Our services

We find a solution to every problem! From the drawing or model to the end product, we support you with our specialist knowledge and skills in order to achieve an optimum solution for your application – because only sophisticated, well-thought-out products guarantee optimum functionality in the long term.

CONSULTANCY, PLANNING AND SUPPORT

For us, professional advice is of paramount importance. Our service encompasses the entire development process, from the initial problem definition to product development and manufacturing. With decades of experience, we will accompany your project right from the outset and act as a reliable and equal partner at every stage.

CUSTOMISATION AND DEVELOPMENT

We approach every problem individually in order to adapt to your requirements. We can either draw on and customise a wide range of ready-made solutions or work with you to strike out in a completely new direction. As part of this process, we help to translate design and application needs into specific elastomer-processing requirements.

MANUFACTURING AND FURTHER PROCESSING

We customise production according to the nature of the material and the area of application, recommending a suitable production technique for every production run and article size. Naturally, this includes the production of prototypes, models or small batches according to your specifications. On request, we deliver the finished goods in a clean, packaged form – or in a suitable form for further processing in clean rooms – along with the appropriate declarations of conformity and certificates.

Moreover, we have the entire spectrum of manufacturing and processing techniques in the elastomer sector at our disposal:

In injection moulding, a raw mixture is prepared according to an individual formula and injected into a cavity (the mould), where it is vulcanised under the influence of pressure and temperature. This method is particularly suited to the production of articles with more complex geometries that impose stricter tolerance requirements on the finished moulding. Depending on the complexity of the article and the desired production run, it is possible to apply various production concepts using either conventional or specially designed moulds.

The stamping process shapes a material with the help of a pressing die in a similar manner to injection moulding. Unlike in injection moulding, however, the raw mixture is divided into portions and inserted by hand.

Extrusion involves mixing and homogenising the raw mixture in an injection cylinder and then injecting it through a nozzle that imparts the desired geometry onto the extrusion product. This equipment is known as an extruder and is used to produce tubes and profiles – that is, material sold by the meter. The next stage is vulcanisation, either continuously in a subsequent vulcanisation channel or in an autoclave. As well as material sold by the meter, extrudates of this kind can also be cut into sections of defined lengths using downstream cutting devices. Tubes and profiles can be assembled into rings or even complete frames by gluing or vulcanisation.

The calendering process shapes the material using a series of rollers arranged one after another. As the pre-plasticised raw compound passes through the spaces between the rollers, it is homogenised and rolled flat. The resulting unfinished sheet is vulcanised to the desired thickness using a heated roller (Auma). This method is primarily used for the production of sheets or films sold by the meter. We specialise in variants with fluorinated films vulcanised onto one or both sides to act as a chemical barrier or lubricating film in the end product.

Flat geometries (e.g. disks, rings, frames) can be punched from sheet material using dies or cut on CNC equipment using a blade or a jet of water. These methods provide an economical way of producing a multitude of shapes, including complicated geometries. With a wide range of standard materials, it is possible to satisfy the majority of applications quickly and cost-effectively. Where there is a need for special-purpose elastomers with high-grade properties, we also produce corresponding sheet material using formulas developed in-house.

The machining and processing of rubber and silicone is fundamentally dirty and dusty work. Products destined for sensitive applications must therefore be cleaned in a subsequent process. In our washing and cleaning area, we have a wide range of techniques at our disposal in order to clean your products gently and effectively. On request, we also deliver products that are suitable for further processing in classified clean rooms.

Our processes undergo regular audits in accordance with the requirements of the European Pharmacopoeia in order to ensure that they produce residue-free products.

This includes downstream product-processing steps such as cutting, drilling, coating, bundling, packing and labelling. We assemble the products precisely according to your specifications and make them up into the desired shipping units. We will be happy to implement any additional requirements you may have, such as special packing materials, labels, etc.

© Gummi-Wöhleke GmbH – Specialist items made of rubber and silicone