Seals can be found in nearly every machine and vehicle in operation across all industries: from marine and construction equipment, to oil processing and agricultural machinery. These seals protect critical components from harsh environments or damaging fluids. If a seal is not machined to exact specifications, or is made from an inferior material, the seal will fail and create high costs from repairs and downtime. That is why it’s important to choose an experienced seal manufacturing company that can reliably deliver precise, high-quality seals.
What to Look For in a Seal Manufacturing Company
When choosing the right seal manufacturing company, there are several factors to consider:
- Strict quality standards – Because seals create a protective barrier for machinery, you want to be certain that your parts will meet spec every time. At Reading Plastic, our fleet of state-of-the-art CNC machines allow us to achieve the extremely tight tolerances and complex geometries your seals require. CNC machining also allows for repeatability at high volumes, ensuring each part is identical to the last. Reading Plastic has been machining to strict standards for over 30 years, including FDA, Aviation and Department of Defense Standards. We are also ISO 9001:2008 compliant, ensuring the highest standards of quality and customer satisfaction.
- A wide range of materials to choose from – We offer a wide selection of specialty and standard plastics, and we are constantly adding new plastics to our list. Because we have been working with specialty plastics for decades, we understand how they operate in real world scenarios, such as PTFE (Teflon®). PTFE is the most common seal material because it can withstand dry running, has low friction, is hydrophobic and has a wide operating temperature range. However, PTFE seals often require fillers and exact specifications, which is why it is important to choose a PTFE seals manufacturer who has the knowledge and experience to help you choose the right PTFE blend.
- Expert advice – Each seal is unique to the demands of its application. An experienced seal manufacturing company can help you troubleshoot problems and come up with solutions to improve your part and reduce costs. For example, PU (polyurethane) seals are often used in hydraulic applications because of their outstanding physical and mechanical properties, high elasticity, and mold, mildew and fungal growth resistance. However, they are not rated for high pressure use (over 5,000 psi) and they can be sensitive to hydrolysis, especially at higher temps. At Reading Plastic, our expert staff can help you evaluate the demands of your application to determine if PU seals are right for the job, or if you would be better off using a more expensive plastic that can withstand the environment and thereby reduce maintenance and repair costs as well as extend the life of your machines.
Have a project in mind? Let us machine you a solution! Call us today at 610-926-3245 or email site2@readingplastic.com to find out why we are a trusted seal manufacturing company.
