Rubber extrusion is a manufacturing process used to create various rubber products with consistent cross-sectional shapes and lengths. It involves forcing heated raw rubber material that is kneaded and pressurized, through a specially designed die or mold. This die has a specific cross-sectional shape that matches the desired final shape of the rubber product. The final stage of the process is vulcanization which further cures and hardens the finished product.
Rubber extrusions are commonly used in a variety of applications across various industries due to their versatility, flexibility, and durability. Within the automotive and transportation industries, rubber extrusions are used for various components, including door seals, window seals, grommets, and vibration dampening.
Proper selection of extrusions can protect against extreme weather, suppress noise, and eliminate vibration.
RPM’s extruded rubber seals have been proven effective at sealing
the back of a bump rail to prevent road spray.
Pelmet Seals
Pelmet seals are used on trailers to provide a weather-resistant and secure seal between the cargo area and the trailer, truck body, and tarping system. These seals help protect the cargo from environmental elements such as rain, dust, and wind and help maintain the integrity of cargo during transportation.
Pelmet seals are often used for:
- Cargo Compartment Sealing: Pelmet seals are fitted to curtain-sided trailers, to help in protecting the roller mechanism of the curtain, while also providing a weather-tight seal. This is typically along the top edge of the roll header and sometimes along the sides and bottom as well.
- Compression: When the trailer or truck doors are closed, the pelmet seals are compressed between the door frame and the doors themselves. This compression creates a tight seal that prevents water, dust, and wind from entering the cargo area.
- Weather Resistance: Pelmet seals are designed to be UV and weather-resistant, capable of withstanding rain, snow, and extreme temperatures. This is crucial for protecting the cargo, especially if it's sensitive to moisture or temperature fluctuations.
- Security: In addition to weather protection, pelmet seals also enhance security. They make it more difficult for unauthorized individuals to tamper with or access the cargo inside the trailer or truck.
- Added Durability: Pelmet seals can help eliminate contact between rigid parts of the trailer and reduce damage caused by on-road vibrations being transferred into the roller mechanism. Pelmet seals come in various shapes, sizes, and materials to accommodate the various types of trailers used in the transportation industry.
RPM specializes in creating customized pelmet seals to meet your specific dimensions or requirements.
Bulb Seals
Bulb seals, also known as bulb weatherstripping or bulb gaskets, are a type of weatherstripping used to create a flexible, airtight seal between two surfaces, such as a door and its frame or a window and its frame.
The distinguishing feature of bulb seals is the round or bulbous section of the seal. This bulb is typically made of a softer and more compressible material, such as foam or sponge rubber, which allows it to deform and create a seal when pressed against a surface.
The bulb portion of the seal compresses as it comes into contact with the mating surface, forming a tight seal. The flexibility of the bulb allows it to conform to irregularities in the surface, creating an effective barrier against drafts, moisture, dust, noise, and other environmental factors. Seals are designed to be weather-resistant and can withstand exposure to a wide range of temperatures and environmental conditions.
Find out if RPM has the bulb seal you need - and if not - we’ll custom-make it for you.
Door and dock bumpers are protective pads or components designed to prevent damage to a trailer's rear doors as well as the loading dock area during loading and unloading of cargo. These bumpers serve several important functions:
- Trailer Protection: Door and dock bumpers protect the rear bumpers of trailers from impact damage when backing up to a loading dock or when other equipment, such as forklifts, come into contact with the trailer during cargo handling operations. They also protect the doors and sides of
the trailer when the doors are swung open. - Dock Protection: Bumpers safeguard the loading dock itself from damage caused by repeated impacts from trailers backing into them. Dock bumpers help absorb the force of these impacts, preventing structural damage to the dock.
- Safety: Door and dock bumpers enhance safety by creating a visible and cushioned barrier between the trailer and the loading dock, reducing the risk of accidents, injuries, and property damage.
Trailer Dock Bumper
Grommet Bumpers
Grommet bumpers are the optimal choice when requiring through-hole protection. They are designed to fit snugly into an opening and not let water, snow and other foreign elements through.
This style of bumper is inserted through a hole and is held firmly in place a radiused portion of rubber. They can be temporarily removed for quick access to underlying areas as required.
Grommets bumpers are very simple to install, requiring no additional hardware. They are typically used in small diameter applications as stand-offs separating the airline control box from the trailer frame etc.
Standard Grommets
RPM also offers standard grommets for the transportation industry. Much like grommet bumpers these are inserted through a hole and held firmly in place by a radiused portion of rubber providing a soft non-abrasive surface through which to pass cables or air lines etc.
This serves to protect hydraulic/air lines or electrical cables that are passed through various sections of the truck and trailer assembly. They’re designed to help prevent abrasion and premature wear of the lines.
RPM’s rubber recessed bumpers are the perfect solution for protecting the swing doors of your trailer.
If you need a special size, contact us to see how we can help!