Metal housing with rubber seal
Off-the-shelf standard enclosures rarely fully meet individual requirements. GUME manufactures metal enclosures precisely to your drawing and integrates the appropriate rubber seal directly into the manufacturing process. What other metal enclosure manufacturers split between two suppliers, we deliver as a complete, tested unit.
- Customised production
- Batch sizes 1 to 1 million units.
- Express production from 2 weeks
- 100% Reliability & proactivity
Metal housing according to drawing with integrated seal - custom-made to your specifications
The combination of a custom precision-engineered metal housing and permanently vulcanised Rubber seal is our core competence. The metal housing is customised to your specifications CNC-milled or turned and the housing seal is subsequently vulcanised directly onto the metal surface using a mould manufactured in our own toolmaking department. As a result, the seal is not only joined in the exact position, but also permanently and without any additional assembly steps on your part. Depending on the requirements, we use solid material, extruded profiles or metal die-cast blanks as the starting material and rubber compound tailored to your intended use.
Economical solution for high volumes – with CNC post-processing of functionally critical surfaces and sealing areas for consistent quality
die-cast metal housing
For especially space-saving applications, we also manufacture small enclosures from a metal of your choice
Small metal enclosure
Simple integration and even load distribution due to the circular design
Round metal case
Milled enclosures with seals featuring flat sealing surfaces for electronics, control and switch cabinet applications – offering high dimensional stability and reproducible seal geometry
Rectangular metal casing
A precisely fitting closure for your enclosure solution, featuring an integrated seal to ensure a permanently secure seal even under operational loads
Metal lid with seal
What are the advantages of Metal casings?
Metal housing, in particular made of Steel or Stainless steel, offer significantly higher mechanical stability, temperature resistance and dimensional accuracy compared to plastic or pure aluminium housings. In combination with a vulcanised-on seal, a permanently strong bond is created between metal and Elastomer, which remains reliably leak-tight even under high loads, pressure fluctuations or thermal cycles.
- Ready-to-assemble component with reduced sources of error, as the housing and seal are supplied as a tested unit
- CNC-machined mating surfaces enable a defined contact force and uniform seal compression across the entire contour
- The metal housing protects sensitive components from pressure, temperature, mechanical stress and electromagnetic interference
- Ready-to-assemble component with reduced sources of error, as the housing and seal are supplied as a tested unit
Metal housing with a vulcanised seal
individually made by GUME
- In-house toolmaking: vulcanising moulds are created internally, without external waiting times
- Combined manufacturing: metal casing construction and vulcanisation for rubber-to-metal bonding
- Express production possible: first samples already available in 2–3 weeks
- Flexible sizes and quantities: from small metal enclosures up to 500 mm in edge length
- Custom production from single items to large-scale series
The right material for your Metal casing
Choosing the right material is one of the most important decisions when developing a bespoke metal enclosure. Weight, corrosion resistance, compatibility with various media, machinability and cost – all these factors depend directly on the metal used. As a manufacturer of metal enclosures, we at GUME work with all standard metallic materials and will give you honest advice on which material meets your requirements in the most cost-effective way. After all, the best enclosure isn’t the most expensive one – it’s the one that’s perfectly suited to your specific application.
| Material | Weight | Strength | Corrosion resistance | Machinability | Vulcanisability | Costs |
| Aluminium | ||||||
| Stainless steel | ||||||
| Steel | ||||||
| brass | ||||||
| Copper | ||||||
| Titanium |
The right rubber seal
for your metal casing
No single enclosure seal is suitable for every application. Because we develop and manufacture enclosures and seals as a single unit, we tailor the rubber material precisely to your media, temperatures and environmental conditions – without the compromises associated with off-the-shelf products. Protection classes such as IP65, IP66, IP67 or higher can be specifically achieved.
Reliable for outdoor use – resistant to UV radiation, ozone and hot water, but not suitable for oils or fuels
For housings that come into contact with mineral oils, fuels or hydraulic fluids
A combination of oil resistance and enhanced temperature stability for applications in which NBR reaches its thermal limits
Exceptional resistance to aggressive chemicals and fuels at continuous temperatures of up to +200 °C – the high-performance material amongst elastomers
Wide operating temperature range from −50 °C to +220 °C, FDA-compliant and suitable for food and medical technology applications
A robust, all-round solution offering weather resistance, ozone resistance and resistance to moderate contact with oils, greases and refrigerants
Metal housing with seal in
5 production stages
As a manufacturer of metal enclosures with over 35 years’ experience, we produce both small batches and production runs of up to 10,000+ units per year. To achieve this, we combine the appropriate materials, manufacturing processes and sealing solutions to ensure that your industrial enclosure is produced in a way that is technically reliable, cost-effective and suitable for mass production.
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Design specification
Based on your customer drawing, we check the geometry, material and installation situation. Dimensions, tolerances, wall thicknesses, hole patterns and seal cross-section are coordinated. After that, we create the manufacturing concept for metalworking, pre-treatment and vulcanisation.
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Surface treatment
Depending on the material, the housing is anodised, powder-coated, electroplated, blasted or chemically pre-treated. Corrosion protection, wear resistance, appearance or cleanability are thus improved. Vulcanisation areas are specifically prepared or left uncoated.
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Manufacture of the housing
The metal housing is milled, turned, cast, formed or manufactured from semi-finished products depending on requirements. Holes, threads, mating surfaces, sealing grooves and connection geometries are machined to size. The sealing zone is prepared for subsequent vulcanisation.
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Vulcanisation
The pre-treated metal housing is placed into a custom-made vulcanising mould. Under pressure and temperature vulcanised the raw rubber directly onto the metal. This creates a permanent bond between the housing and the elastomer.
05 / 05
Follow-up check
After vulcanisation we check dimensional accuracy, seal seat, adhesion, visual appearance and, if required, leak-tightness. In addition, customer-specific inspection characteristics such as Shore hardness, surface condition or functional dimensions can be checked.
You have questions about
Metal enclosures with a seal?
We have answers!
Where are metal enclosures used?
Whenever sensitive components need to be protected in a long-term and stable manner, metal enclosures are used. Metal housings for electronics protect sensitive assemblies from electromagnetic interference fields, temperatures and mechanical stresses. As metal sensor housings, they secure pressure, temperature and flow sensors in the In Mechanical Engineering, in automotive engineering and systems engineering. Metal housings for the Medical Technology meet the highest requirements regarding material, surface finish and leak tightness. Further areas of application are hydraulics, pneumatics, the food industry as well as aerospace Space travel.
How does the rubber seal adhere to the metal housing?
The surface of the metal housing is mechanically roughened, degreased and treated with an adhesion-promoting primer. Under pressure and temperature in the vulcanisation tool, this creates a chemical-mechanical bond that is so strong that, in the event of failure, the rubber itself tears – not the interface with the metal.
When is the production of metal housings by die casting more sensible than CNC milling?
CNCMilled metal housings feature tight tolerances, very good surface quality and high design freedom – they are the right choice for prototypes and small to medium production runs. Die casting becomes economically attractive for very high volumes, but entails rougher surfaces and design limitations. We offer impartial advice on both approaches and select the most cost-effective solution for you.
Which protection classes can be achieved with vulcanised-on rubber seals?
With correctly dimensioned seal geometry and a reproducible vulcanisation process, protection ratings up to IP67, IP68 and IP69 are reliably achievable. The protection rating actually achievable depends on the housing design, seal material and installation situation – we will design both together with you.
Can metal housings be supplied in black or another colour?
We supply metal enclosures in black or almost any other colour you require – depending on your needs. Thanks to powder coating or wet painting, all RAL and RAL Design shades are available to choose from. Depending on the metal, metal enclosures can also be supplied unpainted, but can be coated for corrosion protection. For series production parts, we recommend specifying a RAL shade or providing a colour sample – this ensures consistent colouring for all deliveries of your metal enclosure, in black or in any other colour.
How does the chosen rubber material affect the achievable protection class of the metal enclosure?
The protection class of a metal enclosure does not depend on the sealing material alone – the decisive factor is the interplay between the material, Hardness, geometry and contact pressure. In principle, protection classes up to IP67, IP68 and IP69 can be achieved with all common elastomers, provided the seal cross-section and counter-pressure are correctly designed.
Can metal enclosures with seals also be subsequently anodised, galvanised or coated?
Generally yes – with one important restriction: chemical and electrochemical processes such as anodising or galvanising can attack the rubber material or impair the adhesion of the seal. Powder coating is unproblematic in most cases, provided the stoving temperature is below the heat resistance limit of the elastomer. We generally recommend planning the surface treatment prior to vulcanisation – this allows sealing surfaces to be specifically left out and process risks to be avoided right from the start.
Is series delivery by call-off possible and what lead times need to be planned for this?
Yes, call-off framework agreements are explicitly possible with GUME as a sheet metal enclosure manufacturer and are recommended for recurring requirements. Following series approval and a defined annual quantity, we plan production and material procurement in advance – which significantly shortens call-off delivery times. Typical call-off lead times are between two and four weeks, depending on the batch size and complexity. For particularly time-critical supply, we also recommend agreeing on pre-production and warehousing with us – ensuring your enclosures are immediately available when needed.
Can functional elements such as threaded inserts, press-in nuts or fits be integrated into small metal enclosures?
Yes – functional elements are an integral part of our enclosure manufacturing. Threads, fits and bores are incorporated directly during the CNC machining step. Threaded inserts and press-in nuts are fitted after machining but before vulcanisation, so that all elements are reliably integrated into the finished enclosure. The only prerequisite is that the position and specification of the installation elements are clearly defined in the customer drawing. The finished enclosure is therefore ready for assembly – without any further processing steps on your part. It does not matter whether small metal enclosures or large enclosures are being manufactured.
