The “one size fits all” approach rarely works anywhere, let alone in industrial sealing. In complex industries, such as oil and gas or pharmaceutical manufacturing, complicated problems deserve thoughtful and innovative solutions. Thus, for the best problem solving for industrial seals, you need a tried and true process combined with innovative experts to develop solutions.
Take our process for example. Here at Marco Rubber, we’re experts at problem solving when it comes to industrial seals. We’ve developed our process to provide solutions that are…
- Timely
- Creative
- Information based
- Discovered through our in-depth, engineered process
- And backed by our wealth of experience and knowledge.
When it comes to industrial seals, we are the experts. That expertise becomes evident when our engineering team gets to work solving complex problems and creating custom solutions for our clients. So let’s take a look at that process.
Our Problem Solving Process
Our problem solving process can start in a couple places. Sometimes, engineers come to us with a design that they know will need a custom seal. We are able to take the application conditions along with the design and work from there to create a custom solution.
Most of the time though, there is already a seal in place that is not functioning properly. Unfortunately, this means the plant has already experienced seal failures, costly messes, environmental hazards, yield loss, downtime, and general frustration.
In this situation, it is of the utmost importance that we find a solution quickly, cost effectively, and accurately. So what does it look like when our engineering team gets to work?
1. Start With a Consultation
Our goal is always to create a custom solution for your situation, so this consultation helps us determine what will best help us solve your problem. To get there, we’ll start by looking at the application conditions and a drawing or sample of the part in question. Then, we’ll look at the…
- Type of material in use
- Size of the seal
- Function of the seal
- Pressure applied to the seal
- Decompression
- Temperature
- Chemical exposure
- Dynamic or static application
- And other pertinent factors that indicate potential design flaws.
2. Identify the Problem Points
Our team will use our extensive knowledge, expertise, and technology to test your current scenario and determine the ultimate factors impacting your current seal. If you need a seal for a new application, we’ll identify the potential problem points and develop a solution to address those.
Our sealing experts have dedicated their careers to understanding the ins and outs of seals so that you don’t have to. We know exactly where to look to determine hidden problems that cause headaches for so many plant managers and engineers.
3. Engineer a Solution
After determining what problem points are causing the problem, we can develop a custom solution. For example, we once worked with a customer who was using a standard size -470 in a 75 durometer FKM. The o-ring would fail and leave fragments in their piping system, causing expensive shutdowns and substantial downtime.
Our team reviewed the hardware dimensions and determined that the o-ring was being over-stretched, which caused the seal to degrade. The incorrect size coupled with the high pressure and rapid decompression caused the o-ring to break apart.
We engineered a properly sized o-ring, as well as a better material for their application. We used our high pressure V1090 FKM compound, a highly durable compound designed to withstand high pressure applications.
Our solution allowed them to prevent seal failures, resulting in minimizing downtime and decreased expenses. The customer is also now reviewing all of their other seals and changing them to our V1090 compound to avoid future failures.
4. Test Our Solution
After engineering a solution, we rigorously test it to ensure function before installation. We are certified to ISO 9001, which is a quality management standard. We achieved this certification through a dedication to our quality management system, continuous improvements, innovative and adaptive leadership, and evidence-based decision making. We take this certification seriously and have incorporated this attitude into the fabric of our organization.
When we develop a custom solution, the end product works in the application it was developed for and is a quality product designed to last.
5. Implement the Solution
Finally, once the solution has been adequately tested, we implement the solution in your plant. We offer comprehensive post-market support as well for all your needs.
This is by far our favorite part of the process – and our clients’! Nothing is more satisfying than seeing a clients’ process finally come together with ease and hearing from them months later, letting us know that everything is still functioning well.
That is why we do what we do!
With a little innovation and creativity and a lot of expertise, any seal is possible. If you are facing a complex sealing scenario or are battling a constantly failing seal, don’t settle for a subpar solution. Talk to the experts about a custom solution for your industrial seal to save you time, money, and headaches.