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Case Study

A New Material and Design for Rubber Umbrella and Bell Valves with Excellent Elongation at Break

Challenge

Redesign and manufacture rubber umbrella and bell valves to operate longer without breaking and improve sealing performance.

Our client wanted us to create a custom rubber material for umbrella and bell valves leading to a more robust version of existing critical pump sealing components. At the same time, we would develop the material and manufacture the valves from our design facility in China, close to our client’s manufacturing operations.

The client was eager to have an alternate supplier located in Southern China in addition to its current local supplier. The new compound is an ideal candidate to manufacture using highly efficient vertical injection processes.

We also needed to improve the umbrella valve’s sealing performance, which would require a refined design and a new molding concept.


Solution

Created a new advanced material and part design that significantly improves elongation at break performance.

Since our customer had manufacturing facilities near our China operations, we tapped our nearby advanced materials group to create the valves’ new elastomer compound. Additionally, this led the redesign of the part to improve sealing performance by enhancing surface topography.

Our tooling engineers improved demolding efficiency and reduced production costs. The new material also had to be more robust than previous parts.

Production molds for both the bell and umbrella valves were made up of several small groups, making it easy to replace molds and reduce mold costs. For high-volume part runs, low-cost replacement molds help to scale production efficiently and economically.

Finally, this increases mold accuracy and provides a stable parts supply because of the small part size.

Results

Better valve sealing performance; elongation at break achieves 662%.

To meet the customer’s requirements to improve the umbrella valve’s sealing performance, MRP developed a processing technology to achieve surface topography that enhances sealing performance. Additionally, the mold design improved pump performance by increasing the umbrella valve’s ability to seal onto the mating surface. Even the smallest efficiency gains with these valves have a substantial impact on overall pump performance. Elongation at break tests would later confirm the new material achieves 662% elongation, a critical improvement. Having the ability to develop and manufacture our customer’s parts in China was critical for them as they expand their footprint in this part of the world. This proximity improved efficiencies, took less time and lowered costs.

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Since 1945, Minnesota Rubber and Plastics has built a worldwide reputation as a leader in advanced technologies.

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It is a global solutions provider in the development and launch of complex products, from high-tolerance medical components and assemblies to final sterile packaged devices for the most demanding applications using medical-grade elastomers, and thermoplastics.

The company’s reputation is founded on its unique science-based approach that has made it a preferred manufacturing partner for industry leaders in North America, Europe, and Asia. It is well known for its ability to provide cost-effective solutions to technically demanding applications.

Minnesota Rubber and Plastics’ experience in advanced material formulation enables it to be compliant with FDA, EC 1935/2004, NSF 61, and NSF 51, plus ISO 10993 and ISO 13485, to meet your unique product requirements. Its 70-year-plus history in the design and manufacture of complex devices makes it the preferred partner for industry leaders throughout the world.