Rubber bellows with fabric reinforcement
As a bellows manufacturer, we produce fabric-reinforced rubber bellows for applications where purely rubber bellows reach their limits. The vulcanised-in fabric insert absorbs tensile and compressive forces and keeps the bellows body in shape under positive and negative pressure.
- Customised production
- Batch sizes 1 to 1 million units.
- Express production from 2 weeks
- 100% Reliability & proactivity
Reinforced bellows made to measure
Unlike solid rubber bellows, fabric-reinforced rubber bellows combine the flexibility of the elastomer with the tensile strength of a textile reinforcement. During compression moulding, the fabric insert is positioned and bonded between the rubber layers, creating a single component without separate joints. This construction reduces the elongation of the bellows body under load, prevents individual convolutions from bulging under differential pressure and maintains consistent internal and external diameters throughout the full range of movement. We manufacture every fabric-reinforced rubber bellows to your drawing, tailoring the type of fabric, number of layers, position of the reinforcement, bellows geometry, Shore hardness of the elastomer and connection geometry to your specific application.
The zipped bellow provides a tight seal and is suitable for frequent opening cycles. Waterproof and corrosion-resistant designs ensure high resistance to hygiene requirements and cleaning.
Single-layer fabric interlining
The bellows with hook-and-loop fastener is suitable for frequent opening and closing. It protects against dust and swarf and allows particularly quick access for maintenance and servicing.
Multi-ply fabric backing
For short separation lines or where space is limited, press studs or magnetic strips are used. They allow for easy operation and are particularly suitable for cramped installation situations.
Tissue reinforcement of the folds
The combination of zip and hook-and-loop fastener increases sealing performance, protection and service life. This relieves strain on the zip and protects it against wear.
Reinforcement tape
The combination of zip and hook-and-loop fastener increases sealing performance, protection and service life. This relieves strain on the zip and protects it against wear.
Custom-made product
Benefits of a fabric-reinforced rubber bellows
The fabric reinforcement expands the application range of the bellows into areas that can no longer be achieved economically or functionally with pure elastomer.
- Absorption of high tensile forces: When extending, during lateral offset or with attached masses, the fabric absorbs forces better. The bellows wall remains free from stress peaks and does not tear even under continuous dynamic load.
- Constant geometry under pressure variation: positive and negative pressure visibly deform an unreinforced bellows. With fabric reinforcement, convolution height and diameter retain their nominal dimensions, and adjacent components and guides are not touched.
- Large dimensions without sagging: As the diameter increases, the dead weight of the bellows increases, which is additionally intensified in horizontal installation positions. The reinforcement supports the bellows body and prevents sagging.
- Longer service life in continuous operation: Since the fabric absorbs the load paths, the elastomer operates close to its rest position. Wear on the bellows wall is reduced, and replacement intervals are extended.
- No delamination of the plies: Fabric and rubber bond together to form a composite during vulcanisation. Delamination is extremely unlikely by design, as the fabric is fully enclosed by rubber.
Fabric-reinforced bellows -
individually made by GUME
- In-house toolmaking: moulds are created internally, with no external waiting times
- Express production possible: first samples already available in 2–3 weeks
- Flexible sizes and quantities
- Custom production from single items to large-scale series
Fabric shapes
for reinforced rubber bellows
Alongside the fibre material, the weave construction determines how the interlining behaves in the bellows. The same fibre behaves differently in terms of elongation, contour adaptation and direction of force depending on the type of weave and structure.
Plain weave
The tightest intersection of warp and weft results in a shift-resistant, dimensionally stable fabric. We choose this form when the bellows must maintain its geometry precisely under load and the fold contour requires little deformation of the fabric.
Physical attachment
The diagonal grain makes the fabric more pliable than a plain weave of the same thread count. Twill weaves conform better to tight fold radii during compression moulding and are suitable when the reinforcement must follow a heavily structured bellows geometry. Resistant to UV radiation, ozone and hot water; not suitable for oils and fuels.
Knitted and warp-knitted fabrics
Knitted fabric stretches in several directions and barely limits the mobility of the expansion joint. This form is used when the insert is primarily intended to protect the wall against puncture and tear propagation, but the expansion joint must perform large strokes with low restoring force.
Cord structure
Parallel strands with low cross-linking absorb forces in a defined direction. A cord construction is the right choice when the main load of the bellows acts along a known axis, such as a tensile force in the stroke direction, while full flexibility is to be maintained transversely to it.
The correct one fabric reinforcement for your rubber bellows
The fabric used determines the tear strength, elongation behaviour and temperature limit of the composite. We select the appropriate fabric insert and rubber compound for your rubber bellows, so that the adhesion and flexibility of both components match.
| fabric interlining | Tear resistance | elongation under tension | continuous operating temperature | moisture behaviour | Preferred use |
| Polyamide (PA) | up to +100 °C | absorbs moisture | dynamically moving bellows with a high cycle count | ||
| Polyester (PES) | up to +130 °C | very low uptake | dimensionally stable bellows in a humid environment | ||
| Aramid | up to +200 °C | low uptake | heat-stressed bellows, extreme tensile forces | ||
| cotton | up to +90 °C | absorbs moisture | soft compounds with low Shore hardness |
Design of fabric reinforced rubber bellows
The separation zone is the most structurally demanding element of a divisible bellows. It must maintain the flexibility of the bellows without the fastener being overloaded by the movement of the folds and restoring forces.
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Fabric type and thread count
Finer fabrics allow the pleats more freedom of movement, whilst coarser fabrics achieve higher tear strengths with lower extensibility. We select the fabric to match the ratio of the required stroke and the load to be absorbed.
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Position in the bellows cross-section
The insert can be positioned in the middle of the wall, closer to the inside or closer to the outside. The position determines whether the bellows are preferentially stabilised against internal pressure or negative pressure.
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Transition to the unarmed area
Where the fabric ply ends in the bellows body, the transition is designed with a tapering reinforcement. An abrupt change in stiffness would create a kink in the fabric-reinforced rubber bellows with every stroke and shorten its service life.
Do you have questions about
fabric-reinforced rubber bellows?
We're here to help.
When is a fabric reinforcement useful in a bellows?
A fabric reinforcement is recommended as soon as the bellows diameter is large, high differential pressure occurs or the bellows is permanently exposed to high tensile forces. In these cases, the inherent stability of the rubber alone is not sufficient to maintain the convolution geometry over its service life.
How is it prevented that the fabric detaches from the rubber?
Before vulcanisation, the fabric is coated with a bonding agent. The fabric and elastomer are then pressed together and vulcanised into a rubber bellows with fabric. By coordinating the compound, fabric type and process parameters, a permanent bond is created that can no longer be separated.
What is the difference between a fabric composite and a rubber-metal bellows?
In fabric composite systems, a textile insert provides the tensile strength while the bellows remain flexible. A rubber-metal bellows uses a rigid metal component instead, for instance in the connection areas, and is more suited to applications requiring high rigidity in specific component zones rather than across the entire bellows zone.
Does the fabric insert affect the flexibility of the bellows?
The fabric layer reduces extensibility in the direction of pull without significantly restricting the mobility of the convolutions themselves. The number of convolutions and their geometry are coordinated during the design phase so that the required working stroke is achieved despite the reinforcement.
Can metal parts be vulcanised into the rubber bellows in addition to the fabric reinforcement?
Yes. We manufacture connecting flanges, threaded inserts or clamping rings as internal components in-house and vulcanise them into the rubber bellows body along with the fabric reinforcement in the same process step. The fabric reinforcement and metal part are positioned together in the mould. You receive a ready-to-install component with a resilient connection interface, with no need for subsequent gluing or screwing.
Can you manufacture a replacement bellows based on a sample?
Yes. Using your old part, we measure the bellows geometry, determine the elastomer material and analyse the position and structure of the fabric reinforcement. The result is a production-ready drawing, on the basis of which we construct the tool and mass-produced part. Please check third-party intellectual property rights before placing your order.
What information is needed for a quotation?
Ideally, a drawing or a 3D model of the installation situation is required. The installation position, temperature range, and media contact, as well as the planned quantity per year, are also helpful. You will receive your quote shortly, and we respond to enquiries within 24 hours.
