NEW PHILADELPHIA, Ohio—Lauren Manufacturing Co. is now offering a silicone dual durometer extrusion, designed for windows and doors, but versatile enough for more commercial applications.
Lauren said that while dual durometer extrusion is nothing new, using silicone is. The company touted this process as exclusive to Lauren and said although using the material is more labor intensive on its end it can reduce costs for its customers.
“Various companies can produce a dual durometer dense silicone,” a Lauren spokeswoman said. “But it is rare to produce the combination of silicone sponge and dense dual durometers.”
The company started the design after they were approached by a window and door client who was looking for a new seal.
“This company requested a seal that could slide into a channel, while also possessing great compression properties, durability, weatherability and high temperature resistance,” the spokeswoman said.
Other benefits include UV resistance and oxidation, FDA compliance and NSF certification, and the ability to select from standard or custom colors, according to Lauren.
“We now offer many industries a dual durometer that meets performance requirements from low to medium to high,” the spokeswoman said.
Lauren hopes to not only gain market share but also replace applications that have other materials or processes, the spokeswoman said. She said the company sees this as something that could help cut labor costs for customers.
“The combination of sponge and dense would allow for the seal to take a corner around frames, which in turn would save the customer in labor,” she said.
Companies using dense organic dual durometer can upgrade to silicone to help with performance requirements, she said.
Currently the window and door market makes up 25 percent of Lauren's business. However, the new process could be used in the food service, lighting, medical and military markets as well.