Special sealing applications require special solutions

Custom-fabricated molded seals (such as diaphragms, frame seals and housing seals or special elastomer lip seals) are called for in situations where specific application or operating conditions push standard sealing elements to their limits. These custom-molded seals are precisely tailored to the specific application at hand and, as their name implies, are manufactured using special forming molds and dies. Optimal shaping of the sealing lip and the right choice of material are crucial prerequisites for a reliably functioning molded seal. 

Molded seals – the better solution for customer-specific applications

A molded seal specially designed for a specific deployment purpose offers substantial advantages over standard seals: Optimizing the shaping and selecting the right materials in order to fulfill all custom specifications guarantees maximum leak-tightness as well as an overall longer service life. Furthermore, the use of molded seals can simplify the construction of equipment components, which can largely compensate for the tooling costs required to manufacture these molded parts.

Advantages of using customized molded seals

• Optimum functionality because the seal geometry is adapted to fit the equipment or part design
• Good adaptability under low compression forces
• Minimal space requirements and simple groove design
• Easy and durable groove fixation by means of special retaining ribs
• Simple installation and easy handling
• Molded seals are superior to standard seals when it comes to bridging large installation tolerances, especially when plastic parts are involved
• Potential solution for large compression travel by means of specifically designed lip seals and advantageous force/displacement ratios (versus compact seals like O-rings)
• In dynamic deployment, optimization of sliding and static friction as well as breakaway torque through the shaping of the seal
• Use of specially designed lip seals for slow rotational or swiveling motion
• High-performance materials optimally suited for the customer-specific application
• Very good value proposition for medium and large series orders

With Angst+Pfister from task formulation to custom solution – we are there for you during the whole process:

1. We address the application problem together with you in an early development phase.
2. We design the seal environment together with you (receiving groove/seal contact area).
3. We design and execute the seal design, during which CAD-supported seal proposals can be discussed with you and FEM simulations of functionality can be conducted.
4. We produce the prototypes from pilot molds for the deployment tests (as well as lathe-cut molded seal prototypes where required in the case of rotationally symmetric geometries).
5. We receive your approval or we optimize the prototype and its seal geometry.
6. We produce the series mold and deliver first samples with an initial sample test report.
7. After approval of the series mold, we produce and deploy the series seal.

The perfect design and configuration of the geometry is the most important thing when it comes to molded seal. Getting the experience and creativity of the Angst+Pfister engineering team involved early on is the foundation for mutual project success. Contact us with your individual needs today!

A selection of molded seals, such as sterile seals and also molded parts, such as bellows, stoppers and cable sleeves can also be found on our online shop APSOparts!

Engineering – competence across the board

Angst+Pfister places its extensive experience in developing application-specific molded seals entirely at the service of its customers. Expert consulting services that range from choosing the right material to designing the seal geometry and defining possible surface treatments form the basis for our customized solutions. In addition to taking all application parameters into account, Angst+Pfister naturally also takes aspects such as cost effectiveness and easy assembly and installation into consideration. Alongside CAD (computer-aided design) services, FEM (finite element method) simulation is available during the development process to simulate especially challenging tasks. Angst+Pfister’s engineering expertise results in perfect molded seals that optimally meet customer-specific requirements and custom application specifications. 

Fabrication – quality down to the tiniest detail

Perfect molded seals are the result of choosing the fabrication method best suited for the sealing application at hand. Injection, compression or transfer molding techniques are used depending on the geometry, unit production volume and material. Angst+Pfister has its own production workshops that are specialized in exactly these manufacturing processes.