Beyond Omniseal® Blog

You may have heard that a hidden connection is stronger than an obvious one. In the world of sealing technology, solutions are often hidden within complex systems. Part of the most important components of any system, machine or device, seals are key in securing the function of many applications and to prevent leaks. Can you imagine what applications contain seals? Almost everything you use, interact with or see in your daily life needs seals to work: a dishwasher, a dryer, a car, an airplane, portable healthcare devices, and satellites. Without proper seals, systems could become completely useless or even have a critical failure.

There are different types of seals and different types of sealing environments. Omniseal Solutions designs and manufacturers polymer spring-energized and rotary lip seals that handle high pressure sealing and challenging conditions. In 2019, the business acquired American Seal & Engineering, which added high-performance metal sealing solutions to their global portfolio. With the recent acquisition of HTMS (High Tech Metal Seals) this year, Omniseal Solutions reinforces their metal sealing presence in the space and nuclear industries and added several decades of experience, essentially expanding their world of sealing technologies. Founded in 1999 by a group of sealing specialists and based in Mechelen, Belgium, HTMS’ resilient metal seals are most valuable where standard seals cannot handle extreme temperatures, pressures or media.

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.

It’s an exciting time in the aerospace industry, with a record four billion passenger journeys taken in 2018 and 8,000 to 20,000 planes in flight at any given moment transporting people, supplies, and freight. Air transport supports tourism and trade, brings aid to people in need, enhances our mobility, and helps to brings us all together regardless of geographic divide. At Saint-Gobain Seals, we are inspired by the industry and excited to be a part of it through our seals and polymer solutions.

In fact, our high-performance solutions are in many critical core systems of commercial and general airplanes as well as helicopters.  Where are our critical parts?  Our Omniseal® spring-energized seals are used in Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) that power electricity before engines ignite; in gas turbine engines, the turbine shaft, air inlet vane, internal, and accessory gearbox and accessory drive shaft and units, and much more. High-temperature, lightweight Meldin® polyimide parts are often used in APUs and electric harnesses to ensure tolerance control and reduce weight. And  metal C-Seals, E-Seals, and custom seals are frequently in the combustion chamber and engine in commercial, business, and general aviation engines and airframes.

In our last blog post dedicated to manufacturing, we shared exciting news that Omniseal Solutions™ is further expanding capabilities at our Kontich, Belgium site to specifically address advanced polymer needs in two emerging industries - aerospace and life sciences, in addition to supporting the oil and gas industry. Growth in global aerospace is due to increased passenger travel and the race to space while potential has grown in healthcare as a result of increasing aging populations, greater focus on wellness and a digital mindset, overall, in life sciences.

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.