CASE STUDY | HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS
60% Bronze Filled PTFE Seals
A customer required a complete set of seals for a large hydraulic lift comprising four identical cylinders, each with an 11.5" bore and a 10.75" rod diameter.
Their regular seal supplier was unable to support the project, as most of the seals were manufactured from 60% bronze-filled PTFE, a specialist material they could not source. With a strict two-week overhaul deadline, the customer needed a supplier capable of both sourcing the material and manufacturing custom seals within a tight timeframe.
Assessment
During the initial inspection, it became clear that although the cylinders were nominally identical, there were slight dimensional variations between them. To ensure optimum sealing performance, each cylinder required individual measurement before production could begin.
Our engineers carried out a detailed on-site inspection using a range of precision measuring equipment, including:
- Digital Vernier Calipers
- Groove Micrometers
- Pi Tapes
- Digital Internal Gauge Verniers
The collected measurements were analysed and used to produce accurate manufacturing specifications for each seal.
Solution
Following the assessment, the required 60% bronze-filled PTFE material was sourced and delivered to our Engineered Seals Division in Sheffield within five working days.
Our skilled production team then manufactured the seals to the exact dimensions recorded during the survey, ensuring a precise fit for each individual cylinder.
To maintain the highest quality standards, every seal underwent a comprehensive three-stage inspection process:
- Inspection by the machinist during manufacture
- Verification by the Production Manager
- Final quality check by the dispatch team before shipment
Result
The complete seal package was manufactured, inspected and delivered within the customer's required timescale, enabling the hydraulic lift overhaul to proceed without delay.
By combining specialist material sourcing, precise measurement techniques and in-house manufacturing expertise, we provided a solution where the customer's existing supplier could not, helping them meet a critical project deadline with confidence.
