Rubber fabric connections
With in-house toolmaking and a high level of vertical integration, we develop the right material and manufacturing solution for your application as a manufacturer of rubber-fabric composites.
- Customised production
- Batch sizes 1 to 1 million units.
- Express production from 2 weeks
- 100% Reliability & proactivity
Technical Rubber fabric connections for the industry
GUME is a specialised manufacturer of rubber fabric connections. Our rubber fabric parts offer high tensile strength, dimensional stability and long-lasting functionality in dynamic applications. We therefore use rubber parts with fabric wherever Molded Rubber or TPE moulded parts must be additionally guided, reinforced or stabilised.
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Materials for your rubber fabric connections
Technical fabric inserts are bonded with elastomers during vulcanisation. This creates durable rubber-fabric compounds in which the properties of both materials complement each other.
We will be happy to advise you personally and find the right fabric-reinforced solution.
Properties of rubber fabric compounds
Composite fabric parts consist of a combination of elastomer and woven carrier material. The fabric is woven, similar to Rubber metal connections or Rubber-plastic connections directly into the component or rubber is vulcanised onto it. The fabric limits the deformation, stabilises specific zones or increases the mechanical strength without eliminating the flexibility of the rubber. The following properties result from the combination of rubber and fabric:
At a glance:
- Minimal weight of individual components
- Superior tear strength and tear‑propagation resistance
- Directionally-controlled elasticity
- Enhanced elastic recovery under cyclic loading
- Dimensional stability across temperature gradients
- No delamination through integrated reinforcement
Rubber fabric connection customised according to your specification
At GUME, we do not manufacture standard rubber fabric connections, but exclusively customised to individual orders. As a manufacturer of rubber fabric parts, we use in-house moulds and ISO-9001-certified processes to produce flexible batch sizes for all geometries. The delivery of your fabric composite parts follows an efficient process chain, which allows us to flexibly adapt delivery times to your requirements:
01
Consultancy & Design
The combination of elastic rubber and rigid fabric influences component performance, shrinkage during vulcanisation and the joining process itself. We advise you on geometries that have not yet been defined and develop a suitable solution together with you and your team. We take into account the course of the fabric, the gate and flow properties as well as the bonding layers of the subsequent fabric composite parts. Changes and adjustments to the mould are made quickly and iteratively until your requirements are met.
03
Prototypes & series production
Once the mould has been manufactured, we produce the first prototypes to test the adhesion between the rubber and the fabric, the dimensional accuracy and the functionality. The specific challenge remains throughout the entire production process: The fabric must lie precisely, must not slip and must be connected to the rubber at the contact points in a process-reliable manner. Once the first components have been approved, we start series production of your rubber-fabric connection.
02
Tool design
The mould design for rubber-fabric connections differs from the standard process. The decisive factor is the exact positioning and fixing of the fabric in the mould so that it does not shift or form folds during injection. For this purpose, the mould is fitted with special holders or inserts that secure the fabric and ensure that it is bonded to the rubber. At the same time, we pay attention to a mould design that reduces air inclusions and burr formation, as otherwise weak points can occur at the transitions between rubber and fabric. The integration of production and mould making in our company as well as short internal paths ensure fast throughput times and competitive cost structures.
04
Post Processing
Deburring rubber parts with fabric requires experience, as fabric and rubber react differently. Surface treatments and quality assurance tests are customised to the required tolerances and requirements of the rubber-fabric composite parts. Visual and functional tests ensure that each part fulfils the required standards - especially with regard to the rubber-fabric composite. For critical applications such as in medical technology, we document processes, test results and traceability in full. If necessary, we supply test reports or material certificates, for example for fire protection or food approvals.
Rubber fabric connection customised according to your specification
At GUME, we do not manufacture standard rubber fabric connections, but exclusively customised to individual orders. As a manufacturer of rubber fabric parts, we use in-house moulds and ISO-9001-certified processes to produce flexible batch sizes for all geometries. The delivery of your fabric composite parts follows an efficient process chain, which allows us to flexibly adapt delivery times to your requirements:
Customised Rubber fabric connections: We think along with you to keep your series running
- Toolmaking is our core competency
- 100% in-house expertise
- Fast response times for tooling modifications
Do you have questions about rubber fabric connections?
We have answers!
What are rubber fabric compounds?
Rubber-fabric joints combine the elastic properties of rubber with the high tear resistance and dimensional stability of fabric inserts. The result is components that remain flexible and are mechanically reinforced at the same time. As a manufacturer of rubber fabric parts, we can use this combination to develop components that can permanently withstand changing loads and still fulfil precise shape requirements. The textile insert protects selected areas from cracking or excessive deformation. The elastomer ensures that the connection remains sealed, vibration-damping and flexible.
What are the advantages of rubber fabric compounds?
Rubber fabric compounds offer high strength, dimensional stability and low elongation under load. At the same time, the elasticity of the rubber is retained. This combination makes them particularly suitable for applications where changing forces and movements occur, but where permanent dimensional stability is required. In practice, these advantages can be seen, for example, in rubber-fabric seals, membranes or protective elements that seal reliably, absorb vibrations and do not lose stability even under cyclical loads.
The fabric component gives a fabric-reinforced gasket or membrane significantly improved tear resistance and reduces yielding under constant pressure. At the same time, the rubber-fabric compound remains flexible enough to adapt to different surfaces and compensate for unevenness. Fabric-reinforced moulded parts can withstand higher shear and tensile forces than pure elastomer seals of the same design and can be manufactured relatively thinly without losing their mechanical strength. Take advantage of our design advice for your rubber-fabric connections.
Which material can be processed in rubber fabric joints?
Almost all common elastomers (NR, EPDM, NBR, FKM, etc.) can be combined with fabrics such as polyester, glass fibre or aramid. We match the choice of elastomer to the chemical and physical environmental conditions of your target application. The fabric used also provides additional mechanical stability or defined flexibility. For applications with special temperature or media requirements, HNBR or FKM, for example, can be successfully combined with special technical fabrics, which further increases the service life of the rubber-fabric connections in critical areas of application.
How are rubber fabric compounds made?
Vulcanising fabric inserts into the rubber matrix creates a strong, inseparable bond. Processing is carried out using the compression moulding or transfer moulding process. Both methods enable the fabric to be positioned precisely at the intended points in the component and a uniform bond to be achieved across the entire material cross-section. During the vulcanisation process, the still uncured rubber material is pressed onto the fabric material and penetrates it. The vulcanisation heat causes the rubber to crosslink and harden around the fabric. As a result, the elastomer bonds with the fabric insert so that there are no separating layers that could impair stability.
What sizes of rubber fabric connections can be realised with GUME?
We produce rubber fabric connections in very small sizes from a few millimetres up to a maximum installation space of 650 x 750 mm. This allows us to realise precise micro parts for demanding sensor and sealing tasks as well as larger, dimensionally stable elements for plant engineering. Depending on requirements, we manufacture individual parts, small batches and series solutions precisely according to specified drawing data. The flexible design of our tools and manufacturing processes enables us to reproduce even unusual geometries or special dimensions reliably and reproducibly. We therefore cover a wide range of sizes and offer you the greatest possible scope for your design and development projects.
How quickly can GUME deliver rubber fabric connections?
With our toolmaking department and optimised production processes, we can respond to your requirements at short notice. We usually produce prototypes for rubber fabric connections within two weeks after clarifying the technical details and selecting the appropriate materials. As soon as the mould and all approvals are available, series production begins. We typically start series production around four weeks after the order is placed. These short lead times enable you to shorten development cycles and manage projects reliably. At the same time, our structured order processing ensures that speed does not come at the expense of quality, even with demanding fabric rubber compounds. For urgent applications or short-term adaptation requirements, we will be happy to advise you personally on express solutions and prioritised production options.
