While many businesses prefer to repair their machinery as much as possible to keep costs low, this doesn’t always work with rubber products. Let’s talk about which pieces you’re better off replacing at the first signs of trouble.
In rubber cultivation, tapping is the process by which rubber is procured. Here, a slight cut is made in the tree so to allow the latex to flow out and be collected. Tapping occurs early in the morning when there is less chance of rain and when latex flow is higher.
We recognize that when your machinery has service issues, it can impact your ability to meet customer demands as scheduled. Let’s talk about how we can help you ensure that you have the rubber hoses you need to keep things running smoothly.
When in doubt, add rubber: “During the course of experiments which occupied five years previous to the discovery of the vulcanizing process … the substance … was indiscriminately applied to different articles as convenience and fancy prompted …” (Charles Goodyear, 1853)
If you’ve recently acquired an older piece of equipment, you may be surprised at what type of rubber parts it utilizes. Let’s talk about the machine’s function and whether we can help you keep it supplied with all the rubber parts it needs.
No matter if you need steel-reinforced conveyor belts or rubber-based fabric belts, you will find products that perform at the highest levels, reduce downtime due to failure, lower operational costs (both for equipment and worker hours), and maintain the life of the conveyor system.
When you need to reduce noise and vibration on heavy equipment, anti-vibration mountings are one of your best options. Their shock absorbing properties reduce both noise and vibration, and are available made from neoprene, natural rubber, silicone rubber, and other synthetic rubbers.
In the 1850s, vulcanized rubber helped transform many products. For instance, rubber hammocks for sailors “do not require to be scoured and are not liable to be infected with vermin … [and are] as comfortable as can be desired.” (Charles Goodyear, 1853)
Rubber offers many benefits to manufacturers, as it is flexible and can be molded into any shape, and is also relatively inexpensive. In addition, it is abrasion resistant, highly elastic, and is also good for casting wax.
The only non-synthetic rubber on the market is natural rubber, and while it has certain applications, it has limitations for many commercial or industrial applications. Since World War II, synthetic rubber has been the preferred, and more widely used, product.
Without the rubber boot there would be no zipper. While the “separable fastener” was patented in 1917, the invention didn’t catch on until the 1920s, when B.F. Goodrich coined the word “zipper” to describe the new closure used in their latest rubber boot design.
Looking to be environmentally friendly with your rubber products? Many products can be found that are made of natural rubber. This was the original rubber and is still used today for environmentally friendly rubber applications that don’t have to deal with a lot of heat.
An English botanist by the name of Henry Wickham was responsible for shifting rubber production from the Amazon to Southeast Asia. He collected rubber tree seeds and smuggled them to Britain, where they were then transported to British colonies in Asia.
The good news? Many rubber products are made of recycled material. The best news? Recycling is good for the planet and it can improve performance because the material becomes stronger and more durable during the process.
Before the invention of vulcanized rubber, seals were made from a variety of materials. For example, the first effective packed plunger pump patented in 1675 by Samuel Moreland, an English inventor and spy, relied on leather seals and gaskets.
A promotional piece made in 1860 helped illustrate the versatility of rubber. The intricately carved black fan, now held in the Cooper Hewitt museum collection, demonstrated vulcanized rubber was relatively rigid, had no rubber odor, and didn’t grow sticky in hot weather.
For industrial waterproofing applications, geomembranes fabricated from rubber (and other rubber products that seal out contaminants) provide excellent service when moisture damage needs to be prevented or when similar sealing applications are required.
Did you know there are around twenty different kinds of synthetic rubber? Some of these rubbers are butyl, silicone, and acrylic rubber. These synthetic rubbers are made by adding various kinds of gases and substances including crude oil and petroleum.
Rubber bands have worked their way into the American (and world’s) consciousness since they were patented in 1845. The Guinness Book of World Records even has a special section devoted to charting the growth of who owns the world’s largest rubber band ball.
In the 1850s, small boats were sometimes made from rubberized whalebone board. Strong, light, and buoyant, whalebone was milled into boards then infused with vulcanized rubber, creating a waterproof “plastic wood” that could be steamed and molded into curved shapes.
Because of their low resistance to abrasion and friction, fluorosilicone rubber products are typically limited to static seals. However, their temperature properties are excellent as well as their compression resistance, making them a preferred material for aircraft fuel systems and FDA applications.
In the late 19th century, vulcanized rubber fabric was recommended as a substitute for “vegetable leather.” What’s that? Linen and cotton fabrics were coated with resins, embossed like leather and used for suitcases, trunks, boxes, and music cases.
Finding the right o-ring is about more than just the diameter. You also have to find the right shape, thickness, flatness, and rubber type. Fortunately, a rubber supply expert can help you track down the right o-ring for your needs.
Conveyor systems are often custom-designed to work with your unique setup and your products, which can make finding replacements tricky. Fortunately, rubber supply experts can provide belts in a variety of shapes, textures, and lengths to fit your system.
Did you know that there is not one but two different types of rubber? Natural rubber is made from the sap of certain types of plants and trees, while synthetic rubber is composed of chemicals and chemical compounds and usually uses oil as a base material.
Did you know that rubber can withstand low temperatures of -60 degrees Celsius all the way to 300? This makes it essential in many car and engine parts, including gaskets, rubber seals and tires.
Are you concerned that trouble finding the rubber hose you typically use for your equipment will require you to make a machinery change? In many cases, it’s possible to find a substitute rubber hose from a different manufacturer that works just as well.
