Manufacturing processes

Performance Elastomers Corporation extrudes organic and silicone rubbers using both salt bath and microwave curing. This continuous process permits extrusion lengths of any size, yet we are capable of precision cutting to sizes down to 1/2 inch (6.35 mm) in length. In each case we maintain incredible profile integrity, dimensional stability and tolerances meeting international standards.

Performance Elastomers applies pressure sensitive and *3M™ Heat Activated Tape System (HATS) adhesive tape – both in-line and off-line as suits the need. For long runs of dense rubber, in-line application is the ideal cost-limiting process.

To do this we apply the tape under electronically controlled conditions approximating to zero tension.

Standard adhesives meet most application requirements; however, specialty adhesives are created – and certified – for particularly demanding applications.

Performance Elastomers extrudes from all common compounds, and has selected its compounding vendor-partners for their ability to create special formulations to meet emerging requirements.

True vendor partnering means that Performance Elastomers’ field performance review balances the theoretical enterprise of the research and development team. Customers and end users benefit from thorough process development and rapid product introduction.

However, application is touchier for sponge rubber, where a cool down period must be provided to attain dimensional stability. Even after cool-down, we have to be diligent to prevent torsion effects in the bonded adhesive.

Performance Elastomers maintains total control of the tooling process for extrusion dies and splicing molds. We readily import *AutoCAD®, AutoSketch®, *Pro/ENGINEER® and other drawing files, through *BobWIRE® for wire EDM generated tooling.

We can set up dies to readily spool extrusions into single-reel or multi-reel feeds as well as mated reels of symmetric left, right, top and bottom profiles.

Our tool room produces vulcanized splicing molds of such precision that the splice line is almost invisible to the naked eye. The entire spliced rubber fabrication is of the same compound and the same physical properties, as borne out by destructive sample testing yielding a statistically random distribution of fracture sections, thus proving consistent integrity in tensile strength.

Performance Elastomers has a persistent record of growth. As extrusion lines and complementary operations have grown, so has our need for manufacturing capacity. In 1994 we operated with 10,000 square feet. In 2000 we built our present plant with 21,000 square feet.

Growth has picked up even in the face of recession, and in 2004 we have doubled again to 42,000 square feet of high bay production and inventory capacity. We’re proud of our growth because it stems from our methods, our quality and our responsiveness to our customers.

*Trademarks: AutoCAD and AutoSketch are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc.; Pro/ENGINEER is a registered trademark of Parametric Technology Corporation (PTC); BobWIRE is a registered trademark of BobCAD-CAM. 3M is a trademark of 3M Company.