Component Foams Specifically Engineered for Automakers

Guest Author: Isabell Wright, Armacell .

For most major car makers, all parts must be made from materials that are on their approved source list. It’s a competitive business and only the best suppliers with a proven track record of quality, new technology, on-time delivery and service will make the cut. Once a material has been included on the approved source list or our fabricator partners have been selected as preferred suppliers, the task is not over. We must continually maintain or improve our specs to stay competitive and meet the high expectations of auto makers and their supply chain.

Armacell’s foam is used in automotive components such as gaskets for sealing out water, air, dust or noise.

FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES

In the 1930’s Chrysler was known for its iconic Chrysler building in New York City and affordable luxury vehicles. Now they are known as a maker of family cars including a hybrid. Armacell makes a number of materials on the approved source list for FCA including Monarch 3091® and EnsoLite® EF0 which meet the MSAY 430 spec. Both have the necessary resistance to UV, weathering and acid. They meet the horizontal burn requirements for interior automotive gaskets. EnsoLite EF0 has the added benefit of being a super soft and conformable, semi-closed cell, crushed foam that works well in applications that require the material to spring back to its original thickness.

Armacell made more than 6 million square feet of EnsoLite SF0 in 2018

TOYOTA MOTOR CORP

For 75 years, Toyota has disrupted the market and revolutionized manufacturing. As a maker of cars that are known for efficiency and reliability, Toyota stands by their brand. It makes sense that they insist on suppliers that do the same. Armacell makes a number of products that meet the tough Toyota TSM 1501G spec for automobile parts. Monarch 8002 is a 100% EPDM bun that has a dependable resistance to corrosive acids, UV and weathering. That means the material will hold up to the abuse auto parts take over time. EnsoLite IG1, manufactured in continuous rolls or sheets, has excellent resistance to oil, fuel and flame. These qualities make EnsoLite and Monarch great choices for gaskets and seals in automotive design.

Click Here to Download the Full Automotive Component Foams PDF.

To learn more about Armacell Products, visit their website – Armacell

To go along with the Component foams, Avery Dennison has put together an in-depth adhesive bonding study which can be found Here.

As flexible material specialists, the CGR Products team offers years of experience in converting foam material into gaskets and components. Our in-house precision cutting services include rotary and flatbed die cutting, kiss cutting, slitting, splitting, knife cutting, and more.  For your next foam project, Contact Us today.

Speaker Gaskets for OEM Manufacturers

CGR Products works with many manufacturers die cutting speaker gaskets.  Our gaskets are used in several markets including, marine speakers, automotive speakers, home speakers, and more.  Our die cutting capabilities allow us to cut virtually any size and pattern for large volume applications.  This article will describe a variety or materials and cutting methods used to produce speaker gaskets.

Materials

CGR Products stocks several raw materials used for speaker gaskets.  Materials such as closed cell sponge, cross linked polyethylene, and urethane foam are commonly used.  Closed cell sponge is the most common material used by speaker manufacturers. In the case of rear mounted speakers, a material such as closed cell sponge, or cross linked polyethylene (XLPE) is highly desired to make an airtight seal.  Later in the speakers life, if rear mounted, the speaker can easily be removed with no damage to the enclosure.

For conventional speaker mounting, the gasket is used to make a seal to a mounting ring, or to give the speaker better esthetics.  Material such as closed cell foam or urethane foams is typical for these applications.

Die cut gaskets from the above-mentioned materials allow for an easy installation.  CGR Products die cuts gasketsfrom all of these materials plain, or with adhesive. Materials laminated with adhesive on one side provide an easy installation by the OEM.  The gaskets will have a removable liner on the mating side, allowing for a quick peel and stick application.

CGR Products die cuts dampening or batting material for all types of speaker enclosures.  Typically, this material is either a non woven polyester batting or 2lb open cell urethane foam.  Depending on the cabinet design, we will die cut panels for the whole cabinet, or critical pads that are mounted strategically for dampening.  The dampening is critical in automotive applications to keep rattles and vibrations to a minimum.  These materials can also be laminated with adhesive if desired.  With polyester batting, CGR can add a heat activated glue web.  Urethane foam can have adhesive with a removable liner for peel and stick application.

Die Cut Gasket

CGR Products can die-cut products up to 75″ wide x 84″ long in a single stroke. For segmented parts, we can incorporate “dovetailed” or interlocking parts.  For supplying high volumes of speaker gaskets, this method of die cutting is the most desired for cost savings.  CGR Products will design the stamping tool to allow for the best material savings plus maximize throughput to reduce cost.  Cutting high volumes of parts are what we do best and set us apart from our competitors. Our large format cutting operation has its own dedicated shipping dock with 7 bays.

CGR Products also uses a variety of waterjet machines for cutting speaker gaskets.  Waterjet cutting offers excellent material yield and the ability to cut a multitude of materials. The CGR waterjets require no tooling or tool maintenance, lowering your initial set up charge.  We use custom made waterjet machines with multiple cutting heads to allow for multiple cuts at the same time.

Knife cutting is another exceptional option for fabrication tasks that require precision cutting without the use of waterjet machinery. Our state-of-the-art knife cutting machinery utilizes a serrated (dentated or toothed) blade in the Z-axis. This ensures the production of a precise end product, every time, no matter how intricate the details. The machine is powered by advanced control software and a powerful, versatile cutting head.  CGR’s knife cutting machine eliminates the need for cutting dies and increases yields to enable quick turnaround and higher precision.

Learn More

CGR Products is capable of producing custom speaker gaskets for a variety of applications.  With over 170,000 square feet of manufacturing and warehouse space and over 100 top-quality machines, CGR serves a diverse range of clients, including those in the speaker industry.  To learn more about how CGR Products can help with your die cut speaker gaskets, Contact Us today. Ready to get started,  Request a Quote for your die cut parts.