Water, Food, & Beverage
Delivering high-performance custom rubber components engineered to meet stringent safety, sanitation, and regulatory requirements in food-contact and potable water environments.
The Rubber Group specializes in custom rubber molding solutions for the water, food, and beverage industries. With decades of experience and advanced clean manufacturing capabilities, we deliver precision-engineered rubber components that meet the stringent requirements of food safety and potable water applications. Our commitment to quality, regulatory compliance, and sanitary design makes us a trusted partner for OEMs, processors, and municipal suppliers responsible for delivering clean water and safe food products to consumers worldwide.
Key Applications
O-Ring Sealing Solutions
Precision-molded O-rings specifically engineered for food and beverage processing environments, manufactured from FDA-compliant materials and designed to maintain sanitary conditions while delivering reliable sealing performance:
- Sanitary Fitting O-Rings - Custom-engineered O-rings for tri-clamp connections, valve bodies, and sanitary pipeline systems that provide positive sealing while withstanding CIP/SIP cleaning protocols and maintaining compliance with 3-A Sanitary Standards
- Process Equipment O-Rings - Specialized O-rings for homogenizers, separators, heat exchangers, and mixing equipment that resist compression set while maintaining seal integrity during thermal cycling and pressure fluctuations
- High-Pressure O-Rings - Enhanced compression designs for high-pressure applications including homogenizers, extruders, and HPP (High-Pressure Processing) equipment featuring specialized cross-sections and compounds to withstand extreme pressure conditions
- Steam System O-Rings - Heat-resistant compounds formulated to withstand direct steam contact, thermal cycling, and steam sterilization processes while maintaining dimensional stability and sealing force
- Static and Dynamic Sealing - Application-specific O-ring designs for both static connections and dynamic applications such as rotating shafts, with specialized surface finishes that minimize product entrapment and biofilm formation
- Temperature-Resistant O-Rings - Specialized compounds that maintain sealing performance across the extreme temperature range of food processing, from -120°F freezing processes to +500°F cooking operations
- Custom Size and Profile O-Rings - Non-standard sizes and cross-sections designed specifically for proprietary equipment and unique sealing challenges in food processing and beverage production equipment
Meat, Poultry & Seafood Processing
Custom-engineered belting components, gaskets, seals, and flexible elements for processing equipment operating in washdown environments, featuring materials resistant to fats, oils, proteins, and sanitizing chemicals while withstanding temperature extremes from hot processing to flash freezing.
Dairy Processing Components
Custom elastomeric components for pasteurization systems, homogenizers, separators, and cheese production equipment designed to withstand both hot processing temperatures and cold storage while meeting 3-A Sanitary standards for dairy contact surfaces.
Sanitary Pump Components
Precision-molded impeller linings, gaskets, seals, and diaphragms for sanitary pumps used in food processing, featuring materials engineered for CIP/SIP cleaning processes while resisting food acids, oils, and processing temperatures.
Sealing & Gasketing Solutions
Custom-engineered gaskets and seals for food processing equipment that prevent both product leakage and contaminant ingress, featuring materials compliant with FDA, 3-A Sanitary, and USDA requirements for food contact, including:
- Sanitary tri-clamp gaskets
- Manway and access door seals
- Expansion joints for thermal cycling
- Split flange gaskets for ease of maintenance
- Custom profile gaskets for proprietary equipment
Filling & Packaging Components
Specialized suction cups, seals, diaphragms, and flexible elements for filling and packaging equipment that maintain precision operation while withstanding frequent cleaning and sanitizing cycles required in food production, including:
- Vacuum suction cups for package handling
- Filling head seals and nozzle components
- Carton forming vacuum components
- Lidding and sealing dies
- Aseptic packaging system components
Thermal Processing Components
Specialized gaskets, seals, and flexible elements for cooking, pasteurization, sterilization, and cooling systems that maintain integrity through extreme temperature variations while preventing both product loss and contamination, including:
- Steam injection system seals
- Retort gaskets and door seals
- Heat exchanger gaskets
- Blancher and cooker components
- Oven conveyor components and seals
Relevant Registrations and Certifications
FDA-Compliant Materials
- Food-Grade Silicones - Exceptional temperature resistance (-120°F to +450°F), flavor-neutral properties, and superior compression set characteristics for steam and hot water applications, available in platinum-cured formulations for ultrapure applications
- FDA EPDM Compounds - Excellent resistance to steam, water, and cleaning chemicals with superior aging characteristics for long-term installations and resistance to ozone and UV exposure
- FDA Viton® (FKM) - Advanced chemical resistance for applications exposed to acids, oils, and aggressive cleaning agents in food processing, with temperature capabilities up to 500°F for hot process applications
- Natural Rubber - FDA-compliant formulations providing superior elasticity and resilience for dynamic applications requiring excellent tear resistance and flexibility
- Food-Grade Nitrile (NBR) - Oil-resistant compounds for applications involving vegetable oils, animal fats, and dairy products, offering excellent seal compression and durability
- USP Class VI Compounds - Ultra-pure materials for the most sensitive applications, meeting both FDA and USP testing requirements for biocompatibility and extractables
- Metal Detectable Compounds - Specialized formulations containing detectable additives for food safety programs and HACCP compliance, available in blue colors for visual identification
Material Certifications & Compliance
FDA 21 CFR 177.2600 compliance for rubber articles intended for repeated food contact
3-A Sanitary Standards compliance for dairy processing
Animal derivative-free formulations for specialized requirements
REACH and RoHS compliance for global regulatory requirements