Beyond Omniseal® Blog

For most of the world, an automobile is a common item that is used every day and part of our daily lives. That is why automotive manufacturers take the care to make sure everything is in working order whether it be the engine, tires or brakes. One of the most important parts of a car is the transmission, which provides power and handles control. With people being in the driver seat at least one hour per day, the powertrain system does play a very important role. Within this critical powertrain system are seals that work to improve the quality of shifting gears, acceleration and maneuverability so the driver has a smooth and comfortable ride. Therefore, selecting the right seal does make a significant difference for both automotive manufacturers and the consumers they serve.

Have you heard the expression, “We travel not to escape life but for life not to escape us”?

Imagine life without mobility and the ability to expand our possibilities, connect, dream, communicate, gain knowledge and advance.

At Omniseal Solutions™, we have been powering mobility in many ways through our polymer seals, metal seals, and specialized material solutions such as carbon fiber composites, PTFE and polyimides.

Reducing emissions, improving fuel economy and drawing greater performance out of engines: requirements that are driving automotive manufacturers to seek out technology that will help them achieve these goals. One such technology on the rise is the variable valve timing (VVT) system, which influences the flow of gasses in and out of the combustion chamber through the opening and closing of the VVT valves to improve engine efficiency and fuel consumption.  Many earlier systems worked only on valves and had no lift variation. Today, most modern systems can control timing and lift, and many automobiles rely on this core system, giving drivers a smoother, more even performance at higher RPM. 

As the summer starts to heat up, people across the world take this opportunity to travel – many going on memorable road and airplane trips – like our teams who are “moving” to several key spots to showcase how innovative and critical seals and polymer solutions are when being used in core systems for automotive, aerospace and space industries that keep us all mobile. We have a prime seat reserved just for you so buckle up and join us on this exciting journey!  See if you can “spy” some of the ways our critical parts are making THE difference in cars, helicopters, airplanes and rockets.

Autonomous driving, fuel efficiency and electric driving – three mega trends that are converging on the automotive industry and are likely to forever change it. The global market for Autonomous Vehicles, for one, is expected to grow from USD 3.6 billion in 2015 to an over 26.2% CAGR to 2027. While electric vehicles may have been only one percent of new car sales in 2017 (2.8 million compared to 1.5 billion oil-fueled cars on the road), they are expected to reach 36 million by 2025 and comprise 30% of vehicles by 2040, says IHS Markit. 

High speeds, high pressures and high temperatures – these are three important requirements that seals in critical automotive applications frequently must be able to address. Rectangular seals, named after their rough rectangular shape, are a special type of face seal for rotating connections used in applications where pressurized oil or fluid need to be transmitted between a stationary and rotating part. They are used for the oil pressure supply in rotating actuators such as clutches and pistons in automotive transmissions as well as in engines and oil pumps. These seals are custom designed for use in internal applications to address high pressures above one bar and speeds at over five meters per second for high volume applications. 

Aside from proper steering, braking systems are perhaps the most important safety component of any vehicle.  To the driver, they are a no-fail system which is expected to work without a second thought.  Yet to OEMs, braking systems are an intricate design of precision components which work together to bring vehicles to a complete and safe stop.

Automation. Digitalization. Robotics. These are the trends of automotive manufacturing as factories embrace the latest innovations to improve production output and stay competitive.  While it’s critical for auto manufacturers to invest in the right technology, we believe that it’s equally important for them to invest in the right people to master that technology. Today we’re sharing some insights into automation trends for automotive manufacturing.

What a great experience our team had at the CTI Symposium in China! It’s always a wonderful opportunity to connect with our auto industry colleagues.  One question that often comes up at these events is about the benefits of low-friction plastic seals. Let’s review some highlights: