Since Harvey Firestone made his first consumer good in 1890, compression molding companies have been the heart of the rubber molding industry. From simple gaskets and o-rings to large automotive parts and varying consumer goods found in everyday life, compression molding experts have been converting raw rubber materials into premium products for well over one hundred years. Although the process seems simple, there are quite a few challenges for companies like Lake Erie Rubber to overcome to continue providing high-quality products at affordable costs. This article will take a look at the decisions made by compression molding companies including the importance of material selection, the compression molding process, and how Lake Erie Rubber ensures premium quality products with each run.

The Importance of Material Selection

With various natural and synthetic rubbers to choose from, compression molding companies will work closely with you to determine the best raw product to deliver optimal performance. This decision will ultimately hinge on several factors depending on the specific industry or end application. Natural rubber may be the ideal material choice for consumer goods like pet products while synthetic rubbers can offer specific properties to withstand challenging environmental or procedural conditions. Below are some of the factors compression molding companies take into consideration when forming your products:

• Elasticity: Rubber is known for its elastic properties including the ability to twist, stretch, bend, and return to its original form. Compression molding companies will consider the end application of your product and whether elasticity is a primary function before determining the ideal rubber.

• Durability: As rubber offers significant durability benefits over materials like plastic, the right material choice can make an incredible difference in product lifespan. Some rubber products need the high tensile strength of natural rubber to deliver optimal performance whereas some projects require the specific durability of synthetic rubbers.

• Specific Resistances: The innovation of synthetic rubbers has allowed compression molding companies to serve unique industries that require specific resistance to chemicals, temperatures, and environmental conditions. For example, EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) offers extreme resistance to chemical attacks from ammonia, alcohol, and other solvents. Viton, or FKM, offers enhanced resistance to fuels and high temperatures, making it ideal for automotive components like seals or gaskets.

• Abrasion Resistance: Many rubber components experience consistent friction or abrasion during use and must retain elastic properties to guarantee optimal performance. Neoprene rubber is utilized by compression molding companies has it can withstand continual scraping and rubbing. Other materials with enhanced abrasion resistance are nitrile, natural rubber, Viton, and EPDM.

The Compression Molding Process: From Material to Product

Working with an experienced compression molding company like Lake Erie Rubber guarantees you receive a precise final product that delivers the intended qualities and performance. At its core, compression molding produces parts by placing a pre-measured amount of raw material into a precision mold and using a specific combination of heat and pressure to form a final product. Compression-molded rubber provides the inherent stretchy and elastic characteristics of rubber with added resistance to oils, temperatures, or chemicals depending on the specific compound. The compression molding process entails three specific phases:

1. Pre-Process: At this stage, our experts will work closely with your team to design and fabricate a precision mold that meets unique product requirements and tolerances. With over 60 years of experience, we’ve designed molds for a variety of industries and end applications with impressive results.
2. Compression Molding Stage: This is where raw material converts to a final product. We pre-measure amounts of the designated rubber with minimal variation to limit waste and save on costs. These slabs of material are placed into the mold cavities and either side are pushed together using hydraulic force to drive the material outwards and fill the voids. Added heat at the stage helps vulcanize the rubber and creates an entirely new chemical structure that delivers the intended final properties required by the customer.
3. Post-Processing: After the molding stage is complete, the components are removed from the mold and excess flash is trimmed to match final specifications. The parts are then neatly packaged and ready to ship.

A Closer Look at Rubber Compression Molding with Lake Erie Rubber

Compression molding companies like Lake Erie Rubber use a vast array of modern equipment to create precision products with lower tooling costs than other methods. With limited waste, customers can expect to reduce their final production costs on low to medium-volume projects while not seeing any drops in quality or precision.

How Compression Molding Companies Ensure Quality and Consistency

Experienced compression molding companies like Lake Erie Rubber take considerable quality control measures to ensure optimal consistency throughout the production process. Quality control measures at Lake Erie Rubber start with an exhaustive inspection of all raw materials to ensure their chemical composition.

The next step in ensuring quality and consistency takes place in the mold production phase. Precision CNC machining techniques provide tight tolerances and limit material waste during molding while also offering enhanced durability to withstand repeated use over the project volume requirements.

During the compression molding process, parts are exhaustively inspected, measured, and tested to guarantee final performance metrics before products are shipped to their final destination. If any defects or variations are noticed during production, compression molding companies will examine the entire process and make the necessary adjustments to deliver products to their exact specifications.

Choosing Lake Erie Rubber as Your Compression Molding Company

With over six decades of experience as a compression molding company, Lake Erie Rubber prides itself on using premium materials, modern equipment, and exhaustive quality control measures to deliver precision products to customers across countless industries. From choosing the ideal material to machining high-tolerance molds and inspecting each final component, we will work closely with you to form a final product that meets your unique needs and specifications. As a leading compression molding company in Erie, PA, we’ve worked with customers in the rail, mining, construction, consumer goods, and oil industries and are always looking for a new challenge. You can contact us at any time to receive more information on our compression molding capabilities and a quote for your next project. We look forward to speaking with you and delivering a high-quality product you can depend on!

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