Overcoming seal failures with Freudenberg EPDM 291 material

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies helped a major U.S. manufacturer in the health and well-being industry overcome frequent and costly sealing failures in their centrifugal equipment. Centrifuges, which spin at high speeds (100 to 200+ revolutions per minute / RPMs), are used to separate particles of different densities in fluids, gases, and solids. This equipment is common in industries such as food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and biodiesel production. The seals within the centrifuge were regularly failing due to the extreme conditions - high temperatures, media exposure, and intense rotational forces. These failures led to significant downtime, costly repairs, and product contamination risks, affecting productivity and profitability.

Initially, the manufacturer turned to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for replacement seal kits, but these were expensive and came with long lead times. The downtime caused by seal failures and the wait for new kits compounded the manufacturer’s losses. With each failed seal causing line shutdowns, the company faced further revenue losses and mounting costs, especially since centrifuge equipment typically costs between $100,000 to $1 million or more.

Frustrated by the repeated failures and high costs, the manufacturer reached out to one of Freudenberg Sealing Technologies’ distributors in the U.S. The distributor quickly involved Freudenberg’s sealing experts, who performed a comprehensive analysis of the application and its unique requirements. Freudenberg Sealing Technologies developed a tailored solution using their EPDM 291 material, which included both standard-sized O-rings and custom machined O-rings made from EPDM 292 by the Freudenberg Xpress® service. To further prevent seal failure, a large O-ring was converted into a custom square-ring, a design that specifically prevents spiral failure in demanding conditions. All the seals provided were FDA-compliant and fit perfectly into the existing equipment, allowing for immediate use without modifications.

The results were significant. The manufacturer saw a dramatic improvement in the longevity of the seals, eliminating unplanned downtime and increasing overall productivity.  The customer realized annual savings of nearly $35,000 whilst the distributor gained the additional business, highlighting the value of Freudenberg Sealing Technologies’ diverse solutions. This success story underscores Freudenberg Sealing Technologies’ ability to solve complex sealing challenges, driving cost savings, and improving operational efficiency for their clients while supporting their distribution partners​.

Learn more about EPDM 291

Contact Name:   Scott Wilson
Tel No:              +44 7771 844724
Email:                scott.wilson@fst.com

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