Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Launches a Range of Colored Coatings for O-Rings

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, a worldwide leading supplier of high-quality sealing and bearing systems, announces the launch of a range of colored coatings for O-rings. Based on superior coating technology, these surface treatments are ultra-thin and resistant to cracking and peeling. Allowing segregation of similar seals, they demonstrate almost the same properties as comparable clear coatings, facilitating both push-fit and automated assembly.

As O-Ring materials are usually black, one seal may appear almost identical to another, but can vary slightly in dimension or be of different compounds. A large number of O-Rings may be used in one assembly. This is especially the case in automotive component manufacturing, and installing a seal in the incorrect location can cause leakage or even seal failure. An effective and easy means of segregation within a production facility is therefore critical to ensure there are no mix-ups and color-coding is one of the best ways of segregating O-Rings. In addition, as lighter colors can be more easily detected within a black or dark assembly, they can also aid end-of-line quality checking.

“Colored coatings are ideal for differentiating seals within production facilities, and Trelleborg Sealing Solutions offers what we believe is the widest range of colored coatings available as standard from one seal supplier,” says Simone Frick, Product Engineer for O-Rings. “Much research has been involved in the development of these surface treatments. Ultra-thin, they have no negative effect on the performance of the elastomer O-Ring and have the benefit of enhancing friction characteristics. Offering superior resistance against cracking, unlike some competitive products, they are virtually impossible to peel from their substrate.”

Like clear coatings, the colored coatings improve the friction characteristics of elastomer O-Rings. Depending on the surface treatment, they can make a once only push-fit assembly easier or facilitate automated assembly, preventing the O-Rings sticking together during this process.

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions provides a wide range of readily available colored coatings, including turquoise, pink, brown, green, white, blue, yellow, orange and red. The surface treatments can be applied to most seals, standard or custom, in the majority of elastomer compounds.

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions is one of the world’s leading developers, manufacturers and suppliers of precision seals. They support their aerospace, industrial and automotive customers through 30 production facilities and more than 40 marketing companies globally. Within their portfolio are some of the longest established sealing brands, including Chase Walton, Dowty, Forsheda, Palmer Chenard, Shamban, Busak+Shamban, Skega and Stefa along with a large number of proprietary products and materials such as Turcon(R), Zurcon(R), Orkot(R), Isolast(R), Stepseal(R) and Wills Rings(R).