Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
web
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • International Elastomer Show
    • Automotive
    • Tire
    • Non-Tire
    • Suppliers
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • ITEC
    • Opinion
    • Technical Notebooks
    • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Starting young: Rubber Division targets high schools to fill talent gap
      ChemSpec enjoying busy 2019 with new agreements, division
      view gallery
      18 photos
      Rubber Division honors leaders, students at Business and Awards Meeting
      view gallery
      9 photos
      Rubber Division wraps up 2019 International Elastomer Conference
    • Column: EV hype or reality? Follow the money
      How General Motors puts batteries through their paces
      As e-commerce grows, companies seek best ways to get products to customers
      ContiTech acquires CRP's belt kits program
    • Yokohama releases new E-3 radial tires for scrapers
      Goodyear to roll out online tire retail program in Europe
      Cooper recalls U.K.-made Avon motorcycle tires
      Continental app helps farmers calculate ag tire pressure, load
    • Wacky World of Rubber: Hunting for rubber ducks on cruise ships
      Trelleborg completes Tritec Seal acquisition
      John Grasmeyer focuses on education for NIBA
      Avon marks 2019 as 'transformational' year
    • Hexpol names Ken Bloom president for North America
      LSR technology shines at K 2019
      TPC plant explosion's impact on butadiene market still being assessed
      Monolith appoints chief technology officer
    • Hexpol names Ken Bloom president for North America
      Monolith appoints chief technology officer
      Delta-Energy Group selects new CEO
      John Grasmeyer focuses on education for NIBA
    • As tool makers press to bring back tariffs, other manufacturers push back
      AMBA files formal request to bring back tariffs on Chinese molds
      Auto parts makers pay $23 million to settle price fixing case
      USTMA aims to raise scrap tire recovery rate
    • Goodyear finds traction with soybean oil
      Cassioli expands with sales office in Alabama
      Rodolfo Comerio looks forward as it celebrates past
      Tire Industry Project launches platform for sustainable natural rubber
    • Column: EV hype or reality? Follow the money
      Column: Lessons from Best Places to Work
      Editorial: Cooper Standard a sign of changing automotive times
      Editorial: Hose industry makes big strides in safety focus
    • SSBR, bio-sourced plasticizer for conveyor belt use
      EPDM solution for automotive dense weatherstrip
      High heat resistant EPDMs for auto hose uses
      Rubber standards in today’s world economy
    • Sponsor Content
      Rubber in Transportation and Tire
      Sponsor Content
      Rubber in Wire and Cable
      Sponsor Content
      Process Control Systems Ensure Consistency and Lot Traceability While Protecting Proprietary Formulations
      Sponsor Content
      Reasons for Using Performance Additives
  • Blogs
    • Products
    • Wacky World of Rubber
    • LSR technology shines at K 2019
      New Products: Master Bond rolls out thermally conductive epoxy sealant
      New Products: Lanxess introduces vulcanization accelerator
      Covestro's CO2 technology earns Germany's President's prize
    • Wacky World of Rubber: Hunting for rubber ducks on cruise ships
      Wacky World of Rubber: Floating ideas for the future of mobility
      Wacky World of Rubber: Goodyear, rubber industry make parade part of Thanksgiving traditions
      Wacky World of Rubber: How to make your own Halloween mask
  • Newsletters
    • Rubber in Automotive
    • Silicone News
    • Latex News
    • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Column: EV hype or reality? Follow the money
      How General Motors puts batteries through their paces
      As e-commerce grows, companies seek best ways to get products to customers
      ContiTech acquires CRP's belt kits program
    • LSR technology shines at K 2019
      Starting young: Rubber Division targets high schools to fill talent gap
      Column: Lessons from Best Places to Work
      New Products: LSR 3D printing technology spotlighted at K Show
    • Natural rubber producers 'extremely concerned' over disease outbreak
      Starting young: Rubber Division targets high schools to fill talent gap
      Kent Elastomer promotes two
      Corrie MacColl details landmark collaboration in Cameroon
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Directory
  • Resources
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Data Store
    • Digital Issue
    • White Papers
  • Events
    • RPN Conferences
    • RPN Live
    • Events Calendar
    • Submit an Event
    • Webinars
    • Past Events
  • Advertise
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
November 25, 2015 01:00 AM

Trelleborg sealing operation expands laboratory

Chris Sweeney
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Trelleborg Sealing Solutions testing laboratory in Fort Wayne, Ind., has been expanded to accommodate product testing.

    FORT WAYNE, Ind.—Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, a business unit of Trelleborg A.B., has expanded its product testing laboratory located at the HA Traub Technical Center in Fort Wayne.

    The addition spans 1,000 square feet to accommodate the growing requests for product testing and validation for rotary seals, specialty aerospace sealing and environmental testing, the firm said in an Oct. 27 news release.

    Trelleborg did not disclose financial details.

    The product testing laboratory is part of Trelleborg Sealing Solutions' research and development center for the Americas, which provides materials testing, materials development, product engineering and product development for the company's evolving sealing product line.

    “The R&D center in Fort Wayne has expanded a lot in recent years, and we got to the point where the product test lab was bursting at the seams,” said Colin Macqueen, director of technology for Trelleborg Sealing Solutions in the Americas. “Machines were getting very closely packed, so we added this extra work space to accommodate the machines we've added in the last few years and also to give us some expansion for the next couple of years so we can make future investments as well.”

    The center spans 17,000 square feet, including the new addition, with 11,000 square feet dedicated to laboratory space. Macqueen said the firm isn't adding any jobs specifically through this investment, but since 2001, the operation has grown from 11 people to about 30.

    Trelleborg works with engineered plastics and elastomers, with its main plastic being PTFE. It utilizes a wide range of elastomeric materials, but Macqueen said the main two are FKM and NBR. It also deals with polyurethanes, some silicones, EPDMs and HNBRs.

    Macqueen said the expansion affords the firm the opportunity to support continued growth of its sealing business. The center in Fort Wayne has 20 rotary test machines with 14 being added in the last five years. It can put seals in several environmentally challenging environments to test them at high and low temperatures with both customer equipment and its own fixtures.

    Trelleborg Sealing Solutions recently built a specialized test rig for flight control actuator seals used in aerospace. Macqueen said the seals need to operate in a very demanding environment because of rapid motion, low temperature and the variety of fluids that flow through the wing. The company is commissioning the rig right now and is set to run its first test in January.

    The firm's materials test lab also has added new analytical testing equipment in the last few years.

    “Customers see our benefits in two ways,” Macqueen said. “One is we work one-on-one with some customers on joint developments. What we're getting now is tools we didn't have before and also more capacity on some of the tools we already had. The customers will see that directly with joint development programs, but also with those things that we develop proactively, internally within our own organization. Customers will see new products that will be launched out of this in the next year or two.”

    Trelleborg Sealing Solutions is a unit of Trelleborg A.B., a worldwide producer of engineered polymers. The group posted annual sales of about $3.29 billion and operates in more than 40 countries in five business areas—Trelleborg Coated Systems, Trelleborg Industrial Solutions, Trelleborg Offshore & Construction, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions and Trelleborg Wheel Systems.

    Fort Wayne is the headquarters for Trelleborg Sealing Solutions in the Americas with 400 employees in the general area. It has two other facilities in addition to the technical center—its flagship PTFE plant that employs 300 and a logistics center about 15 minutes away.

    The unit operates in 30 locations in the Americas, including seven manufacturing facilities. In addition to the Fort Wayne operation, it operates two in the Boston area and one each in Chicago, Denver, Mexico and Brazil.

    Related Articles
    Trelleborg units land oil field, rail line contracts
    Trelleborg expands in Bulgaria
    Trelleborg to acquire Maritime International
    Trelleborg strengthens marine unit
    Trelleborg to buy Mitas
    Auto market drives new plant in Thailand
    Trelleborg Wheels making move; Firm to double revenue once CGS acquisition fina…
    Trelleborg Wheel acquires Brazilian tire maker
    Trelleborg purchases Brazilian tire maker
    Trelleborg Sealing expands into new building
    'Major structural changes' ahead for Trelleborg
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber & Plastics News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    SIGN UP FOR FREE NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber & Plastics News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber & Plastics News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    web
    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Contact the Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News Europe
    • Plastics News China
    • Plastics & Rubber World
    • LSR World
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Autoweek
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright © 1996-2019. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • International Elastomer Show
      • Automotive
      • Tire
      • Non-Tire
      • Suppliers
      • Executive Action
      • Government/Legal
      • ITEC
      • Opinion
      • Technical Notebooks
      • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Blogs
      • Products
      • Wacky World of Rubber
    • Newsletters
      • Rubber in Automotive
      • Silicone News
      • Latex News
      • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Multimedia
      • Videos
      • Photo Galleries
    • Directory
    • Resources
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
      • Data Store
      • Digital Issue
      • White Papers
    • Events
      • RPN Conferences
      • RPN Live
      • Events Calendar
      • Submit an Event
      • Webinars
      • Past Events
    • Advertise