the manufacturing of the gaskets themselves. Make certain you work with a manufacturer familiar with all of today’s latest best practices that also strictly follows local laws and guidelines.

4. Customer Support

This is, perhaps, one of the most important characteristics of any gasket manufacturer. How they handle their relationships with clients is a direct reflection of the products that they produce. Choose a provider that offers support and prompt service for the best results.

5. Competitive Pricing

It’s no secret that running an industrial firm, water processing plant, or another type of enterprise-level industrial facility is a costly endeavor. That doesn’t mean they always require costly gaskets and seal products. A knowledgable custom gasket manufacturer, like Expert Gasket & Seal, will recommend a cost-effective solution for your seal problem.

Let us be your custom gasket manufacturer!

Are you in need of quality, custom gaskets, and mechanical seals that are enduring? Contact Expert Gasket online today to learn more about our services or call (330) 468-0066.

Four Big Benefits of Custom Die-Cut Gaskets

Greencrest Digital on April 21, 2021

Custom die-cut gaskets can be a great investment, and it’s a good idea to partner with a qualified manufacturer. Working with custom gaskets frees you from having to make “best fit” compromises to work with off-the-shelf components. They’re also less expensive than you might expect from custom work!

There are plenty of reasons, and plenty of situations, that call for custom die-cut gaskets. Here are just a few…

Reasons to Choose Custom Die-Cut Gaskets

1. Custom cutting fits your needs

When you’re designing products, you should be designing them for the best possible functionality, rather than making compromises. Ordering custom gaskets means they can be any size or shape you require. Your design can be optimized, and you’ll still be able to get the best gaskets for the job.

2. A wide selection of materials

The performance of a gasket depends a lot on the material from which it’s made, and that’s determined by the operating conditions. Factors such as temperature, pressure, range of movement, and local environment or atmosphere will all affect how long a gasket lasts.

Custom die-cut gasket manufacturers have a wide range of materials at their disposal, ranging from common rubbers to specialized materials such as Durlon 9000, Viton®, and PTFE designed for difficult environments. Gasket experts can work with you to find the best material for your needs.

3. Replace old parts for cheap

Custom die-cut gaskets aren’t only for manufacturing new products – they’re also a great option for maintaining your current machinery. If you have a custom machine with expensive OEM parts – or if the manufacturer has gone out of business – a custom gasket shop can provide you with 1:1 replacements at a low cost. You can even stock up on spares, to prevent any unnecessary downtime.

4. Adhere to regulatory standards

Are you working in fields that require a better grade of machinery, such as maintaining sterile conditions when working with food or pharmaceuticals? You definitely want custom die-cut gaskets in this situation. Gasket experts can help you select materials and designs which will adhere to all relevant regulatory standards, keeping your operation within the law – and keeping your customers safe.

America Trusts Expert Gasket & Seal

We have over 50 years of combined experience in custom die-cut gaskets, rapid prototyping, and other sealing solutions. If you’re facing a tricky gasket problem, or need a custom part that other shops can’t handle, contact us to discuss your needs with the experts.

When Are Custom Rubber Gaskets the Right Choice for Your Project?

Greencrest Digital on April 21, 2021

In general, partnering with a custom gasket manufacturer is a great idea, whether you’re developing new products or trying to keep older machinery running. Custom gaskets can be quickly and affordably manufactured while giving you far more options in material and design than you get from off-the-shelf gaskets.

Rubber is one of the most popular types of gasket material, and custom rubber gaskets can fill a wide variety of roles. But are custom rubber gaskets right for your own application? Let’s take a look at some of their advantages.

Know the Benefits of Custom Rubber Gaskets

Physical benefits

Rubber is a great choice when the application requires a seal with memory. Unlike cork and other compressible materials, rubber’s natural memory allows it to seal effectively in situations when there are not optimal flange and hardware conditions.

Plus, of course, rubber is extremely flexible and doesn’t deform easily, making it a good option for moving parts.

Rubber can be soft or hard

Another benefit to custom rubber gaskets is that you have a lot of options in the ‘grade’ or hardness of the rubber. Most rubber gasket materials are available in hardnesses from 40 Shore A to 90 Shore A giving you a number of options for both durability and deformability.

Rubber is available in a variety of compounds

Rubber compounds cover a wide range of capabilities. EPDM rubber is excellent for steam and hot water applications. Viton® rubber can withstand strong acids and perform at temperatures to 450°F. Silicone rubber remains flexible at low temperatures and seals hot air well up to 500°F. Common rubber materials such as Nitrile and Neoprene are recommended for a variety of water and petroleum based fluid applications.

Expert Gasket & Seal Can Design the Custom Rubber Gaskets You Need

If you’re facing a sealing challenge, Expert Gasket & Seal can help! Contact us for experienced gasket services and advice.

4 Tips for Finding the Right Die-Cut Supplier

Greencrest Digital on February 25, 2021

Having the very best die-cut supplier is key to prolonging the lifespan of your equipment and avoiding costly repairs and breakdowns. However, finding a reliable die-cut supplier is often easier said than done. But don’t worry, as one of the industry’s leading custom die-cut gasket manufacturers, Expert Gasket & Seals has some tips for you here.

Below you’ll find all you need to choose the best die-cut supplier.

1. Quality Products

Before deciding upon the right die-cut supplier it’s important you find one that offers a variety of different commercial and industrial products. Suppliers that are first-rate will carry everything from gaskets, mechanical seals, O-rings, and related sealing products. Additionally, the right custom die-cut gasket purveyor should be able to offer materials like Silicone & Viton® rubber, PTFE, Durlon® gasket sheets, and others.

2. Expertise & Experience

Expertise and experience is key when it comes to vetting potential die-cut suppliers. This is because an experienced company will be able to easily meet your needs and develop customized products that exceed expectations. Choosing a company with all of the necessary tools to get the job done is another important consideration to make.

3. CNC Machining & Die Cutting

Computer-aided, die-cutting machinery is a must for any reliable die-cut gasket manufacturer. The best technology will make production more efficient and your end product more precise. It also means there will be less labor involved, saving you both time and money in the long run.

4. Price & Performance

Price is certainly important, but don’t jump at the first low offer you receive. Often, if it seems too good to be true, it is. Selecting a die-cut supplier that offers a good balance of price and performance will ensure you receive the very best products.

Contact us to learn more about custom die-cut gaskets!

For more information about how to create the perfect die-cut gaskets for your needs, contact us online today or call 1 (800) 956-8766. We also specialize in rubber seal sales, molded rubber parts, and more.

Expert Gasket & Seal Offering Custom Durlon Products for a Range of Applications

Greencrest Digital on January 12, 2021

Macedonia, OH-based leaders of effective sealing solutions, Expert Gasket & Seal is now inviting clients to review their custom Durlon fluid sealing products. The company has the capacity to manufacture Durlon gasket products to respond to a variety of service conditions. Their solutions are designed for use in applications such as power generation, petroleum refining, chemical processing, and water purification. Each available product offers exceptional sealability, chemical resistance, and durability.

Within the industrial marketplace, companies want sealing solutions that will give their processes effective, long-term performance. Any problem that leads to system leakage can slow or shut down lines and costs companies thousands of dollars in lost time and productivity. Wise organizations entrust their sealing system providers to those with the requisite marketplace experience. It’s the reason many firms are now choosing custom Durlon sealing systems from Expert Gasket & Seal.

Expert Gasket & Seal offers the full range of Durlon gasket materials. Included within the company selection is Durlon 9000 and Durlon 9600, both enhanced proprietary PTFE products designed for exceptional sealing performance and over a wide range of chemical and FDA applications. Companies might also consider Durlon 8700, which assures exceptional resistance to ozone, oils and non-aromatic solvents utilized within industrial plants. These materials are but a few of the available gasket and seal products offered by Expert Gasket & Seal.

To discover more on the custom Durlon products offered by Expert Gasket & Seal, please contact their offices directly or visit their business website at www.expertgasket.com.

Is It Always A Bad Thing If Your Custom Rubber Gaskets Start to Swell?

Greencrest Digital on December 25, 2020

Generally speaking, custom rubber gaskets in Ohio have one purpose: To create leak proof seals between components in machines. To do this, the gasket needs to have a predictable size and shape, so that it doesn’t deform to the point it stops making a strong seal.

So, in most cases, it’s going to be a bad thing if the gasket swells in the application. But is it always a bad thing? As with most aspects of mechanical engineering, the reality isn’t so simple.

Why Do Custom Rubber Gaskets Swell?

Generally speaking, a rubber gasket will swell when the particular compound is not compliant with the system fluid or media. This isn’t only true of custom rubber gaskets it can happen with virtually any rubber based gasket material.

Petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons, have this effect on several compounds, most notably. EPDM, and SBR. Nitile, or NBR, is the preferred compound to use with petroleum based fluids. Viton is also used with some petroleum based fluids containing additives that may harm NBR. EPDM and SBR are typically used in hot water and steam applications that will adversely affect NBR.

When a gasket swells the sealing capability is threatened. Depending on the amount of swell, and the strength of the gasket material, it could also cause parts to go out of alignment or cause other physical damage to the machine. Additionally, too much swelling and shrinking will tend to cause damage to the gaskets themselves, reducing their lifespan and increasing their likelihood of failing entirely.

But can this tendency to swell be harnessed for useful purposes? Yes!

Swelling Custom Rubber Gaskets Can Be Deliberate

While gasket swelling is usually something to avoid, there are situations where expert gasket engineers can make it work to their advantage. In particular, there can be situations where gaskets are being called to seal unusual shapes or need to seal around objects.

For example, there may be cases where bolts or flanges are too small/weak to seal effectively on their own. In these cases, having a gasket deliberately engineered to swell will seal any small gaps left in the machinery. Using a deliberate swell is not common practice, and doing so should be discussed with a gasket expert before doing so.

This is why having experienced Ohio custom rubber gasket engineers on your side can be so useful. Experts can leverage the material properties of various gaskets for enhanced effects that solve real engineering challenges. Contact Expert Gasket & Seal to consult on your own challenges!

Why Custom Gaskets Are the Right Choice for Solving Engineering Challenges

Greencrest Digital on December 25, 2020

Gaskets may be small, but they’re a critical part of so many engineering projects, industrial machinery, and consumer products. The right gasket can greatly extend a machine’s lifespan while offering the best performance; the wrong gasket can shorten that life or even lead to catastrophic failure.

Whenever looking at gasket options, it’s easy to turn to the many off-the-shelf products available – but are any of them truly the best fit for your needs? Much of the time, the best option is to go with custom gaskets from a manufacturer you trust. From cost to performance, it’s the right call all around.

Three Reasons Custom Gaskets Are the Best Fit For Your Project

1. No compromises

If you’re buying off-the-shelf gaskets, that means you’re locked into whatever shapes, sizes, and materials are available. What if they aren’t quite right for your build? Suddenly you’re having to redesign the product or machine around the gaskets – and that seems backwards. Not to mention potentially compromising the product itself.

Custom gasket manufacturers can ensure your gaskets are the exact right fit for your needs, in every sense.

2. Get expert advice on materials

In many ways, the shape of your gaskets is less important than the material from which they’re made. There are dozens of materials from which a gasket can be fabricated and every material has different physical properties. Some only work well in certain temperatures; others react badly when exposed to certain chemicals or atmospheres.

A custom gasket manufacturer has experts on staff who can examine your project, understand what the gasket needs to do, and select the perfect material for the job.

3. Replace expensive OEM parts for less

Do you have machinery in your shop which was built using gaskets that only the manufacturer provides? This lock-in can get expensive since exclusive OEM parts tend to cost more. The problem gets worse if the OEM ever goes out of business. The price of spares could skyrocket.

Custom gasket manufacturers can easily recreate most gaskets and seals in your operation – and usually at a much lower cost! Stock up on spares so that replacing a gasket is never an issue.

Expert Gasket & Seal Can Solve Your Engineering Problems

Expert Gasket & Seal has decades of experience providing custom gaskets to customers across the US. From rapid-prototyping tests to full-scale production runs, we have the skills, the tools, and the expertise to see your project done right.

Does Your Application Call For a Viton® Gasket?

Greencrest Digital on August 25, 2020

When you have demanding applications in need of specialty seals, it’s a good idea to turn to an Ohio custom gasket manufacturer for expert advice. A well-established custom gasket shop will have a huge range of materials available, like Viton® gaskets, and can consult on which will be best for your application.

Viton® – the Chemours brand name for a synthetic rubber called FKM – is one of the most unique and resilient materials from which gaskets can be made, but that doesn’t mean it’s right for every application. Let’s take a look at which situations call for it.

When Do Your Custom Gaskets Need To Be Made From Viton®?

What makes Viton® unique is its ability to seal a great variety of fluids and do so within a wide temperature range greater than what typical rubber seals can achieve.

Viton® has a higher density than common elastomers such as Neoprene and Nitrile. The increased density allows Viton to outperform those materials in vacuum applications.

Gaskets made from Viton® have a number of unique properties, including:

Continuous heat resistance up to 450°F with excursions to 500°F
Cold resistance without cracking, down to -20°F.
Superior resistance to petroleum based fluids, strong acids, and solvents that would compromise other organic rubber materials.

Viton® seals are used extensively in aerospace, chemical, and other demanding industries since their chemical properties make them an excellent choice for critical applications.

Please know when you purchase Viton® gaskets & seals from Expert Gasket & Seal, you will be receiving genuine Chemours Viton® – not a generic equivalent. Don’t be swayed by “bargain “ FKMs for critical and safety sensitive applications.

If you have a difficult engineering job and are working on a project that needs high-performance gaskets, Expert Gasket & Seal can help! Contact us to consult with a top-quality Ohio custom gasket manufacturer.

When is it Better to Use Custom Gaskets & Why?

Greencrest Digital on July 25, 2020

Depending on your needs and applications, there may be times when it’s better to purchase custom gaskets rather than relying on traditional ones. However, unless you’re an expert like the team from Expert Gasket, determining precisely when can often be difficult, which is why we’re here to help.

Below, our Ohio custom gasket manufacturer team has put together some of the scenarios where purchasing custom gaskets will make a difference, as well as why it can be so important sometimes to get the right gasket for the job.

Different Types of Custom Gaskets

There are two main types of gaskets. Gaskets for pressurized systems most typically are those used in piping. These can be made from a number of different materials depending on the needs of the application. Gaskets for non-pressurized systems include door seals, electrical enclosure seals, and other similar products. These gaskets are more commonly made from softer materials such as foams or sponges.

Custom Gasket Materials

Again, the type of custom gasket material you’ll require will depend upon the specific application that you’re using it for. However, when choosing a custom gasket manufacturer, it’s always best to go with one that offers a wide variety of materials to choose from, such as metal, soft plastics such as PTFE, and rubber such as Neoprene, Silicone, and Viton FKM. Some applications may require a compressed gasket material, such as Durlon 8500 and Durlon 8400. Chemical and food applications may require a PTFE based material such as Durlon 9000 or Durlon 9600. Don’t be afraid to ask for samples and be sure you know exactly what specifications you need, because any mistake on your part could wind up being costly since custom gaskets are made to order.

Let us be your Ohio custom gasket manufacturers!

If you’re still unsure of precisely what type of gasket or material will best suit your applications, our team of experts is always available to lend a hand. To learn more about custom gaskets or place an order, contact us online for a quote today or call (330) 468-0066 or toll-free at 1 (800) 956-8766.