Special coated O-rings for renewable energy applicationOur customer manufactures wind sensors for a variety of applications in different environments. This seal application was within ultrasonic wind sensors designed for wind turbine control. The Application For optimal performance wind turbines need critical, consistent and reliable data on wind speed and wind direction measurements. Therefore we recommended special coated O-rings for this renewable energy application. The sensors that provide this must be able to operate continuously for many years, sometimes in the harshest of weather. Operating conditions are extremely challenging as the wind turbine sensors (and accompanying electronics) are exposed to fluctuating, extreme environmental changes over the years. Depending on the location of the turbines, temperatures can range from -40°C to +90° C. Additionally, humidity changes from 0-100%, and turbines are subject to rain, hail, snow, ice, lightning, vibration, sand, corrosion and altitude. Our Sealing Solution For this application, the required life cycle of the sensors is10+ years. Therefore, to achieve this, a robust protective housing for the electronics and sensors requires a series of reliable, consistent, high-quality seals. These will perform without compromise in challenging conditions. Each size of sensor requires a set of environmental seals in the separated top and bottom sections. Together with our customer’s intensive testing program, we specified EPDM O-rings (which offered exceptional ozone resistance) with a special coating. The coatings are colour coded for identification purposes according to the size of sensor. Therefore, this creates a fool-proof assembly process with no risk of error by operators. Customer Satisfaction Our range of seals have been cycle tested and approved by our customer. Furthermore, these have been built into nearly half of wind turbine projects globally. Read this link for more on our range of O-rings HERE One of our key industries is Hydrogen and Renewable Energy, learn more about our work HERE
Special coated O-rings for renewable energy application Special O-rings for an automotive applicationOur customer manufactures high performance oil and vacuum pump solutions, and approached our engineers with a new O-ring application for review.
The application
Our customer required an FKM (Viton™) 60 shore special O-ring. This is to meet Porsche material specification PN707 Class 2 (Oil), Class 5 (Fuel/FAME mix) and Class 12 (Blowby gas). This proved to be a very cost sensitive project with a short lead time. Additionally, we did not have an existing grade in our materials portfolio to meet this specialised O-ring specification.
The challenges
Our engineers reviewed the application and we provided two material options. The first is a lower cost grade of FKM (Viton™) A grade, and would possibly meet the Porsche specification required. The second material, a medium to higher cost FKM (Viton™) B grade that will definitely meet the specification. We supplied a quotation for the two material types. Additionally, the quotation included production tooling, PPAP Level 3 submission, testing for both materials and a pre-production batch of O-rings. The project was urgent and we were able to accommodate PPAP Level 3 grade O-rings for both materials to be manufactured from the same tool. Also, to save time we conducted material testing in tandem with the manufacture and preparation of the the production tool. The choice of compound to be used in the tool would be made on review of the results of material testing. On completion of the material testing, the customer reviewed the results with Porsche. The decision to produce O-rings from the FKM B grade was made.
Customer satisfaction
By this stage of testing, production tooling was complete, allowing manufacture of PPAP 3 samples and the pre-production batch to commence. Pre-production O-rings were supplied to the customer in the promised 12-week lead time together with PPAP Level 3 and PPAP 3 samples. See this link for more on our O-ring range and expertise: HERE
Special O-rings for an automotive application Silicone O-rings for De Soutter EcoPulse™ lavage systemDe Soutter Medical Ltd specialises in the development, production and worldwide distribution of high performance orthopaedic tools for surgical procedures, offering their customers a comprehensive range of technically innovative and high quality products.
Silicone O-rings for De Soutter EcoPulse™ lavage system O-rings with special coatingsAll seals require some form of installation into application hardware and often this may seem to be a simple push in place function. However, without consideration of certain conditions this can potentially create sealing problems further into the life cycle of the seal. Once installation is achieved a seal can often sit in the housing hardware for many months...which potentially allows it to stick to the housing material and cause further issues. This is where special coatings can make a difference.
O-rings with special coatings E1244-70 seals in Life Sciences & Medical applicationsPacked with multiple benefits, and recommended for pharmaceutical manufacturing, biopharmaceutical processing and disposable medical devices, E1244-70 is an internally lubricated compound, eliminating the need for an external lubricant.
E1244-70 seals in Life Sciences & Medical applications