A weekly look at new products, innovations

Editor's Note: Each week, Rubber & Plastics News will take a look at some of the rubber industry's new products and innovations on www.rubbernews.com. Does your company have a new product or new innovation? To be considered for inclusion in this recurring feature, email [email protected].

Rep International has released a simple and economic solution to a problem familiar to manufacturers of pipe seals: an automatic stripping for pipe seals.

When performed manually, Rep claimed the stripping process is often difficult and thus productivity is considerably impacted; however, when being performed automatically, the challenge is to do it quickly without any heat loss and without production stoppages because of overlapping seals.

Rep said it has found a solution that offers customers a competitive and profitable turnkey solution for reduced size on the automatic stripping of EPDM pipe seals of any size. The company reported the solution can be matched to any seal size.

It is based on conveyor belts equipped with rotating belts, Rep explained, which allows for the individual stripping of the seals. The spacing between the bottom and top belts can be adjusted and thanks to a mechanical stopper system, it is possible to switch over from one seal type to another, the company said. The rotation speeds of the top and bottom belts can also be adjusted independently.

The belts are designed in compliance with a multi-layer technology, REP said, in order to ensure the reliability of the stripping process and the speed, while observing the quality of the stripped parts. In addition, the core bar in/out speeds on the kit (low/high speed, depending on the stroke limit) can be controlled. The kit is fully retractable for easy access to the cores on the rear side of the machine, allowing maintenance operations or more rapid production changes.

The automatic stripping process can be watched on Rep's YouTube Channel.

To visit Rep's website, go to http://www.repinjection.com/

APS Elastomers said it has formulated a proprietary thermoplastic elastomer for wheelchair grips.

APS said it began working with Intelliwheels, the maker of handrim grips for wheelchairs, because Intelliwheels wanted a thermoplastic elastomer specially formulated with the right amount of abrasion resistance. This would allow greater control and responsiveness for wheelchair users.

APS Elastomers said it developed the TPE with the precise feel and grip needed for wheelchair users to obtain more power going up hills, over carpet and demanding terrain.

Characterized by its soft feel and cushioning nature, TPEs work well alone or can be bonded to many other harder substrates to improve functionality and design, the company said.

The patent pending design increases the circumference of the hand rim to minimize the strain on hands, wrists and forearms, APS said, while the improved grip allows users to push with less effort. The latex free grips wraps three-fourths of the way around the push rim, providing extra grip on the pushing surface, leaving the underside exposed for fine adjustments and braking, according to APS Elastomers.

Fit Grips stretch to fit over 24 inch -26 inch wheels, including power assist wheels and ergonomic handrims.

For more information about Fit Grips visit intelliwheels.net/fit-grips, or for more information on APS Elastomers, contact [email protected].