Custom rubber mounts
As a manufacturer of rubber bearings, we produce your bearing elements to 100% on a contract basis in accordance with your specifications. We manufacture all our elastomer bearings at our production facility in Bavaria in batch sizes ranging from 1 to 100,000 pieces.
- Customised production
- Batch sizes 1 to 1 million units.
- Express production from 2 weeks
- 100% Reliability & proactivity
Rubber mount geometries manufactured in Bavaria
Rubber mounts are key functional elements for the elastic mounting of components in technical systems. They enable targeted decoupling of vibrations, reduce impact loads, and compensate for relative movements between connected components. To find the right design for your application, we are happy to support you with advice on materials, design, and load capacity, even before manufacturing. By adapting the execution and structure of the Rubber Metal Bearings can be controlled for different load cases in compression, shear or torsion.
V-shaped rubber-metal bearing for vibration damping with high radial and low axial stiffness.
V-Lager
Conically constructed rubber-metal bearing for vibration damping with high radial stiffness and good transverse stability.
Tapered roller bearing
Hat-shaped rubber-metal bushes for vibration and shock isolation of machines and units.
Roof elements
Elastic bearings for absorbing torsional loads.
Ironing elements
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Structure & function a custom rubber bushing
As we are a manufacturer of rubber bearings for bespoke applications, our elastomer bearings are always 100% tailored to your specific application. Once the design has been finalised, we produce the moulds based on your individual drawings and commence production. If you require advice on geometry or material selection for your bearing application, our design team will be happy to assist you in finding the best component geometry for your application.
Bearing element (sleeve or bolt)
The metallic bearing element forms the interface with the surrounding structure and serves for defined force introduction. Executed as an inner or outer sleeve or bolt, it allows for secure fastening and ensures the mechanical stability and positioning of the rubber bearing in the system.
Rubber body
The elastomer body is the functional core of the bearing. It absorbs forces, deforms elastically, and partially converts kinetic energy into heat. Geometry and material significantly determine rigidity, damping, restoring behaviour, and service life under dynamic load.
Fastener
To securely connect the rubber bearing to its surroundings, threaded connections, screw-on plates, press fits, or vulcanisation directly onto the surrounding component are possible – depending on the installation space and the specific application of the custom rubber bearing.
Damping direction
The damping direction describes the axes or degrees of freedom in which the rubber mount absorbs vibrations and movements. Depending on the component design, damping occurs axially, radially, or torsionally. Through individual, custom-made rubber mount manufacturing, the component always fits your application precisely.
Spring constant
The spring rate determines how much a rubber mount deforms under load. Through the interplay of geometry, material selection, Shore hardness, and installation situation, a custom-made rubber mount is specifically adapted to an application regarding dynamic loads and vibration requirements.
Materials for your Rubber bearing according to drawing
In most cases, for rubber mounts Rubber metal connections used, as they combine stability and defined dimensional accuracy with elastic properties. Alternatively, pure Molded Rubber or Rubber-plastic connections used when the bearings are weight-optimised and subjected to lower mechanical forces. As a rubber bearing manufacturer, we advise you on material selection or take over a functional material concept from you.
Contact us for a consultation on your custom-made rubber bearing - made in Bavaria.
Manufacturing steps custom rubber bearing
From development to the finished rubber-metal bearing, we will guide you through the entire process chain. Through our deep vertical integration, we can manage design, Toolmaking, Material compatibility, metalworking and Vulcanisation efficiently connect with each other and achieve particularly short implementation times.
01
Design & Tool Making
Following the finalisation of the rubber bush design, we will commence with the geometry-specific manufacturing of a mould internally Toolmaking.
03
Preparation & Vulcanisation
The metal beams are before the Vulcanisation blasted to enlarge the surface, and coated with an adhesion promoter system. Metal supports and raw rubber are then placed into the customer and geometry-specific tool.
02
Material coordination & inserts
In parallel, we tune the rubber compound to your specific application and mill or turn the metallic inserts.
04
Finished rubber-metal bearings
Applications of Rubber bearings in industry
Rubber bearings are often custom-made in industry due to special installation situations, specific damping requirements, individual geometries, and applications. As a manufacturer of rubber bearings, we produce components for dynamic applications in machinery, ranging from durable infrastructure components to safety-critical applications.
Rubber bearing in Mechanical Engineering
Individual rubber bearings decouple vibrations in Machines and increase process stability. Typical applications include mountings for electric motors, pumps, compressors, or machine tools. Machine feet with integrated damping and silent blocks in conveyor systems also reduce structure-borne noise and protect adjacent components. Customised design allows for the adaptation of stiffness, natural frequency, and damping behaviour to the specific load case.
Rubber mounts in the Construction and Infrastructure
In the Construction industry Rubber bearings primarily serve to absorb movements and loads, as well as for the decoupling of structures. Typical applications include elastomer bridge bearings, building bearings for vibration isolation, or mountings for machine foundations. They allow for controlled deformations due to temperature changes, traffic loads, or settlements, while simultaneously increasing the durability and structural integrity of the structures.
Rubber mounts in the Electrical and Appliance Industry
In electronic devices and systems, individually tailored rubber mounts protect sensitive components from vibration and mechanical influences. Examples include mountings for fans, transformers, or printed circuit boards in housings. Particularly in mobile or vibration-prone applications, such as in control cabinets or industrial electronics, they ensure long-term function and service life.
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- Toolmaking is our core competency
- 100% in-house expertise
- Fast response times for tooling modifications
Insights in rubber bush projects
of our customers.
Case study: High static loads in bridge construction
The challenge
When constructing a suspension bridge, bearing points had to absorb high static loads and reliably compensate for movements caused by wind, temperature differences, and traffic. Rubber bearings were required that would fit the construction precisely and remain permanently loadable.
Process
GUME supported the design of the bearings, the selection of suitable rubber compounds, and the adjustment of the metal components. In-house manufacturing allowed for the rapid production, testing, and, if necessary, modification of prototype parts.
Solution
Do you have questions about rubber mounts?
We have answers!
What role does Shore hardness play in rubber bearings?
The Shore hardness The Shore hardness of rubber is a key parameter in the design of rubber bearings, as it directly influences the stiffness and deformation behaviour of the rubber bearing. Low Shore hardness values allow for high elasticity and effective vibration isolation, while higher Shore hardness increases load-bearing capacity and reduces deflection. Furthermore, Shore hardness influences the natural frequency of the system as well as the damping behaviour under dynamic load. As an experienced manufacturer of rubber-metal bearings, we always precisely adapt the Shore hardness to your requirements in conjunction with geometry, load profile, and material.
Gummilager wirken schwingungsdämpfend, indem sie die Energie von Vibrationen absorbieren und in Wärme umwandeln. Wenn eine Schwingung auf das Gummilager trifft, wird das Gummi verformt. Diese Verformung erfordert Energie, die dem Gummi entzogen wird. Gleichzeitig erzeugt die innere Reibung des Gummis Wärme. Dadurch wird die Schwingungsenergie schrittweise abgebaut und gedämpft.
Rubber bearings dampen vibrations through their viscoelastic material behaviour. Under dynamic load, a portion of the introduced energy is absorbed by the material as elastic deformation energy. This occurs due to the reversible deformation of the polymer chains and is released again when the load is removed. At the same time, a significant proportion of the energy is converted into heat through internal friction in the elastomer. This damping effect is required wherever vibrations lead to wear, noise generation, or malfunctions.
What factors lead to wear of rubber bearings?
The wear of rubber bearings is determined by the interplay of mechanical, thermal, and chemical influences. High dynamic loads with changing frequencies and amplitudes lead to Material fatigue and cracking, particularly with incorrect design or overloading. At the same time, increased temperatures accelerate the ageing of the elastomer, while low temperatures reduce its elasticity. Media such as oils, ozone or aggressive chemicals further attack the material structure. Friction, lack of lubrication, assembly errors or incorrect pre-tensioning can also significantly shorten the service life and lead to premature loss of function.
What advantages do rubber bearings offer over purely metallic bearing solutions?
Rubber bearings exhibit elastic behaviour that effectively dampens vibrations and shocks, reduces noise, and decouples components. At the same time, they compensate for tolerances and misalignment errors and, in many cases, require low maintenance without additional lubrication. Pure metal bearings, on the other hand, offer high rigidity, low deformation, and enable precise guidance even under high loads and speeds. The combination in a rubber-metal bearing unites damping and stability in one solution.
When is the use of custom rubber mounts technically superior to alternative damping elements?
The elastic behaviour of rubber mounts combines spring and damping properties in a single component and, unlike hydraulic or pneumatic systems, requires neither an additional energy supply nor control. Customised rubber mounts are particularly suitable for broadband vibration excitation, changing loads, and limited installation space. Furthermore, they are robust against contamination, require little maintenance, and are economically viable for series production. Whenever a reliable, passive damping solution with a long service life is required, rubber mounts are superior to other mounting elements.
When are custom rubber bushings suitable, and when should standard solutions be used?
Custom rubber mounts are used when standard solutions are not technically or economically feasible. Individually designed geometries and materials make it possible to accurately represent load cases, installation space and environmental conditions, and to specifically combine functions such as damping, mounting or sealing. This allows for a reduction in assembly effort, component numbers and wear in the overall system.
Manufacturing-wise, special solutions also offer advantages: Although their production requires a specific tool, this pays off for medium to high volumes or long-term use. At the same time, modern manufacturing processes and in-house toolmaking enable short development times and cost-effective solutions, even for smaller series.
How is a rubber bearing manufactured?
The manufacture of a rubber bearing begins with the design of the geometry, elastomer, and – in the case of rubber-metal bearings – the metal components. Based on the requirements, a Tool engineered and manufactured. In parallel, suitable rubber is selected and mixed, tailored to the load case, temperature, and media resistance, as well as the production of the metal insert parts.
In the next step, the component is moulded and vulcanised using a pressing or injection process. This gives the rubber its final mechanical properties and, in the case of a rubber-metal bearing, firmly bonds it to the metal. This is followed by post-processing steps such as deburring, tempering or surface treatment, as well as a final quality inspection for dimensional accuracy, adhesion and function.
