Find out how Datwyler ensures the highest quality of O-rings by using the latest production equipment, Datwyler’s production system and co-engineering capabilities.
A clear understanding of the frictional behaviour and interaction of the rubber against the sealing surface is key
Different testing methods of system-critical elastomer components with fire-resistant material to prevent thermal runaway in battery systems of electric vehicles.
For e-powertrain applications a wide variety of sealing solutions are required, as there are multiple surfaces that must be sealed effectively. We have developed a number of solutions for these sealing challenges.
Datwyler has a leading role in producing materials and components in the most sustainable way possible, while advancing the mobility sector to become even more efficient and eco-friendly.
Materials development
Material expertise and innovation: at the heart of what we deliver for our customers
As experts in various aspects of material development, you can have confidence in us to deliver solutions that are perfectly aligned with your specific needs and requirements. Decades of knowledge and experience has been curated and continuously evolved to ensure you have access to cutting-edge materials – with every element of the process controlled and carried out in-house. From the raw material stage, where we create individual compounds, through to complex recipe development, formulation and in-house mixing, we materialize ideas for a safer, smarter and more sustainable world.
The conflicting requirements for materials in terms of temperature spectrum, mechanical stress, media resistance and other criteria are constantly increasing with modern systems and applications, and our compounds must increasingly push both physical and chemical boundaries to deliver the functionality and reliability you need.
Accountability is fundamental, and our co-engineering approach ensures we have an in-depth understanding of your goals and the ability to support you throughout the lifecycle of a product. Drawing on expertise in areas such as simulation, engineering, surface technology and chemical compliance, your material will be fully analyzed ahead of both production and application, ensuring any amendments to the process or specific part geometries can be made well in advance of serial production.
This materials science and analytical expertise is geared specifically towards Datwyler products and formulations, which span the material landscape. In addition to focusing on elastomeric compounds for over 100 years, our capabilities extend to thermoplastics (TPE), liquid silicon rubber (LSR), specialist fillers and coatings, metal inserts, intelligent sealing solutions and thermally conductive compounds – amongst many others.
From our centers of excellence, every element of a material can be customized to specification, and our network of in-house experts are positioned around the globe to ensure you have direct support at a personal level wherever you are located. Working across a wide range of applications, we have dedicated experts in polymer-based materials of all compositions. From LSR and TPE, to Bonding Agents and multi-component parts, the entire spectrum is covered at the highest possible level.
Surface technologies
Dedicated experts provide centers of excellence for surface treatments
For the healthcare market specifically, we have dedicated capabilities in areas such as fluoropolymer coatings, with the ability to test new coatings and new designs to ensure that a barrier against extractables and leachables is achieved. Our Technology & Innovation (T&I) Labs in Belgium feature mini-coaters, hand-held spray booths and X-Y spray robots that can reproduce a coating process on a small scale, and validate designs. Our unique, fully coated products deliver low friction coefficients, and we can characterize the effectiveness of the barrier against extractables and leachables directly in the same lab. Polysisoprene, used in medical applications, can also be chlorinated to reduce the stickiness of the rubber and therefore improve machinability of the pieces.
We have invested heavily in the latest analytical equipment, including chromatographical techniques like ICP and GC/MS, and also SEM-EDX, and where additional analysis is required we have partnerships with industry leading external collaborators, such as a.o. Nelson Labs in Belgium. Each element of the process is managed in-house on your behalf, ensuring you maintain a single point of contact throughout.
Optimizing material surfaces is vitally important, as achieving and maintaining good bonding between inserts and rubber parts, meeting specifications, and minimizing deviations creates the highest quality end results. At our Technology & Innovation (T&I) Labs in Switzerland, we have created a dedicated team of experts, with state-of-the-art laboratory equipment and conditions, to ensure both processes and outcomes deliver for you.
Our T&I Labs use the latest technology for processes such as cleaning, spraying and surface activation, featuring a pilot ultrasonic cleaning plant for inserts, for example, a pilot phosphating plant for the preparation of inserts, and various spraying booths for conventional or ultrasonic application of bonding agent.
Lab capabilities
In-house Technology &
Innovation laboratories provide
a global center of excellence
With our fully in-house T&I laboratories, we offer complete independence, transparency and flexibility at every stage of the development process.
We understand the critical importance of testing and analysis in terms of the physical and chemical properties of materials, as well as the functional performance of our products; whether within the bulk or at the surface. Every project will have its unique requirements, and we have developed our in-house Technology & Innovation laboratories to deliver the capabilities you need. Supporting from our different Technology & Innovation Labs worldwide, you benefit from our dedicated experts and their ability to perform the entire spectrum of testing in-house. Whether it is material developers formulating compounds, engineers creating the prototypes, or lab experts testing properties, we work together to find the very best solutions to your challenges.
Since our T&I Labs are entirely in-house, we offer complete independence, transparency, and flexibility at every stage of the development process – from material development to application performance testing. Together, we will drive the development of breakthrough, innovative products and also the improvement of existing products through advanced root cause analysis. By combining our extensive material expertise with the capabilities of the labs it is possible to analyze the interaction between materials, to optimize their properties and to control the processes for the highest quality outcomes.
Our capabilities and processes ensure you have the peace of mind that comes with achieving regulatory compliance to the highest level, while our co-engineering approach enables us to identify areas where non-standard testing may add further value. We are able to develop and execute bespoke tests to very specific parameters, drawing on our comprehensive portfolio to ensure material combinations are optimal for every application. In addition, our laboratories in different geographical locations collaborate, giving you the global support necessary to achieve consistency in different market areas.
Chemical regulatory compliance
A proactive approach to chemical regulatory compliance
As a technical advisor to groups such as the ETRMA (European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers’ Association) and the WDK (Wirtschaftsverband der Deutschen Kautschukindustrie), we play an active role in the decision-making process where classifications of materials are concerned. This early awareness enables us to develop, validate and qualify substitute materials in partnership with you before any risk of supply chain disruption is experienced.
Any identified risk is forensically examined, and our chemical compliance teams collaborate closely with our material scientists to ensure our solutions are future-proofed. As one of the few manufacturers of elastomer products, we consistently and uniformly implement the findings of our systematic chemical regulatory compliance at all plants worldwide.
As applications evolve and classifications change, our experts are focused on identifying alternative raw materials to produce more sustainable compounds, as well as developing specialist compounds in-house – such as our own sustainable cellulose filler, for example. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is part of the Eco-Design approach we apply to new developments, which in turn influences the decision-making process where new compounds are in development. Chemically compliant, sustainable materials will create compounds with low LCA scores, and our expertise ensures they do so with zero compromises on quality or performance.
The substances used across our material portfolio are subject to the highest levels of regulatory compliance, like a.o. REACH and CLP, and we therefore take a proactive approach to ensuring there are no surprises for you in terms of business continuity. Based on historical data, we monitor our portfolio closely to ensure any substances with the potential for ‘at risk’ classification in the future are engineered out of our formulations, while for new material innovations we ensure all compounds used are at the lowest possible risk levels by working closely with our material development experts.
Datwyler in the media
European Rubber Journal reports how Datwyler is increasing its focus on elastomers technology for electric vehicles (EVs) to support OEMs and other players in developing e-powertrains.
European Rubber Journal | January 10, 2023
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In this technical article, Datwyler expert Jakub Kadlcak explains how thermal management of battery electric vehicles can be improved by the intelligent use of the right materials and composites.
AI Automotive Industries | December 13, 2022
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Microfibrillated cellulose can be used to improve the properties of elastomers. A surface modification now facilitates its use.
Kunststoffe.de | November 30, 2022
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On the surface, an elastomer O-ring may appear straightforward in terms of design and development, but there are far more processes involved than simply injecting rubber into a mold. Our expert Richard Katona explains how advanced materials development and simulation expertise can mean the difference between a good seal and an excellent one.
e-Mobility Technology International, Volume 12 Issue Summer 2022 | June 12, 2022
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Datwyler is expanding its in-house capabilities through a focus on Electrically and Thermally Conductive and Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) Shielding Materials (ETEMI™).
KEM Konstruktion | August 10, 2021
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Identifying and specifying the correct components can boost sustainability in the automotive sector.
Materials World, Volume 29 Issue 1 | January 7, 2021
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Seal applications require rubber compounds capable to endure numerous cycles of deformation without crack initiation.
KGK, Issue 2020/10 | October 30, 2020
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The requirements for material and component parts in electromobility are more extensive than in the field of combustion engines. Andreas Minatti, Head of Business Development at Datwyler, talks about the challenges of electrification from the perspective of a sealing expert.
ATZ | July 7, 2020
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Investigation of the compatibility of dielectric fluids under consideration of the stability of the sealing materials used.
Dicht, Volume 2020 Yearbook | October 30, 2019
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