- Email: [email protected]
ISI increases its fibre-based gasket capacity
NEWS combined, creating one operating unit called the Power Technologies Group. While this group will continue to develop and produce sealing, thermal-management and fuel-cell products, the change in name emphasises the combined scope of the group and operational synergies. Production facilities in China and Mexico already produce both sealing and thermal products, and this combination gives the company increased flexibility to manufacture sealing or thermal products in the optimal location for a particular customer or programme. Dana says that instead of dedicated sealing and dedicated thermal business development teams, it will now approach engine and transmission manufacturers with a full portfolio of sealing, thermal, and fuel-cell products and technologies. Dwayne Matthews, Vice President, Power Technologies Group, said: ‘The combined group will enable us to more quickly implement common processes and systems, and achieve operating synergies and savings. In the end, these changes will benefit Dana’s original equipment and aftermarket customers in these markets.’ Contact: Dana Power Technologies Group, Reinz-DichtungsGmbH, Reinzstr. 3–7, 89233 Neu-Ulm, Germany. Tel: +49 731 7046 0, Fax +49 731 7190 89, Email: [email protected], Web: www.reinz.com
Editor’s comment: It appears that gaskets will still be marketed under the Victor Reinz brand name.
ISI increases its fibre-based gasket capacity
I
nterface Solutions Inc (ISI) has added a new manufacturing line at its facility in Fulton, New York, USA. The move will increase its fibre-based gasket production capacity by up to three tonnes per hour. The new line is expected to shorten lead times for a variety of fibre gasket products. ‘ISI’s capital investment was based on needs for rapid turnaround as expressed by the market place and increasing global demand that ISI is enjoying for fibre-based gaskets,’ commented Frank Fox, Chief Executive Officer, ISI. ‘Lead times will decrease as orders are strategically channelled to the new forming line. Both existing and future customers can turn to ISI with confidence that large-volume fibre gasket orders will be met with quality production and increasingly rapid turnaround.’
August 2010
Contact: Interface Solutions Inc, 216 Wohlsen Way, Lancaster, PA 17603, USA. Tel: +1 717 207 6111, Fax: +1 717 207 6080, Email: [email protected], Web: www.sealinfo.com
Teadit concentrates its European operations in Austria
T
eadit International Produktions GmbH says that it is concentrating its European operations at its plant in Kufstein, Austria, in order to offer its customers competitive prices and improve the services they receive. The firm has recently upgraded and extended its manufacturing base in Kufstein by increasing the floor area dedicated to production by 1000 m2 – bringing the total space to 3400 m2. It has also established a production line for multidirectional expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) materials in sheets and tapes, increasing capacity and improving quality. The line will be used to manufacture additional PTFE products for new markets in different industries. In addition, transferring the braided packing product line to Kufstein, from Paratico in Italy, will increase the company’s packing capacity and reduce lead times by providing access to a more complete range of products. Bringing together packing production and research and development in Kufstein will also improve efficiency when working on new developments in this product range and will enable Teadit to offer its customers a better and quicker service. Contact: Teadit International Produktions GmbH, Rosenheimer Str. 10, 6330 Kufstein, Austria. Tel: +43 5372 64020 0, Fax: +43 5372 64020 20, Email: [email protected], Web: www.teadit-europe.com
Shin-Etsu establishes new operations in China
S
hin-Etsu Chemical Co Ltd has decided to establish a new silicones company, and construct a manufacturing plant, in Jiangsu Province, China. The facility is scheduled to be completed at the end of 2011 and will produce, each year, around 25 000 tonnes of silicone rubber products, such as silicone rubber for moulding applications. The investment of about ¥8.5 billion will be Shin-Etsu Chemical’s first large-scale invest-
BOB’S BIT
A
decision made by the Working Group at the ISO meetings in Colorado, USA, during June, makes it seem inevitable that we will not see a real metric international O-ring standard. This topic has been discussed at length in Sealing Technology. The rationale for a true metric standard was discussed in October 2003, and the commercial drivers behind the current standards, covered in October 2008. Just as a recap – it is only since 2008 that we have had a complete set of international standards for O-rings. It took the international sealing industry over 40 years to take the established imperial size O-rings and multiply the sizes by 25.4. Proponents will argue that O-rings are flexible, elastomeric components and there is enough to play with to get things to fit. However, a scan through ISO 3601-2 demonstrates that there are very few genuine straight metric cylinder bores that can be sealed using a standard O-ring. Does this matter? Well it is perhaps satisfactory if a potential user is sufficiently well informed to consult the size chart before even starting to design anything. The smallest ‘real metric’ bore that is listed is 16 mm. ‘What about 10 mm or 15 mm?’ you may ask – they seem like reasonable sizes to use. Sorry, you cannot use those, unless you order special O-rings. For those who think this is somewhat hypothetical, I have just been involved in a sealing problem which includes a component with a 15 mm bore, and the attempts to use a standard size O-ring have contributed to the problems encountered. It is possible to use a bore of 32 mm, but not 30 mm. A bore of 40 mm is covered, but not 42 mm. Have you noted the consistent coverage? I know we must accept that it is no use trying to turn back the clock, and rerun that crucial decision of some 40 years ago, but we must also live and learn. Experience has shown that if an attempt is made to bodge an important standard we can end up in an enormous hole. But for now the message is user beware, especially when designing components to innocent looking metric dimensions. And the final irony? One of the very few nations to have a true metric O-ring standard is the UK, where we measure distance in miles and speed in miles per hour while travelling to the pub for a pint of beer. Bob Flitney
Sealing Technology
3
Editor’s comment: It appears that gaskets will still be marketed under the Victor Reinz brand name.
ISI increases its fibre-based gasket capacity
I
nterface Solutions Inc (ISI) has added a new manufacturing line at its facility in Fulton, New York, USA. The move will increase its fibre-based gasket production capacity by up to three tonnes per hour. The new line is expected to shorten lead times for a variety of fibre gasket products. ‘ISI’s capital investment was based on needs for rapid turnaround as expressed by the market place and increasing global demand that ISI is enjoying for fibre-based gaskets,’ commented Frank Fox, Chief Executive Officer, ISI. ‘Lead times will decrease as orders are strategically channelled to the new forming line. Both existing and future customers can turn to ISI with confidence that large-volume fibre gasket orders will be met with quality production and increasingly rapid turnaround.’
August 2010
Contact: Interface Solutions Inc, 216 Wohlsen Way, Lancaster, PA 17603, USA. Tel: +1 717 207 6111, Fax: +1 717 207 6080, Email: [email protected], Web: www.sealinfo.com
Teadit concentrates its European operations in Austria
T
eadit International Produktions GmbH says that it is concentrating its European operations at its plant in Kufstein, Austria, in order to offer its customers competitive prices and improve the services they receive. The firm has recently upgraded and extended its manufacturing base in Kufstein by increasing the floor area dedicated to production by 1000 m2 – bringing the total space to 3400 m2. It has also established a production line for multidirectional expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) materials in sheets and tapes, increasing capacity and improving quality. The line will be used to manufacture additional PTFE products for new markets in different industries. In addition, transferring the braided packing product line to Kufstein, from Paratico in Italy, will increase the company’s packing capacity and reduce lead times by providing access to a more complete range of products. Bringing together packing production and research and development in Kufstein will also improve efficiency when working on new developments in this product range and will enable Teadit to offer its customers a better and quicker service. Contact: Teadit International Produktions GmbH, Rosenheimer Str. 10, 6330 Kufstein, Austria. Tel: +43 5372 64020 0, Fax: +43 5372 64020 20, Email: [email protected], Web: www.teadit-europe.com
Shin-Etsu establishes new operations in China
S
hin-Etsu Chemical Co Ltd has decided to establish a new silicones company, and construct a manufacturing plant, in Jiangsu Province, China. The facility is scheduled to be completed at the end of 2011 and will produce, each year, around 25 000 tonnes of silicone rubber products, such as silicone rubber for moulding applications. The investment of about ¥8.5 billion will be Shin-Etsu Chemical’s first large-scale invest-
BOB’S BIT
A
decision made by the Working Group at the ISO meetings in Colorado, USA, during June, makes it seem inevitable that we will not see a real metric international O-ring standard. This topic has been discussed at length in Sealing Technology. The rationale for a true metric standard was discussed in October 2003, and the commercial drivers behind the current standards, covered in October 2008. Just as a recap – it is only since 2008 that we have had a complete set of international standards for O-rings. It took the international sealing industry over 40 years to take the established imperial size O-rings and multiply the sizes by 25.4. Proponents will argue that O-rings are flexible, elastomeric components and there is enough to play with to get things to fit. However, a scan through ISO 3601-2 demonstrates that there are very few genuine straight metric cylinder bores that can be sealed using a standard O-ring. Does this matter? Well it is perhaps satisfactory if a potential user is sufficiently well informed to consult the size chart before even starting to design anything. The smallest ‘real metric’ bore that is listed is 16 mm. ‘What about 10 mm or 15 mm?’ you may ask – they seem like reasonable sizes to use. Sorry, you cannot use those, unless you order special O-rings. For those who think this is somewhat hypothetical, I have just been involved in a sealing problem which includes a component with a 15 mm bore, and the attempts to use a standard size O-ring have contributed to the problems encountered. It is possible to use a bore of 32 mm, but not 30 mm. A bore of 40 mm is covered, but not 42 mm. Have you noted the consistent coverage? I know we must accept that it is no use trying to turn back the clock, and rerun that crucial decision of some 40 years ago, but we must also live and learn. Experience has shown that if an attempt is made to bodge an important standard we can end up in an enormous hole. But for now the message is user beware, especially when designing components to innocent looking metric dimensions. And the final irony? One of the very few nations to have a true metric O-ring standard is the UK, where we measure distance in miles and speed in miles per hour while travelling to the pub for a pint of beer. Bob Flitney
Sealing Technology
3