The Magazine from Trelleborg Sealing Solutions...The Magazine from Trelleborg Sealing Solutions T he Magazine from Trelleborg Sealing Solutions • EDITION 34 Get in the groove for

The Magazine from Trelleborg Sealing Solutions

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ROBOTICS

Millions of robots are in service around the world and DENSO WAVE is pioneering ones that are safer, more durable and easier to use.

Precisely

AEROSPACE

Subsea Revolution

OIL & GAS

Vane SealsAn innovative production method leads to a leak- free, high-tech vane seal.

Increased safety and efficiency from a custom sealing solution.

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Precisely

Vane Seals

Subsea Revolution

A new production method gives leak-free performance in Vane Seals.

Helping STL 'revolutionize' the oil industry with custom seals.

Collaborative engineering of unique solutions for DENSO WAVE's robotic innovations.

ROBOTICS

AEROSPACE

OIL & GAS

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COVERSTORY

CONTENTS

3in the groove EDITION 34

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CONTENTS

Digital UpdateFind out about the latest digital tools and services from Trelleborg Sealing Solutions.

How Global is Your Local Seal Supplier?Meet Mandy Wilke, Technology SpecialistFluid Power Europe in Stuttgart, Germany.

Advanced DeliveryTrelleborg's customizable and scalable logistics solution.

Isolast®FFKM: New Compounds for New ChallengesA suite of new materials to meet the latest customer needs.

Perfect PressingSealing solutions for China's number one tile producer, HLT.

Spring-LoadedA range of spring products to meet requirements in many industries.

From Imitation to InnovationJan Hökerberg explains a shift in the Chinese economy.

All the Fun of the FairHow Trelleborg is engaging with its audience and making sealing more entertaining.

AutomotiveHow the automotive industry has evolved since its early beginnings.

HP20 Rotary Oil SealA new patented design for low-speed/ high-torque motors.

Taking the Pressure Off Car BatteriesA small but ingenious valve seal meets considerable demands.

Fire Seals Test LabUnique testing capabilities to support product development and qualification.

News

Experience our CapabilitiesFind out where you can meet face-to-face with Trelleborg Sealing Solutions experts in 2017.

Keep on RunningTurcon® Roto Glyd Ring® V withstands high pressures and velocities.

DIGITAL SERVICES

GLOBAL LOCAL

SERVICE PLUS

MATERIAL INNOVATIONS

CASE STUDY

INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS

GUEST COLUMN

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

INDUSTRY FOCUS

PRODUCT FOCUS

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

AEROSPACE

TRADE SHOWS

NEW PRODUCT

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NEWS


Boasting all the usual characteristics of Zurcon® polyurethane materials, such as toughness, rigidity, wear and scratch resistance, the new Zurcon® Z53 and Zurcon® Z54 materials offer enhanced performance.

Used for slipper seals and scrapers in the tough conditions faced in mobile, construction and mining applications, Zurcon® Z53 and Z54 conform with the latest EU REACH environmental standards coming in from November 2017 and meet requirements for higher operating temperatures.

Zurcon® Z53 and Z54 will supersede Zurcon® Z51 and Z52 as the materials of choice for slipper seals used in demanding fluid power linear and rotary applications, with the same performance and an increased operating temperature range.

For details of the planned succession from Zurcon® Z51 and Z52, contact your local Trelleborg Sealing Solutions marketing company.

Hydraulic Seals Catalog Updated with New Products and InformationOne of the founding Trelleborg Sealing Solutions catalogs, the Hydraulic Seals catalog, has been updated with new products and information, giving the latest innovations and recommendations for hydraulic sealing.

Some older products have been removed and replaced with updated versions that further increase efficiency, performance and cost-effectiveness. The new products include Zurcon® Glyd Ring D, Turcon® Glyd Ring Hz, Turcon® Excluder S, 1 and 113, and Turcon® Variseal® M2S.

The catalog has also been refreshed with a new visual style, making it easier-to-use and more appealing than ever before.

CATALOGS & BROCHURES

New Polyurethane Materials Meet Future Standards

MATERIAL UPDATE

Trelleborg Continues to Grow and FlourishIn Trelleborg’s Annual Report for 2016, Peter Nilsson, President and CEO of Trelleborg Group, says: “Structural and organic growth in combination with good operational control at a local level are important to us. But the 9-percent growth in sales in 2016 was primarily driven by acquisitions.”

Selection of events in 2016 • Launched several new sealing

solutions

• Initiated build of a new business area office in Stuttgart, Germany

• Undertook several manufacturing facility upgrades in Bulgaria, China, Sweden, U.K. and U.S.

• Acquired a manufacturer of high-precision silicone seals for the healthcare & medical market, a distributor of seals, gaskets and custom-molded products, and a manufacturer of precision seals for the aerospace industry

• Launched Seals-Shop.com

FINANCIAL

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions in 2016

To download the latest version,

visit the ‘Catalogs and Brochures’ section of www.tss.trelleborg.com.


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NEWS

US Capabilities Expanding Through AcquisitionsIt’s been an exciting time in the U.S. as Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has expanded its capabilities through acquisitions. This is part of Trelleborg Group’s strategy to strengthen its positions in attractive market segments.

• September 2016 – Trelleborg Sealing Solutions El Segundo, Inc., California facility (f/k/a CoorsTek Ceramicon Designs, Ltd. Based in El Segundo, this California-based company was a leading manufacturer of high-precision seals and bearings produced from high performance polymers and metals for aerospace applications. Gregory Jones, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions General Manager, Aerospace Hub Americas (AHA), says: “We are excited because this acquisition provides our customers with an even wider product range that meet MS and SAE standards and further increases our U.S. market share.”

• January 2017 – Carolina Seal With an office and warehouse in Charlotte, North Carolina, this business specializes in the distribution of polymer seals such as O-Rings, hydraulic seals and specialty kitting. Its largest market segment was in transportation equipment, and primarily within the fast growing sub segment for transportation of chemicals. “The acquisition is a good fit and gives us the opportunity to enter the fast growing chemical transportation sub segment,” says Claus Barsøe, President of the Trelleborg Sealing Solutions business area.

ACQUISITIONS

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions

in the groove, Edition 34, 99GBK9MAGEE0817

© 2017 Trelleborg Group. All rights reserved.

® All trademarks are the property of the Trelleborg Group.

The turquoise color is a registered trademark of the Trelleborg

Group. At time of publication the information contained in

this literature is believed to be correct and accurate.

EDITORIAL TEAM: Donna Guinivan, Tony O'Neil,

Whitney Killip, Tobias Schmid, Melissa Hoffschneider,

Robert Zahiri, Jan Sklucki

RESPONSIBLE UNDER GERMAN PRESS LAW: Tobias Schmid

GRAPHIC ARTS: team:orange, Esslingen, Germany

PRINTING: W. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart, Germany

IMAGES:

p. 09: ©www.istockphoto.com/nullplus

p. 13: Fisher Studios



p. 18-22: Wang Jing

p. 35: ©www.istockphoto.com/nullplus

p. 35: ©www.istockphoto.com/Mlenny

p. 36: ©www.istockphoto.com/mh-fotos

p. 36: ©www.istockphoto.com/mh-fotos

p. 40/41: phonlamaiphoto/fotolia

p. 03/44: ©www.istockphoto.com/Lalocracio

p. 03/45: ©www.istockphoto.com/Rawpixel

p. 14: Dmitry Kalinovsky/shutterstock.com

p. 15: Dmitry Kalinovsky/shutterstock.com

p. 46: ©www.istockphoto.com/Anton_Sokolov

p. 47: Chesky/shutterstock.com

p. 48: favorestudio/fotolia

p. 49: Farmer/fotolia

p. 49: Kara/fotolia

p. 01/50/51: misterryba/shutterstock.com

p. 02/52: tratong/shutterstock.com

p. 54: HAKKI ARSLAN/shutterstock.com

p. 57-59: DmitriyRazinkov/shutterstock.com

p. 58/59: DmitriyRazinkov/shutterstock.com

p. 58/59: ©www.istockphoto.com/AlexeyVS

p. 58: shipfactory/shutterstock.com

IMPRINT


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TRADE SHOWS

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions is on the road again! Our teams of experts are visiting trade shows across the globe to give you a closer look at the broad range of products, solutions and services that we offer.

Experienceour Capabilities

COMPAMED is the internationally leading trade fair for the medical supplier industry and product development. COMPAMED is not only a trade fair

for innovations and trends, but also the future workshop for the healthcare and medical industry. Trelleborg will showcase its LSR capabilities at the exhibition.

The International Paris Air Show at Le Bourget was the ideal event at which to discover all the market's latest innovations and developments.

Every afternoon there were flying displays by some 40 of the most modern aircrafts in existence. Trelleborg showed its high performance range of seals for airframes, engines and other critical aerospace applications.

Healthcare and MedicalCOMPAMED

AerospaceParis Airshow

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TRADE SHOWS

Organized by TAITRA and TAMI, the show offers businesses and manufacturers

the opportunity to reinforce their international competitiveness and cope with challenges faced in foreign markets. The exhibition is key for Trelleborg Sealing Soutions as a leader in seals for machine tools.

Machine ToolsTaipei InternationalMachine Tool Show

MD&M East New York, New York, USA Jun 13 – 15

FIP 2017 Lyon, France Jun 13 – 16

Medicare Taiwan Taipei, Taiwan Jun 15 – 18

Paris Airshow Le Bourget, France Jun 15 – 18

MAKS Airshow Moscow, Russia July 18 – 23

SPE Offshore Europe Aberdeen, UK Sept 5 – 8

Taipei International Industrial Automation Exhibition

Taipei, Taiwan Sept 6 – 9

Drinktec Munich, Germany Sept 11 – 15

OTD 2017 Stavanger, Norway Oct 18 – 19

DDM Bochum, Germany Nov 8 – 9

COMPAMED Düsseldorf, Germany Nov 13 – 16

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Trade Show Guide Mid-Year 2017*

* The most current version of the Trelleborg Sealing Solutions trade show calendar can be found at www.tss.trelleborg.com/fairs

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Europe’s leading E&P event. Attending ensures visitors are up to date with the most significant technologies and can connect with a global network of 50,000+ attendees. A full range of Trelleborg's innovations for the oil and gas industry were presented.

Oil and GasSPE Offshore Europe

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INNOVATIVESOLUTIONS

Although some of you may find the differences between elastomer compounds and the technical parameters behind fluid power sealing fascinating, in reality – though I hate to say it – most of us just find seals boring. Which is why we at Trelleborg Sealing Solutions are challenging ourselves to make sealing not just interesting but even fun!

All the Funof the Fair

the Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Hand-in-Hand collaborative engineering concept. It showed how Trelleborg gives its customers advice and support throughout the whole of the process chain - from the initial design process through to testing, on to a newly-developed sealing solution and up to series-production.

Having FunHolger Baur, Head of European Marketing and Communications for Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, says: "It is not only key for us to present our ideas and concepts to our customers but also to engage and inspire the engineers of the future. If they can see that we are an innovative and forward thinking company that resides in the digital age, we are more likely to attract them."

AT EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS globally we try to engage with our audience and while showing them the lighter side of sealing, communicate some sophisticated and important concepts and ideas that can ultimately make our customers’ products perform more effectively.

Theme park design, with interactive exhibits At Hannover Fair, we presented a series of interactive, themed 'islands' providing information about materials and production competencies. To emphasize the advantages of working with us, we used several methods. Virtual reality headsets took visitors on a tour of one of our manufacturing facilities. A large-scale 3-D projection screen presented Trelleborg's World of Seals visually alongside a large highlight table positioned centrally that displayed


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INNOVATIVESOLUTIONS

HOLGER BAUR,Head of European Marketing and Communications,Trelleborg Sealing Solutions

“It is not only key for us to present our ideas and concepts to our customers but also to engage and inspire the engineers of the future.”

VIRTUAL TOUR

Why not take a virtual tour of the Hannover Fair stand?

www.messestand-online.de/hm17/trelleborg/


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Seal edge with standardcontact pressure distribution

Seal edge with neutral/ inversecontact pressure distribution

Lubrication Management

Primary Seal Secondary Seal

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A design study at Hannover Fair in 2015, Lubrication Management systems for fluid power applications, is now in serial production.

Lubrication management is about adjusting lubrication conditions of all single sealing elements within a sealing system so the load on each element can be reduced and the performance in terms of friction-wear-lifetime can be optimized.

Best practice in demanding fluid power sealing applications is a primary and a secondary seal. The primary seal does the sealing job for as long as possible and the secondary

seal is the redundancy, there when it is needed. The challenge for this secondary sealing element is length of life under dry running conditions. The more effective the primary seal is at sealing lubricant within the hydraulic system, the drier the running conditions of the secondary seal. Starvation of lubricant can lead to wear issues that come in to play in the case of a needed redundancy. This dilemma in terms of optimizing the performance of the primary and secondary seal brings us to the new discipline of ‘Lubrication Management’, where the risk of leakage of lubricant is balanced to ensure performance of the primary seal and the extended life of the secondary seal.


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High contact pressureMinimum oil pass-through

Minimal lubricationHigh wear & friction

Seal with conventional sealing lip shows high contact pressure on sealing edges

Secondary Seal

Friction forces at different pressure levels

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Low contact pressureEfficient oil pass-through

Effective lubrication Low wear & friction

Seal with innovative, rounded sealing lip shows smooth contact pressure distribution curve


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Contact pressureSealing concept

One key part of the Trelleborg Sealing Solutions stand at Hannover Fair was an area that focused on design studies. Here are the results of a study discussed at the fair two years ago and two new studies that were presented.

Designing for the Future

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Clarifying Concepts with Augmented RealityAt Hannover Fair, held in April, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions presented the Lubrication Management concept with an innovative stand that used a 3D model combined with augmented reality.

Revolutionary modular design

Roto KA – redefining levels of performance

Roto KA is Trelleborg’s solution to today’s increasing variation in parameters and the performance limits of conventional rotary shaft seals.

Traditionally, circumferential structures are not located on the pressure side. Various past theories have described how rotary shaft seals work and these always assume the sealing mechanism to be in the contact area along with the lubrication. However, the Roto KA design study includes supply and removal channels that are each adapted to the lubrication medium. In a rotating irrigation channel, this allows for the supply and removal of the pressure medium, keeping the oil in motion so it no longer collects in one place.

Through the innovative design of Roto KA, pressure circulation lubrication can be used for the pressure media and its movement can directly and immediately influence the friction speed and the heat generated by the friction. This has a positive effect on the service life of the seal.

To minimize the number of types of Roto KA seals the seal design is modular, meaning that it can be adapted to different types of activity, offering a whole host of variation options to suit any application.

The new Seal and Guide concept brings together sealing and guiding into one seal and guide unit.

By the elastic absorption of the seal and guide part(s), there is a displacement or tension on the guide which is transmitted together with the seal over the elastic absorption of the static seal point. This shifts loads from the more sensitive dynamic sealing edge to the more robust static sealing area. To meet the different requirements of the seal point, the variable selection of material groups is modular.

For example, you can combine elastomer or thermoplastic sealing materials with thermosetting or thermoplastic or even metallic bearing materials as a guide element. Due to the modular design of Seal and Guide, one-sided (sealed) solutions, dual effect seal points or even combined functionalities, such as seal and scraper for translational applications, are used for rotating applications too.

The Seal and Guide concept is particularly suitable for rotating applications, since the guide element can also absorb radial pressure. This returns higher P-V values in these applications.

Seal and Guide concept – flexibility and simplification through combined function

INNOVATIVESOLUTIONS

Elastomer

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Trelleborg Sealing Solutions is continuously working on the measuring and predicting of the condition of seals and it therefore runs a wide variety of instrumented tests on its test rigs. Measurements such as temperatures, speed, pressures and vibration are captured in very high frequencies. By leveraging Big Data Technology from its SDIL partners, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and IBM, Trelleborg will apply advanced machine learning in order to gain new insights, reduce testing costs and lay the foundation for advanced condition monitoring of sealing solutions in the field.

One of the interactive stands at Hannover Fair was about a move Trelleborg Sealing Solutions is making into industry 4.0 and big data. Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has joined the Smart Data Innovation Lab (SDIL) and its first project with the lab is ‘Advanced Condition Monitoring for Sealing Solutions’.

Johannes Kunze von Bischhoffshausen, Manager Digital Transformation and Internet of Things at Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, says: “Industry 4.0 and the internet of things are becoming an important focus for manufacturers worldwide and there is a call for products to become smarter and more intelligent whatever and wherever they may feature.

“Intelligent sealing systems have long been a dream of engineers at Trelleborg Sealing Systems. With the support of SDIL and in collaboration with our partners on the ‘Advanced Condition Monitoring for Sealing Solutions’ project, we hope that in some way we can make that dream a reality.”

Trelleborg Joins the Smart Data Innovation Lab to Move Further Toward Industry 4.0

INSTRUMENTED TESTS

Life Inside ColorsThis year our booth at the Offshore Technology Conference sparked great interest of the attendees as we invited a special guest; performance painter Ange Hillz with Visual Paint. The local artist from Houston, Texas spent three days during the show painting two canvases that depicted Trelleborg’s wide range of solutions from space to seabed. Attendees thoroughly enjoyed watching Ange paint in the Trelleborg booth as he made use of bright colors and brought the vivid artwork to life. To learn more about Ange Hillz visit: http://visualpaint.com/

“SDIL is a great initiative that is easing the journey for component developers and producers to fulfill the objectives of Industry 4.0.”

JOHANNES KUNZE VON BISCHHOFFSHAUSENManager Digital Transformation and Internet of Things, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions

INNOVATIVESOLUTIONS

Check out a time lapse video of Ange Hillz creating art for Trelleborg at OTC. Search for "Ange Hillz Trelleborg" on YouTube or scan the QR code.

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for New ChallengesNew Compounds

Isolast® FFKM:

“Though FFKM compounds are usually more expensive than alternative compounds, the additional reliability can reduce total cost of ownership significantly. Testing shows that our compounds extend service life, and over the course of a product's lifetime can give considerable savings,” says Chris. “And when downtime can cost huge sums of money, the benefits of reduced maintenance are apparent.”

Now, to better meet the requirements of modern industries, the Isolast® portfolio has been extended with four new compounds representing the premium choice for chemical compatibility, mechanical properties and temperature resistance. Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has worked hard to bring these new grades to market with lower acquisition costs to further enhance overall cost of ownership benefits.

“A lot of different industries can benefit from using Isolast® compounds,” adds Chris. “As such, our developments are targeted at applications where our compounds can really make a difference.”

PERFLUOROELASTOMERS (FFKM) originated in the 1960s, comprising a fully-fluorinated crosslinked structure that enables seal specifiers to push the envelope of key performance criteria to their limits.

“The choice of a perfluoroelastomer is usually based on three key areas: thermal resistance, physical characteristics and chemical resistance. Other materials cannot match FFKM’s performance here, especially when considered as a full package,” says Chris Busby, Product Manager for Isolast® at Trelleborg Sealing Solutions.

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has long been associated with its own range of Isolast® FFKM compounds, specifically engineered to meet the performance requirements for some of the most demanding process environments in the world. Compatible with virtually all media over the widest possible temperature range, the Isolast® range of high specification compounds aims to offer leading edge polymer technology at competitive prices.

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has decades of experience in material innovation. After years of dedicated development and testing, a suite of new compounds to meet specific industry challenges has emerged.


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WHAT IS A PERFLUOROELASTOMER (FFKM)?

Perfluoroelastomer (FFKM) materials are terpolymers of monomers in which all hydrogen atoms have been replaced by fluorine. The absence of hydrogen in the molecular chain dramatically increases both their chemical and thermal resistance. The cross-linked molecular chains enable them to combine the resilience and sealing force of an elastomer with the chemical inertness and thermal stability of PTFE.

Isolast® is the Trelleborg Sealing Solutions range of high specification perfluoroelastomer compounds. It offers the widest portfolio on the market engineered to meet specific processing demands. Virtually inert, the materials perform well in a broad range of chemical media including organic and inorganic oxides, acids, alkalis, amines, esters and steam at continuous operating temperatures from -40°C to +325°C / -40°F to +617°F.

“ A lot of different industries can benefit from using Isolast® compounds.”

CHRIS BUSBY, Product Manager for Isolast® at Trelleborg Sealing Solutions

the amount of crude oil that can be extracted from an oil field. Materials other than an FFKM would struggle to meet the performance requirements.”

Isolast® J9554 has been specifically developed for EOR applications. It also offers resistance to aggressive well bore chemicals and the high temperature steam environment from processes such as Cyclic Steam Stimulation (CSS), temperature resistance from -10 °C to +275 °C / +14 °F to +572 °F, and high hardness and modulus.

Isolast® J9570 further enhances the portfolio, offering exceptional low temperature performance, down to -40 °C / -40 °F, whilst maintaining outstanding chemical resistance. “It’s ideal for sub-zero environments, such as couplings when transporting aggressive chemicals and downstream petrochemical and refinery equipment,” adds Chris.

Finally, Isolast® J9567 is a technically advanced multi-purpose FFKM that offers broad chemical and temperature resistance to provide cost-savings to a wide variety of applications within downstream hydrocarbon refining, lacquer and paint applications.

“Choosing Isolast® materials for your applications provides real benefits and cost advantages to provide reliability and extend service life,” finishes Chris.

Isolast® J9538 is an example of this; it offers the mechanical properties to optimize production, the thermal and chemical stability to resist Clean-in-Place (CIP), Sterilize-in-Place (SIP) and Water-for-Injection (WFI) regimes, and is compliant with, or is certified to, FDA, 3-A and USP standards. This profile of attributes positions it perfectly to improve performance in applications such as mix-proof valves, mixers, pumps and centrifuges for pharmaceutical, healthcare and medical industries.

“Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) applications have presented new challenges in the oil & gas industries. The pressures and temperatures the seals must withstand have increased substantially,” continues Chris. “Thermal recovery and chemical injection are more frequently used for increasing

Molds are prepared for production of Isolast® seals.


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Isolast® J9538 A new level of performance for pharmaceutical, healthcare, medical and food handling applications. Offering superior chemical resistance and mechanical properties, and carries a number of industry-specific approvals.

Isolast® J9554 Outstanding chemical resistance and thermal stability for demanding oil & gas applications including high temperature steam environments. Ideal for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) applications.

Isolast® J9567 Maximum chemical resistance with a low cost of ownership. A multi-purpose perfluoroelastomer with improved acid, water and steam resistance.

Isolast® J9570 Exceptional low temperature performance in harsh environments for increased reliability from downstream refinery, petrochemical or chemical transport applications.

Isolast® is available in all standard international O-Ring sizes along with custom-engineered solutions and FlexiMold™ large diameter join-free seals.

LATEST ISOLAST® DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS:


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CASE STUDY

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Chinese ceramic tile press manufacturer, Foshan Henglitai Machinery (HLT) is number one in its market globally

The manufacturer relies on quality suppliers such as Trelleborg Sealing Solutions

For years, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has provided all the seals in HLT’s tile presses, mainly in the cylinders, the core of the whole machine

The partnership between the two companies is set to continue into the future

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CASE STUDY

Perfect Pressing Trelleborg Sealing Solutions is supplying China’s leading ceramic tile press manufacturer, HLT, with seals for its cylinders, a key part of the machine.By Xu Xiao, Photos: Wang Jing


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THE SOUTHERN CHINESE CITY OF FOSHAN, though small in size and population, has a reputation of being “rich” because of its many flourishing privately owned enterprises. According to China’s recent economic statistics, it is one of Guangdong province’s four most developed cities, with an average GDP even higher than Beijing and Shanghai.

Tile press manufacturing for traditional ceramic tile industryThough modern industries such as furniture making are booming here, ceramic tiles remain a pillar industry, with a history dating back to the Tang dynasty more than 1,500 years ago, when Foshan began to gain the name as “town of porcelain making.” Leading home-grown ceramic tile press manufacturer, Foshan Henglitai Machinery (HLT), has been thriving here since it was founded in 1957. It began with a manual workshop and grew to become an industry leader over the years. In 1988, it produced the first hydraulic tile press in China, the YP600, which today is the smallest of 30 different models.

High technology tile manufacturing solutionsIn 2010, HLT was fully acquired by Keda Engineering, a listed company producing ceramic tiles, wall materials and big machinery. In 2014 and 2016, it established two branch companies producing ceramic kilns. These changes enabled HLT to provide a total solution through the entire value chain of ceramics manufacturing, according to Wen Yizhang, director of HLT’s research and development center. Currently, HLT occupies an area of 200 Chinese mu (133,000 sq m) with 400 employees. The R&D center has 40 employees and is expected to recruit 10 more in the near future, Wen says.

HLT developed this super-size ceramic tile press machine, YP16800 which can make about 65,000 square meters of ceramic tiles in one day.

CASE STUDY

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FACTS ABOUT HLTCompany: Foshan Henglitai Machinery Group Co, Ltd.Employees: 400Area: 133,000 sq mMain markets: Asia, Europe, America,

the Middle East and Africa.Main products: Ceramic Tiles, Tile Press Machines

Number one manufacturer globally“Speaking from the perspective of technology, HLT is the world’s number one. It has the largest market share both worldwide and in China,” Wen says. Today, about 30 percent of HLT’s products export to Southeast Asia, Middle East and Africa.

“The Indian market has been very active recently, that’s why our business remains stable despite the overall downturn of the domestic construction industry,” Wen says.

Innovation is key to leadershipBesides having had the foresight to make an international strategy, another key to HLT’s sustainable industry leadership is innovation and fast reaction to market changes. “Ceramic tiles have better resistance to fire and their smooth surfaces are easy to clean. The modern printing technology can make personalized patterns,

too. Also, compared to marble, ceramics are more environmentally friendly, as they have no radiation. Now the material can replace glass in the exterior walls of modern constructions too,” Wen says.

Super-sized presses for larger tilesOver the years, large-size ceramic tiles have become more and more popular in bathrooms, kitchens and office buildings’ exterior walls.

WEN YIZHANGDirector of HLT's research and development center

CASE STUDY

SEALS FOR CERAMIC TILE PRESSES Trelleborg Sealing Solutions is supplying China’s leading ceramic tile press manufacturer, HLT, with seals for its cylinders, a key part of the machine. The seals include four major types: Piston seals, such as those installed on the groove of the pistons that press the actual tiles; PTFE based seals, such as Trelleborg’s patented Turcon® Glyd Ring® T, Turcon® Stepseal 2K and Turcon® Excluder; Orkot® and Turcite® Wear Rings; and large-diameter O-Rings, which function as static seals on all the cylinders and flanges in the ceramic press.

“Speaking from the perspective of technology, HLT is the world’s number one. It has the largest market share both worldwide and in China.”

“We cooperate with the world’s leading suppliers because we put reliability in the first place. We are satisfied with Trelleborg’s reliability, quality and service.”


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To cater to this trend, HLT developed the super-size ceramic tile press machine, YP16800, which can make about 65,000 square meters of ceramic tiles in one day, the equivalent of about nine standard football fields. This machine uses a winding structure instead of the traditional beam and column structure, which can optimize the oil path to reduce resistance, saving at least 30 percent energy, according to Wen.

The first machine was sold to Monalisa Ceramic Tile, a leading ceramic tile manufacturer which is also based in Guangdong. Now the second one is ready to be delivered to the client. Wen believes YP16800 can propel the entire domestic ceramic industry, which has an over-capacity and lacks the innovation and automation level that international manufacturers possess. He also thinks that details of the ceramic tile press machines can be improved. “For example, we want to make the exterior designs more modern and internationalized,” says Wen.

Relying on the world’s leading suppliersTo further improve details, HLT uses the world’s leading suppliers’ spare parts, and Trelleborg is among the nameplates. For years, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has provided all the seals in HLT’s tile presses, mainly in the cylinders, the core of the whole machine.

WEN YIZHANGDirector of HLT's research and development center

“We cooperate with the world’s leading suppliers because we put reliability first. We are satisfied with Trelleborg’s reliability, quality and service. Meanwhile, it has a complete range of sizes, we really appreciate that,” Wen says.“We did not find any other sealing solution supplier better than Trelleborg. I’m confident with the future cooperation between us.”

Neilson Zhou, territory manager for Trelleborg Sealing Solutions in Southern China also expresses his confidence, “We provide HLT with full support and we are looking forward to even more collaboration in the future.”

For years, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has provided all the seals in HLT’s tile presses, mainly in the cylinders, the core of the whole machine.

CASE STUDY

Digital Tools Special HandlingQuickSeal Advanced Delivery Assembly


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SERVICE PLUS

AdvancedDeliveryPart of the Trelleborg Service PLUS program − Advanced Delivery is a customizable and scalable logistics system, comprising everything from inventory management to the SealScan KANBAN system, streamlining customers’ operations and saving money. Now’s your chance to find out more.

OrderReview

Pick and Package Orders


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SERVICE PLUS

costs and delays in production. It can lower storage requirements and stock levels while increasing efficiency.

“Since launching our first program in 2008, we’ve found that our customers enjoy simplified processes, lower operational costs and improved quality and delivery performance when using Trelleborg’s Advanced Delivery services,” said Heather Castleman, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Marketing Americas Director of Strategic Initiatives and Services. “By working closer with our best customers, we can design value-added delivery services that are win-win programs leaving our customers totally satisfied with Trelleborg’s performance.”

SealScan for KANBAN “SealScan is a KANBAN system that operates directly from the production floor,” says Jan. “The customers simply use an iOS device to scan the barcode on a bin that’s running

“AN INVENTORY THAT MANAGES ITSELF is something that would improve efficiency at any facility,” says Jan Kies, Director European Lead Group Service PLUS at Trelleborg Sealing Solutions. “Managing procurement and stocking, en-suring deliveries from multiple suppliers are where they need to be on time, and maintaining production levels of parts on the facility floor can be a costly challenge.”

As a logical extension of its customer-oriented philosophy, Trelleborg introduced the Service PLUS program, optimizing its customers' supply chains, secondary processes and urgent requirements. The Advanced Delivery suite of services is a part of this.

Advanced Delivery transfers the management of stock to Trelleborg Sealing Solutions. This offers advantages to customers by consolidating supply chains, in turn reducing

KANBAN PROCESS WITH SEALSCAN

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SERVICE PLUS

Service PLUS aims at uniting various enhanced solutions across the entire value chain, simplifying the processes of engineering, logistics, manufacturing and aftermarket for the customer. Beside Advanced Delivery, these components are part of the Service PLUS concept:

Special Handling: Refers to the numerous individual packaging solutions on offer, as well as additional surface treatment or marking options.

This not only includes special protective packaging or replacement part kits, but also streamlining measures, such as vendor reduction or reducing warehouse stock.

QuickSeal: Covers short-notice needs for seals; depending on material these can be manufactured in one day of order.

Assembly: Trelleborg is willing and able to offer pre-assembled parts put together by specially trained staff, delivered directly to the customer.

Digital Tools: Online resources and apps developed to make an engineer’s life easier.

Engineering Support Services: World-class engineering solutions and supporting services – from extensive design & compound competence,

to ample product testing, Trelleborg provides expert support for your engineering needs.

Further pillars will be added to the Service PLUS concept in the future.

ABOUT SERVICE PLUSlow on components and we handle the rest.” Trelleborg Sealing Solutions instantly receives the order and begins the seal picking process.

Trelleborg maintains a number of logistics centers and forward stocking locations globally. Positioning stock geographically closer to our customers using Advanced Delivery services enables Trelleborg to ship immediately. “When the order is received, our teams spring to work,” says Jan. “Parts are picked at our satellite warehouses and packaged according to special requirements, meaning customers do not have to carry large stocks of seals and long transport routes are avoided, expediting deliveries and reducing environmental impacts.”

The orders are shipped by Trelleborg logistics fleets on time, which ensures the products are with you when they’re needed. “They can arrive directly to your facility, where they can be added to the production bin, with the whole cycle seamlessly ready to begin anew” says Jan. In specific cases it is even possible to have on-demand deliveries on site within one hour, with multiple service levels to meet customer requirements.

Customizable and Scalable“One of the best things about the Service PLUS program, in my opinion, is the scalability and customizability of it,” says Jan. “We’re set up to be able to offer anything from simple delivery to complete inventory management, including packaging, labelling and special handling, all of which can expand with your business worldwide – a real advantage to working with a global company like Trelleborg,” finishes Jan.

SERVICE PLUS: Want to find out more about Service PLUS? Read the brochure at www.tss.trelleborg.com/literature

For more information about Advanced Delivery and Service PLUS scan the QR-Code or visit the website: www.tss.trelleborg.com/serviceplus/

MORE INFORMATION

Trelleborg's optimally positioned Forward Stocking locations are ready to deliver products to where they're needed.

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OIL & GAS

SubseaRevolutionWhen faced with the challenge of helping to create a product to boost safety and efficiency for offshore engagement, Trelleborg went above and beyond in developing a complete sealing solution to help its partner “revolutionize” the oil industry. By Fiona Bailey

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OIL & GAS

The new Hydraulically-Retractable Subsea Couplers from STL for its XR Connectors give radically improved vessel safety, reduce environmental risk and decrease costs by greatly boosting a vessel’s operating window.

STL required a custom-made seal which would work inside its pioneering product; scaling up to a large two inch bore posed a number of major challenges.

Trelleborg developed custom versions of its seals for the coupler.

The last round of testing is complete on the first coupler and further orders have been received.

IN SHORT

WHEN THE QUESTION OF WHETHER it would be possible to create a large bore, high pressure hydraulically retractable coupler was first posed, one of the initial challenges that needed to be overcome was finding a seal that was up to the job. As a leading global supplier of polymer-based critical sealing solutions, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions was the natural choice to help Subsea Technologies Ltd (STL) create an innovative engineered solution to accelerate performance of its dynamic two inch Hydraulically Retractable Subsea Coupler.

A bigger challengeSTL, which specializes in providing reliable and cost effective products to solve complex subsea challenges, required a custom-made seal which would work inside the pioneering product. STL had previously developed small bore retractable couplers, used as sub-components in its unique XR Connector, however, scaling up to a large two inch bore to allow for choke and kill lines passing through the XR Connector posed a number of major challenges.

The hydraulically retractable couplers assist in creating the XR Connector’s unequalled high-angle release capability which has no maximum riser angle limit. It was designed to deliver radically improved vessel safety, reduce environmental risk and decrease costs by greatly boosting a vessel’s operating window.

Working in harmonyIn order for the full potential and functionality of the two inch coupler to work, it needed a seal to be developed that would work in harmony with the coupler, the world’s first of that size with a hydraulically retractable element.

During the initial round of testing, STL discovered that the original hydraulic seals were extruding during the high temperature and high pressure phase of the test program. As the product development stage was so advanced, STL asked Trelleborg to propose a sealing solution that would address the issue of extrusion of the seal cap, without the need to change any of the existing hardware groove dimensions.

Turcon® Captive Glyd Ring® with XploR™ V9T82 elastomer material developed by Trelleborg Sealing Solution for the Subsea Coupler

On the left:James Simpson, Sales Manager for Oil & Gas for Trelleborg Sealing Solutions in the UK and Drummond Lawson of Subsea Technologies Ltd


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OIL & GAS

Issues overcomeTrelleborg immediately set about overcoming the issue and developed custom versions of its Turcon® Captive Glyd Ring® with XploR™ V9T82 elastomer material and Turcon® Stepseal® 2A CR with PEEK corner-reinforcement rings.

The Stepseal® 2A CR is the new standard corner-reinforced rod/piston seal for single-acting use and has many advantages, such as its anti-tilt design and that the dimensions of the seal body and CR-Ring can be modified to facilitate installation.

Safety first“Throughout the process we constantly had to think about the safety issues and challenges that are frequently faced when working with heavy-duty engagement of subsea equipment,” said Andrew Longdon, Technical Manager for Trelleborg Sealing Solutions in the UK.

“We worked with STL as the team conducted a very lengthy test program including a full PR-2 temperature and pressure cycling program along with endurance cycle testing on the products in accordance with the ISO 10423 standard.

“STL also conducted two disconnects with 10,000 psi bore pressure. This was all completed with one set of seals which I think is some achievement. We pride ourselves on innovation and relished this opportunity to work with STL in a bid to find a solution and ensure the two inch Hydraulically Retractable Subsea Coupler was working to its full capability.”

Not only does the coupler provide new opportunities for remote emergency release system designs for subsea applications, it also enables people to be removed from stab plate engagement functions on the surface. By being hydraulically retractable, it allows the heavy duty engagement of equipment both on surface and subsea to be separated from the comparatively delicate engagement of control system interfaces.

The two inch Hydraulically Retractable Subsea Coupler was specifically designed for constant heavy duty operations and works with very small fluid volumes to ensure rapid movement.

Turcon® Stepseal® 2A CR


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OIL & GAS

Above and beyondSubsea Technologies Ltd’s Managing Director Drummond Lawson said: “We knew Trelleborg – being a world-leader in sealing solutions – would be able to solve the challenge of finding a durable and robust seal to work in harmony with our product.

“Not only have they gone above and beyond in meeting expectations of the brief we outlined, but we were also impressed with the service we received throughout the process. We are by no means Trelleborg’s biggest client – but the support we received has been second to none. At every stage of the process a member of the Trelleborg team kept us fully informed from prototype development right through to bringing the product to market.

“This was no easy challenge, and without Trelleborg we would not have been able to produce what we believe to be the first coupler of this size ever to be made with a hydraulically retrac-table element, which we are certain will create opportunities for our clients beyond just its use in our XR Connector.”

An innovative subsea couplerThe two inch Hydraulically Retractable Subsea Coupler was specifically designed for constant heavy-duty operations and works with very small fluid volumes to ensure rapid movement. It is also more than capable of coping with solid-laden fluids such as drilling muds and well effluents. It is pressure balanced in both the extended and retracted positions, ensuring the coupler will remain in position in the event of hydraulic control system failure.

Additionally, it is possible to pressure test to full system working pressure against the retracted coupler without the need for an additional test cap. When retracted, the coupler stinger is flush with the coupler plate, preventing both dirt

“Not only have they gone above and beyond in meeting expectations of the brief we outlined, but we were also impressed with the service we received throughout the process.”

DRUMMOND LAWSONManaging Director of Subsea Technologies Ltd

The coupler can be used on subsea wellhead connectors, riser connectors, emergency disconnect packages, quick release stab plates and emergency disconnect points.

ingress and external impact on the retracted coupler from damaging the seals.

The coupler is fully Lloyds design verified and qualified to 3,000m (10,000ft) water depth, rated to 10,000psi hydraulic bore pressure and up to 5,000psi hydraulic function pressure. It can be used on subsea wellhead connectors, riser connectors, emergency disconnect packages, quick release stab plates and emergency disconnect points.

Further ordersMr Lawson added: “We’ve only just completed the last round of testing and delivered the first coupler and already we have received further orders. Clearly other people can see the benefits that this cutting-edge product will create in their operations and service offerings, enabling our customers to deliver the latest safety and operability enhancements to their clients.”


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By JAN HÖKERBERG, Managing Director of the Hong Kong- and Shanghai-based branding, marketing and communications company Bamboo Business Communications Ltd, www.bambooinasia.com

The People’s Republic of China is not only the world’s most populous nation and the world’s second largest economy – dominated by huge state-owned enterprises within natural resources, infrastructure, construction, banking, and so on it is also dubbed the world’s factory, where foreign-owned companies manufacture electronics, clothes and many other things at low production costs.

Every day, most of us use products that are made in China.

For a long time, China was also known as the world’s largest manufacturer of counterfeit and pirated products – from bags and watches to car parts and pharmaceuticals.

A new phase What may come as a surprise for many, however, is the fact that the Chinese economy has now entered a new phase and is moving aggressively from a strategy of imitation to one of innovation. Driven both by domestic needs and by global ambition, China is establishing itself at the forefront of technological innovation.

“Western businesses need to prepare for a tidal wave of innovation from China that is about to hit Western markets, and Chinese businesses need to understand the critical importance of innovation in their future,” according to the book China’s Next Strategic Advantage (The MIT Press) by professors George S Yip and Bruce McKern.

Some business people, such as Hewlett-Packard’s former chief executive Carly Fiorina, have claimed that China cannot innovate.

“Chinese students may test well,” Fiorina said in an interview in 2016, “but they fall short when it comes to innovation.”

She added: “I have been doing business in China for decades, and I will tell you that yeah, the Chinese can take a test, but what they can’t do is innovate. They are not terribly imaginative. They’re not entrepreneurial, they don’t innovate, that is why they are stealing our intellectual property.”

The Chinese economy is moving aggressively from a strategy of imitation to one of innovation.

From Imitation to Innovation

Jan HökerbergA Swedish entrepreneur, journalist and author. He has a long background in journalism, for example at Sweden’s leading business weekly magazine Veckans Affärer, where he was managing editor and US correspondent. He has also written two books about the automobile industry. In 2003, he and a partner acquired the Asian business of a Swedish custom publishing firm and renamed it Bamboo. It is now a one-stop shop for foreign businesses in China.

BIOGRAPHY

GUESTCOLUMN


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Fiorina’s view is shared by many other China watchers, who say that China cannot be innovative due to many factors, such as the education system, which is based on rote learning, the hierarchic corporate structures that do not encourage initiative, the fact that China is a collectivist society, which means that thinking differently is not seen as a good thing, and that face-saving is extremely important.

Innovation abounds It may be true but it is also a fact that a wave of innovation is happening at this moment all over China. Take the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, for example. In the late 1970s, it was a small fishing village; today it is an 18-million people modern metropolis linking Hong Kong to mainland China.

Shenzhen has become a melting pot for young entrepreneurs from all over China. It is probably the most open city in China and allows companies to operate more freely than elsewhere on the mainland. It has the big advantage of being close both to the manufacturing industry in Guangdong province as well as to Hong Kong which has a well-established financial infrastructure and a highly educated workforce. Large technology companies such as Huawei, ZTE and Tencent are all based in Shenzhen.

It is also the home of young dynamic companies such as Dajiang Innovation Technology Co (DJI), which less than 10 years ago was a small firm operating from a private flat in Shenzhen but has since grown to a global corporation with more than 4,000 employees worldwide and 70 percent of the world market for civilian drones.

According to Shenzhen’s 13th Five-Year Plan, released in 2016, more than 100 billion yuan – or 4.25 percent of its annual GDP – will be earmarked for R&D by 2020. The plan expects six emerging industries – the biotechnology, internet, new energy, new materials, IT and cultural and creative industries – to account for 42 percent of the city’s GDP in 2020.

Beijing’s Zhongguancun Science Park is another innovation center, often dubbed as China’s Silicon Valley, and home to many established Chinese technology companies, from PC maker Lenovo Group to search engine operator Baidu as well as smartphone maker Xiaomi, which was established in the district six years ago. The science park was approved as China’s first high-tech park in 1988.

Beijing has the advantage of having proximity to strong research universities such as Tsinghua and Peking University.

Driven by customer focus and efficiency A recent study by the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI), The China Effect on Global Innovation, argues that Chinese companies do indeed show promise when it comes to innovation.

The MGI study analyzed 20,000 public companies in China and around the world in 31 industries, representing about 30 percent of global GDP, and looked for where Chinese companies were getting more than their GDP share of global revenue – more than 12 percent, which is China's share of global GDP.

The study found that China's greatest strengths are customer-focused and efficiency-driven innovation. In customer-focused innovation, China has more than its share in several industries, including appliances (36 percent of global revenue) and internet software and services. Innovators in these industries benefit from the massive size of the Chinese market, which allows rapid commercialization of innovations and provides an open-minded test-bed for new ideas. Chinese consumers are happy to take early versions of new smartphone features, for example, and collaborate with manufacturers via online forums and other means, to perfect them.

However, in terms of engineering and science-based innovation, China still has more to do, the study says. Engineering-based innovation requires deep knowledge. In industries such as high-speed trains (41 percent of global revenue), communications equipment (18 percent) and wind turbines (20 percent), Chinese companies have learned rapidly, thanks in part to government support and technology transfers. In the automotive sector, Chinese brands have seized less opportunities and Chinese players have just 8 percent of global revenue.

Fast and quick Chinese innovation today is not so much about new technology, but more about product development, new processes and business models. The Chinese mind-set is to work very fast and to quickly release products and services. They have the advantage of a huge home market and have the ability to find and develop new processes to reduce costs.

Chinese companies also have less barriers than Western companies to enter new areas and not only stick to their core products.

Western companies should be aware that their Chinese counterparts are on the way to becoming stronger competitors, not only by offering the lowest prices but also by making use of digitization and automation as means to conquer both domestic and global markets.

GUESTCOLUMN


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ROBOTICS

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There are millions of robots in service around the world

DENSO WAVE is a major Japanese developer and supplier of robots

It partnered with Trelleborg Sealing Solutions to develop effective seals for its robots

IN SHORT


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ROBOTICS

PreciselyIn Japan, DENSO WAVE is pioneering new territory in robotics, making robots that are progressively safer, more durable and simpler to use. The focus is on customer goals.

The Japanese company DENSO CORPORATION began developing industrial robots in 1967, and in the early 1980s it developed 4-axis and 6-axis robots that have almost unlimited freedom of movement. DENSO subsidiary DENSO WAVE now develops the company’s robotics technologies – robots that are productivity tools, designed to maximize the efficiency of processes in the manufacturing of precisely engineered products, including medical instruments and automobiles.

Masatoshi Kojima, Director of DENSO WAVE’s Controller Business Engineering Division, explains that the company aims to develop robots that are progressively safer, more durable and simpler to use. “In designing robots,

IN 1921, THE CZECH WRITER Karel Čapek introduced the word “robot” to the modern language when he wrote R.U.R., subtitled Rossum’s Universal Robots. Čapek’s play became immediately popular around the world. Many more robots followed in fiction and film, with perhaps the most famous, R2-D2 and C-3PO, helping the Star Wars franchise earn box office revenues of more than USD 6.5 billion to date.

Today, there are millions of robots in service around the world in industrial and consumer settings – vacuuming floors, blowing up landmines, manufacturing semiconductors and exploring Mars. In recent years, consumers have been able to purchase robotic dogs and other mechanized companions. Soon robots will care for elderly people.

By Roberto De Vido


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Yoichi Higuchi, Managing Director of Trelleborg Sealing Solutions in Japan, explains that support for the robotics industry is a major focus for Trelleborg in Japan. “In general, Japan is among the leaders in global robotics development,” he says. “And while the focus of the industry is global, with the Olympics to be held in Tokyo in 2020, and other events such as the Rugby World Cup before then, there is a strong feeling in Japan right now that the country has a unique opportunity to develop and showcase its technological ability.”

we look at our customers’ goals,” Kojima says. “Faster robots allow improved productivity, well-designed robots allow efficient use of factory space, and we always strive for improved usability and maintainability.”

DENSO WAVE’s need for leading-edge technologies and solutions laid the foundation for its partnership with Trelleborg. In demanding industrial environments, DENSO WAVE’s 6-axis robots must be impervious to elements that might degrade their operational efficiency. Trelleborg’s sealing technology provides world-class performance in a wide range of environments.

DENSO WAVE’s robots are used for precisely engineered products such as medical instruments and automobiles.

ROBOTICS


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Higuchi continues, “In Japan there are many companies that can supply technologically sophisticated products, and in that environment, price becomes the main differentiator. Our relationship with DENSO WAVE is much more solutions-focused, which is the way DENSO WAVE works with its own customers globally. DENSO WAVE is always looking for a very high-quality – and often, mission-critical – solution, and our ability to collaborate closely with them to find the best result, appropriate to a wide range of customers and applications worldwide, is our main strength.”

Kojima adds, “Our relationship is extremely collaborative; we are not simply asking Trelleborg to supply to our specification. In developing unique solutions for our customers, we rely on our partners to tell us what is possible and what is not possible, while at the same time striving to continually improve our specifications.”

Higuchi says the growth potential of the robotics industry appears unlimited. “Since the start of factory automation, robotics manufacturing has grown steadily but not spectacularly,” he says. “Today the situation is changing. Artificial intelligence and other technologies will greatly expand the ways in which robotics can support manufacturing and operations. It’s an exciting time to be working in this area.”

ABOUT DENSO WAVE

DENSO WAVE is a subsidiary of automotive components manufacturer DENSO CORPORATION, which is headquartered in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

Spun off from TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION in 1949 and still 25 percent owned by the auto manufacturer, DENSO CORPORATION employs more than 130,000 people across nearly 200 subsidiary companies globally. In addition to industrial robots, DENSO WAVE manufactures automatic identification products (bar-code readers and related products) and programmable logic controllers. The company is noted for having invented the two-dimensional QR code.

SCAN FOR MORE INFORMATION

MASATOSHI KOJIMA, Director of DENSO WAVE’s Controller Business Engineering Division

“ Our relationship is extremely collaborative; we are not simply asking Trelleborg to supply to our specification.”

YOICHI HIGUCHI, Managing Director of Trelleborg Sealing Solutions in Japan

“ Our relationship with DENSO WAVE is much more solutions-focused, which is the way DENSO WAVE works with its own customers globally.”

ROBOTICS

DEAN OLIVER, Prototype Technician Lead at Trelleborg

Sealing Solutions in Fort Wayne


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Mandy Wilke, Technology Specialist Fluid Power Europe based in the Trelleborg Sealing Solutions headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, answers questions on how she and her team support a global but local focus.

ITG: Describe your daily activities within Trelleborg and how they benefit the customer:

MW: I’ve worked for Trelleborg Sealing Solutions for nearly five years now. I started as a test engineer in the development department and now I am a technology specialist for fluid power in Europe.

The main part of my job is to support our European marketing companies with technical questions, whenever there is a need. Very often I am in direct contact with our customers; in many cases we are not just a seal supplier but a partner to them. Being our customers’ partner often means being involved in their development processes right from the beginning. We support them with the knowledge we have in our core competences: sealing, damping and protecting. This is an important benefit for our customers.

At Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, we do not want to deliver only standard parts. We also want to deliver, and we do deliver, a complete sealing solution, which is far more than just the seal itself. We can provide a deep knowledge in various topics to support the customer. This is very often a success factor not only for Trelleborg, but for the customers themselves and ultimately the end customers, as they are supplied with a superior product.

GLOBAL LOCAL

How Global is Your Local Seal Supplier?

MANDY WILKE, Technology Specialist Fluid Power at

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions in Germany


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In addition, within the Fluid Power Europe segment, we always take a strategic view on projects, looking for the best possible solution for our customers. One very good example of this Trelleborg Sealing Solutions strategy is our new seal concept, which we call Lubrication Management.

ITG: How important are people in achieving the facility’s goals and ensuring customer service?

MW: From my point of view, the main element of achieving a high degree of customer service are people. Very often the human factor is underestimated.

I would not be able to be successful in my daily business without many other colleagues supporting me in different areas. This could be colleagues from supply chain, product management, quality, R&D, marketing or even more importantly, a colleague taking over a small daily task when a customer has an urgent request.

In technical issues, a deep knowledge is a must for successful support and this is a direct benefit for our customers, especially in tribological systems that are often encountered in fluid power applications. Responses are required from experienced and competent people rapidly. It’s not just about high tech equipment but people as well.

Another factor where people are vital is engendering our long term partnerships with our customers. Again we are not only a seal supplier, we are a partner and want to give the best possible benefit to our customers.

ITG: Do you interact with your colleagues globally to provide solutions for customers in different locations around the world?

MW: Yes I do, and I am really proud to have the opportunity to do that. Globally this is always a challenge due to time differences; when one part of the world is starting, I am ending my day, while the rest of the world is the other way around.

Since 2013, we have had a very good example of how this can be done in a successful way. Focused on a request coming from the customer side, we created a Global Surface Competence Team and it is my pleasure to lead this group. It has enabled me to collect the knowledge and experiences globally on a topic, which is very often seen as difficult due to its diversity in terms of available coatings and production technologies.

Bringing that knowledge together in a globally organized group is a challenge, but again it benefits our customers. By identifying the best counter surface specification depending on the coating technology in combination with our seals, we can guarantee the superior functionality and performance of our sealing solution within an application.

How does your site help to fulfil our ‘Global but Local’ philosophy?

MW: One example is the Global Surface Competence Team.

For me, another important way that I work, is to always respond to any colleague who is asking a question that I am able to answer. For sure, this can be quite stressful but my personal philosophy is that “no is a no go”. With just one phone and one e-mail Inbox, I have to rely on working alongside other colleagues to provide all of the answers. At the end of the day, we are always focused on the best benefit for our internal and external customers.

GLOBAL LOCAL

Suttgart City Center (left), Schlossplatz with Jubiläumssäule (right)


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There are also challenges in the field when colleagues locally cannot solve technical discussions on their own and call for global support. For me that global local link is very important.

In Europe, English is commonly used and also globally. However, there is nothing to compare to colleagues who can speak the local language of their customers and share a connection between them culturally. Very often I have face-to-face meetings in Europe where three or four languages are used to get over the content of discussions with participants. This is living global but local; something you cannot do over a phone in English.

What makes the country you work in unique?

MW: I do not like to focus on the country I live in – my job is located in Germany, yes, but due to my role I would like to say I am a European.

Focusing on Germany, where I am located, I would say there are real differences from North to South and from the West to East. I prefer to travel north as my home town is there.

Unique though? How can I answer? I would say the German people are unique! This is true for Germany but for the rest of Europe too. For me, I always find the differences fascinating and exciting.

Do you have any travel tips for readers who may visit your country?

MW: Yes – of course! My hometown is in the North of Germany: Hamburg, called the “Door to the World”. I still find Hamburg one of the most fascinating places in the country; you can find everything there. You have the harbor, as well as hills, for instance. One of my favorite new buildings is “Elphi” and the open Plaza is well worth a visit. The view around it is wonderful and it is perfect if there is a breeze and light rain. Though others may prefer sunshine, this is my favorite weather. We do see the sun in Hamburg but less often than in the south of Germany and sunny Stuttgart.

GLOBAL LOCAL

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions offers unmatched levels of local engineering, commercial service and support, combined with the unique resources, experience and capabilities of a global industry leader. Watch our film and read a variety of case stories from different industries that demonstrate how Trelleborg brings unique advantages to customers. Visit www.global-but-local.com.

MORE INFORMATION:

Elbphilharmonie (left), Town hall of Hamburg (right)


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INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS

Loaded Spring-Shaped metals to meet the requirements of a large range of commercial and industrial applications.


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INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS

“The variety of springs with different characteristics means that working with a supplier such as Trelleborg Sealing Solutions enables you to source many products from one place...”

DAVID PAYUNK, Product Manager for Springs at Trelleborg Sealing Solutions

Materials That Meet International Standards

• Copper and alloys

• Steel, carbon and all

grades of stainless

• Nickel and alloys,

including MP35N®

• Titanium

• Music wire

• Elgiloy®, Hastelloy®, Inconel®

• Other specialty materials

Material Size Capacity

Coiled diameters

Cold Wound

Hot Wound

Extension

Torsion

Double Torsion

from 0.13mm to 16mm / 0.004" to 0.630"

from 10.3mm to 50mm / 0.405" to 2.00"

from 0.25mm to 16mm / 0.010" to 0.630"

from 0.25mm to 16mm / 0.010" to 0.630"

from 0.25mm to 16mm / 0.010" to 0.630"

Stamped thickness

From 0.05mm to 6mm / 0.002" to 0.24"

Wire-formed diameter

Volumes under 500 pcs – up to 12mm / 0.47"

Volumes greater than 500 pcs – up to 5mm / 0.20"

Healthcare and medical industries look to springs, such as compression springs in modern advanced prosthetic limbs, to deliver performance that people can count on. “Listening to customer requirements is essential to our business. We provide cleanroom services, enabling springs to be used in drug delivery systems, for example,” adds David.

Choices of finish and surface coatings improve performance, while advanced delivery programs ensure that the components are where you need them, when you need them.

Manufactured to the quality expected from Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, our springs incorporate world-class engineering and application experience from decades of close cooperation with customers.

“As a development partner, we provide shoulder-to-shoulder engineering services, helping our customers go from initial design all the way through to market. Where we really excel is in applying our expertise; we can provide customized solutions and aid our customers in choosing the correct springs for their applications, to meet application requirements and improve performance,” finishes David.

SPRING CHOICE IS HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY APPLICATION PARAMETERS and industry requirements. They can be manufactured from many different materials that meet international standards, including stainless steel, titanium and various alloys. Once selected, the metals are then coiled, wire-formed or stamped by presses, exerting pressures up to 400 tons, to achieve the desired shape and properties.

“Springs are found everywhere and our springs can meet the requirements of any application imagined,” says David Payunk, Product Manager for Springs at Trelleborg Sealing Solutions. “For cars and other vehicles, you will find extension springs and compression springs in the engine and interior, power springs in the seatbelts, washers and disc springs in clutches, transmissions and brakes. As you can see, the variety of springs with different characteristics means that working with a supplier such as Trelleborg Sealing Solutions enables you to source many products from one place, and receive unparalleled local and global engineering support.”

FIND OUT MORE Read the brochure to find out more about our spring portfolio: www.tss.trelleborg.com/literature


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INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS

A selection of spring types:

TORSION SPRINGS

Used to apply torque or store rotational energy and are typically found in single coil or double coil forms.

Applications:• Ratchets• Swing-down tailgates• Garage doors

• Window shades• Counterbalance mechanisms

• Coupling between concentric shafts• Door closures

STAMPED & WIRE-FORMED SPRINGS

Custom-designed stamped or wire-formed shaped components which performa spring function.

Applications:• Appliances• Electronic components

• Lighting• Latches

• Automotive and aerospace connectors

BELLEVILLE WASHER & DISC SPRINGS

A Belleville washer is a type of non-flat washer with a slight conical shape or curvature which gives the washer a spring characteristic.

Applications:• Actuation devices• Bearing assemblies• Transmissions

• Clutch and brake mechanisms

• Oil and gas drilling equipment

POWER SPRINGS

Power springs store and release large amounts of rotational energy in the form of torque.

Applications:• Clocks• Cameras• Timers

• Retractor mechanisms for electrical cords • Starter pull cords

• Seat belts

NEWS NEWS


in the groovein the groove

NEW PRODUCT

Turcon® Roto Glyd Ring: Meeting the demand for higher pressure and velocity values


NEWS NEWS


When the pressure and velocity is high, engineers can now turn to the innovative Turcon® Roto Glyd Ring® V from Trelleborg Sealing Solutions.

“CUSTOMERS ARE DEMANDING INCREASED PERFORMANCE from rotary seals that challenge the PV values of current seals,” says Henrik Vollmond, Product Manager for the new Turcon® Roto Glyd Ring® V. “We there-fore needed to develop a rotary seal that can run at higher speeds combined with higher pressures. This resulted in the development of the unique Turcon® Roto Glyd Ring® V, which not only achieves these requirements but also, by virtue of lower heat generation, offers a significantly extended seal life. For the equipment operator that means lower overall costs due to reduced maintenance requirements and energy consumption.”

Exceptional test resultsTest results show that Turcon® Roto Glyd Ring® V runs with low frictional torque at all pressures from 0.5 MPa and above with low sensitivity to pressure increases from 0.5 to 20 MPa.

“The seal achieved a PV twice as high as other bidirectional seals and demonstrated 50% lower friction. Incredibly, wear of the seal and O-Ring was so low that it could not be measured.

“We really feel that this seal will bring real benefits to our customers looking for a long service life in demanding service conditions. Typical examples of those applications would be machining centers, hydraulic swivels, lead-troughs, rotary connections with swivel movements, excavators, forestry machinery, hydraulic rotators, robots, manipulators, indexing tables, pivoting motors, hydraulic motors, blow molding machines, top drives and core cutting equipment,” concludes Henrik.

2

3

IN SHORTA double-acting rotary seal was required to run at higher speeds and pressures

To meet these needs the Turcon® Roto Glyd Ring® V was developed

The new seal demonstrates outstanding performance

RunningKeep on NEW PRODUCT

Turcon® Roto Glyd Ring ® V has a PV value significantly higher than a standardTurcon® Roto Glyd Ring ®.

PV-Values Friction at constant rotation

Pres

sure

MPa

Velocity m/s

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

00 1 2 3 4 5

Turcon® Roto Glyd Ring ® V has low sensitivity to pressure increases from 0.5 to 20 MPa / 72.5 to 2900 psi.

Pressure MPa

400

300

200

100

0

Fric

tiona

l Pow

er P

50 (w

)

0 10 20 30

Shaft 50 mm / 1.969 inch -60°C / 140°F

Roto Glyd Ring®

Roto Glyd Ring® V

1 m/s/ 3.280 ft/s

0.5 m/s/ 1.640 ft/s

0.25 m/s/ 0.820 ft/s

0.15 m/s/ 0.492 ft/s

Turcon® Roto Glyd Ring ® V has a PV value significantly higher than a standardTurcon® Roto Glyd Ring ®.


Pres

sure

MPa

Velocity m/s

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

00 1 2 3 4 5

Turcon® Roto Glyd Ring ® V has low sensitivity to pressure increases from 0.5 to 20 MPa / 72.5 to 2900 psi.

Pressure MPa

400

300

200

100

0

Fric

tiona

l Pow

er P

50 (w

)

0 10 20 30

Shaft 50 mm / 1.969 inch -60°C / 140°F

Roto Glyd Ring®

Roto Glyd Ring® V

1 m/s/ 3.280 ft/s

0.5 m/s/ 1.640 ft/s

0.25 m/s/ 0.820 ft/s

0.15 m/s/ 0.492 ft/s

NEWS NEWS



How the seal operates Like other O-Ring activated Slipper Seals, the initial squeeze of the O-Ring ensures sufficient contact pressure between seal and mating surface to provide tightness at low pressure. With increasing system pressure, the O-Ring and the seal body direct have a contact force on the sealing surface to ensure sealing efficiency at all pressures.

Turcon® Roto Glyd Ring® V has a built in valve function. Valve ports are made from both sides of the Turcon® ring profile to the space in the center, which is the lubricating groove.

An elastomer ring is installed in the lubricating groove to prevent static leakage through the ports.

When Turcon® Roto Glyd Ring® V is pressurized from one or the other side, the elastomer ring opens the port on the pressure side and equalizes the pressure beneath the elastomer ring – pressure balancing the seal by more than half. Shifting pressurization through the ports also renews the fluid in the space between the “legs”, improving lubrication under the seal.

Turcon® Roto Glyd Ring® V has a PV value significantly higher than a standard Turcon® Roto Glyd Ring®.

Turcon® Roto Glyd Ring® V has low sensitivity to pressure increases from 0.5 to 20 MPa / 72.5 to 2900 psi.

EXTENSIVE TESTING PROVES SEAL EFFICIENCY

NEW PRODUCT



NEWS NEWS


MORE INFORMATION

Learn more about the Turcon® Roto Glyd Ring® V in a brochure and film. Both are available at www.tss.trelleborg.com.

Facts and figures With maximum recommended operating temperatures of +100 °C/ +212 °F (up to +150°C/ +302°F at lower PV-values), Turcon® Roto Glyd Ring® V is designed to fit into standard Roto Glyd Ring® grooves. It is available in four cross section series; for shafts in diameters from 35 to 500 millimeters/ 1.377 to 19.685 inches and for bores from 22 to 500 millimeters / 0.866 to 19.685 inches.

When specifying Turcon® Roto Glyd Ring® V, users should note the following. Pressure should be limited to a maximum of 30 MPa. Velocity needs to be limited to 2.0 meters per second. The Roto Glyd Ring® V has been successfully tested up to a combined PV of 10 MPa.m/s.

About the seal Trelleborg Sealing Solutions launches an innovative seal, Turcon® Roto Glyd Ring® V, which is primarily intended for double-acting pressure within severe working conditions that require extended rotary service. The seal is specifically

engineered for machinery where a high pressure to velocity value is required to allow equipment to run at the highest possible speeds in high pressures for an extended service life.

Turcon® Roto Glyd Ring® V is a premium double-acting rotary seal with outstanding performance and reliability. Reduced contact surfaces under all operating conditions significantly improve friction and wear characteristics without compromising sealing performance. Designed for continuous service at high and low PV values, the seal also gives improved performance in oscillating conditions or where there are frequent changes in pressure and/or velocity.

Material Spotlight

FEATURES AND BENEFITS OFTURCON® M15:

• Resistant to virtually all media including a broad range of lubricants

• Outstanding wear resistance and friction characteristics

• Provides extended seal life• Operates in wide temperature, pressure and

velocity ranges• Minimal abrasion of hardware, preventing

damage to counter surfaces• Robust for harsh environments• Good resistance to extrusion• Reduced environmental impact as it does not

include harmful fillers• Preferred sealing material for use in rotary

hydraulic applications• Cost-effective solution• Recommended operating temperatures of

-30°C to +120°C / -22°F to +248 °F

TURCON® M15: IDEAL FOR ROTARY APPLICATIONS

Specifically developed for demanding rotary applications, Turcon® M15 demonstrates outstanding performance and is unrivaled in key characteristics, such as friction, wear and highpressure operation.

A polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) based sealing material, the Turcon® M15 matrix is medium-filled with a complex mix of non-abrasive polymer fibers along with lubricating and extraordinarily tough anti-wear additives.

NEW PRODUCT


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INDUSTRY FOCUS

INDUSTRY FOCUS:

AutomotiveThe invention of the automobile has

revolutionized everyday life across the world. By Jan Sklucki

Veteran EraThe first true automobile was created by Karl Benz in 1885, in Mannheim, Germany. The Benz Patent Motorwagen was driven by an internal combustion engine. With a maximum speed of 8 mph, cooling system, rear end gears and rack and pinion steering, this was the first commercially available vehicle powered by gasoline. The companies of Karl Benz set the new industry standard for quality and engineering across Europe, and later through the rest of the world.

This was the beginning of a true automotive industry, with France and the US building budding enterprises that still manufacture cars today, namely Peugeot, Renault, Cadillac and Ford. With no clear standards, innovation was rampant, with various styles, materials and controls available, including the ‘tiller’, a steering device more similar to a ships rudder, which was standardized to the steering wheel by Rambler. The rapid expansion enhanced secondary industries too, such as petroleum and mineral oil – undoubtedly presenting new sealing challenges.

Brass EraOne of the most famous names in automobile development is Henry Ford. His company used moving assembly lines to produce automobiles faster and cheaper, and therefore more accessible. Paying his workers $5 a day, more than double what most would make, he encourage his staff to work hard at delivering the automobile to the masses – and perhaps use their extra income to afford a new car. The quote “Choose whatever color you want, so long as it’s black” came from his new production organization.

The new Model T sold for $490 in 1914, a reduction in cost of 75% over the previous decade, and by 1920, over


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INDUSTRY FOCUS

8 million were on the road in the US. His reduced cost of manufacturing obviously paid off; By the end of the 1920s, there were 23 million drivers registered. This boom led to the development of new service industries: gas stations, mechanics, roadside motels and diners, and family vacations in the form of road trips. But, with the advantages and cultural shifts seen with widespread car use, also came traffic jams, accidents and fatalities, leading to widespread support for legislation, licensing and safety regulations.

Some of the main developments of this period are still in use today: transmissions (which would later lead to variably speed controls, rather than fixed speed settings), suspension, steel frame rather than wood, four wheel brakes and electric ignition systems.

Vintage EraFrom 1918 to 1929, the front-engined car with an enclosed body and standardized controls became much more pre-valent. Hydraulic brakes were developed by Malcolm Loughead (founder of Lockheed, to become Lockheed Martin) and tempered glass arrived on the market for windows. This was when the Austin 7, a British economy car was first marketed, one of the most copied models of motor vehicle at the time, and Ford reinvented its design, leaving behind the Model T in favour of the Model A – the best-selling car of the era. In 1905, Trelleborg was founded in Sweden. It too saw the potential in the automotive market, and by 1907, serial production of car tires was well underway.

Pre-war Era/Post-War eraFollowing the Great Depression, and through to the 1960s, automobile design continued to evolve. Cars were marketed internationally with more powerful engines and ever sleeker and more stylish designs. The “Big Three” American automotive manufacturers were making bigger, more luxurious cars, including chrome trims.


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INDUSTRY FOCUS

“We’re constantly working on developing new technologies that assist in working toward the same goals as our customers”

CORIN-MARC SCHULER, Team Leader Product Innovation for the Automotive Hub at Trelleborg Sealing Solutions.

• 73.5 million passenger cars and 18.1 million commercial vehicles were produced in 2015, a gain on the previous year’s figures for nearly every region in the world.

• The landspeed record was set at 1,228 km/h / 763 mph by Andy Green, a former British Royal Air Force pilot in 1997. This was the first supersonic record.

• In the US in 1970, 140 different models were available on the market, compared to 684 in 2012.

• The word limousine was taken from the Limousin region of France to describe types of car with an open

driver’s seat and the rest enclosed, as they supposedly looked like the

cloaks worn by people in the region. Today’s stretch

limousine was first seen in 1928, and made by coach

company Armbuster to ferry big band leaders, such as Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman, with their musicians and equipment to gigs.

• ‘Phantom traffic jams’ are caused by the first driver using their brakes on a motorway or highway. This small effect ripples through drivers further behind, each having to brake a little harder than the one in front. It’s led to traffic jams of up to 50 miles long in complete standstill from this minor initial braking.

• Monster Trucks – Originally large wheels and suspensions were mounted onto pickup trucks in the 1970s to win the title for “World’s Biggest Truck”.

• The US Presidential State Car has nicknames like “The Beast” and “Cadillac One”. It’s a Cadillac mounted onto a truck platform, with many secret features - lifesaving, defensive and offensive. The Secret Service assist in dismantling and destroying the car to ensure that it’s secret countermeasures stay secret.

By the 1960s, the market had changed, with imported cars becoming more in demand, Japan developing into an automotive powerhouse and European companies focusing on technological advancements. Independent suspensions, fuel injection and the turbocharger all started to see more widespread use.

By 1970, emissions and safety standards were being introduced and smaller sized vehicles were growing in popularity.

Modern EraThe modern market features vehicles with greatly improved fuel efficiency, safety features and engine output. Computers play an integral part in the functioning of a car’s systems, be they for safety or efficiency. A range of styles of body are available, from hatchbacks to SUVs. Standardization, CAD and car platform sharing have all aided manufacturing to reduce costs and development time. Trelleborg influences the performance and efficiency of components across many types of vehicle, including cars. Trelleborg solutions are used for rubber damping, door seals, shock absorbers, engines, injectors and steering.

WHAT IS EMOBILITY?eMobility encompasses vehicles that are taking steps to move away from fossil fuel use in cars. This includes fully electric, hybrid electric and hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles. Often, these ideas are also collected together with sensors, smart power grids and microcontrollers, all aiming to provide realistic ways to achieve a future with reduced carbon emissions.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY:


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INDUSTRY FOCUS

The FutureToday, we are looking forward to a further technological revolution within the automotive market, including thermal management, self-driving cars, eMobility and a push toward more efficient and eco-friendly technologies.

“Trelleborg has been at the forefront of this new technological shift, aiding developers and manufacturers of the innovative seals and solutions that can assist in helping reduce energy consumption” says Corin-Marc Schuler, Team Leader Product Innovation for the Automotive Hub at Trelleborg Sealing Solutions. Some examples are the new Turcon® Roto L, an innovation incorporating active sealing. Only activating while sealing is required, it significantly reduces friction, which in turn conserves energy, in drivetrain applications.

“We’re constantly working on developing new technologies that assist in working toward the same goals as our customers,” says Corin. “We’ve invested heavily in Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) and 2-component parts production facilities to meet growing needs in this area from our customers, particularly with respect to the sophisticated on-board electronic systems that are used within sensor

and control units. Working with a supplier like Trelleborg, who can assist from the early development stages of a project, right through to prototyping, testing, and finally, market realization, can ensure that the project will be a success,” concludes Corin.

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions is a major supplier of sealing solutions to the Automotive industry. Our innovations focus on ensuring that vehicles run faster, more safely and for longer.

The Trelleborg Sealing Solutions website contains a host of resources to engineers, including product information, whitepapers and films. Decades of experience in the industry have allowed us to stay ahead of current trends to provide solutions that meet today’s and tomorrow’s requirements.

All these resources can be found on the Trelleborg Sealing Solutions website.

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Resources for the Automotive engineer:

Literature• Automotive Sealing Solutions

Check out some of the Trelleborg technologies, materials and products for automotive applications.

• Read our whitepaper on driverless cars. Go to the technical area of www.tss.trelleborg.com to download.

Film• Turcon® Skirted Piston for Automotive Shock Absorbers• Energy Saving with no Friction ‒

Turcon® Roto L Rotary Seal• Rubore® ‒ The world of automotive sealing ‒

Part I: Time is money

Digital Services• Shim Selector App

Gives Brake NVH test engineers quick access to a range of shim materials for elimination of specific brake noise problems.

LSR VR Capabilities AppTake a tour of a high-tech manufacturing site that produces liquid silicone rubber components for automotive applications.

DRIVERLESS CARSForward thinking investors expect fully automated vehicles to arrive on the market between 2020 and 2025. A meeting point of the most innovative technologies from automotive and information technology, a number of ground-breaking technologies must operate in tandem to realize a future without drivers. The potential is for smoother flowing road networks, with less braking and accelerating, resulting in less accidents and less polluting vehicles on the road.


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“Our trust, and our customers’ trust, in the solutions we provide is crucial, so we’ve developed a testing rig specifically for the HP20.”

MAURIZIO MASSETTIProduct Engineering Manager

PRODUCTFOCUS

Unveiling the HP20 Rotary Oil Seal, a newly patented rotary oil seal that optimizes performance in low-speed/high-torque hydraulic motors.

Rotary Oil Seal

FOR DECADES, TRELLEBORG SEALING SOLUTIONS HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION of seals for fluid power applications. When the opportunity for innovation presents itself, research and development teams jump at the chance.

Packed with features that improve performance and extend lifetime, the HP20 Rotary Oil Seal has been designed from the ground up for low-speed/high-torque (LSHT) hydraulic motors.

“LSHT motors offer a large amount of power to the user and enable easy reversal of direction with a smooth start,” says Filippo Zanetti, Product Director for Rotary Oil Seals at Trelleborg Sealing Solutions. “The metal retainer, for example, doesn’t just prevent lip extrusion at the high pressures that these applications operate under, but also reaches beyond the seal, making contact with the metal housing to more effectively dissipate heat,” continues Filippo.

The geometry of the seal has also been optimized. “Our product development experts have improved the geometry of the sealing lip, and in combination with practical testing and theoretical testing methods, such as FEA, have redesigned the geometry to balance pressure and ensure reliable contact with the sealing lip and the shaft,” says Maurizio Massetti, Product Engineering Manager.

The new features are combined with proprietary materials to deliver even greater performance at high speeds and allow adaptability with differing application conditionsand hydraulic fluids, now including bio-degradable oils.

HP20

XXX


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PRODUCTFOCUS

“Our trust, and our customers’ trust, in the solutions we provide is crucial, so we’ve developed a testing rig specifically for the HP20,” says Maurizio.

Equipped with two heads for back-to-back testing of two different solutions, the rig can apply pressures, temperatures and speeds in-line with customer specifications, giving information on product wear and reliability. The rig is capable of being programmed with up to 40 steps, monitoring factors such as the absorbed torque, shaft rotation speed, direction, fluid temperature, flow rate and head pressure, receiving all the data in real-time for analysis.

“By more accurately modelling real-world application conditions, we can give a much better behaviour of product lifetime,” concludes Maurizio.

For all the hydraulic applications, the HP20 combined with a scraper can deliver increased performance and more cost-effective operation. “Over two million are already in use by our customers and are seeing the benefits in action,” finishes Filippo Zanetti.

Features and benefits:

• Metal retainer prevents lip extrusion at high pressures • Pressure-balancing geometry provides a stable contact of the sealing lip on the shaft• Retainer extends from the seal, contacting the housing plate, to increase thermal dissipation • Available in HNBR (standard and low temperature), FKM and FKM-XploR Trelleborg proprietary compounds • HNBR version operates with mineral oils according to DIN 51524-2 cat. HLP or ISO 11158 cat. HM (ISO 6743/4 cat. L-HM) or ISO VG46 – BDS ISO 3448, purity class 16/13 – ISO4406 – 1999• FKM version applicable to bio-degradable hydraulic oil applications, with compatibility testing available • Small axial dimensions• Cut sealing lip for high quality functionality

LOW-SPEED/HIGH-TORQUE MOTORS

Low-speed/high-torque (LSHT) hydraulic motors are one of the most cost-effective and dependable parts of a hydraulic system. Offering many advantages over a high-speed motor and gearbox speed reducer, LSHT motors give a large amount of power from a comparatively small drive envelope, with low noise and vibration, easy reversal of direction and smooth starting torque. They are commonly found within the forestry, agricultural and construction industries and hydraulic pumps, winch brakes and general purpose hydraulic applications.

FIND OUT MORE Read more technical information about HP20 at: www.tss.trelleborg.com/literature


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AEROSPACE


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AEROSPACE

When a customer requested completely leak-free operation within an aerospace actuator, Trelleborg utilized an innovative new production method to deliver a high-tech vane seal.

ROTARY VANE ACTUATORS (RVA) aid in controlling aircraft wing flaps, anti-roll suspension systems on premium cars and machine tools and operate with rotating and oscillating motions. Generally, actuators are designed with one or two vanes but versions are available with three or more.

In a two vane rotary actuator, a rotor replaces the piston, which operates within linear hydraulic cylinders, with two vanes attached. When fluid pressure is applied to two of the four working chambers that turn the actuator, which requires sealing to ensure reliable performance. The vanes allow more power from a smaller envelope, but even small amounts of fluid leakage creates inefficiency and power loss.

Over the years, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has been looking at more efficient and cost effective vane seal designs, increasing efficiency and performance with each step.

“From milling to stamping, we’ve had successes with creating seals of different shapes and materials to meet our customers’ demanding requirements,” says Steve James, Aerospace Product Engineering Manager at Trelleborg Sealing Solutions.

“Few companies have the combined resources: the material technology, the worldwide engineering resources and the manufacturing capabilities.” says Torben Anderson, Director Aerospace Segment at Trelleborg Sealing Solutions.

SealsVaneBy Jan Sklucki


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AEROSPACE

VANE SEALS – FEATURES AND BENEFITS:

• Customizable non-circular shapes High-efficiency, ultra-tight designs for enhanced leakage performance and low hysteresis

• Streamlined designs Advanced low-friction solutions Requires fewer assembled components, reducing weight and complexity while providing easier installation

• Space optimization Reduced size to meet today's demands for slimmer profiles

• High wear resistance Provides longer service life and reduced maintenance costs

• Unique manufacturing techniques Include 3D printing, stamping and milling processes

• Extreme performance Capable of operating under high pressure, within a wide temperature range and at high speeds up to 15 meters / 49 feet per second

However, an aerospace customer involved with commercial aircraft approached Trelleborg Sealing Solutions looking to create a completely leak-free seal to further improve performance and meet environmental requirements.

Traditional vane seals feature an inherent leak path. “The corner actuator seal has been the weak link in the chain, and the industry has been looking for a way to eliminate it for 25 years, with substantial research time dedicated to a solution. After a great deal of development and testing, including designs with springs and trying to

tighten the corner’s geometry, we’ve developed a new seal to completely eliminate the corner actuators – and hence removed the leak path entirely,” says Steve.

Using a patented process, a PTFE and bonded elastomer is bent into a geometry to consolidate multiple sealing functions into a single highly engineered part, enabling three-dimensional sealing.

“It’s the results of decades of experience in sealing, not just in aerospace, but in all industries. Few companies have the combined resources: the material technology, the worldwide engineering resources and the manufacturing capabilities,” ends Torben.

As actuators have developed, manufacturers are looking for better internal performance. The newly released vane seals offer this and more. They can keep up with the requirements of newer, smaller actuators that deliver ten times the power and meet the latest safety guidelines on the market.

FIND OUT MORE Learn more about Vane Seals at: www.tss.trelleborg.com/literature


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AEROSPACE

AS PART OF ITS CONTINUED SUPPORT for its aerospace customers and focus on research and development, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has expanded its fire seals R&D and qualification testing capability with the addition of a new state of the art fire test lab.

“Our testing now includes fire proof and fire resistance testing, meaning we can do nearly every test required for aerospace product qualification testing in-house, and work closely with customers to develop a testing regime that is right for them,” says Quinn Collett, General Manager – Airframe for the US Aerospace Hub at Trelleborg Sealing Solutions.

Testing is vital for aerospace applicationsFrom concept to full qualification, testing plays a vital part in speeding up development time and reducing costs. Many sealing suppliers make use of 3rd party testing laboratories, which can be costly and add extra time into the development cycle.

“With products like fire seals, which can require iterative development, especially when product performance is being optimized, multiple testing intervals can be carried out throughout development. If it fails, it goes back to the drawing board and testing must occur again. By keeping all fire testing in house, we’re able to dramatically reduce that schedule,” says Quinn. “And with the new equipment we can extend our behind-the-scenes work on evolving fire seal technology, which we’ve been doing for over 50 years.”

Examples of the types of testing regimes performed are ISO 2685 and AC20-135. ISO 2685 test subjects the seal to vibrations, flames and intense heats of +1,100 °C / +2,000 °F for 15 minutes, while being studied for predetermined failure modes such as flame penetration or other customer-specified failure modes. “The testing conditions can be modified to take into account additional factors customers may be interested in, such as compression loading, air flow or pressurization.” says Quinn.

A whole package of testing Seals used within aerospace applications often require other testing procedures, other than fire testing, which is where Trelleborg Sealing Solutions can really excel with its full suite of testing capabilities.

“Fire seals may require cycle load testing or fluid compatibility testing too. With other seal providers typically involving external testing laboratories, the qualification procedure could be very lengthy, but with our inhouse facilities, we can significantly reduce that. We really are a one-stop-shop, and with our design and engineering facilities we can move very quickly through, design, testing, qualification and iteration,” finishes Quinn.

The Trelleborg Sealing Solutions facility in Northborough in the US boasts unique fire test capabilities.

Test LabFire Seals

Check out our video illustrating the fire test capabilities. Go to the films section of www.tss.trelleborg.com.

MORE INFORMATION


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INNOVATIVESOLUTION

In the world of automotive innovations, the move toward greater fuel efficiency and thus a smaller environmental impact has led to the widespread use of stop-start technology. Thanks to Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, a small but ingenious valve seal is meeting the considerable demands placed on car batteries by such systems.

Off Car BatteriesTaking the Pressure


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INNOVATIVESOLUTION

Production is currently set for 160 million Ventseal parts annually, yet he foresees this number rising in line with the increased demand for AGM batteries. The batteries have considerable potential for use in other types of demanding applications, ranging from storing the energy collected from solar panels and wind turbines, via jet skis, boats and mobility vehicles, right up to implementations in aircraft.

AS HARSH PENALTIES ARE IMPOSED on excessive fuel consumption nowadays, stop-start systems have become an attractive option for car manufacturers, since this technology can lower consumption by between two to ten percent. Europe was an enthusiastic adopter and now both the USA and China are increasingly implementing these systems in their new vehicles, too.

Stop-Start TechnologyHowever, stop-start vehicle technology puts a lot of strain on the car’s battery, because during those periods when the engine is automatically switched off the battery is the sole source of power for all the on-board electrical devices, such as air conditioning or heating, entertainment and navigation systems. In addition, advanced stop-start systems that incorporate regenerative braking or passive boost add to the stress placed on the battery. The automotive industry uses a type of lead acid battery in its stop-start systems called an absorbent glass mat (AGM) battery. This refers to the fiberglass mat that absorbs and retains the sulfuric acid while also separating the positive and negative plates. This battery type has many advantages, including long life, vibration resistance and, since it is completely sealed, it is virtually spill-proof and maintenance-free, as well as being recyclable.

Pressure Must be ReleasedCrucial to the correct operation of AGM batteries is the ability to release pressure from the minor gassing that occurs during rapid charging and which could lead to a drop in battery performance and potentially explosive fumes. To deal effectively with this issue, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has developed the Ventseal-Light, a patented design that combines a seal and a pressure-relief valve in one product. The valve opens at low pressure for safety reasons and closes automatically to prevent leakage from the battery. This allows for a high rate of charge and discharge, which occurs when the engine switches on and off.

Although it is only a tiny component, this critical part needs to provide reliable sealing over the entire life of the battery and to operate at extreme temperatures. The Ventseal was developed by Trelleborg Sealing Solutions in Stuttgart and originally launched on the market in 2001. In 2012 production was switched to the company’s Maltese site and since then more than five million euros have been invested in meeting the rising demand for the Ventseal-Light.

Rising DemandMartin Hignett, Managing Director of Trelleborg Sealing Solutions in Malta, praises the collaboration with the Stuttgart office, which manages the Ventseal project.

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Pressure build-up is a problem in the car batteries used for stop-start systems

Ventseal-Light from Trelleborg Sealing Solutions combines a venting and sealing function to overcome this problem

Demand for the seal is rising along with the number of applications for this type of battery

IN SHORT

HOW VENTSEAL-LIGHT WORKS

Ventseal-Light is a patented, low-pressure valve combining excellent impermeability with a secure opening and closing behavior. It is suitable for all cases where the pressure in a closed receptacle must be kept below a certain limit, while at the same time any ingress from the outside has to be sealed off securely. Opening pressures for the valve range from 50 to 400 mbar and it is available in two different types of elastomer material, depending on the pressure requirements and media used. In terms of function and cost, Ventseal-Light is an optimized version of the well-known Ventseal series.


in the groove

DIGITAL SERVICES

Discover a range of digital tools, services and resources from Trelleborg Sealing Solutions that make seal specification easier, solve common engineering problems and educate on sealing topics.

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in the groove

DIGITAL SERVICES

LSR VR CAPABILITIES APP

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions now offers an inside look into our capabilities as well as our manufacturing facilities. With Samsung Gear VR devices, you can take a virtual reality

tour that features our LSR capabilities. The tour includes showrooms with a range of LSR products for healthcare, medical and automotive applications.

This app features an interactive tour through our high-tech manufacturing site in Stein am Rhein, Switzerland, giving you an immersive experience of our outstanding capabilities, ranging from specialized toolmaking to innovative process engineering and product manufacturing in fully automated operations.

The app will be on show at selected Trelleborg Sealing Solutions booths and events. Contact your local Trelleborg Sealing Solutions marketing company for more information.


in the groove

DIGITAL SERVICES

TECHNICAL LIBRARY APP

This tool provides quick access to technical articles published in renowned industry magazines on diverse topics such as processing technology, hydraulic and pneumatic sealing, LSR technology, drug delivery, O-Rings and smart appliances. Developed by our sealing experts, the articles take an in-depth look at new technology developments surrounding sealing technology and engineered products, supported by a wide selection of whitepapers.

In the webinar section of the web library, you can watch or read the transcript of a recent event which featured the Trelleborg Cassette Seal CSL1500.

The webinar shares industry insights as to how the Trelleborg Cassette Seal CSL1500 is a distinct, one of a kind product in today’s market. The product and technology have opened new opportunities that allow cassette seals to be utilized in innovative ways.

To view the webinar on demand visit www.tss.trelleborg.com/global/en/news_1/detail/cassette-sealing.html

The Trelleborg Sealing Solutions range of innovative digital tools to make engineers’ lives easier, continues to expand. To find links to the full range of e-Tools for web and mobile, go to the ‘Services & Tools’ section of our website and select ‘Design Support & Engineering Tools’. The latest additions are summarized here.


in the groove

DIGITAL SERVICES

AEROSPACE GROOVE SELECTOR APP

Complete with a new layout, the Aerospace Groove Selector app covers three of the most important SAE Aerospace groove standards for hydraulic systems: AS4716 Rev B,

AS5857 Rev A and now AS6235 Rev A. You can easily find groove sizes and determine if grooves are suitable for a dynamic and/or static seal. In this version of the app, the main groove dimensions and tolerances are displayed instantly in metric and inch, based on standard product numbers, and also features an easy inch-to-mm conversion. Some of the other time- saving features within the app include gland design for Bore, Rod and Face seals, break edge information, indication of dynamic/static usage, drawings for easy co-relation of data and emailing data as a pdf.

The app is available free-of-charge from the Apple App Store or Google Play by searching for ‘Trelleborg Aerospace’.

MOBILE APP FOR IOS: CAD MODELS

To easily access all Trelleborg Sealing Solutions CAD drawings of standard products, we introduce our CAD models app. The app allows you to view and download drawings in 2D and 3D,

complete with attribute overviews, such as part numbers and usage parameters. Also, it allows you to get the respective drawing directly via e-mail in any file format currently available on the market.

The app is available free-of-charge from the Apple App Store or Google Play by searching for ‘Trelleborg CAD Models’.

MORE INFORMATION

Find out more about our comprehensive range of apps and digital tools and visit www.tss.trelleborg.com/tools.

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Documents

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