INDIANAPOLIS—The Association for Rubber Products Manufacturers recently welcomed Great Lakes Rubber Co., R.E. Darling Co. (Redar), Seal Science Inc. and Vicone Rubber as association members.
"ARPM is excited with the addition of these four new members at the beginning of 2018," ARPM Managing Director Letha Keslar said in a statement. "This year promises to be full of more networking opportunities, top-quality benchmarking reports, the release of the State of the Industry Report, topical webinars, member plant tours and executive exchanges for our association."
Great Lakes is an ISO/TS 16949 manufacturer of precision, custom molded rubber products and prototypes. Founded in since 1979, the firm specializes in producing close to tolerance dynamic seals and bonding rubber to other materials.
"Environmental changes, staffing and supply shortages are problems common to all of us," Great Lakes President Donald DeMallie said in a statement detailing the benefits of the firm's membership. "Combine these with the increasing pace of technological change coping with these future challenges can be quite daunting. ARPM offers the opportunity to work with other member companies to help mitigate the risks to our business from these challenges. Specifically we intend to leverage increased access to pertinent literature and training courses to help with staff development and retention."
R.E. Darling Co. began operations in 1948 in Washington, fabricating aviator's breathing oxygen tubes. With the rapid advance of military aircraft performance capabilities in the early 1950s, Redar pioneered the development and manufacture of a new series of breathing oxygen hose incorporating new synthetic materials and many innovations in connector and cabling design.
The firm has expanded its capabilities to include the development and manufacture of precision molded rubber goods; chemical warfare resistant hose and related products; hardware items for space, military, and medical programs; fabrication of undersea products; and reinforced composite and ablative components.
The firm's expanded capabilities also include custom compounding and rubber mixing and testing.
Seal Science designs and manufactures materials and components for critical sealing applications and advanced technology systems. SSI provides cutting edge technological solutions for mechanical and electrical systems; including structural subsystem design, signature management and electromechanical interference shielding products.
SSI has supported the U.S. Government and its prime aerospace and defense subcontractors for more than 30 years in addition to end users in the semiconductor, medical and industrial industries.
Vicone Rubber produces extruded rubber profiles and seals. Since 2004, they have been supporting manufacturers in their product development process by using value-added services. They provide design, manufacturing, inventory management, strategic production and secondary processes.
"ARPM truly appreciates and values every member," Kessler said. "ARPM is only successful because of their participation, and each member company is key to the network."
ARPM is a trade association managed by rubber business leaders with more than 90 members. The association works to provide manufacturers with bottom line impacting programs, networking, and additional beneficial services.