Depending on the industry, the best sealing solutions perform under a range of environments, locations and applications.

Let's look at how to choose the best sealing systems, considering the different contexts within which each is used.  

Best sealing solutions in context

For a seal installed inside a piece of equipment or network, there are two types of environment. Firstly, there is the external context in which the equipment operates – underwater or in a quarry. Secondly, there are internal conditions such as raw materials and hydraulic fluids flowing in a pipe network.

Externally, a seal could be used on a dusty excavation site. Simmerring Baum seals are designed with an additional dust lip to stop dust and dirt entering industrial gearboxes and axles.

Internally, the food and beverage industry needs seals that cope with fat and sugar, plus aggressive cleaning solutions. The Simmerring Radiamatic HTS II 9539 is a rotary shaft seal for processes that involve contact with food products.

If a seal is used in an environment where flange connections are opened frequently, contamination is an increased risk. This could take the form of a pathogen or external lubricant seeping past the seal. For this reason, FST’s dairy industry coupling seals are made in accordance with German DIN 11851 Dairy Couplings standards. In fact, FST has a seal for every environment made to all international standards.
 

Medical technology and washing machines

For aseptic conditions, the Hygienic USIT washer range stops bacteria breeding under the screw head by hermetically closing off the area between the screw head and the coupling surface. For this reason, USIT seal 70 EPDM 253815 is mostly used in the medical technology and pharmaceutical industries.

The correct choice of seals also delivers reliability and extended operating life to home appliances like the washing machine. The Simmerring range of shaft seals are resistant to wear (material 70 NBR 260866) and harsh chemical environments like detergent and ozone (75 FKM 143898).

Some substances migrate out of seal material elastomers in the presence of solvents under certain pressures and temperatures. Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber materials are resistant to this, making them ideal for pharmaceuticals.
 

Choosing the best sealing solutions

FST’s e-Catalogue reflects our range of sealing products, searchable by material type, size and design. By applying the parameters you need, it’s possible to find a seal for every environment and application.