Datwyler expanding O-ring technology, expertise

ALTDORF, Switzerland—New mobility—think electrification and hydrogen fuel cell technology—is changing the game for auto suppliers. And while that's bad news for some, demand is increasing for others.

Go ahead and count Datwyler Holding Inc. among those suppliers in the latter group, the one seeing surging demand for products.

"Demand for O-rings has increased as new mobility solutions have evolved," the company said in a news release. "New applications in areas such as hydrogen storage in fuel cell development, thermal management of batteries and power electronics, and sealing solutions for components such as battery covers and inverter modules, demand attention."

So Datwyler is giving it the attention it feels it deserves, enhancing its global capabilities in O-ring development and production in key regions by early 2023.

The Switzerland-based company said Nov. 30 that it plans to transfer its state-of-the-art cold runner injection technology to sites in Asia and North America. Expanding its technological expertise is a move that Datwyler said will strengthen and secure the supply chain for customers, while offering the benefits of local-to-local service and reduced carbon emissions.

"O-rings require a local production footprint as our customers are looking for more supply chain security, particularly after the pandemic," Richard Katona, key account manager at Datwyler, said in a statement. "Equipping our sites in Asia and North America with this technology ensures there is consistency of supply that can be reinforced by other global sites if required."

Datwyler said its injection technology has the ability to increase production and efficiency because they have clearly defined cavities to fill and the tolling can be enlarged to provide more cavities, and therefore, more parts per run.

The cold runner technology, meanwhile, allows for better control of the temperature of the compound and keeps it at a low viscosity, Datwyler said, which enhances the precision of the production.

"Further, as we engineer everything in-house, including molding and the production of tooling, we can meet the specific product tolerances required from our customers with the minimum number of correction loops," Katona said. "This feeds into our commitment to delivering operational excellence wherever our customers are located, and ensures that parts produced across our manufacturing facilities will be identical and of the same high quality."

Altdorf-based Datwyler manufactures products for a range of end marketing including health care, mobility, general industry and food & beverage. The company, which ranks 47th on the Rubber News ranking of North American rubber product makers, employs more than 8,000 worldwide. The company generates more than $1 billion in global sales annually.