In food processing, seals do more than contain pressure. They protect product quality and keep systems compliant. When o-rings in a pressure vessel began extruding from their grooves, one manufacturer turned to Marco Rubber & Plastics for help resolving the contamination risks and unplanned shutdowns.
The Challenge
A major food processor was experiencing seal failures in a high-pressure mix and transfer system. Their OEM food processing o-rings were extruding from the groove during operation. This was leading to premature wear and repeated shutdowns.
After repeated seal failures and rising maintenance costs, the company contacted Marco to identify the root cause and prevent further contamination risks, which would require full cleaning and inspection after each shutdown.
Marco’s engineering team identified three core issues: improper groove dimensions, pressure spikes that caused extrusion, and inconsistent manufacturing tolerances from the original supplier. These combined to shorten seal life and disrupt production.
Marco’s Solution
Marco performed a full root-cause analysis. Failed parts were inspected, and original drawings were reviewed. The team determined that the groove was oversized, allowing the o-ring to flex beyond its compression limits during pressure cycles.
Marco’s engineering team developed a new groove profile that optimized compression and stability under load. A new o-ring size was specified to maintain uniform squeeze across the full pressure range.
To meet food-safety and sanitation requirements, Marco recommended a high-performance, food-grade elastomer compound with strong resistance to both pressure and chemical cleaning. The Markez compound provides broad chemical resistance while meeting FDA, USDA, and 3-A sanitary standards for dairy processing.
With Marco’s precision manufacturing, consistent dimensions and quality were achieved across every seal. Pressure testing confirmed that the new design maintained full integrity under operating conditions.
Proven in Operation
The new groove and o-ring design eliminated extrusion entirely. The seals maintained their shape and performance through repeated pressure cycles, delivering longer service life and greater reliability.
The customer reported reduced maintenance, improved uptime, and consistent operation under full system pressure. This project reinforced how proper groove design and material selection directly impact system reliability.
Contact Marco Rubber & Plastics to review your application and design a compliant, reliable sealing solution.