Large sealing rings for ship hatches, tank covers, mining equipment, and heavy industrial machinery can be difficult to manufacture using conventional molding methods. Producing the complete ring in one piece often requires a full-size mold and a very large hydraulic press, especially when the seal has a large diameter or includes regularly spaced mounting holes.
Our segmented step-vulcanization process provides a more flexible way to manufacture these oversized sealing components.
The seal is produced progressively rather than molded as a complete ring in a single operation. A compact hydraulic press is combined with dedicated linear tooling to form, position, and vulcanize the rubber section by section.
After each section has been accurately positioned and cured, the tooling advances to the next position and the process continues around the required circumference. This allows a continuous sealing ring to be produced using equipment that is considerably smaller than the finished seal.
For seals with bolt holes or other installation features, the tooling system maintains controlled positioning and pitch as the vulcanization process progresses, helping ensure consistent dimensions around the complete sealing loop.
Large Seals Without Full-Size Molds
Extra-large diameters and long sealing circumferences can be manufactured without producing a mold covering the entire finished ring. This reduces tooling requirements and provides greater flexibility for custom and low-volume projects.
Hot-Vulcanized Section Connections
Each section is joined through controlled heat and pressure rather than conventional cold adhesive bonding. The vulcanized connection provides a strong and durable joint integrated into the rubber sealing structure.
Suitable for Custom Dimensions
The process can be adapted to different diameters, cross-sections, hole patterns, and installation requirements. Seals can be manufactured according to drawings, samples, or measured dimensions of existing components.
Useful for Repair and Replacement Projects
For ship repair, mining equipment maintenance, and replacement of seals on existing machinery, original oversized molds are often unavailable or uneconomical. Segmented vulcanization provides a practical manufacturing option for these non-standard replacement seals.
Our large-diameter segmented sealing technology is particularly suitable for:
Ship hatch covers, watertight doors, manholes, and large access openings
Shipbuilding and ship repair projects
Large storage tanks and pressure vessel covers
Mining machinery and processing equipment
Heavy construction and engineering equipment
Offshore and marine equipment
Large industrial doors, inspection covers, and access systems
Rail, wind power, and other equipment requiring oversized continuous seals
From a single replacement seal to large custom sealing rings, we can develop the manufacturing process around the actual dimensions, installation conditions, and operating requirements of the application.
