Seals are an important part of many systems as they help to reduce or eliminate leaks. They can come in many forms, with O-rings being a common type used in a wide range of industries.
O-rings are typically round and available in a range of thicknesses and materials to meet various application requirements. anyseals inc., a supplier of sealing technology, has seen strong growth in recent years for its O-ring products.
Power & Motion spoke with Corey Holloway, Sales Manager North America for anyseals, inc., about drivers for this market growth, where the O-ring segment is headed and more.
*Editor's Note: Questions and responses have been edited for clarity.
Power & Motion (P&M): What is driving the strong demand anyseals is seeing for O-rings? Are there specific applications or markets which are helping drive demand?
Corey Holloway (CH): anyseals has continued to invest in its product inventory, so we stock seals that are in strong demand and otherwise unavailable due to global supply chain constraints. In Ohio, we have millions of seals in stock in both metric and standard sizes. This allows our distributor customers to remain competitive. One of the products helping drive demand is our FFKM O-ring offering, which is applied within the semiconductor market.
P&M: How does anyseals see demand continuing for O-rings, and will the same market factors continue to drive demand in the future?
CH: anyseals sees steady demand for O-rings, primarily attributed to the growth of their use across several industries. For example, from 2022-2028, the FFKM O-ring semiconductor market is projected to grow significantly.
P&M: What are some of the key attributes/benefits anyseals’ O-rings can provide?
CH: All anyseals suppliers and production plants are certified to ISO (ISO 9001:2015 and IATF 16949). anyseals' high-quality standards also stipulate additional quality inspections in our laboratory. All products and materials can be clearly identified and traced through their batch and material number.
P&M: What are some of the key materials customers are looking to have their O-rings made from, and what factors are determining these material choices?
CH: The materials depend on the customer’s application. While customers with high-end applications like those found in the semiconductor market look to FFKM, the NBR, HNBR, and EPDM materials may be suitable for others. anyseals offers a wide range of materials for both standard applications and for very specific challenges.
The primary factors determining O-ring material choices are chemical and temperature compatibility, sealing pressure, durometer, size, and cost. Additionally, electrical properties, dynamic resistance, tear resistance, and ozone resistance should be considered depending on the application.
P&M: Are there any markets where the company sees future growth potential for O-rings?
CH: Several markets are expected to grow due to various factors, including the robust growth of the aerospace and automotive industries, the use of advanced materials in manufacturing O-ring seals for critical applications, technological advancements, and strict regulations concerning automobile emissions.
P&M: We know supply chains have been a challenge area for many companies over the past 2 years – how has anyseals been impacted, and is the company starting to see any alleviation or expect to see any?
CH: We experienced some of the same material and compound shortages that affected global supply chains over the past 2 years. We also saw production times longer than 12 months on certain sizes.
There are still several challenges to overcome as suppliers continue to adapt to new regulations and work through ongoing supply chain issues. At anyseals, we inform our customers that all quoted or confirmed delivery times are estimates based on our understanding of the conditions at the time. All products continue to be subject to unforeseen delays due to continued market challenges.
