Rubber Moulding Processes

Rubber moulding is the process that takes the raw rubber compound and makes this into a final rubber product. Industrial Rubber specialises in mainly injection moulding, explore the cost and production advantages.  

Industrial Rubber is able to mould solid and sponge rubber components from less than 1 gram up to 40 Kilograms. We work closely with our customers, planning the rubber moudling production and supply for manufacture of no less than 500 components at a time.  

We achieve this by utilising any one of our comprehensive range of compression, compression transfer and injection moulding presses. 

Different types of rubber moulding

When getting advice from our technical experts in manufacturing, the rubber material selection is very important to consider and the type of rubber processing, to ensure a cost effective and good final product that meets technical specifications. The type of result can often depend highly on cost, time and maufacturing volume. 

Industrial Rubber can manufacture rubber parts using: 

• Rubber injection moulding 

• Transfer moulding 

• Compression moulding 

Injection moulding 

Is the process of shaping a rubber compound using heat and injecting it into a mould. The main advantages are that: it is fast production turnaround, less waste and high tolerance. Usually the most common form of rubber processing. But requires more expensive tooling and machinery to complete and finish.  

Transfer moulding 

The rubber materials are measured and transfered to a pot which is heated, the pressure forces it to transfer to the mold cavitites. The benefit is that you can achieve an accurate finish, and manufacturing is short, compared to compression moulding. Tooling and mould design could be more costly. 

Compression moulding

This process is using the combination of heat and pressure to mould around the shape of the metal tool. A heated moulding tool and clamping press are used, then the final curing and cooling period begin. It can be more cost effective and simpler tooling needed, and has a better capacity to mould stiff rubber materials. Although processing times may be slower due to final phase. 

Included in our manufacturing equipment are:-

Solid Moulding Presses

• Pressure ranges from 30 to 500 tons.
• Platen sizes from 300mm X 300mm to 1070mm X 1070mm
• Daylight from 450mm to 1000mm monkey

Sponge Moulding Presses

• Pressure ranges from 25 tons to 150 tons
• Platen sizes from 300mm X 300mm to 2250mm X 1250mm

Various moulding methods include:

• Compression Moulding –Solid Rubber
  • Up to 500 tons and 1070mm X 1070mm for large mouldings, lower volume and one-off’s
• Transfer Moulding - Solid Rubber
  • Up to 280 tons for rubber to metal bonding and lower/ medium volumes
• Injection Moulding - Solid Rubber and TPE
  • Thermoset rubber up to 500 tons for larger volume production
• Compression Moulding - Sponge
  • Up to 150 tons and platen size 2250mm X 1250mm for large sponge seals and gaskets